Tommy Lee Jones Talks Border Fence

This from Greg Siskind's blog for some easy Friday reading. According to an article Greg quotes, Actor Tommy Lee Jones had plenty to say about the border fence plan. Jones says it,

"bears all the credibility and seriousness of flying saucers from Mars or leprechauns. Or any manner of malicious, paranoid superstition. read on>>

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Lack of H-1B Visas affecting New York City’s Global Standing?

From Greg Siskind’s blog:

Businesses Say New York’s Clout Is Emigrating, With Visa Policies to Blame

By PATRICK McGEEHAN and NINA BERNSTEIN
Published:
March 24, 2008

New York officials have long taken pride in the city’s status as a global gateway. But lately, senior executives of some of the country’s biggest corporations, like Alcoa, have been complaining that American immigration policies are thwarting New York’s ability to compete with other world capitals.

Every big employer in the city, it seems, can cite an example of high-paying jobs that had to be relocated to foreign cities because the people chosen to fill them could not gain entry to the United States. >>read on

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Dobbs calls Jewish Group a Joke, Olbermann awards Worst Person

This one from a regular blogger over at ILW.COM. Greg Siskind reports that Lou Dobbs, anti-immigrant pundit for CNN, got awarded the "Worst Person in the World" by MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann for calling the Anti-defamation League a "joke". Apparently Dobbs' hateful comment is now being picked up by other news outlets.

Here is what the Jewish Telegraphic Journal had to say:

Janet Murguia, a Latino civil rights activist, cited ADL research into extremist groups whose representatives Dobbs had featured on his show, and then she described the league as a respected voice. "Not by me," Dobbs replied, "It's a joke."

Founded in 1913, the Anti-defamation League fights anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry, defends democratic ideals and protects civil rights for all. The Anti-Defamation League has been charting the rise in the use of code words that label immigrants and Hispanics Latinos as a threat to the American way of life. Those words include:

References to immigrants as "an army of invaders" or an "invading force"

Associating immigrants with animals and refers to them as "a massive horde" or "swarm"

Accusing immigrants of "bringing crime and disease" to America, including "leprosy, tuberculosis, and malaria" and "gang warfare"

Purveying the conspiracy theory of "reconquista" or "Atzlan" – the taking back of lands in the southwestern United States for Mexico

During the face off with Dobbs, Murguia cited the examples above that the anchor has made part of his daily rants and asked about his support of xenophobic hate groups like the Minutemen Project and FAIR. Dobbs, however, refused to take responsibility or even address her questions, instead lashing out at ADL. You can catch the VOD of Janet Murguia’s appearance here.

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