Tammy Bruce: John McCain Thinks Americans Are French

John McCain Thinks Americans Are French

Pfc. Jonathan Dixon provides perimeter security in Iraq on 3/31/06. Wait a minute! This is a hard, dirty, underpaid job--how did they find Jon? President Bush and Senator McCain told me Americans won't do these types of jobs!

**Welcome Michelle Malkin readers! (And thank you Michelle :) Once done with this post, please feel free to look around the Tammy Blog.**

In other words, we're a bunch of lazy, spoiled children. But the last time I checked, it wasn't a bunch of French cry-babies saving the world from freakish Islamist terrorists. Consider this outrageous comment from McCain at a speech today to the AFL-CIO (or what's left of it):

Labor leaders boo McCain on immigration, Iraq

[...]But he took more questions, including a pointed one on his immigration plan.

McCain responded by saying immigrants were taking jobs nobody else wanted. He offered anybody in the crowd $50 an hour to pick lettuce in Arizona.

Shouts of protest rose from the crowd, with some accepting McCain’s job offer.

“I’ll take it!” one man shouted.

McCain insisted none of them would do such menial labor for a complete season. “You can’t do it, my friends.”

Some in the crowd said they didn’t appreciate McCain questioning their work ethic.

Uh, yeah. Gee, I think this makes things very clear. John McCain, a United States senator, didn't just pull the example of $50 an hour for "picking lettuce" out of his keister. No, he thought about that. And he thought that even for a decent amount of money (which amounts to $8,000 a month, $96,000 a year, btw) that Americans wouldn't either "lower" themselves to do that work, or find it simply "too hard."

That's a funny thing to say considering the fact that our low-paid enlisted troops, young men and women between the ages of 19-23, are doing something as unglamorous, more difficult, and certainly more dangerous than "lettuce picking."

These young people, our friends and family, don't even get to come home at night with the work they do. Instead, they leave their country, leave their families, to go to a desert pit where savages lay-in-wait to murder them. The pack 50-75 pounds of supplies on their back, and trudge through the Iraqi desert, suffering the heat, the sand flies and scorpions, only to be shot at or targeted by road-side bombs. And while dealing with all this, it's also their job to kill the enemy, give candy to children, supervise elections, build roads, schools and hospitals, all while the American MSM rip you to shreads, and as a former presidential candidate named Kerry accuses you of terrorizing innocent Iraqis in their homes.

Yeah, I see how much more appealing that is than picking lettuce, as you listen to your iPod, with the most dangerous thing you'll encounter is a Mexican food truck with questionable taquitos and where at the end of the day you go home to your family.

And what kind of pay do these selfless heroes get for saving the world and liberating 53 million lives in the last 5 years? The highest paid average enlisted soldier makes $5,400 a month. Calculated at 40 hours a week (being a soldier in a war theatre means you're on 24/7) that equates to $33.75 an hour. Quite a bit less than McCain's $8,000 a month lettuce-picking job he declares no American will take, and certainly not be able to withstand it "a whole season." And, unlike with farm workers, there is no guarantee that you'll survive to enjoy your salary.

Let me be blunt. McCain is a self-serving, opportunistic pig. He, like other open-borders, Americans-Are-Lazy politicians, is a man who has grown soft and fat and elitist in Washington, DC, and has developed an obvious contempt for the average working American. Not only does he not deserve to even think about being president, he should not be in the U.S. senate. He is an example of the opportunistic narcissists in Washington whose only concern is their own career as they do whatever they think it'll take to advance themselves.

And we've got the perfect combo of that scourge with the McCain-Kennedy immigration bill--McCain clearly has learned a lot from Kennedy about the strategy of abandoning someone and leaving them to drown. But instead of just one woman, now they're working on an entire nation of hardworking Americans who are getting smeared everyday by the likes of McCain, Kennedy and yes, President Bush, who repeats and repeats and repeats the slander that illegal aliens "are doing the jobs Americans won't do."

And politicians, apparently, are doing jobs decent Americans won't do.

And one last thought: It seems President Bush and John McCain have also never heard of "coal miners." Here's a little something to remind these men of the Americans who have always, are now, and always will, work hard to support their families and make this country great.

The average coal miner starting salary is $12 an hour. The average pay overall is $63,000 a year, or $33 an hour.

UPDATE 4/5:

In the event some of you don't check out comments (which you should they're great), I wanted to share here on the main post a Comment by TF, which many of you may agree with, and my response:

First, from TF:

Tammy, I'm a big fan of your writing, but this post made my stomach turn and I'm sorry my first comment to you is in such a negative tone.

Lecturing a man who spent 5 1/2 years being tortured in the Hanoi Hilton about the nature of sacrificing for one's country is rather despicable. I don't agree with his immigration policies either, however I would never stoop to lecturing him about the nature of the personal sacrifice of a soldier and, regardless of what you think of him as a Senator, he's a pure and untainted hero for the sacrifices he made to this country as a young adult.

Go ahead and shred his policies to death, Lord knows I will, but the man is the farthest thing from a "pig" that I've ever seen.

And my response:

TF, I appreciate your comment, but people change. McCain used to be a POW. He used to be a soldier. Now he's a politician. Two very different things with decades that have clearly changed him and his priorities. I speak of today's opportunistic McCain, and I chose words that were moderate considering what I've seen of him lately. And while I appreciate the service of every soldier, it doesn't earn you a lifetime pass to be free from judgment or criticism. Nor should it keep you from being recognized from what you've become. Just as someone who used to be a pig, and is now a hero, should also be recognized for that change.
Sorry we disagree, and I do appreciate your postion. Thanks for posting.

Posted by Tammy · April 4, 2006 05:37 PM · Permalink
Immigration | Military | Politics | The New American Revolution

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Comments

Here's my take on all of this new "doing the jobs" rhetoric...

Posted by: The Ugly American at April 4, 2006 06:35 PM

Did McCain mean five dollars an hour?! That would make more sense. I would pick lettuce for fifty dollars an hour! Tax free too! What world do these idiots live in? Term Limits!

Posted by: Warthog at April 4, 2006 09:07 PM

The "jobs Americans won't do" statement pisses me off. First of all, Americans will still do whatever they have to do to make it. If we didn't have Mexicans picking lettuce we would probably automate a process that was cheaper, but we go the easy route because we have the labor. But beyond that, there are plenty of Mexicans working good jobs that we would sorely miss if they all drug up and ran back to Mexico. There is no simple answer to any of this, but reality has to set in or we are in for a world of hurt. Any policy is better than the one we have now. (wow, that was a rambling post. I feel like Talkin Horse =) )

Posted by: political_junkie at April 4, 2006 09:27 PM

Pick lettuce for fifty bucks an hour?! Where do I sign up?

Posted by: Dave J at April 4, 2006 10:27 PM

Jobs that Americans "won't do".

Gee, John-boy, if the buisnesses that employ illegals weren't allowed to pay them a quarter an hour, under the table, because of, oh, I don't know, say, FEDREAL LEGAL ACTION AND PENALTIES, maybe, just maybe, those employers would be forced to pay a living wage and then Americans COULD do those jobs. Problem isn't that Americans think these jobs beneath them Johnny, the problem here is that citizens with rights and labor laws to protect them aren't going to get a job an illegal will do for well below minimum wage and no bathroom breaks.

Here's a modest proposal for the Bozo in Chief, The re-incarnation of the Roman Senate, the House of Misrepresentitives, and all the rest of the "No-Borders" crowd: Just annex Mexico altogether. Mexicans want an American life, and American dollars, and American land? Make Mexico part of the U.S. and then Mexicans can have it. And they won't even have to leave their home towns to get it. Also, NO MORE BORDER! TA-DAAAA!

And don't even get me started on the Mexi-nazis of MECHA...some folks, say Comanches, Apaches, Pueblos, Utes, Pauitis, etc...would beg to differ on WHOM exactly settled "Atazlan" or what ever those pigs call their fantasy land in the southwestern U.S., first.

Little cranky today, haven't gotten a lot of sleep lately, think it may be showing.

Later

Posted by: RagingBullmoose at April 5, 2006 03:44 AM

Camille Paglia was on the money a long time ago when she described McCain as the Uriah Heep of American politics.

Posted by: Ray Zacek at April 5, 2006 04:15 AM

I also am sick and tired of hearing this lame line of "Jobs that Americans won't do " Enough already, that's just a damn cop out and the Americam people are sick of it and are not going to take it anymore. McCain is going to hear from me today. I also do not take kindly to him telling me what I will and will not do. How dare him. Tammy, your comments were beautiful and so right on. Thank you. I will always be older than you but you have the wisdom that blows me away..

Posted by: Carpediem at April 5, 2006 04:55 AM

Ditto to the above sentiments re: the tired "Americans won't work for that little" rhetoric. My first job paid $.90 an hour. As an Army recruit, my pay was $76 a month. McCain is an egotist who would never get my vote no matter who ran against him.

If politicians and employers just used their brains instead of talking out of their butts, they'd realize that as soon as wages got high enough, some enterprising soul would invent a machine to do the work and the job would be mechanized.

Posted by: Bachbone at April 5, 2006 07:49 AM

Camille Paglia was on the money a long time ago when she described McCain as the Uriah Heep of American politics.

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: The Ugly American at April 5, 2006 11:12 AM

Tammy, I only hope that McCain and these other so called politicians read your website or listen to your show...when my daughter joined the Marines almost 12 years ago, her pay was just below the poverty level...people on welfare were getting more money than she did, and they also got food stamps!!! She now is now a Staff Sargent, her husband is a Staff Sargent and doing very well for themselves and their three children...they have a selfless duty for this country of boobs who are calling the shots...Kennedy hasn't seen a sober day since he watched the limo go down. He and McCain make for a dangerous combo...because McCain was unfortunately a POW and tortured by the Viet Cong, he feels we need to treat these Islamic pigs with some sort dignity...if they had the chance, they would cut his head off in a minute, so to me he is living in an unrealistic world...Kennedy, geez just look at him and try to understand a single word he's saying. He's his own worse enemy and this country thinks cuz he is JFK's little brother he has some sort of smarts and merit. Why do the people of Massachusetts keep re-electing this piece of crap? I too am sick of the 'jobs Americans won't do' line. That's how out of touch most of the politicians are with the people of this country that they represent. I read of a farmer in California who bought a new machine to pick his crops and the 'workers' were so outraged they wanted to sue him...I wish I could remember where I read it, but it shows you the power these people really have...I hate to think of how far this whole scene is going to go before it gets better...I think we need an entire flush of these old senators and congress people who are so full of themselves that they don't remember what they went to Washington for...can we start with Nancy Pelosi and Hillary?!

Posted by: Marie at April 5, 2006 11:55 AM

My Hungarian Grandmother came to the United States with her family post-WWI as a young teen. Years later she would meet and marry my Hungarian Grandfather who immigrated here around the same time she did ... on a boat, with official papers, through the rigors of Ellis Island, and medical examinations and vaccines. They had to study for and PASS a Citizenship test to become an American and learned to read, write and speak English. Their firstborn child went off to school not speaking English, as Grandma and Grandpa hadn't yet mastered it themselves yet. But they DID NOT demand or expect the school to provide a translator or Hungarian version texts. No, my Aunt learned English.

My immigrant Grandmother did "jobs" her American and fellow immigrant neighbor women wouldn't do. She killed and cleaned their chickens for them, carved their pigs into meat pieces, and even did some of their other types of jobs they didn't have the stomach for. You see, Grandpa worked the railroad and discovered drinking for a spell, so Grandma had to bring in the pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters to provide for their seven children.

When I was a teen I made the mistake of calling Grandma a "Hungarian-American" to her face. She replied, "I am an American."

I asked if she wanted to go back to Hungary for a visit to see where she lived as a child.

Grandma declared, "No! This is my country until I die... I thank God I am here."

God knows she worked long and hard to be an American ... Harder than many who were born here.

Time to re-open Ellis Island, I think.

Posted by: OhioMags at April 5, 2006 01:34 PM

Got my letter off to McCain, let him know my disgust. Also wrote a letter to George Allen, my Senator whom I respect and let him know how fed up we are. Every little bit helps.

Posted by: Carpediem at April 5, 2006 01:44 PM

Picking lettuce does not provide health insurance, vacation, or opportunity for advancement, all of which soldiers receive, as they should.

[No health insurance for illegals? Who needs health insurance when you get free health care subsidized by emergency rooms and the American taxpayer? Vacations? The UFW makes sure they do get vacations. And advancement? How about becoming an American citizen? The difference, highlighted in Tammy's post, is that no one is trying to kill you everyday in the field as you pick that lettuce--ed.]

Posted by: monkfish at April 5, 2006 01:53 PM

Is it possible Mcain is showing how out of touch he really is with the American worker thinking $50/hour is low?

[I think Tammy's point is that McCain was trying to insist that Americans simply won't do certain jobs if they're "too hard" even when paid a living or prosperous wage. She;s highlighting McCain's apparent contempt for the American worker and our ethic. He thinks we're lazy bums, who won;t do certain things no matter what--ed.]

Posted by: QuietMan at April 5, 2006 01:55 PM

Jobs that Mexicans "won't do".

I've had to inspect cans of dog food for Botulisim @ 1.25/hr. just so I could put some food on the table. If you think cans of dog food exploding in your face is clean work try it. How about working as a laborer building houses in 105 degree heat for $1.75/hr, or unloading caustic bags of lime off railroad cars for $2.35/hr. Americans do what they have to
survive. The reasons Americans don't do the same work as the illegals, is because employers know they can get an illegal to do the job for slave wages because the illegal won't complain about the pay or the working conditions. $5.00/hr is a lot for them especially when 20 or 30 people sharing the same apartment.
If the landlord of the building complains, the ACLU will jump down his throat. However if a Africian American family tried that they'd be
evicted. The African Americans who fought hard to gain some equality in this country, are geting stepped on by the the illegals and their buddies the PC politions.

Posted by: Z-squad at April 5, 2006 01:56 PM

The last 16 months it seems to me that more and more of what Bush says is a lie. Maybe I am turning into a cynic. But for Bush and Mc to say what plainly is an amnesty plan is not amnesty insults my intelligence. Which in turn makes me mad that they think Americans are so dumb! Give us some credit for understanding plain English, Mr. President!

Posted by: Rod at April 5, 2006 01:58 PM

This slur that Americans won't do these jobs is ridiculous. Americans are ALREADY doing these jobs, including lettuce-picking.

The real reasons we have all these illegal aliens are a) the employers want cheap SCAB labor. Why don't we call it that, hmmm? and b), the Democrats want "ethnic" votes, and assume they'll get most of them.

The American citizens, and LEGAL immigrants, can all go hang, as far as those in power are concerned.

And I find it fascinating that employers and politicians are using the exact same arguments in favor of employing cheap illegal aliens as Southerners used to use in justifying slavery. They, too, said they couldn't afford to pay what free men would demand.

Posted by: Ignatz at April 5, 2006 02:15 PM

I think it's important to understand that the example you cited about wages for enlisted men is an incredibly rare one. In order to qualify for $5400 a month, You would have to be a Command Sergeant Major with 26 YEARS of service. In a battalion of Infantry soldiers (around 700 or so personnel) there is only one Command Sergeant Major. Imagine staying 26 years in a job before making that kind of money. The average soldier is on a 4 year enlistment, so will be an E4 or E5 by the end of his tour. These soldiers are making around $2000. a month.

Posted by: Mookman at April 5, 2006 02:17 PM

Thos. Sowell pointed out that illegals are picking crops that shouldn't be grown in the first place because we have a huuuge surplus. One example he gave was sugar: America should not be producing this product, it should be importing it. Cheaper and friendlier...but no, we have to be like the French and grown our own.

Dumb.

If the farm subsidies were killed or cut back, the immigration problem would disappear. Fat chance with the fat cats in D.C.

I want an incredibly shrinking government, and real soon, while we still have a country.

Posted by: Dymphna at April 5, 2006 02:27 PM

$50 an hour is about $100,000 a year. This is what Halliburton pays contractors to drive caravans of Coca Cola through the dessert over mine-filled roads to supply our troops. Every now and then one gets dragged out of his truck and hung from a bridge, or maybe just beheaded. Is this one of the jobs Americans will do?

I am an American citizen. I make $7.20 an hour in a job limited to 32 hours a week so I won't qualify for benefits. I am held to 3 days off per year, including sick days and vacation, until the second year, when I get 7 days vacation. I don't even take my beta blocker any more because I cant afford it, but I do pay $2700 a year in property taxes on a $98,000 house so illegals can send their kids to community college on my back. I work for one of the biggest employers in America, who scupulously never hires illegals. Sometimes at night, my hands are numb from the repetitive strain and I can't bend my thumbs. Is this one of the jobs Americans will do?

I can tell you one job I would do. Pay me the minimum wage of any state, and I will gladly kick Senator John McCain in the rear up and down the corridors of the Senate until he begs to pick tomatos.

Posted by: Daybird at April 5, 2006 02:28 PM

$50 an hour! and it is a job "legal" Americans will not do too boot? Johnny Mac needs to large injecton of "Get a clue" -- the campaign against him will not have to be decided in S. Carolina in '08 - he needs to be off any primary rolls now!

Posted by: Ed at April 5, 2006 02:34 PM

Great article Tammy!

Posted to my blog with some thoughts of my own regarding this betrayal by the Republicans of their voters. Was not able to trackback to your site...

Tammy Bruce lays a whipping on Open Border Freaks

Thank you Tammy

Pierre Legrand

Posted by: Pierre Legrand at April 5, 2006 02:40 PM

Hear, hear. Every member of my family has done jobs that were every bit as bad as picking produce, and some a lot worse. And we never got paid close to $50/hour.

Posted by: Ric James at April 5, 2006 02:42 PM

Very biting. I commented earlier today along the same lines. At this point the Republicans have George Allen as their front runner, because of his realistic view of the illegals issue.

Posted by: Craig C at April 5, 2006 02:45 PM

I sent a note to a friend today, Tammy is my hero
I savored the bluntness of those comments on McCain.
I used to think McCain was Ok, a war hero for sure, but he just won't put working Americans first and has lost my vote.
I used to love W.Bush (dubya) even visted Crawford. I felt connected. It's fading fast. I want my citizenship to hold value, and these guys don't seem to want it to.
The trades are being hammered, many black and hispanic Americans that made a good living as carpenters, drywallers, plumbers and like are in trouble. Even a businessman who wants to only
hire American workers is being force into the
illegal workers pool to compete. The Goverments
job is to be there to keep the playing field level, to not allow the ILLEGAL non-taxpaying
use of -under the table- workers, against honest
taxpaying American hiring businessmen. When I see
what McCain is backing I think of money flowing
from unscrupulous business people.
I don't want my tax dollars paying for Mexicos
problems. And you Senator McCain, shouldn't either.

Posted by: JoGnarly at April 5, 2006 03:10 PM

Tammy, I cultivated a experimental soy bean field by hand when I was young for a tad over minimum. That is to say I pulled weeds by hand (no chemicals to hurt the research) 6 days a week in 100 degree heat and 100% humidity. I guess I am not an American huh?

Posted by: David at April 5, 2006 03:20 PM

Nice entry -- you nailed John McCain and you are 100% spot on. McCain knows how bad it is in Arizona with an open border but he will do anything to get elected, including being Ted Kennedy's toady.
For more information on what's happening in McCain's Arizona, please see
http:/linknzona.blogspot.com

Posted by: Link at April 5, 2006 03:41 PM

Ouch! This is one of the best assessments of McCain I have seen. In all fairness, I do not think John McCain is playing with a full deck.

Posted by: Mark McGilvray at April 5, 2006 03:44 PM

I heard Judge Napolitano on O'Reilly's show talking about immigration with Tom Tancredo. One of the things Napolitano said was how people need their illegals to clean toilets... Americans don't want to clean toilets. I don't know about Napolitano, but around my house, I clean the toilets and don't think of having an illegal do it. At my business, I clean the toilets, or have one of my employees do it (legal citizens all). What planet are these pols and pundits living on? Sounds like they mostly live in that rich, but not super rich world where they have domestics, but can barely afford them so they hire illegals. No one in my neighborhood is hiring illegals to do their menial domestic work. We do it ourselves! That whole, "work Americans won't do" argument is so far out of the mainstream it is unbelievable.

Posted by: IrishLad317 at April 5, 2006 04:25 PM

I’ve got it. Let’s demote the politicians, all of them, downsize their salaries to $880.00 gross a month, utilize the excess monies to fund a study that will employ corporate consultants, manufacturers of surveillance equipment, and grossly overpay anyone to build a very lengthy chain link fence.

Let us fine and incarcerate a single individual for entering the country illegally. Let us donate billions of dollars in the form of tax refunds to those who employ hundreds or thousands of illegal immigrants . . . let us offer a school boy chuckle or a joke and proudly pronounce “I enjoyed that”.

Posted by: Artist for truth at April 5, 2006 05:02 PM

How is it that the American workforce -- year in and year out -- is ranked among the most productive on the planet, if not the most productive?

It can't be all Internet and Blackberrys . . .

Yet, our elites, when thet're not sneering at us with distain or embarrassed by us in front of foreign 'sophisticates,' think we're children who need their direction and guidance.

They forget who built this place -- and who makes it work.

Posted by: Cosmo at April 5, 2006 05:16 PM

The U.S. Navy's peacetime manpower equation calls for enlisteds to perform 50 hours a week, not 40. I'm pretty surethe other services call for something similar. Which makes McCain's statement even more egregious.

Posted by: Airdale at April 5, 2006 05:22 PM

Tammy, I'm a big fan of your writing, but this post made my stomach turn and I'm sorry my first comment to you is in such a negative tone.

Lecturing a man who spent 5 1/2 years being tortured in the Hanoi Hilton about the nature of sacrificing for one's country is rather despicable. I don't agree with his immigration policies either, however I would never stoop to lecturing him about the nature of the personal sacrifice of a soldier and, regardless of what you think of him as a Senator, he's a pure and untainted hero for the sacrifices he made to this country as a young adult.

Go ahead and shred his policies to death, Lord knows I will, but the man is the farthest thing from a "pig" that I've ever seen.

Posted by: TF6S at April 5, 2006 05:54 PM

How many people get past the borders of Mexico?
Doesn't V. Fox have troops on the border to keep out illegals? I am so tired of going to my ATM and having to choose English to make my transaction. Or calling the electric company or the cable company and having to press 1 for English. Now American flags are banned in American schools? I am disgusted with Bush, McIdiot, and Kennedy the drowner. Is there no hope left? I have poor friends who don't get food stamps, free medical care, etc. Why do illegals?
Where is the rule of law? God help us.

Posted by: sueracer at April 5, 2006 06:26 PM

TF, I appreciate your comment, but people change. McCain used to be a POW. He used to be a soldier. Now he's a politician. Two very different things with decades that have clearly changed him and his priorities. I speak of today's opportunistic McCain, and I chose words that were moderate considering what I've seen of him lately. And while I appreciate the service of every soldier, it doesn't earn you a lifetime pass to be free from judgment or criticism. Nor should it keep you from being recognized from what you've become. Just as someone who used to be a pig, and is now a hero, should also be recognized for that change.
Sorry we disagree, and I do appreciate your postion. Thanks for posting.

Posted by: Tammy at April 5, 2006 06:52 PM

God bless you, Tammy, for saying it like it is, from an Arizonan and a Minuteman.

McCain's continuing presence in politics is an absolute travesty.

Herp

Posted by: CaptHerp at April 5, 2006 08:17 PM

I'm a college educated professionally employed American. I've worked on farms (recently) loading hay, cutting and putting up tobacco, which I'm sure is harder than picking lettuce, for $5 - $8 per hour for extra money. My teenage sons still do.

McCain has no chance at the presidency.

Posted by: DADvocate at April 5, 2006 08:32 PM

Here's a job Americans won't do - that is roofing because roofers that follow the rules can't compete with competitors that hire illegals. The Americans that hire Americans are going out of business because of unfair competition.

Posted by: Jimmy Milner at April 5, 2006 08:33 PM

And while I appreciate the service of every soldier, it doesn't earn you a lifetime pass to be free from judgment or criticism. Nor should it keep you from being recognized from what you've become.

Hello!

Have we already forgotten Congressman Murtha?

Posted by: The Ugly American at April 5, 2006 08:45 PM

It is probably an understatement to say that Sen. McCain would have never anticipated the avalanche of critical responses to his AFL-CIO remarks. He seems to be unaware of all the perspectives to this issue. I mean whose advising his campaign? If he has too many more of these “incidents” he can say adios to 98’ .

Posted by: chase at April 5, 2006 09:05 PM

...regardless of what you think of him as a Senator, he's a pure and untainted hero for the sacrifices he made to this country as a young adult.

Which makes his spineless pandering all the more puzzling.

Seriously...you'd think someone who was nearly beaten to death by Communists would tend to shun any attempt at Socialism.

Posted by: The Ugly American at April 5, 2006 09:10 PM

John McCain officially now has as much chance as being President as a snowflake in hell. His defense of illegal immigration and his tired old justifications for fleecing the American public are as lame as they can be. Apparently McCain doesn't seem to mind that Mexico is setting U.S. policy.

Posted by: Realdeal at April 5, 2006 09:32 PM

If we had some of those $50 an hour lettuce picking jobs, it would solve the border problem. We'd need millions more workers to plant lettuce faster than Americans would pick it.
If McCain thinks agricultural work should pay more than $50 an hour, why does he think he's doing Mexicans a favor by helping them to keep breaking their backs for $5? He should be advising them to assimilate, learn English and run for office. Then they can live large on tax money and contributions, till they have no earthly idea why anyone should be willing to work hard.

Posted by: solilsolate at April 5, 2006 10:50 PM

Tammy, you were right to push back on the reader whose only defense of McCain was his years as a POW. McCain has certainly suffered in his service to this country, but it does not give him a free pass on the issues, or his inane examples. His service is to be respected, but it is not a crtuch for his many other deficiencies. Great site. Major Mike, USMC (Ret.)

Posted by: Major Mike at April 6, 2006 06:50 AM

Bush is right. There are jobs Americans don't seem to want to do. Although they've been elected to do a job, most of our Senators, especially Kennedy and McCain, won't do their jobs and are about as useful to the public as breasts on a bull.

Although I deplore violence, would our elected officials begin taking us seriously if we riot in the streets? Heaven knows, when we speak in normal, measured tones, they don't get it.

Posted by: Cartman at April 6, 2006 10:00 AM

This is my first time on your site. Thanks for such a no- nonsense stance on mccain et al's continued sell out of the american people. To insinuate we have no work ethic is disgusting, and I certainly will not vote for mccain now or ever because of his comments and lack of connection with reality.

There was a guy on FOX today that organized many of the immigration rallies, and is now coordinating the may 1st walk out. He insisted the american people were ready for amnesty, and it's just negative media keeping the debate open, this despite all the polls revealing the opposite. The footage showed the american flag wavers, but not one shot of the Atlan crowd and their american takeover signs. Typical. Earlier in the week, I read of NYC's plans to allow illegals voting privileges in the next elections, adding about 1.5 million to the democrats rolls. Unbelievable. If we don't make our stand now, we can kiss our childern's future goodbye.

I say we should have a counter- illegal demonstration on may 1st. First off, if a company is unable to perform their duties due to striking illegals, those companies should be fined for hiring them in the first place. Secondly, each company or business that will be affected by the strike should take measures to employ american citizen scabs, to show those illegals just what they're dealing with. I mean, come may 1st, if you used to flip burgers at mc do's or work in construction, or whatever, all of us should show up at their doors the morning of the 1st and tell them we're americans willing to work. Someone needs to get a website going where we can register to take over the jobs those illegals are willing to leave behind in protest of not receiving benefits they're not entitiled to. Their continued presence in this nation, and mccain & kennedy's amnesty joke of a bill, is an affront to every citizen who has earned their stripes by following the already established naturalization process.

Posted by: freedomisntfree at April 6, 2006 10:14 AM

McCain's status as POW and soldier is a double-edge sword. We accord him and others like him a different and special status because of their selfless service and sacrifice to the nation and ultimately you and I as citizens.

However, that status comes with a solemn responsibility. Since that status helped elect him, as a politician he is tasked with maintaining that level of service and sacrifice in spirit and in deed in his continued service to the nation. I don't ask McCain to become a soldier and POW again, but I do demand that he put the best interests of the American people, our nation, and our culture before the interests of another nation and it's peoples, his political party, and business interests.

He is obviously failing that obligation.

Posted by: f15c at April 6, 2006 10:16 AM

I must confess that though McCain "suffered for his country" as a POW, I'm convinced now that any great act of patriotism he did was purely accidental, not because of any deeply held sense of committment. Look at how he's behaved subsequent to his return from Viet Nam: His first priority every time has been John McCain, which says volumes about his character i.e. acts of courage and principle are not things Johnny McCain purposely does. McCain do the right thing because it's the right thing to do???? Please, be serious!

If McCain really had any guts, he'd do what was best for this country. If McCain really believed in acting ethically, he'd do the right thing and then trust in God. In his slathering to get power, he acts with fewer morals than a drug-addled street walker. And as an aside, how in the hell can I tell my kids to do the right thing because it is the right thing, when some balding, liver-spotted half-wit from AZ, won't do anything without first asking, "What's in it for me??"

Posted by: Cartman at April 6, 2006 10:29 AM

The standing joke here in AZ is that McCain is about to switch parties and become a republican.

Posted by: Primeval Papa at April 6, 2006 10:49 AM

Jobs that Americans won't do...those big rigs that go down the highway are limited to 70 hrs. in an eight day week and they don't figure that they have enough time to do the job. They sleep in the truck, take showers when they fuel and go without food when they have a hot load. It would be a vacation for them to be able to pick lettuce for $50 especially since they only make $.28 a mile. Try it sometime and see how rich you get. I do know that McCain couldn't do it. I am a 'Nam vet BTW, and I am critizing the senator for descending into a nonfunctional form of leadership.

Posted by: Mike H. at April 6, 2006 11:15 AM

Looks like you have to change that " Saving Your Ass" picture of Bush you have to include a sombrero, a pancho, and Bush pointing at the rallying illegals!

Posted by: havaneros at April 6, 2006 11:30 AM

I don't understand why people think getting captured by the enemy makes one a hero for life and above reproach. It is in no way heroic to hide behind ancient history, and while I don't think Mc Cain does this himself, others do it for him and he doesn't stop them.
As to jobs Americans won't do, I wonder if there are any principled politicians in Mexico who would like to emigrate.

Posted by: franco53 at April 6, 2006 11:35 AM

McCain, like Kerry, has been trading on his military ordeal for far too long. And he is an elitist pig: when the Arizona legislature passed a bill requiring voter ID, the Democratic governor vetoed it (because Dems hope illegals will vote, & vote for the party that promises them the most handouts & most leniancy).

Arizonans responded with Prop 200, requiring voter ID, which passed overwhelmingly despite being vehemently denounced by the Democratic establishment and - John McCain.

Posted by: beautifulatrocities at April 6, 2006 12:08 PM

I see a pattern here, McCain sell out, Frist - turning out to be a sellout. Both running for Rep. Presidential candidate, think they need to accomodate left. Please, do run after those liberal votes, McCain and Frist, and kiss my and my friend's conservative vote goodbye.

Posted by: John Sobieski at April 6, 2006 03:35 PM

What really sickens me is that McCain himself spent 6 years in a Vietcong POW camp, earning (in those era dollars) about half what he says no American is willing to get for lettuce picking.

My last job paid $18/hr and was glad to have it. It was far more difficult than lettuce picking. I worked a 12 hour shift in a class-1 clean room (that means dressing up in a very uncomfortable "space suit") where I was unable to eat, or drink, or go to the bathroom except on breaks.

I would rather have been picking lettuce, even at the same pay scale. At least I would have gotten some sun.

And how much are the illegals getting paid? I am guessing nowhere close to $50 an hour. More like a tenth of that. WHich is, of course, below our minimum wage. And THAT is the only reason they come here to take those jobs! They have no competition from citizens, because citizens CAN'T work for $5 and hour. Therefore, all they have to do is show up, and work is all but guaranteed.

You want rid of illegals? Try getting rid of the minimum wage for anyone under 18. This will also cure teen pregnancies (too tired for hanky panky after work), teen obesity, gang violence, and all the other things that have gone wrong with our kids since the Great Society came to be.

Posted by: Gullyborg at April 6, 2006 03:38 PM

"As to jobs Americans won't do, I wonder if there are any principled politicians in Mexico who would like to emigrate."

I wonder of there are any principled politicians still alive in Mexico, period.

Posted by: political_junkie at April 6, 2006 04:56 PM

Actually Tammy I find your writings to be refreshing, honest, clear and to the point a true American . I loved how you made your point clear about how John McCain acted. I hate it when these politicians speak so negative about our work ethics.Thanks a big bunch Tammy.

Posted by: monkeyprophet at April 6, 2006 05:31 PM

Most Americans are both furious and feel powerless to do anything about our politicians selling our future out to a portion of Mexico for money (sub-market priced labor) and votes (post-amnesty illegals and their offsping).

What can we do? The elite left of course are still running the media and ensuring as usual that those who even think about really being against illegal immigration are labeled racists and worse. We have little real clout even with the blogosphere alive with rage about immigration.

So, what do we do? What can I do?

I can't do much, but I can do this.

I'm going to firmly, coldly, but politely request that my elected political leaders publicly rededicate themselves to our nation's soverign future starting by standing up in front of us and the world and reading the following words from Theordore Roosevelt, and placing the words on the front page of their web site until such time as our borders are under control:

"In the first place we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the man's becoming in very fact an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag...We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language...and we have room for but one soul [sic] loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."

Will it accomplish anything? If it is just me, then no. But if tens or hundreds of thousands or more Americans did so, then yes it could accomplish much.

They can ignore me, but they can't ignore all of us.

Further, I suggest to that all concerned bloggers they put Roosevelt's words on the front page of their blogs and keep them there until our Congress and President have gained and are maintaining complete control of our borders.

If the drumbeat becomes loud enough, politicians, most of whom are cowardly by nature these days, will be unable to escape our demands. They will have to address us.

What are they going to do? Denounce Roosevelt, Madison, Jefferson, Hamilton, and all those Americans reminding them by action that ours is a government of, by, and for, the people, as racists and worse?

I. Dare. Them.

Posted by: f15c at April 6, 2006 07:45 PM

Tammy,
I served 22 years in the Air Force. While in the Air force, I worked many part time jobs to suplement my military pay and make ends meet. Those jobs included cleaning grocery stores, delivering pizzas, cleaning bowling alleys, cleaning golf carts, and painting houses. I did this to make ends meet and feed my family. People like McCain make my blood boil. Americans will work any job, no matter how menial, to support their family. I am trying to keep this clean, but it is hard.
While I was in the Air Force, I did a lot of hard, hot menial labor. A lot of that was when I was deployed away from my family and my country.
Even now the work I do isn't easy. And in the summer, when it is 100 degrees outside, it is 11 where I work in the plant. We don't have Air Conditioning. McCain can jump off a cliff for all I care. Beleive me when I say I am trying to keep this comment clean. What I really want to say would get me banned.

Posted by: Bob at April 10, 2006 02:14 AM

Now there's an Americana concept; Pay a decent wage for "honest" hard work!

...you are d-d-definitely enhaling Mr. McCain

Posted by: Misnomer at April 13, 2006 07:56 PM

When I was in junior and senior highschool we worked on farms for school clothes etc. We picked cucumbers, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, but not lettuce.

Maybe if our "leaders" would allow kids to work again it would take care of some of the problems we have these days.

And YES, I would pick lettuce today for 50 bucks an hour.

Hoot Howell

Posted by: HootHowell at February 20, 2007 08:34 AM

I have a question on this issue. Many people who subscribe to free-market principles believe that government should not have the right to decide who they can hire. Does this point of view impact on you in any way? Particular as you sound as though you may have sympathy with an originalist interpretation of the US Constitution.

I welcome your thoughts.

Posted by: vanmartin_ at February 25, 2007 07:46 AM

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