Texas Congressman Louie Gohmert is the bargain bin version of the discount shelf that is Iowa Congressman Steve King, but every now and then he manages to find a way to out-deplorable Mr. Cantaloupe Calves. Case in point: Gohmert’s tweet attempting to co-opt the upcoming birthday of civil rights icon and United Farm Workers cofounder César Chávez, by declaring it “National Border Control Day”:
Gohmert’s “reasoning” is that “in the 1960s and ’70s, Chavez took a hard line against unauthorized immigration,” but of course he doesn’t mention that “by the 1980s, Chávez’s stance on the issue had shifted considerably,” supporting Ronald Reagan’s 1986 immigration package. Gohmert is stupid, but even he knows this, because he left it out of his research.
Besides, you have every right to debate this history, but we’re also not about to let an anti-immigrant racist like Gohmert swoop in and try to reclaim his birthday like some bald Christopher Columbus, as Chávez remains a revered figure to Latinos as a champion of some of our most vulnerable and neglected, America’s farm workers. So, enter the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to rip him a new one.
“For Rep. Gohmert to twist and warp the legacy of César Chávez is offensive, shameful and beyond the pale of normal logic. César Chávez shined a light on the injustices faced by farmworker families, very often risking his life to overcome the very racism and bigotry that Rep. Gohmert espouses”:
“Congressman Gohmert has done everything he can to attack the true legacy of César Chávez to weaken unions, undermine labor protections for workers, and derail immigration reform efforts that honor the dignity and contributions of workers and their families.”
“Speaker Ryan should not only reject and condemn Rep. Gohmert’s resolution; he should support Rep. Tony Cardenas’ forthcoming House resolution recognizing the accomplishments and legacy of César Chávez, which has never been brought to the floor for consideration.”
“I will not let bigots co-opt Cesar Chavez’s Birthday,” tweeted Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez. “Republicans have been blocking my resolution to honor Chavez's bday for 9 years, but I'm pushing on and introducing it again this week.”