PBS’s Gordon Peterson Suggests Dream Act Would Pass if Illegal Immigrants ‘Looked Like Norwegians’
On Friday’s Inside Washington on PBS, during a discussion of President Obama’s failure to secure passage of the Dream Act in the Senate, after panel member Evan Thomas of Newsweek asserted that "stupid politics" was behind the bill’s defeat, host Gordon Peterson brought up a quip by humorist Jimmy Tingle that "if they all looked like Norwegians, there’d be no problem."
After introducing the segment with a clip of President Obama speaking favorably of the proposed law that would allow the children of illegal immigrants to obtain legal status and eventual citizenship if they go to college or into the military, host Peterson asked, "Why would you vote against that, Evan?"
Thomas blamed "stupid politics" and complained that the proposal is being "held hostage" by those who want to secure the border first. Thomas: "Stupid politics. I mean, there’s got to be immigration reform. It just hangs over all the head of this. We’ve got to reform, this is a small attempt to cure a small but real problem. But what hangs over it is the need to do a larger reform of the immigration system. We got to find some way to get better control of our borders, we do-"
Peterson interrupted to note that South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham had voiced an unwillingness to vote for "anything until the borders are secure," prompting Thomas to add, "But it’s held hostage."
After the Newsweek columnist recounted the country’s need for more immigrants who are highly skilled, Peterson brought up the Jimmy Tingle comment about Norwegians as he turned to liberal columnist and panel member Mark Shields. Peterson: "Jimmy Tingle said if they all looked like Norwegians, there’d be no problem, Mark."
Shields agreed: "I think there, I think there’s a lot of truth in that, but 10 percent unemployment has helped secure the borders. Let’s be very honest about that. The flow has slowed down considerably.I think there, I think there’s a lot of truth in that, but 10 percent unemployment has helped secure the borders. Let’s be very honest about that. The flow has slowed down considerably."
Below is a transcript of the relevant portion of the Friday, December 24, Inside Washington on PBS:
GORDON PETERSON: That’s President Obama on the failure of the Dream Act to pass in this session of Congress. The Dream Act would give the children of parents who came here illegally a shot at a green card if they go to college of join the military. Why would you vote against that, Evan?
EVAN THOMAS, NEWSWEEK: Stupid politics. I mean, there’s got to be immigration reform. It just hangs over all the head of this. We’ve got to reform, this is a small attempt to cure a small but real problem. But what hangs over it is the need to do a larger reform of the immigration system. We got to find some way to get better control of our borders, we do-
PETERSON: Well, that’s what Lindsey Graham said: I’m not voting for anything until the borders are secure.
THOMAS: But it’s held hostage, yeah, all this, for instance, you know, one thing we really need to have is more visas for really smart people with high degrees to come work here, which is really a crushing need, but it gets held hostage to this larger immigration reform. We’ve got to get the big thing done.
PETERSON: Jimmy Tingle said if they all looked like Norwegians, there’d be no problem, Mark.
MARK SHIELDS: I think there, I think there’s a lot of truth in that, but 10 percent unemployment has helped secure the borders. Let’s be very honest about that. The flow has slowed down considerably.
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Comments
Someone please explain to me what part of the word
Submitted by virginia republican on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 12:28pm.
"illegal" is so difficult to understand for liberals.
liberal lexicon
Submitted by jon_torlin on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 12:38pm.
The word illegal doesn't exist in the liberal lexicon. That's why they don't understand it.
To a liberal, laws are an inconvenience to be changed, no matter the reason. To a conervative, typically they obey the laws, even if they disagree with it, but to a liberal, they will move heaven and earth...oh wait, they don't believe in God like we do, so heaven doesn't exist...they will move earth to get it changed and to hell with what anyone else will think.
So "illegal" is just a non-word to a liberal. Legalities are just things to be brushed aside.
Hope that helps.
-Jon
VR
Submitted by well99 on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 12:41pm.
Their comprehension is very limited.Maybe someone will make a Dr. Seuss style book for them.Maybe then they will understand.
Want a definition of illegal,
Submitted by ThisnThat on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 1:52pm.
according to liberals?
Liberals all know what's illegal:
__________
“Didn't win the Medal of Honor? Didn't even serve? Then lie about it. We'll support you." — 9th Circuit Court
Oh yawk!
Submitted by jon_torlin on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 2:04pm.
"not feeling blessed during the TSA patdowns"
When I read that, I felt breakfast trying to make me taste it again. Considering that they do hire pervs(this isn't a secret), that makes me feel REAL uncomfortable just thinking about it.
-Jon
Hey
Submitted by killa37 on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 12:30pm.
Hey stoopid.....................I'm gonna go out on a limb here and guess that probably MOST Norwegians in this country are LEGAL!!!!!!
No it would not you dope
Submitted by octavioj on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 12:30pm.
It would only pass if immigration were not such a burden on the school system, the judicial system and health care. Then I believe it would easily pass, regardless of ethnicity. Oh also if we had control of the border. I guarantee you if these issues are solved people would care less about amnesty, large or small.Christmas morning just
Submitted by bkeyser on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 12:36pm.
Christmas morning just wouldn't be complete without a liberal insinuating racism...
Conformity
Submitted by JustAl on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 1:01pm.
. . . is the central tenant of the statist. That's why they are attracted to islam (submission) like moths to a flame. Since everything must fit their narrowly defined world view, everyone must be racist. Talking points and party line is all they are comfortable with, the same is true of all statists, be they on the extreme left or the extreme right.
The factual arguments that the illegal invasion threatens our health care system, our school system, our (should be eliminated) human services systems, wage levels, adds tremendously to our prison expenses, adds to gang violence, enables terrorists to blend in and move in, have no bearing in the netherworld that is the mind of the statist. If the state allows it, it must necessarily be good.
Granting citizenship to children of illegals would be akin to
Submitted by no tingly legs on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 12:44pm.
allowing a bank robber's kids to keep the money their Dad stole. That's besides the fact that it makes absolute fools of those who followed our laws and came here legally.
what a maroon
Submitted by surfjake on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 12:49pm.
what part of "ILLEGAL" don't these fools get?
Ignore the obvious
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 12:49pm.
I'm just itching for a chance to seek my fortune in Rwanda, too.
Due to issues of political correctness, we dare not discuss further.
Paleskins
Submitted by jaywl on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 12:54pm.
I see no problem if the Norwegians start sneaking in here. We'd have some new terminology like snowbacks and jokes about reindeer instead of burros, but basically we could still spot 'em sneaking around the shipping containers of cell phones or ski hats or whatever they export. Their palefaces would give them away and they probably would be sweating until acclimation sets in. The border patrol could track them by following the coats and earmuffs they drop in their desperate attempt to make it to an ice cream parlor. Jokemeisters would have a field day with new hot women of Scandinavia jokes, leaving behind the tired Salsalita of Sonora stuff. I knew this Norwegian lady once, a kind of Germanic, crack the whip Hessian type, if you know what I mean.....anyway, it'd be fun and the United States could handle it if it comes.
Why would I want to bring in
Submitted by moonjohn on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 12:55pm.
Why would I want to bring in socialist Norwegians.
I'd rather have mainland Chinese.
They have had their fill of socialism and would immediately join the Tea Party.
If they all look like Elin Nordgren
Submitted by Firmworm on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 1:04pm.
If they all look like Elin Nordgren (Tiger Woods ex wife) I'm Down with that!
It is a 20 year wait for a legal immigrant from the Philippines.
Submitted by The Vet on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 1:11pm.
And a 20+ year wait for someone from Mexico. Source Now why is the wait so long? Maybe we would have a more open policy on immigration if the citizens of ONE country that share a border with us did not cheat and fill our country with people taking jobs that legal immigrants would be more than happy to fill.
You would get your butt handed to you in a basket if you tried to cut in a long line of people trying to see a movie. It should not be any different for people coming to this country. Why is one country set aside as special just because it does not take a plane or boat ride to cross our border?
Oh, right; if the country to
Submitted by motherbelt on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 1:13pm.
Oh, right; if the country to the south of us was Norway and the people were blond and blue-eyed, we would be glad to have them here illegally.
Or they are referring to the fact that people from countries other than Mexico don't have to come illegally, because we just let them waltz in and we grant them citizenship, no waiting, no hassles.
\sarc
Mark Shields really, really
Submitted by Soldat44 on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 1:28pm.
Mark Shields really, really needs to hang it up. 'The higher the unemployment the better our borders are'...God help us
Good job, now Mr. Peterson
Submitted by redfish on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 1:36pm.
Good job, now Mr. Peterson has to ask himself, "Why?"
Is it because Mexicans have brown skin and Americans just hate people who have brown skin? (Brown skin = bad).
No, its that the main problem with the Dream Act is that it creates additional incentives for immigrants to come here illegally, while we still haven't secured the border. It's simply the wrong priority: if we don't secure the border first, this will worsen the illegal immigration problem.
And guess what, we don't have a huge Norwegian illegal immigration problem, we have a huge Mexican illegal immigration problem. Maybe Democrats should put politics down and work with Republicans to secure the border, so there will be an amiable reason to discuss policies like this. And then everyone can have their 'dream' and politicians can feel warm and fuzzy inside.
Racist leftist morons.... I
Submitted by BD on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 1:44pm.
Racist leftist morons....
I am just as happy to pitch an illegal irishman who is hiding in South Boston out of the country as a Mexican who is hiding in Tucson.
BOth are here illegally and need to be removed ASAP.
while you're at it
Submitted by theduck6 on Mon, 12/27/2010 - 11:56am.
and as long as you're loading up the bus in Boston, I believe there is still an illegal alien closely related to the President living in subsidized housing there. A sainted aunt from literary lore.
What part of illegal do you not understand?
let this jackass know-
Submitted by JIMMY1660 on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 1:44pm.
illegal is illegal-if you are from the East/West or South.
if you are a blue blood off the mayflower-and you break the law-should we ignore your actions.
No!!!!!!
I have a better example- i hate street signs and addresses-lets take them down along with traffic control devices.
CHAOS just like anything else that's illegal.
JACKASS!!!!!!!!!
foreign immigrants that should not be allowed
Submitted by jon_torlin on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 1:49pm.
We've had some foreign immigrants that shouldn't have been allowed to stay in this country. I remember one story about a Russian guy who was a criminal from over there who came to this country and his record was such that he should have been sent packing. As it was, he was allowed to stay here and ended up killing a lady, which he has done before back in Russia.
He was a real dirtbag, treated people like crap, was very violent. I think this was in California, happened about 10 years ago. I remember people asking "why was he allowed to be in this country with his record?"
That's one example and a good reason why not to allow any and everyone into this country.
-Jon
It's ALWAYS about racism and bigotry!
Submitted by motherbelt on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 2:29pm.
This is just more proof that to liberals, no opposition to what they want (amnesty, gay "marriage" or whatever else) is ever based on legitimate reasons; it's always because of racism, bigotry, homophobia, whatever. They have no argument, so they pound the table and call the oppostion names.
Oly n Lena snuk into da market, ya know!
Submitted by Blonde on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 3:00pm.
Jes, dey did.
Zen Oly sez to Lena, vell, Lena, ven de TSA peeples looook at uz, vell, den, evrybody vill lookz ze same!
For cryin' out loud, will these idiots never quit?
~ Blonde haired, green eyed victim of 1000 cultural wars.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
So Mr. Peterson, racism is
Submitted by dscott on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 3:43pm.
So Mr. Peterson, racism is the sole reason for the majority of Americans opposing the Dream Act and illegal immigration in general? Sorry dude, you already burnt the race card with Obama when declaring any opposition to what he advocated was racism. No one is buying what you are selling, time to find another horse to ride.
Btw- Obama is a RACIST, unfit for any political office and needs to be impeached. Anyone who engages in and condones raced based prosecutions like Obama's DOJ does is a RACIST. Any attempt to excuse, minimize, condone or justify it is a de facto admission of RACISM by the apologist. You wonder why the MSM and liberals in general are very quiet about Obama's racist behavior at the DOJ? Because they know it is racist and they know any attempt to actively rationalize it would expose their own racist beliefs and arbitrary enforcement of the law. Mr. Peterson is engaging in PROJECTION, a typical liberal tactic to misdirect the public away from their misdeeds.
Let's see here...if all
Submitted by johnsonl on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 4:03pm.
Let's see here...if all illegal aliens in the United States were white, spoke english, were mostly college educated, paid their bills, obeyed our laws, didn't abuse our social welfare systems and respected our sovereignty, then they wouldn't be here, would they? Because that would mean that they respected our laws and did not enter or stay here illegally. Liberals don't quite get the whole "rule of law" concept. Isn't that for somebody else? However, if an intending immigrant showed up with the above qualifications, I'd print 'em out a green card right there on the spot. Free t-shirts on Fridays! But, sadly, we can't get our own citizens to meet these criteria. Shame we can't trade!
Pull the plug
Submitted by rainman49 on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 4:51pm.
It's way past time to pull the plug on funding for PBS. The amount of inanity on the airwaves would be reduced significantly.
The MSM is the place to go...
Submitted by sherlock1 on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 5:00pm.
when you want to listen to a media talking head ask a brain-dead liberal about an unfunny comedian's opinion of American immigration policies.
Just priceless.
Yea..."IF" ..but sadly...they look like, and ARE
Submitted by redright88 on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 8:37pm.
savage murdering muslims. But hey......don't get me wrong. WHEN they look like Norweigens, get back to me, and we can discuss this
Stupidity
Submitted by Unsane on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 9:20pm.
What this joker fails to note that if I showed up in either Oslo or Mexico City without a passport, I'd be sent packing on the next flight, if I am lucky.
Of course, we are supposed to coddle people who enter the United States illegally.
I'm with BD. I don't care who they are or where they are from; if they are here illegally, get them out of here to wherever they came from.
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
DREAM Act and Illegal Aliens
Submitted by Delaware Bob on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 10:57pm.
The GAYS are happy and the ILLEGAL ALIENS are pissed. There will be NO AMNESTY for the illegal aliens. It's best they pack their things and move back to their own Country where they belong. If they are illegal aliens, this is NOT their home. Leave now and you can be home by New Year's Day. Have a safe trip.
Hey, Gordon . . .
Submitted by ConservaSerb on Sat, 12/25/2010 - 11:53pm.
Apply the Dream Act to 1,000,000 Serbs in Serbia and see if it passes. Idiot.A wise & frugal government, which shall leave men free 2 regulate their own pursuits of industry & improvement, & shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned - this is the sum of good government. T. Jefferson
It seems to me taht these
Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Sun, 12/26/2010 - 1:33am.
It seems to me taht these people who pass judgment on the rest of us have never been in the south along the border. I see lots of brown people around, I got brown relatives. So I really don't get what these idiots are doing except pushing except hate and dissension.
In Texas we have had plenty of Mexicans around and think nothing of the ethnicity. We do however realize the border must be closed and illegals sent back.
what part of illegal do you NOT understand?
Submitted by stevo on Sun, 12/26/2010 - 9:37am.
Our Government, has allowed the invasion of 30 million criminals in direct violation of Article IV, Section IV of our Constitution. they force American tax payers to pay Billions to provide Welfare, Prison cells, Educate the invaders children, free medical care,massive document fraud, & are destroying our schools, hospitals, communities, culture while Robbing, Raping, Killing & Assaulting American Citizens WAKE UP PEOPLE!
.youtube.com/watch?v=tsH8xvjTAlo
.youtube.com/watch?v=Btj6IeOFkis&feature=player_embedded
immigrationcounters.com/
.ojjpac.org/memorial.asp
.immigrationshumancost.org/
.newswithviews.com/Wooldridge/frosty580.htm
.youtube.com/watch?v=muw22wTePqQ
.gopetition.com/petition/40860.html
Every Non-representative including obama and holder need to be IMPEACHED! for not upholding the oath of office they swore to defend the Constitution! If these clowns were to do their job, this would all be a Moot point!
Anchor babies and their criminal parents go, period, and cut the phony tears, you knew you were breaking the law when you crossed the border.
Next shut down any business hiring illegal labor and confiscate all property belonging to the owner. Property will be sold at auction and the proceeds to pay for the massive deportation. Oh and owners go to jail.
Got a better idea? Lets here it!
It doesn't matter what shade
Submitted by ant on Sun, 12/26/2010 - 9:50am.
It doesn't matter what shade they are, if illegal Norwegians were doing this;
http://www.ojjpac.org/memorial.asp
They would still need to go, as Stevo just pointed out. And as has been said a million times already, the border must be closed BEFORE any sort of dialogue on this issue continues, any step toward concessions will be met with another wave of millions if the border is left as it is now.
ILLEGAL NORWEGIANS
Submitted by FC DOBBS on Sun, 12/26/2010 - 7:37pm.
I HAVEN'T EVER HEARD OF ANY NORWEGIANS LEGAL OR ILLEGAL LIVING
HERE WHO WERE SMUGGLING NARCOTICS, KILLING BORDER GUARDS
OR AMERICAN CIVILIANS. IF THEY WERE, I'M SURE THE PROGRESSIVES
WOULD BE FINDING SOMEWAY TO PROT ECT THEM BY ( MARK)) SHIELDING
THEM SO THEY COULD GET A GOOD COLLEGE OR MILITARY EDUCATION
AND CITIZENSHIP BECOME LIFETIME DEMOCRATS AND VOW TO
VOTE THE PARTY INDEFINETLY.
( NOBODY PUTS ONE OVER ON FRED C DOBBS )
Peterson should learn his history.
Submitted by bikeromany on Sun, 12/26/2010 - 8:14pm.
The Irish resemble Norweigians, and it was within the last century that we had "No Irish" signs all over the place. That should answer his questions - it's not really bigotry, it's the feeling of being overwhelmed. The Irish were at least legal - here we have more people entering than back then, and most are coming without permission or invitation.
Just think.
Submitted by almostacowboy on Sun, 12/26/2010 - 8:17pm.
That statement (re: Norwegians) was made by a member of a class who thinks they are smarter than most of the population.
What a racist comment to
Submitted by RogerCfromSD on Sun, 12/26/2010 - 9:37pm.
What a racist comment to assign to Americans. This liberal POS can go shove his finger in a light socket.
Anyone who makes asinine statements like this man should be summarily bitchslapped just for being so damned stupid and insulting.
Illegal is ILLEGAL, regardless of where they come sneaking in from.
The reason liberals want Illegals is because
Submitted by VanPastorMan on Sun, 12/26/2010 - 9:41pm.
then they have that many more voters. Do any of you believe the democrats and other liberals would be for the unions if the unions were conservative voting? There is no way Harry Reid wins in Nevada if he doesn't have leftist unions doing his bidding. Everything the liberals do is for the gaining and maintaining of political power. Let's get rid of the whole lot of them in 2012.
Dream Act
Submitted by Netstatter on Mon, 12/27/2010 - 2:11pm.
We'll finally be a post-racial society when all people, including liberals, stop using race as an excuse.