Are Many Utahns Basically Racist?
I just started reading the comments on this KSL story about the House voting down driving privilege cards for illegal immigrants. I was a little shocked at how many people think taking these permits away is a good idea.
None of the first dozen or so comments that I’ve read so far mentioned the rationale Donnelson claimed motivated him to draft his bill:
Rep. Glenn Donnelson, R-North Ogden, said the cards are a threat to national security and encourage illegal immigrants to settle in Utah.
“With the driver privilege card, we do not know who they are,” Donnelson said. “Are they terrorists? Are they just people who want to come here to work? We don’t know.”
Who does Donnelson think he’s kidding? “Are they terrorists?” What? Has there been a rash of car bombings in North Ogden I haven’t heard about? Of course they aren’t terrorists. All I can take from his statement is that Rep. Donnelson thinks we are all either stupid enough to think there really is a national security concern or that we are just racist enough that we won’t call him on his idiotic assertion.
I’d like to hear a good argument for why penalizing these people is worth increasing our auto insurance premiums and making our roads less safe. I don’t think there is one.
UPDATE 02/12/2008 10:09 PM: Sen. Buttars, you’re not helping.
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I agree with you 100%. The best rational argument about such a misguided bill is just the simple question of “What exactly are you improving here, Glenn?”
Comment by jasonthe — February 11, 2008 @ 8:26 pm
Sadly so many of Utahn’s citizens seem to be that way.
Comment by WP — February 11, 2008 @ 8:35 pm
Yes we do know that they are just people who want to come here an work. We know that from the mere fact that that’s what they are doing.
I disagree that this makes the roads any less safe. But that’s an unimportant side issue.
The real issue is, why are we penalizing these people who just want to come here to work?
Email me tomorrow and I’ll find Glenn’s contact information if you want it.
Comment by Daniel — February 11, 2008 @ 11:53 pm
After observing the opinions and strident behavior of the many anti-illegal alien posters at KSL.com, I would conclude that racism has alot to do with it.
Mexicans and their ancestors have been on this continent for thousands of years before my ancestors got here. But I think manifest destiny is still alive and well within our country. The idea that the land upon which we dwell was destined for northern European prostentism is still a part of our culture.
Comment by Obi wan liberali — February 12, 2008 @ 12:31 am
In addition to our racism we are also homophobic
Comment by WP — February 12, 2008 @ 2:01 pm
Our legislature is a joke! My father is not a US Citizen. He has lived here since the sixties and because he is a white guy from New Zealand he has had every bit of the American Dream laid at his feet! I can honestly say that if he were from Mexico he would not have been treated so kindly by this State for the past 40 years. Jeremy hit the nail on the head; it frankly boils down to prejudice and in some cases racism. Can anyone dispute that our white ancestors were welcomed to this country. What is the difference?
Buttars is a joker! Why do people keep voting for this clown! His comments are unacceptable for someone in his position.
By the way “Obi wan liberali” is the coolest screen name I have ever seen.
Comment by Dignin — February 13, 2008 @ 10:58 am
[…] of our legislature’s racial bigotry and general intolerance of people who are different here, here, and here without having to contrive offense at comments that the speaker […]
Pingback by Jeremy’s Jeremiad » “GOTCHA!” — February 13, 2008 @ 11:16 am
[…] our Republican legislature’s racial bigotry and general intolerance of people who are different here, here, and here without having to contrive offense at comments that the speaker claims weren’t […]
Pingback by Two Competing Views on whether Sen. Chris Buttars ‘black baby’ comment was racist | KVNU's For The People — February 13, 2008 @ 2:39 pm