Tim blogging at DNC from the DC rally today...pictures and write-up.

[madfloridian]

http://www.democrats.org/a/2006/04/we_are_america.php

We Are America
Posted by Tim Tagaris on April 10, 2006 at 06:28 PM

I just returned from the immigration rally on The Mall in Washington, D.C. Yes, it's still going on, but I wanted to get you some pictures and video from the ground-level before you saw it elsewhere (which I am probably already late with these darn interets). I have no idea how many people were in attendance -- it's hard to measure the scope of such a rally when you are right in the thick of things. I will say, however, that it was the first time I have ever been to an event this size, and I was struck by the diversity in crowd. That's what hit me right away. Anyway, here are some photos -- click to enlarge. I'll have more later on tonight, including some video.

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. There are a few things that are really bothering me about some of

the mottos.

First, to imply that only Mexican-Americans can construct anything in America is a disservice to all Americans in the construction industry who have toiled over the last two centuries to build our infra-structure.

Second, to say, "Who are you calling an illegal immigrant, pilgrim" or to say "the only legal American are American Indians," is childish. It implies that they don't recognize the United States of America as a sovereign nation. Laws were established to handle immigration since the pilgrims came to this country. Why are they not willing to recognize those laws? The surges of immigrants from Europe had to go through those immigration laws in order to obtain citizenship, so should they.

That said, I'm in favor of controlled immigration and not open borders. The cost to this country to have a continual illegal immigration not only from latin America, but Asia, would create more havoc than we have today. We barely have enough jobs for everyone today, we don't have enough money in our public school system to educate millions more each year, we're already out of control with development. Why aren't they looking at the realistic costs, because other people are and they will lose in the end when they don't have answers to these hard questions.

[democrat_patriot]

2. I agree. You want to emigrate here? Fine. Do it LEGALLY!

I don't see why we need to reward the illegal immigrant with amnesty.

My wife moved here from England, we filled out the forms, paid the money and did it the right way. There is NO REASON to be here illegally.

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. What concerns me about these protests is that only right-wing

conservatives will speak out against them, and that won't help anyone because they're sure to hit the wrong buttons. It needs to be discussed rationally. The pro-illegal immigrants are leaving themselves wide open because their slogans are very weak in logic. If someone can point it out to them, they might be able to reach the same conclusions we have.

[madfloridian]

4. Some of these have been here for many years...

they have children born here who are citizens. Do you agree they should have to leave their families and go back?

And why is this all coming up now? Why not before now, when there were not so many?

[The Backlash Cometh]

5. Read my Journal. All of it.

The problem has ballooned because of GWB's special relationship with Vicente Fox. You can try to blame NAFTA, but GWB was lax and now they are here in numbers. You have two problems:

(1) How do you deal with the ones who slipped in during the Bush years?

and;

(2) How do you deal with illegal immigrants in the future. I'm not so concerned about (1) as I am about (2).

My point is a very simple one. No liberal, and I mean no God damn liberal has a right to be an environmentalist if they also believe in open borders. You cannot control development without controlling population explosion. They are directly related.

[madfloridian]

6. I don't think our Democrats want "open" borders.

Where did you get that? They want fairness and not exploitation.

[The Backlash Cometh]

7. You need to pay attention to what the protestors are saying.

It's a mistake the Dems keep making. They believe in a certain policy, then they run for the photo opportunity without looking deeper into what the special interest group is really interested in.

I heard the protestors on the news. They don't just want total amnesty for the 12 million who are here, they want to make it easier for more immigrants to come in in the future. Listen to them.