Those aren't my words. Those are the words of Frank Szollosi, a Democratic Toledo City Councilman. The Toledo Blade ran a
follow up piece today on Hackett's radical right immigration stance previously diaried by
Trapper John. And if there was any doubt about where Hackett stands it should be cleared up now. Hackett stands firmly behind his statement that all illegal immigrants should be deported.
When Trapper John first diaried about Hackett's call for the deportation of illegal immigrants the response was substantial. The Hackett fanatics went into full spin mode shooting out explanations and excuses at a rapid pace. I expect the same in response to this diary.
Some of the excuses offered:
1 - Hackett was taken out of context. He only meant those illegal immigrants that took American jobs. Well we can lay that excuse to rest: "Asked if he stood by his statements, Mr. Hackett said: 'Illegal immigration is illegal. It's that simple.'" No attempt to clarify that only those illegal immigrants that take American jobs should be deported (not to even get into the illogic of this excuse).
2 - My personal favorite - "It's true. We should deport all illegal immigrants." This is just sad. When Tom Tancredo says it we are rightfully pissed and outraged. But if Paul Hackett says it people are ready to endorse this policy. I think the Toledo City Councilman summed it up pretty well: "Mr. Hackett appeared 'to the right of Pete Wilson' -- a conservative Republican and former California governor -- on immigration." If you believe in what Hackett said, perhaps you should be reading Michelle Malkin to get your immigrant bashing fix.
3 - It was just a few unrehearsed remarks. Asked in a follow up interview if he stood by the remarks, Hackett said yes. There goes that excuse.
Oh, and how is this playing out with Ohio's Democratic base - "Several local Democrats said they disagreed sharply with Mr. Hackett's statements, made Wednesday night to a group at the University of Toledo." Well done Hackett. At least you know you'll never alienate your Kos groupies.
In the interest of full disclosure - I've tended to support Brown all along and have found the Hackett-mania on Kos to be off-putting. But, I still used to like Hackett. No more.