***Scroll down for clarification***
Future President Barack Hussein Obama makes so many verbal gaffes, it’s barely challenging to find and expose the ignorance.
Race-pandering before the hispanic racialist group La Raza, BHO equated Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the government agency charged with carrying out our nations immigration laws, with terrorism. He said:
“When communities are terrorized by ICE immigration raids…when all that is happening, the system just isn’t working, and we need to change it.”
Play the video below:
Let’s get this straight. Our future president believes it is akin to terrorism – the bombing and decapitating Al Qaeda’s doing all over the globe – for the United States to send its agents into communities to round up blatant lawbreakers. Forget, just for a moment, what he believes about unborn babies, and think about the implications of BHO’s statements.
Not only does he believe what La Raza believes – that the U.S. should have no immigration laws and no borders – but he thinks a nation, one that has nurtured him, protected him, and given him the freedom to speak, has no moral or legal authority to enforce its own laws! Truly maddening.
I take back what I wrote at the top. That’s no verbal gaffe. It’s what BHO believes, and it’s only a shadow of things to come once BHO is president. Immigration raids, in his opinion, are terrorist tactics and most likely will be halted once he takes office.
Others are free to comment on this post, but I especially want to hear from people who plan to vote for BHO. Does it not bother you at all that Obama likens immigration enforcement to terrorism? If it doesn’t, please provide a rational explanation why.
Also see Hot Air…
Later…McCain race-panders, too, of course.
Update: Even if BHO used a poor choice of words (which he does frequently), at the very least, he implied that immigration raids are somehow wrong, for crying out loud. Do you get that? It is wrong for the government to raid businesses and crack down on people who hire illegal workers and to round up workers who in some cases used other people’s social security numbers. Identity theft! For some people, BHO truly is the Messiah, isn’t he?
Related posts:
When I was a senior in high school and Max Baucus (D) was running for Congress against incumbent “Big” Ed Smith (R), I was for Baucus. He was good-looking in a JFK kind of way, and he was a Democrat (still is) at a time when I was indoctrinated by the public school system (less blatantly than now, but still…) to be a liberal.
When I announced my preference for Baucus, my dad had the nerve to ask me why. What policies did Baucus favor that caused me to support him?
Well, I had no idea what he stood for, and all I could do was stammer. I was extremely annoyed with my dad for expecting me to defend myself when my mind was already made up and set in stone on Baucus.
Don’t be surprised if some Obama supporters get just as annoyed with you for asking them to defend their decision.
Comment by SkyePuppy — 07.14.08 @ 12:36 pm
Barack Obama Calls Immigration Enforcement Agency Terrorists…
Trackback by Little Green Footballs — 07.14.08 @ 12:54 pm
I have a question for you LaShawn..
In Romans 13:1-3 (KVJ) it says:
1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
In v3 is found “terror to good works”
Now.. in the New American Standard Bible v3 is translated like this:
3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;
Are what the Bible calls “rulers” the same as “TERRORISTS”?
Do you truly believe that Senator Obama is accusing ICE of being a terrorist organization.
To “terrorize” merely means that one causes great fear, LaShawn. You’re writer, so you know that words are tools.
HOWEVER, I want to be clear that I am 100% in support of ICE, and since the Bible is the ultimate authority in heaven and earth, no matter WHAT Senator Obama says, I’ll re-apply this scripture with even more context..
Romans 3: (KJV)
“1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.”
EVERY soul means legal AND illegal immigrants, and everyone else who sets foot on American soil.
“2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:”
Meaning, and I drafted yet another email to Senator Obama’s people about this..
THEY WOULDN’T BE OR “FEEL” “TERRORIZED” IF THEY WEREN’T BREAKING THE LAW IN THE FIRST PLACE.
“do that which is GOOD..” and people won’t come breaking down your door.
I haven’t received a response yet, and I doubt I will.
Comment by THEBIGDODDY — 07.14.08 @ 12:56 pm
Wow… as a religous Christian, i find that misleading. The bible teaches us to “obey” laws from state. Plain and simple, you come across the border illegally, you get sent back. Personally, i feel that we should do what Mexico does when people come into their country illigally… minimum 3 years in jail.
Yeah, thats right - 3 YEARS. I think we all should move into Ixtapa or cancun and then ask for free health care and governmental assistance because i dont feel like paying into taxes.
~M
Comment by Michael — 07.14.08 @ 1:20 pm
Obama Calls Immigration Enforcement Agency Terrorists…
Trackback by Weasel Zippers — 07.14.08 @ 1:30 pm
Obama Says Immigration Enforcement Efforts “Terrorize” Illegals…
Yesterday, in a speech to La Raza, Barack Obama likened Immigration Enforcement efforts to “terror”.
When communities are terrorized by ICE immigration raids, when nursing mothers are torn from their babies, when children come home from sc…
Trackback by BigMouthFrog — 07.14.08 @ 1:48 pm
Michael,
I don’t know you consider misleading but your right about sending people back.
Apparently enforcing the law, apparently makes too much sense.
They act like enforcing this legislation should be done the way you ask people not to walk across your lawn. It’s not as if people don’t know that their breaking the law.
Comment by THEBIGDODDY — 07.14.08 @ 1:54 pm
McCain is not much better. I have no one to vote for this election, however that’s not unusual.
Comment by Rick — 07.14.08 @ 1:56 pm
I am not an Obama supporter and never will be unless he has a change of heart on abortion.
However, I believe you are reading too much into this. One can “terrorize” without being a “terrorist” in the Al Qaeda sense. Think about it - whatever else Obama may be, he is not an idiot. Publicly likening ICE to anti-US terrorists would be incredibly stupid.
Obama knows this and is smart enough not to do it intentionally. It was just a poor choice of words for this day and age.
Comment by PatrickW — 07.14.08 @ 2:14 pm
What is wrong with what he said? Latinos are being terrorized by ICE, since this is their country that was stolen by the American Gringo thieves back in the 1840’s. We are taking it back by Reconquista, and electing Senator Barack Obama will further hasten that process. He has already promised the leaders of La Raza and LULAC to give the Southwest back to Mexico, right after Slavery Reparations are passed in Congress. Therefore, all Latinos will be voting for BO this year! Viva La Raza!
Comment by Richard Martinez — 07.14.08 @ 2:29 pm
PatrickW.. exactly what I was getting at.
It would be foolish of him to call any government agency a terrorist one, which is NOT what he did, even though he still is not on point.
Comment by THEBIGDODDY — 07.14.08 @ 2:44 pm
McCain is not much better, You need to find out who is worse, Obama Or McCain,
in my opinion obama is Hell a lot worse then McCain,
if you want things to remain the same Vote for McCain
If you want things to get 100% worse, vote for Obama,
those are your choices,
I voted for Hillary. Now I am voting for McCain,
Comment by Paul V — 07.14.08 @ 2:56 pm
Richard Martinez,
La Raza can have whatever they want, but they better have their wallets and checkbooks ready or they ain’t getting jack.
And we’ll take that in US Dollars too.. thanks.
Comment by THEBIGDODDY — 07.14.08 @ 3:01 pm
I think B. Hussein O. was trying to play on the fears that terrorism elicits, in a way that he can take a stab at Mac and the administration, and gather more Latino voters than his opponent. Pure politics, pure and simple.
Comment by Atom&Yves — 07.14.08 @ 4:24 pm
Well of course, its ALL politics, and it’s tainted because the participants are tainted.
Comment by THEBIGDODDY — 07.14.08 @ 4:37 pm
Richard,
Perhaps you should read a little and stop swallowing the racist La Raza line. Illegal means exactly that.
http://www.azteca.net/aztec/guadhida.html
Comment by Azygos — 07.14.08 @ 4:49 pm
Richard: Will Mexico give all the land back that it stole from the Aztecs, et. al.?
Just curious.
Comment by Hube — 07.14.08 @ 4:56 pm
And La Raza AREN’T terrorists?!
ROFL!!!!!!!
Comment by Ryan — 07.14.08 @ 5:23 pm
Dear Sir: Many years ago the Great Apache Nation had an Immigration Policy against the Mexicans crossing the border. And so did my Great Grand Father protecting his lands he was Cherokee & Chickisaw.Maybe Barack Obama has somthing against us Native Americans because we had and immigration policy and it worked. Maybe he should go back and protect Nebraska and make better use of his time.Thank You For Listening.
Comment by Robert Bearden Davis — 07.14.08 @ 5:29 pm
If I asked you to give me ten words you would use to describe a police officer in the United States, I’m pretty sure that “terrorist” wouldn’t make the list.
Pingback by The Sundries Shack — 07.14.08 @ 6:01 pm
The current policy does terrorize the Hispanic community. In Cobb County, Georgia local police inquire on immigration status in all instances, and the US citizen children that are supported by their working fathers bear the brunt of this witch hunt. Car tag wrong? deported. Mom calls the police because dad’s drunk? deported. Car accident? deported. It’s so bad that one illegal fled the scene of a fender bender. A high speed chase ensued and a collision killed a father and son who were just driving down the road.
I am embarrassed by my fellow conservatives who have no appreciation of how this policy punishes the children who are US citizens. I see it with my own eyes, these are children who are polite, respectful, do good in school and are now without the support of their fathers. Does ICE inform them of where their father is? no. Does the father have right to legal counsel? no. If legal counsel calls ICE to intervene, will they acknowlege they even have the person? no. It’s a soviet justice system for illegals, make no mistake.
I have no problem with sealing the border and allowing no more, but the ones that are here deserve better - especially US citizen children of illegals. We are all the descendants of immigrants that came here for a better life. But conservatives need to mete out some sort of blame and punishment on illegals — they are here because they love our country and they are willing to earn a living. How miserable they’ve become because they don’t fit in the immigration quota. How many of our immigrant ancestors had to comply with a quota?
Many of the Hispanics that are here because of the Reagan amnesty are citizens and vote, and their children vote, and the US citizen children of illegals vote (if they’re old enough). Reagan endeared them; Bush tried to hold them with a guestworker program — but conservatives blasted it. Forget about getting more Hispanic vote over to the conservative side. The KGB/ICE has turned their hearts for generations.
Comment by Mark30339 — 07.14.08 @ 6:12 pm
I always get a good laugh from those who agree and want Mexico to take back southwest United States. And then what? Mexico would turn these states into the dung pile it is. Then, those living in the Southwest would have to jump fence again because Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, California would be just like all the other Mexican states. What a bunch of morons!!! By the way, maybe in a couple of hundred years we might be all one nation, but for now, it will remain the United States Of America. And there are and will be millions of patriots that would be willing to die for her.
Comment by Sparky — 07.14.08 @ 6:15 pm
I can’t say it but I’m thinking it…
WTF
There is no way this guy can ever be president. I think that the more he opens his mouth the more Americans will understand the Oval Office is not the place for him to sit.
Waiting for McCain to enter the race….
Comment by SharonB — 07.14.08 @ 6:22 pm
re:mark #21; Apparently you have not read the constitution recently. If you had you MIGHT understand the 14th amendment which explains how children of illegal border crossers are NOT citizens of this great country. They are actually citizens of whatever country their illegal parent is from. Do yourself a favor and at least read the source material first!
Comment by Richard — 07.14.08 @ 7:10 pm
#21 Mark30339 asks us to put a human face on the illegal immigration problem. I think that we should do just that. There are lots of issues in this mare’s nest that need our thoughtful attention.
However, Mark30339 claims that we are running: “…. a soviet justice system for illegals, make no mistake.” I won’t get stuck on the hyperbole, if we can also be adult about the fact that people who are here illegally are fully aware of and responsible for their own actions.
Mark30339 paints an honest picture of some of the illegal alien situations. It is not the only picture.
Our enforcement people are not terrorists. An ICE agent has likely encountered hundreds of situations that advise him how to approach the next encounter. I doubt that an ICE agent goes to work hoping to terrorize someone or considers himself a rogue with extraordinary police power.
Part of the problem here is the heated rhetoric. A Presidential candidate talking about ICE terrorizing people is a good example of the demagogue’s art.
Comment by heliotrope — 07.14.08 @ 7:24 pm
La Shawn knows the story of my wife, who is a legal immigrant from Africa. In the immigration debate legal immigrants are sometimes lumped together with illegals. I insist on the distinction.
The calls for “comprehensive immigration reform” would be funny if they were not so personally painful. Who are we kidding? The present system cannot handle the relatively small load of legal applicants it has now - it took the intervention of two different Members of Congress to get my wife’s visa and green card applications unstuck, and her story is far from unique. Now imagine dumping an addition 5 to 20 million (the precise number of illegals who would be eligible under a “reformed” system has never been made clear) onto a bureaucracy that already moves at glacial speed. Are you worried yet?
Either the immigration system will grind to a complete halt (it is barely moving now) or bureaucrats will be pressured into rubber-stamping applications to clear the titanic backlog. So if you are lucky enough to live in Central America legal residence in the US could be yours in the post-reform era by crossing a largely unguarded border and gaming the system long enough to get some harried USCIS official to sign off (Africans and Asians may have to swim an ocean or two to get here, however).
Comment by Mwalimu Daudi — 07.14.08 @ 8:04 pm
>>I see it with my own eyes, these are children who are polite, respectful, do good in school and are now without the support of their fathers.>>
So…why don’t they join their fathers? Where are their mothers?
Comment by suek — 07.14.08 @ 8:48 pm
Mark30339, if YOU’re embarrassed by your ‘fellow’ conservatives, just try to imagine the flip side of that coin. Your examples of “deported” are GOOD examples of what SHOULD happen to “ILLEGAL” aliens, regardless of nationality. And don’t call me LA RAZAist, because you see, I hate everyone equally.
Comment by Atom&Yves — 07.14.08 @ 9:05 pm
Richard at post 24 reads the constitution with such compassion - his would not be the majority view but no Supreme Court Case has expressly put out the US born babies of illegals (so for conservatives like Richard, there’s still hope). In the meantime, 8 U.S. Code Sec.1401 is quite clear:
Ҥ 1401. Nationals and citizens of United States at birth
The following shall be nationals and citizens of the United States at birth:
(a) a person born in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof; . . .”
A birth certificate is the practical document that establishes one’s US citizenship — now if Richard wants to amend the law to say there’s an exception for offspring of illegals, Nathan Deal is already trying - the cold heart caucus doesn’t seem to have the votes yet.
Comment by Mark30339 — 07.14.08 @ 9:43 pm
A Certificate of Naturalization is also proof of citizenship.I got mine in 1988. Had INS not lost my parent’s entry paperwork, forcing them to reapply, I would have been a born citizen.
Comment by RolfRFJ — 07.14.08 @ 9:59 pm
The Supreme Court has never explicitly ruled on whether children born in the United States to illegal immigrant parents are entitled to birthright citizenship via the 14th Amendment. There is one case, United States v. Wong Kim Ark, 169 U.S. 649 (1898) that set a legal precedent for a child born on American soil to parents who were here legally. Congress could pass a law that specifically denies jus soli to children of illegal immigrants.
Comment by heliotrope — 07.14.08 @ 10:26 pm
Obama supporter here!
First and foremost Barak Obama is a politician. All poiliticians will pander to organizations who represent large voting blocs. Sen. McCain is no different. McCain was also asked by a La Raza member;
“I am ashamed of these raids that are separating children from parents. As president will you stop these inhumane raids?”
McCain responded;”We will. With all due respect, you’re talking about a symptom of the problem rather than the problem itself.”
Lashawn asks;”Does it not bother you at all that Obama likens immigration enforcement to terrorism?”
In it’s connotative meaning, no, it does not bother me. Should you take offence to a teacher who likens a 5th grade bully to a terrorist? “Little Johnny ‘terrorized’ his classmate.” It’s simple semantics La Shawn….
Comment by p. anthony allen — 07.15.08 @ 1:54 am
Obama might not be perfect but McCain is too befuddled to make an effective president.
Comment by immigration serf — 07.15.08 @ 4:04 am
When you are a candidate for President of the United States, a country that is engaged in a war on terrorism, using the word “terrorize” is no longer simple semantics.
We have done exactly the same thing with the word “torture.”
Why couldn’t Obama chosen to say that ICE “scares” people. I am sure someone hiding from the law gets scared when the law shows up. But when ICE “terrorizes” people it is on a whole different level of emotional impact. If ICE cuffs the “victim” is that “torture?” And is the person cuffed by ICE a “victim” of a torturing, terroristic organization or is he a “victim” of his own poor choices?
Comment by heliotrope — 07.15.08 @ 12:10 pm
Helio, A candidate for the President of the United States is no more “human” than you our I. Perhaps you’ve bought into the “Messiah” syndrome for those who seek that office. Terror and torture are hardly brand new terms. I guess political correctness has found it’s way to the right-wing.
Comment by p. anthony allen — 07.15.08 @ 1:34 pm
p. anthony allen, I think you are neglecting the point. Words have meaning, and words in various contexts have the burden of added “meaning.” It’s just the way things are and always have been, even before there was the term “political correctness” - itself a term that carries its own contextual baggage.
Do a Google news search on the word and you’ll find that besides the hyperbolic usage (banks terrorizing Wall Street, for instance), the word tends to be directly related to causing someone fear of severe injury or death. This is how most people understand the word. Using it to describe the actions of ICE, who certainly do not regularly kill people in their raids, is irresponsible for someone who’s words would carry as much weight as the President of the US.
Comment by Gabe — 07.15.08 @ 3:02 pm
What Heliotrope said in #34 for sure. Senator Obama knew what he was saying, and as such, heaped this on himself.
Words…things you often cannot take back.
Comment by THEBIGDODDY — 07.15.08 @ 3:18 pm
Hmm..
I wonder what Senator Obama would think if someone wrote that his white granny “terrorized” him with her ignorance and bigotry.
Hopefully he’d say, “well, that’s not quite what she did, though her words were quite hurtful..”.
Hopefully…
Comment by THEBIGDODDY — 07.15.08 @ 3:21 pm
In a previous thread, a commenter named Jason asked me to change me headline, that McCain didn’t support the DREAM Act, said he didn’t say what I said he did and was just clearing his throat.
Pingback by All American Blogger — 07.15.08 @ 3:53 pm
La Shawn asked for an Obama supporter. I gave my take on how I viewed the comment. You have your opinion, which of course is partisan. I have my opinion, which you are free to view in the same light.
The irony is that, no matter what candidate you support, if he or she makes a statement that the opposition views as a “gaffe”, supporter will do what supporters do…support! The opposition will do what the opposition does…oppose!
La Shawn is a smart woman. I believe she knew the question would spark a bit of heated debate. A lawyer friend once told me, “in a debate, never ask a question that you don’t know the answer to.”
Comment by p. anthony allen — 07.15.08 @ 5:28 pm
p. anthony allen
Remember when Bush said he wanted bin Laden dead or alive? It was deemed inappropriate talk for a President.
Well, saying ICE is “terrorizing” or American troops terrorize women and children in the dead of night is not a good way to take over ICE and the military as President.
Obama, if elected, will have to work with these people. Having their respect is a good place to start.
Sampson slew the Philistines with the jawbone of an ass. Presidential candidates should not be seen as speaking through the jawbone of an ass.
Comment by heliotrope — 07.16.08 @ 12:17 am
Helio, what part of, “In it’s connotative meaning, no, it does not bother me”, do you not understand? You have the opposite opinion, right? Good…stick to your opinion, I’ll stick to mine.
When President Elect George W. Bush met with congressional leaders in Dec. 2000 he quipped; “If this were a dictatorship, it’d be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I’m the dictator.” A few years later while sitting in the Oval office he repeated a similar line.
Was I appauled that a U.S. president would say such a thing? Quite frankly, yes! Is it inappropriate for a president of a free and democratic society to refer to himself as a dictator? In my opinion, yes! As president elect, was it a “good place for him to start” when it came to dealing with the opposition parties in the congress? If I were an Independent or Democrat in congress I’d want to know if he was “for real”!
Finally, were such “words” so damning that you or I should worry ourselves about his ablilities to effectively run and care for our country? In my opinion, NO! Frankly, I saw Bush as just another politician “speaking through the jawbone of an ass.”
Comment by p. anthony allen — 07.16.08 @ 3:32 am
p. anthony allen,
I believe I understood your words quite well. I respect the fact that when you mask a word by referring to “it’s connotative meaning” that you are shifting into weasel word mode.
Obama is certainly respected by all ICE agents for his rhetoric. And the New Yorker cover is just a cartoon and only idiots don’t see the satire. And Pennsylvania is full of people clinging to their guns and their funky religion. It is all so, well, subject to the connotative meaning.
Can’t we all just be sophisticated?
Comment by heliotrope — 07.16.08 @ 2:28 pm
Helio, Absolutely correct! It took you a while, but you finally got it….
Comment by p. anthony allen — 07.16.08 @ 5:25 pm
p. anthony allen: Ooops! You didn’t understand #43 in the least!
But, if you prefer to believe that I am slow, have a field day.
Comment by heliotrope — 07.16.08 @ 6:21 pm
Was I appauled that a U.S. president would say such a thing? Quite frankly, yes!
p. anthony allen is “appauled” by George Bush’s jest, and I am “appauled” by the fuzzy thinking of p. anthony allen (not to mention how “appauled” I am at his spelling).
At any rate – was the Messiah jesting when He said ICE agents were “terrorizing” people? Or is this another case of Him taking a position that He does not really believe in (like Iraq, public campaign financing, FISA, gun control, etc.)?
Comment by Mwalimu Daudi — 07.16.08 @ 6:47 pm
Helio, I understood what you wrote, be it sarcasm, satire, irony or caustic wit. That fact is La Shawn asked for an Obama supporter’s take on a comment the candidate made. What more (or less) did you expect to hear from someone who take’s the comment “with a grain of salt”?
Far be it from me to interrupt you if you’re making a mistake…
Comment by p. anthony allen — 07.16.08 @ 7:03 pm
appalled
Thank you Mwaulmiu….
Comment by p. anthony allen — 07.16.08 @ 8:53 pm