Republicans Just Don't Understand

Just when I thought the Republican Party had come to their senses, it pulls the same old, lamebrain thinking that lost it the Congressional majority. Soon after the major "thumping," a rumor spread that Michael Steele, an African-American lieutenant governor who lost a Senate race in Maryland, would be the new chairman of the Republican National Committee. Brilliant, I thought, finally the Republicans were getting back to its basics but noooooo. Next thing I know, Senator Martinez of Florida has accepted the post. Big mistake.

I've been very impressed by the story of Mr. Martinez's struggle. He arrived here as a Cuban refugee and rose to political success. His is a terrific Horatio Alger tale, but what the Republicans need to do is reach out to the black community not Hispanics. A significant number of Hispanics are not citizens and are not eligible to vote. Those of us who are native born Americans or naturalized may have predominately conservative values and may already vote Republican.

The percentage of blacks, however, who vote overwhelmingly for Democrats is still quite high, particularly here in New York, and the decision to jettison Mr. Steele for Mr. Martinez is continuing the policy of ignoring the black community that Lincoln, the first Republican president, freed from slavery.

The Republicans think they have a better chance to woo Hispanics because the immigration issue played a big part in the November election. But Hispanics are as divided about this issue as are most Americans. The Minuteman Project has many Hispanic and black volunteers in its group seeking to secure our borders.

This is a city full of immigrants from all over the world and many of them may be undocumented. Just check who buses your table at a restaurant. Every single construction job that I've seen around Staten Island has a Hispanic crew. Are they all legal? No one is asking that question; certainly not the employers who hire them or the landlords who rent to them. Business is business.

A construction worker here illegally from Ecuador has been charged with and has confessed to murdering Hollywood actress Adrienne Shelley in her Manhattan office. Some illegal immigrants have also been charged with other murders and rapes and their crimes add to the distrust and xenophobia of those who want to shut down all immigration from Central and South America.

This Hispanic looks at both sides now and offers solutions.

Radical Hispanic organizations that protest for the civil rights of undocumented workers are guilty of extreme arrogance. They have little respect for the citizens of this country and are more concerned with promoting their own Marxist anarchic ideology on the backs of desperate individuals. Can you imagine an American sweeping into France and demanding to use all the social services reserved for French citizens; making the government change the language in the schools and all public buildings and forcing other accommodations to suit the English-only invaders without them making any attempt to assimilate into their culture? How absurd — that nerve is reserved for the Islamic fascists.

As for the other side of the coin, the immigration alarmists need to acknowledge that our illegal situation is self-inflicted. Local governments held out a carrot and invited this so-called invasion from the Southern hemisphere by allowing the same accommodations mentioned in the previous paragraph.

Those signs of these protesters that read "no amnesty" are shortsighted. Not all crimes are punishable by jail or deportation. Some minor transgressions receive community service or have fines charged.

We need immediate changes to our immigration laws to make it possible for those who wish to work here to pay set fees, go through intensive security clearance, and have their jobs and housing pre-sponsored. Social services should be reserved for citizens. Let charities handle the rest. If the illegals can pay coyotes to get here they should be able to pay us as well. As for those who have worked here under false Social Security numbers, they can clear their records by waiving all rights to payments made under that number. They can then pay a substantial fine through a reasonable payment plan and they will then receive legitimacy and documentation. This is not amnesty but closure.

We need a speedier immigration process. With today's technology, picture and fingerprint ID processing can ensure homeland security. We also need reform that will stop sending back criminals and allow our law enforcement authorities to punish them here. Most illegals are not criminals but are here for jobs.

The Republicans clearly do not understand us, and passing Mr. Steele over for Mr. Martinez confirms they don't understand either community. Karl Rove has said he wants Mr. Steele to head the Department of Housing and Urban Development, historically the most corrupt government agency. I say it's time for Karl Rove to rove.