Anti-immigration groups form alliance, endorse strangling governors

April 19, 2008

Guest Post by Morbo

Illegal immigration isn’t quite the issue it used to be. Polls show most Americans are more concerned about the state of the economy, soaring gas and food prices, job losses, the foreclosure crisis, and so on.

Nevertheless, groups obsessed with illegal immigration continue to proliferate. Certainly an argument can be made that the Southern border is probably too porous, but I remain suspicious of the motives of these organizations. Their “solutions” (mass deportations, East Berlin-style fences, “English only” laws) are absurd, and you don’t have to squeeze them hard before they start spouting anti-Hispanic rhetoric.

Recently, groups in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., announced they would join forces, supposedly to be more effective. Reading about their efforts in the Silver Spring (Md.) Gazette, I couldn’t help but be reminded why these organizations are so often the butt of jokes.

For example, at least one of the groups is supporting Walter C. Abbott, a 44-year-old construction worker from Parkville, Md., who threatened Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley in an e-mail. Abbott wrote a long message to O’Malley that included the line:

“If I would ever get close enough to you I would like to wrap my hands around your neck and choke the life out of you, you piece of [expletive deleted] American sellout.”

Abbott included his real name and thoughtfully provided his street address. State police promptly came over and arrested him. He is under home detention, awaiting trial.

Abbott said he was frustrated because illegal aliens willing to work cheap have ruined his drywall business. I don’t know much about drywall, but my guess is that if there is a way to hang it backwards, upside down or inside out, Abbott may have found a way to do so.

Consider what Abbott told the Gazette: “Mainly I was venting my frustrations and also I was hoping [O’Malley] would meet with me.” Yep, threatening to choke a guy to death usually always leads to a meeting!

Normal people would probably look at a guy like Abbott and move in the other direction. Instead, some members of Help Save Maryland, one of the anti-illegal immigration groups involved in the new alliance, are circulating e-mails proposing a legal defense fund for Abbott. They say he is a free-speech martyr.

“Is he the poster boy for the group? No,” said Brad Botwin, director of the group. “Is he the poster boy for the whole cause? No. But he’s just a man who’s getting desperate.”

Brad, Brad, Brad! The proper response when a member of your group threatens to strangle a public official is to at least pretend to disavow violence and claim you’ve expelled that member. Then you can go back to whining about people speaking Spanish down at the Wal-Mart.

Do I have to tell you nitwits everything?

Abbott is ‘frustrated’? Sounds more bitter to me, which makes him human. But his hatred makes him more of a neocon, who seem to hate everything about a real democracy. Let’s sentence him to sub-minimum wage working on yards during the day and washing restaurants at night, and we’ll see how quickly his fences come down.

  • Another example of the insane escaping from the asylem. Everytime I read or hear something like this and then read in the news that the US military is actively recruiting illegal imagrants to serve in Iraq I wonder where these nuts are then and not calling for their deportation. Last count 37,000 serving in Iraq and Afganistan.

  • Free speech martyr? Have these insane people even contemplated that the only “push-of-the-envelope” beyond calling an open threat to murder someone is the actual act of carrying out the threat?

    Such things are, by logic, a two-way street (a prime example being the embroiling Communist/Fascist violence that brought down the Wiemar Republic). Would the good folks over at Help Save Maryland be equally vigilant in supporting my free-expression right to fire a bazooka at them?

    Probably not….

  • Sigh. The number of racists, nativists and all-purpose nuts that have jumped on the anti-illegal immigration bandwagon obscure the fact that it is a genuine problem economically and as a national security issue.

    No matter how good our intentions are, the US simply can’t import everyone in Central and South America who wants a better life. Illegal immigration is imposing costs on states, and not just border states. This is undeniable. And the porous border, with its attendent coyotes willing to bring anyone in who has the cash to pay, really is an open door for terrorists.

    These are real problems that deserve real solutions.

    And yes, you do have to tell nitwits like Abbot and Brad everything. Don’t those boys have keepers yet?


  • You can’t and if you don’t know what you’re talking about, don’t try to make cheap shots in that direction. Hanging ‘rock is a skill but there are people out there who will do it cheaper. Not necessarily better, just cheaper.

    Try to find a non-Hispanic roofing or cement finishing crew in Houston. There might be a few but I haven’t seen one in years. I understand his frustration although I don’t share his xenophobia.

  • Abbott may not be too bright, but he is someone who is significantly impacted by illegal immigration. Immigrants are a large part of drywall, painting, roofing and some other trades in residential construction. You can be frustrated when you are losing your livelihood and feel powerless to do something about it. I can’t defend his actions but can understand his frustration.

  • Not to belittle your point, while there is a paper ‘backside’ there is no up or down, right or left to gypsum, or ‘drywall’, it can be hung in any manner and achieve the same effect – which is in essence the replacement of lathe (wood slats) covered with plaster, hence ‘drywall’. Like concrete, it’s damned hard work, and around here the ‘immigrants’ are paid as well as we. The fact is they’re willing to work, whereas most ‘Americans’, black or white, are not.

  • This guy didn’t threaten to choke O’Malley, he said he’s like to do it. That is the difference between 1) a threat and 2) not a threat. What he did is, while despicable, entirely legal, and now thanks to the Maryland cops, his civil rights have been violated. Yes friends, he is a free speech martyr.

    http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=us&vol=394&invol=705

    Respecting free speech is a duty of government to people under its jurisdiction. It’s not something extended to people who share your views on free speech. Historically, major efforts to restrict speech have often been justified by the alleged rejection of those values by the targets of repression – anarchists, communists, etc.

    Also, every effort in American history – every single one – to restrict speech has been based on the claim that it was a short step from words to action. Criticize the Adams Administration – if people listen, they might revolt. Criticize World War I or the draft – people might violently oppose the war. Discuss the possibility of revolution or print books that call for revolution – well people might do it.

    What’s more, this is a great example of how more speech is the solution to bad speech. Does anyone think that O’Malley suffers if we all learn about this, or that this guy gains support? Let them have their platform. Confront these idiotic and hateful ideas in the open.

    Free speech for people and ideas you approve of isn’t free speech. It’s just speech.

  • Drywallers aren’t the most thoughtfull bunch on the vine. While it is true immigrants add to the competion, it is also possible that ol’ Walter wasn’t cut out to run a business. See it all the time.

  • If I would ever get close enough to you I would like to wrap my hands around your neck and choke the life out of you

    Stuff the crappy overextension, David—you cite a case where someone made an offhand remark to a group of people during a discussion, and was not made directly to LBJ. This dimwit didn’t do any such thing; he went out of his way to address the threat directly to the target, and to send the threat to the target. That constitutes both malice and contempt—the two precursors to an overt commission of a felony.

  • Somebody help me out here. Why are “English Only Laws” absurd? I never have understood
    the logic behind a statement like that.

  • From reading an interview with Walter Abbott, he was frustrated because he could no longer earn a living. He was constantly being underbid by illegal aliens who were illegally working building houses. It is also illegal to subvert wage standard, which both illegals and those who employed them were doing.

    We hear about illegals only wanting a better life, well who wouldn’t? The fact is however, that there is no starvation in Latin America, especially Mexico. Mexico is the 14th wealthiest country in the world, and that wealth was based on jobs that were taken from American citizens after NAFTA was pushed through.

    Illegals come here to earn a wage higher than they would earn in their home countries, so they underbid American workers wages. At the same time, these same illegals, assisted by the corporate sponsered illegal alien lobby demand illegals receive welfare and other subsidies because they “aren’t earning enough”. So this causes increases in state and local taxes. It’s another corporate welfare scam, and these illegals are not harder working, nor are they needed.

    Even the president of the largest bank in Mexico, the Banco de Mexico has stated that as long as Mexicans enter the US illegally, the wealthy Mexican government gets away with not having to enact needed reforms.

    American citizens need to work, and support themselves and their families. That is never discussed, and that causes the frustration Abbott spoke about. Their elected leaders ignore them, even lie about the economic realities.. that is a violation of our constitution and bill of rights.

  • This is a great idea to form groups. Gov. Richardson threw the Lationo commuity under the bus. New Mexico voted for Hillary with the most popular vote. Why did he go support Obama and snub his nose at the majority of people in his state?

  • The illegal immigration problem has been created by the feds. You don’t have 12 million or more illegals come here without feds approval. That is we the feds can’t solve the problem. States will have to address the problem there by forcing the feds to enforce the laws. We can even see the feds intent while pushing for their new bill the SAVE act. While once again promising to secure the border and go after ID theft, It gives businesses up to four years to verify their employees. What is wrong with this picture. Two things have to be done to stop illegal immigration. 1. strict employment enforcement, which means not only the illegals but management too. 2. Knowledge that if caught they will be deport and not allowed back, in others words, no catch and release. This will force them to go the legal route. You would have thought those geniuses in DC could figure this out.

  • .
    Why is that so many feel that illegal only means a LARGE SICK BIRD. What is it that they do not understand???
    .

  • I would call Abbott a Patriot. Politicians are violating the Constitution and not being held accountable. Learn the history of your country before you damn Abbott.

  • Unfortunately as this column illustrates their are many ,many people who are too clueless to understand the ramifications of unfettered illegal immigration. The murder of Jamiel Shaw is only one death among multitiudes killed by illegals from another culture that is less than our own. Duh…to those who say Walter doesn’t know how to run a business….well,… keep importing cheaper and cheaper labor…heck, cut through the baloney and reinstitute slavery….it’s about the same thing…..But then the author and some commenters here can’t see beyond their own noses so trying to educate them is hopeless. Between those too greedy to see how they are destroying this once great country and those dumb as a rock we are doomed to turn into a third world cesspoool.

  • To Charles M…Xenophobia????? Excuse me, since when is wanting your own country defended xenophobia..????oh yeah,.. when the invading army wants to smokescreen their true intentions…….

  • P.S. Illegals can’t vote, unionize, or receive relief from the courts when abused.

    WHY has immigration reform become a conservative cause?
    Compassion means getting these people to work under fair conditions, doesn’t it?

  • This is truly a fascinating issue. I have always felt that if the lure is removed,the attraction is rendered less attractive. One method I have not seen discussed much is for states to enact legislation to move for combined tax reporting metods. Many corporations and businesses that hire or cater to illegal labor,are the recipients of billions of dollars from diverting states sales taxes to sister corporations in Delaware and other locations. Most notably are the REITS,and Geoffery Loophole(royalty tax),also PICS. There is an excellent site on the net which provides a map of the states that have this method,and those who don’t. The states that DO have this combined method,that close All corporate loopholes are MORE healthy,economically than those who are being bled dry by corporate welfare. North Carolina just took WalMart to court to demand back payment of $36 million in diverted sales tax. That’s just ONE state.Multiply that times 30 or 40 states for twenty years or so. But these loopholes are enjoyed by other corporations,also. Close the loopholes,this will slow down the hemmorhaging of rightful state revenue,and the jobs that are luring illegal labor.

  • KEY FINDINGS

    The governors of Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania all recommended in 2007 that their states implement a key corporate income tax reform known as “combined reporting.”

    West Virginia, New York, and Michigan enacted combined reporting legislation in 2007, bringing to 21 the number of states that have adopted this policy.

    Combined reporting nullifies a variety of abusive corporate income tax avoidance strategies, including Wal-Mart’s “captive REIT” tax shelter featured in a front-page Wall Street Journal story in February 2007.

    The entire article,including the map graphic, can be found on the website -Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The article by Michael Mazerov is entitled,”Growing Number of States Considering a Key Corporate Tax Reform”,revised September 12,2007.

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