Does anyone else agree it's "soft racism" (whatever that means) when...

[ClusterFreak]

...Bush says illegal immigrants should be given the chance to remain in the U.S. as guest workers because they will do work which Americans won't do? He keeps saying this, and literally no one...including anyone you might identify as a liberal...in the MSM points it out. It's racist reasoning....oh, well, ya know...we are too good to pick fruit in a hot orchard somewhere, but those Mexicans, you know the ones we're so much better than, they'll do it no questions asked.

It's "soft racism" (I can't think of a better term), and it also allows employers to justify paying shit wages for this kind of work. Americans would do this work, no questions asked, if the pay was even close to what they might make working at McDonalds.

My two cents....:shrug:

[mikelewis]

1. Well said.

[eleny]

2. What a good point!

I agree with the DUer who recommended your thoughts for the Greatest page.

Listening to Randi rhodes this afternoon - she brought out how these workers will be like sharecroppers tied to a particular corporation. They'll have no rights even if they're treated horribly. What you've observed really adds up.

[ClusterFreak]

3. Thanks...

It's been bothering me for a while now...everytime I hear the Chimpenfuhrer say this...it goes unchallenged. Good for Randi though. I love her....sometimes she doesn't stop talking long enough to catch her breath...but I think she's great anyway!

[radwriter0555]

4. It's a straw man argument. I'd like bush to point out to us precisely WHO

those Americans are that won't do the work our neighbors are allegedly willing to do.

What specific Americans is he referring to?

Don't let the straw man phrasing let him get away with this inane statement.

bush is holding out for his gulf coast oil co pals cheap labor economics.

[bliss_eternal]

6. Exactly--

and not to be rude or split hairs with anyone here, but bigotry and racism are racism and bigotry. There's no soft, hard or in-between. Hate is hate. Thinking one is superior to someone else doesn't come in shades of grey.

There's not much * doesn't think he's above considering his background. But he should be forced to assert his belief in exactly who and what it is he's referring to. Not that he would, without a script.

[ClusterFreak]

7. You are right, hate is hate....

...but you can also say Mexicans will do crap work for shit money or you can call them a derogatory name for instance. There are shades of presentation...but, yes, end result is really no different.

[bliss_eternal]

10. I would just like to see more DU'ers recognize

that this is merely another form of bigotry. Whether it is as you said saying a certain ethnicity will do a certain work for little money or a racial slur.

Until progressives start to recognize the many shades of bigotry and hatred, we can't do some of the most important work we need to do.

It's frustrating to see Dems arguing over what is or isn't bigotry on a progressive board. What's even more frustrating is seeing those that belong to groups that are discriminated against try to explain to others what it looks and/or feels like, only to be shouted down by others here. That's not cool.

I'm not referring specifically to your response. It's just what comes to my mind when this sort of issue comes up.

People that aren't women, black, brown, yellow, gay, lesbian or transgendered should not be telling those that are, they don't know what discrimination looks like. It frankly makes some of the anglos (and men) on this board look intolerant and kind of dumb.

:hi:

[radwriter0555]

14. "I don't mean to sound racist, but...." is what some would call soft

racism.

But, it's prefacing a racist position.

Racism is not tolerable.

And racism isn't about feeling that one is superior. Racism is saying and believing that someone is inferior because of their ethnicity.

We're superior to republicans. That doesn't make us racist. :)

[ClusterFreak]

9. Agreed...it is a straw man argument...

...and I think my point is also valid. We're both right I think.

[PublicWrath]

5. It's been bothering me, too.

And it's as if to say that we're so beneficent for allowing them to take over our unpleasant tasks and pay them in small change. Bush's "rhetoric" is usually calculated to appeal to the absolute worst in the American psyche.

[wtmusic]

8. Nothing soft about it

and maybe we'll get an immigrant Mexican who becomes president one day and does the job Junior never did

[DanCa]

11. I find it offensive but to disabled people.

I have been trying to get work since may of 2003 when I was dxd with young onset parkinsons. My employer fired me when he found out and I haven't been able to find a job since. I can't stand it when the chimp uses that phrase. It really gets under my skin.

Hey if any of you have a job for a person in a wheel chari who tremors alert I'll glad take it. I don't care if it's scrubbing toilets or what not. Hell I want to work just as much as I want to walk. I am tired of being made to feel like a useless part of society by the rethugs and people who take shots at me for being on disabilty.

[Sapphire Blue]

12. "Soft racism?" No.

It's 21st century slavery.

Shame on anyone who supports bush's 'guest worker' program.

Shame on anyone who doesn't call their Congress people to stop it.

Shame on Congress if they pass it.

That bastard in the WH should be going after his have & have more buddies who are hiring undocumented workers, attracting them like magnets into illegally entering this country.

Every worker in this country, documented or otherwise deserves to be treated w/respect and paid a living wage.

Fuck bush & all his stinking cronies.

[MADem]

13. The very same sorts of arguments were used to justify slavery

They LIKE working in the field...they don't WANT to be free! They are too simple, and need a FIRM hand! Oh, and isn't slavery mentioned in the BAH-BULL, ergo, it must be OK!!

Well, he said the words. Carve them into the history books, now...