Senator Gillibrand Backpedals on Immigration

Last week we reported on Kristen Gillibrand’s ascension to the U.S. Senate and about her change in position on immigration. Gillibrand, a Democrat from the New York’s 20th Congressional District, was chosen by Gov. David Paterson to take the seat vacated by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

According to a report from MSNBC, Senator Gillibrand is “backpedaling” on her once harsh positions on immigration. Gillibrand is said to be abandoning her position against “sanctuary cities” and “plans to come out in favor of legislation that would roll back federal laws that discourage states from offering the kids of illegal immigrants in-state tuition.”

According to the Associated Press, Senator Gillibrand said, "We need to recognize the heritage that the immigrant community has provided to this country and put policies in place that will reflect that core value."

Why the change of her position? MSNBC reports that she told the New York Times that "In a lot of these issues, it’s a case of learning more and expanding my view."

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Phony Immigration Experts Exposed

This release is just out from the American Jewish Committee on the so-called "immigration experts" that travel the major television networks spreading their disinformation and misinformation saturated with hate and bigotry.

AJC, the oldest human relations organization in the U.S., has been a longstanding advocate for fair and open immigration, and a strong supporter of comprehensive immigration reform. They have recently partnered with several organizations in a campaign to counter the increasing rhetoric on the airwaves that already has caused a rise in hate crimes against Latinos

AJC Appeals to Cable TV Executives to End Airing of Anti-Immigrant Hate

February 15, 2008

New York – The American Jewish Committee is urging the heads of major cable television networks to ensure that the background of certain so-called immigration experts appearing on news shows is revealed to the viewing audience.

“It is inappropriate and offensive for major television programs to provide a microphone to individuals and organizations that promote hate, espouse vigilantism, white supremacy, or even violence in the immigration debate,” AJC General Counsel Jeffrey Sinensky wrote in a letter to the heads of CNN, FOX and MSNBC.

“There is no excuse for television talk show hosts and commentators failing to investigate the backgrounds of the people they invite on their shows to speak on the issue of immigration.”

The AJC letter was delivered today to Jim Walton, president of CNN Worldwide; Roger Ailes, chairman and CEO of FOX News Corporation; and Phil Griffin, executive-in-charge of MSNBC. AJC has partnered with the National Council of La Raza and its “We Can Stop the Hate” campaign launched recently to counter the increasing rhetoric on the airwaves that already has caused a rise in hate crimes against Latinos.

AJC pointed out specifically that Lou Dobbs Tonight, The O'Reilly Factor, and MSNBC News Live offer national platforms to spokespeople who represent known vigilante or hate-promoting groups, including Jim Gilchrist and Chris Simcox of the Minuteman Project and Dan Stein of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR).

They regularly appear on news programs as anti-immigration "expert commentators" and pundits. “Rarely is their status as a representative of a vigilante group or one that promotes hate acknowledged or challenged. Rarely do they face anyone with an opposing viewpoint,” said Sinensky.

In addition, the AJC letter noted that spokespeople espousing vigilantism and fear regularly appear on nightly news programs. They often speak in code, calling immigrants "criminals," "an army of invaders," and "diseased"; and children born to immigrants are referred to as "anchor babies." Many talk show hosts and commentators parrot this hate speech on their broadcasts.

“Hate speech has no legitimate role in the media. History has shown repeatedly that it can be the precursor to violence,” said Sinensky. “Issues such as immigration can be explored legitimately and thoroughly without demonizing an entire group of people.”

AJC, the oldest human relations organization in the U.S., has been a longstanding advocate for fair and open immigration, and a strong supporter of comprehensive immigration reform.

Last week, we posted a video from Southern Poverty Law Center on our sidebar exposing the self appointed immigration "experts" who are rarely challenged by the networks on which they appear.

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