Last night, in an exchange with Charles Krauthamer on the O’Reilly Factor, host Bill O’Reilly claimed that Mexico was invading the United States and that President Barack Obama should deploy the military to stop it. O’Reilly goes on to ridiculously claim that the threat Mexico poses to the Unites States is similar to the threat that North Korea poses to its southern neighbor.
Media ite’s Frances Martel gives us the scoop:
Krauthammer argues that the military cannot be used for "internal policing." His solution is simple: build a formidable fence to keep them out. If they can’t physically enter the country, there is no need to discuss or negotiate the problem with anyone. But Krauthammer’s point of view is missing something O’Reilly claims is abundantly clear: Mexico is "invading" the United States. His evidence? "We wouldn’t have 12 million illegal aliens if there weren’t an invasion." And even if they weren’t invading– which they obviously are– there is precedent for using the military to secure the border: in South Korea. And if it’s good enough for the Koreas given their history, why wouldn’t it be good enough for America and Mexico?
The exchange comes in the midst of a political fight between Senator John McCain (R-AZ) and challenger J.D. Hayworth over competing calls for the President to send in the military to patrol the border following the tragic murder of an Arizona rancher.
Right on queue, some right wing celebrities have jumped on the bandwagon, exploiting the tragedy to push their hard-line agendas and to foment racial division and fear.
People for the American Way recently released a report called "(P)reviewing the Right-Wing Playbook on Immigration Reform" where they break down what have become the predictable things those on the right say to keep Americans divided and our immigration system broken. According to PFAW’s report, O’Reilly’s claims fall into "Strategy 3: Portray Immigrants and Their Supporters as Invaders, Conquerors, Enemies of the U.S."
According to PFAW, O’Reilly is no stranger to the old "Strategy 3."
In 2007, Bill O'Reilly said supporters of the immigration reform bill "hate America" and "want to flood the country with foreign nationals, unlimited, unlimited, to change the complexion" of our society
And last night, O’Reilly compared the Holiday Inn cleaning staff to the threat of North Korea’s nuclear missiles. Ay caramba.
To the handful of anti-immigrant celebs and politicians who make a living off of our broken immigration system, comprehensive immigration reform may seem like a nuclear threat, but thankfully a majority of Americans don’t agree. Poll after poll show that most favor comprehensive immigration reform, which would require those living in the United States without legal status to register, pass a background check and get on the books; AND which helps redirect government resources to real national security instead or spending hundreds of billions of tax dollars to track down and nab working families.
Cross-Posted at America's Voice.