Video: Andres “American intifada” Oppenheimer battles FAIR’s Dan Stein
posted at 8:58 am on November 14, 2007 by Bryan
The Miami Herald’s Andres Oppenheimer’s Nov 4 column sounded like a threat to touch off a Hispanic intifada if amnesty isn’t granted to illegal aliens:
The rapid escalation of the U.S. anti-immigration hysteria — fueled by ratings-hungry cable-television hotheads and leading Republican presidential hopefuls — is a dangerous trend: It may lead to a Hispanic intifada that may rock this nation in the not-so-distant future.
Remember the Palestinian intifada of the early 1990s, when thousands of frustrated young Palestinians took to the streets and threw stones at Israeli troops? Remember the French intifada of the summer of 2005, in which disenfranchised Muslim youths burned cars and stores in the suburbs of Paris?
If we are not careful, we may see something similar coming from the estimated 13 million undocumented immigrants in the United States, most of them Hispanic, who are increasingly vilified in the media, forced further into the underground by spineless politicians and not given any chance to legalize their status by a pusillanimous U.S. Congress.
Here’s Oppenheimer on CNN, battling FAIR’s Dan Stein, over whether the column was a threat or merely a warning. Pay attention to the way the CNN host Rick Sanchez tries to corner Stein into supporting “comprehensive immigration reform,” meaning amnesty.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
From what we see with the Mexican Gangs and all of the rape and murder cases and the large number of illegals populating our jail they have already turned (?) violent.
What has made them turn violent in Nuevo Laredo?
HMMMMMMMMMM
400lb Gorilla on November 14, 2007 at 9:05 AM
em>It may lead to a Hispanic intifada that may rock this nation in the not-so-distant future.
A definite far left trait, governing by capitulation. What a moron!
leanright on November 14, 2007 at 9:14 AM
Oh no, illegal aliens…please don’t give us enough of an excuse under even current enforcement practices to deport you.
James on November 14, 2007 at 9:16 AM
Sanchez certainly allowed the loin’s share of the discussion to Oppenheimer. 1.8 million children brought to the U.S. by their parents and they barely speak a lick of Spanish? So, as soon as their parents crossed to the U.S. they stopped speaking Spanish? What an absurdity… Does anyone buy that crap?
This so called 1.8 million illegal children is an argument completely seperate from children born in the U.S. of illegal mothers. This latter category are U.S. citizens.
All these arguments beg the question of why people driven from their homeland do not return and protest their legal gov’ts for jobs, education and health care. Can you imagine a million man march in Mexico City demanding that the gov’t stop the corruption and elite hoarding of profits and instead, return these benefits to the population in the form of increased job availability, education and health resources? God, I sound like a communist…
Eh, you want to threaten an intifada? Then, tell me you didn’t? I think this guy has no idea how his rhetoric is perceived in the majority of the U.S.
Babs on November 14, 2007 at 9:25 AM
That is even more reason to deport all illegals.
They will deport themselves if we enforce current law!
TheSitRep on November 14, 2007 at 9:28 AM
Right on!!!
America has defended itself from gangsters before and we will do it again. Enforce the law and send the illegal cheaters back to where they belong (which is not the USA).
saiga on November 14, 2007 at 9:30 AM
I’m hoping Washington gets it soon. We have to enforce our laws and build the fence! If we shut down employers from hiring illegals, most will eventually have to return home. We don’t have to round everybody up, just shut down the jobs for illegals. Building the fence will vastly reduce the numbers of illegals coming in. It’s unfair to American workers to have illegals doing construction jobs (for example) at a fraction of the wage construction companies would have to pay Americans. We are being unfair to EVERYONE with our current policy of non-enforcement. I didn’t even get into how much illegals are costing us in medical bills and education. It’s so simple. How are our elected officials missing it???
Ordinary1 on November 14, 2007 at 9:36 AM
“…the loin’s share…”? Heh.
Jaibones on November 14, 2007 at 9:38 AM
While I strongly oppose illegal immigration and most legal immigration, Andres Oppenheimer seems not to have noticed one key fact about the Mexicans and other Central Americans: they aren’t muslim. Thus, they have no religious obligation to be bullies and thugs, and thus no intifada.
America lucked out having Mexico to its south unlike the Europeans who have the savages to their south.
thuja on November 14, 2007 at 9:40 AM
I’m not sociologist, but I thought the conventional wisdom was that immigrants continue to speak their native tongue for a generation, until the kids raised here teach American English to their own kids.
Great point. Oppenheimer is full of crap and Sanchez is a clown.
Jaibones on November 14, 2007 at 9:41 AM
These leftists are so dam mind numbingly stupid I’m having a hard time paying attention to them… which may very well be a part of their strategy.
Griz on November 14, 2007 at 9:46 AM
Now for my split personality take:
I was in Tom’s yesterday with my buddy, Doc. Tom and his wife Kula (sp?) are Greek and have a nice little breakfast and lunch joint. His busboy is apparently Mexican, and I’m guessing he’s either illegal or very, very new here.
The kid is great, and I guarantee he outworks any kid who grew up in this neighborhood; he has a great restaurant service ethic, and will be a big success in any restaurant that he can get into. Given the opportunity to stay and legalize, this kid will have his own restaurant.
And if we are all honest with ourselves here, I am certain very few of you would disagree with me that it only helps America if this particular kid and those like him get that shot. I just love watching someone work who really gets it. It’s Christlike.
Jaibones on November 14, 2007 at 9:48 AM
I hate Rick Sanchez so much.
His affected speaking is worse than David Schiester’s whiney, nasal tones.
VolMagic on November 14, 2007 at 9:56 AM
Of course. I think we all see how hardworking Latino immigrants are. My suggestion? Let a whole lot of them come into the country legally, and assimilate, and learn English, and prosper. Not exactly brain surgery.
JiangxiDad on November 14, 2007 at 9:56 AM
So let’s see…Andres got 3-4 minutes to speak his mind, Stein got 20-30 seconds, and Andres was allowed to interrupt him.
Rick Sanchez, I dare you to go up against Lou Dobbs. I want to see you cry.
MadisonConservative on November 14, 2007 at 10:06 AM
This Rick Sanchez has to be one of the most obnoxious hosts on cable today.
See if you can count the number of politically incorrect things he said. Right off the top of my head:
1. “sacred cow”
2. “they are as much gringos as the rest of us”
If this was a FNC show, the outcry over those two statements alone would have been deafening….
unamused on November 14, 2007 at 10:07 AM
From the article:
That’s all you have to read, to understand Oppenheimer’s take on this whole issue. Reframing the issue dishonestly, shows the desperation of the left in forcing their agenda. As hard case as I am towards illegal immigration, I do have a heart for those that do it the right way. For the 13 million here illegally; you have ruined your chances of gaining any true citizenship status. The best you can ever hope for is the shadows of a political gimmick.
captivated_dem on November 14, 2007 at 10:23 AM
Not really. This stems from what I think is a misinterpretation of the constitution that has thus far gone unchallenged.
Oldnuke on November 14, 2007 at 10:25 AM
Pop, I got a suggestion. Let’s get a deal with the immigration moonbats, wherein we do a two-for-one exchange. For every two illegals that we really like, and want to keep, we get to deport one moonbat.
For instance, this kid and my next door neighbor’s brother in law get to stay, and Andres Opp goes. Two of those guys busting their butts on the landscaping crew in the Heights get to stay, and Rick Sanchez — buh bye.
What’dya think?
Jaibones on November 14, 2007 at 10:27 AM
They may be stupid but Sanchez is smart enough to pick up on one undeniable fact. Oppenheimer’s position defending illegals is not a popular one with the majority of America.
Oldnuke on November 14, 2007 at 10:29 AM
done.
JiangxiDad on November 14, 2007 at 10:36 AM
I strongly disagree. It is NOT Christlike to break the law, cheat others and jump to the head of the line. Millions of decent honest hard working people from scores of countries (not next door, but with oceans between them and us) are waiting to come here, LEGALLY. From countries ravaged by war or spiritual condemnation, why shouldn’t they have a shot at the dream?
There are plenty of intelligent, educated people that will work just as hard as your busboy but bring so much MORE to our country.
Christ did NOT favor favoritism.
Don’t EVEN go there.
shooter on November 14, 2007 at 10:43 AM
Gringo? He said Gringo? Who you calling Gringo! Please use G-word from now on.
ronsfi on November 14, 2007 at 10:45 AM
Amen.
doufree on November 14, 2007 at 10:56 AM
This latter category are U.S. citizens.
Babs on November 14, 2007 at 9:25 AM
Not really. This stems from what I think is a misinterpretation of the constitution that has thus far gone unchallenged.
Until my government decides otherwise, this statement goes unchallenged. Anyone born on U.S. soil is currently a U.S. citizen…
I didn’t say I like it. I just pointed out that it is the law as opposed to illegals bringing illegal children into our country and then telling us that we have some kind of obligation for their well being.
According to our current law, we do have an obligation to children born on U.S. soil to illegal mothers. We have no obligation to illegal children being brought across our borders by illegal parents…
Babs on November 14, 2007 at 11:45 AM
Seal the border. Bring your guys in too. Have standards. Have a functioning border patrol and legal immigration system. (Have a functioning gov’t for that matter.) Nothing wrong with the busboy, or your boys either.
JiangxiDad on November 14, 2007 at 11:54 AM
So if a bank robber tries really, really hard, it is wrong to deny him the bank’s money?
…and if a burglar works hard to break into your house, it is wrong of you not to let him in?
…and if your two-year-old demands a pony and gets really red in the face, it is wrong not to get him the pony…and let him keep it in his room?
What a novel approach to conflict resolution: CAPITULATION!!
…but what if we really, really, really don’t want illegals in our country???
landlines on November 14, 2007 at 11:55 AM
Gringo’s like you and me? Rick Sanchez is no Gringo.
Gringo’s don’t sell out America, phony Americans do.
Speakup on November 14, 2007 at 12:02 PM
Wasn’t bustin’ your chops Babs. Just pointing out that the 14th amendment doesn’t really make everyone born here a natural citizen. It’s just been interpreted that way and gone unchallenged…so far.
As to ‘your’ government deciding otherwise..well how bout we get together with several million other folks and tell ‘our’ government what their decision is going to be. Sort of like we did a few months ago when comprehensive immigration reform came up for a vote.
Could you reference a law that states that all persons born on US soil are citizens? I’d like to read it, any state will do. I haven’t been able to find one for Virginia. Please don’t link to the fourteenth amendment I know what it says.
Oldnuke on November 14, 2007 at 12:32 PM
But what about the little children? (Insert a little whine and a couple of sniffles here.)
Oldnuke on November 14, 2007 at 12:37 PM
Rick Sanchez is yust another MSM hack posing as an “everyman”.
RobCon on November 14, 2007 at 12:59 PM
more likely theres going to be an American citizen intifada against these villains who climb over our fences, break into our country and force themselves into our jobs, schools, hospitals, neighborhoods. So theres 13 million ILLEGALS? well theres a hell of allot more LEGAL citizens, I think we can take em. Bring on the Intifada
Keli on November 14, 2007 at 12:59 PM
who in the hell is this
Dickrick sanchez tool?is he the cnn counter weight to lou dobbs???
is their any wonder why CNN is such a festering pile of steamy ****
Mojack420 on November 14, 2007 at 3:03 PM
The intifada will be stopped dead in it’s tracks when it comes up against the unstopable power of mid-afternoon siesta.
Alden Pyle on November 14, 2007 at 3:46 PM
Hey Oldnuke – You and I are on the same page. Don’t get me wrong. If you want to start something then point me to the petitition. I’ll sign it. To my knowledge, no other country in the Western world considers all those born on their soil to be citizens of their country. Someone correct me if I am wrong. Basically, they say we will deliver your child through our socialized health care system and then, get the hell out of here.
But right now, today, the United States gov’t says, you were born on U.S. soil then you are a U.S. citizen. That is the reality that we, native citizens, deal with today.
I would be more than happy to have that change. Unfortunately, I don’t think it is going to change anytime soon.
Hell, we can’t even get the country to agree on border protection…
Babs on November 14, 2007 at 4:01 PM
Kinda thought we were on the same page, just wanted to make sure you didn’t think I was jerking your chain.
I don’t do many petitions, don’t think they do much good. PO’d voters are a lot more effective. Right not there are a lot of PO’d voters out here, they just need a real candidate to vote for. Hope one shows up soon.
The only division within the country on border security is the methodology. The Country is united on immigration it’s just the entrenched career politicians in Washington (that we put there) that don’t get it but I think they’re slowly waking up. WE just have to keep hammering them…Oh! and voting them out.
There are Republican candidates out there who question the validity of the argument that everyone born here is automatically a citizen…but not one who has a chance of winning. Inertia and apathy are both hard to overcome but eventually I think this will be brought out into the light of day.
I’d still like to read a state or federal statute that states that anyone born within our borders is a citizen. I just read Oklahoma’s new law. Pretty stiff, need more laws like it.
Oldnuke on November 14, 2007 at 4:52 PM
If these 1.8 million children cannot speak Spanish what language do they speak ? Certainly not English. If it was we would not have a problem with our schools here in Arizona where we are forced by our courts to spend more money on educating children with no English.
SIJ6141 on November 14, 2007 at 5:20 PM
FAIR?
jummy on November 14, 2007 at 7:51 PM