Assclown of the Week: Gingrich Goes for Xenophobia

I think we have our Assclown of the week. Newt Gingrich said yesterday: the "war here at home" against illegal immigrants is "even more deadly than the war in Iraq and Afghanistan." He said he is "sickened" that President Bush and Congress went on vacation "while young Americans in our cities are massacred" by illegal immigrants.

Gingrich is referring to the brutal Newark murders that took place last week. One man whom police believe was involved in the murders — Jose Lachira Carranza — is an illegal immigrant from Peru who had been released on bail on charges of raping a child when the murders occurred.

Gingrich said another suspect in the Newark murders is an illegal immigrant from Nicaragua with a long record of arrests who was ordered deported in 1993 but never left.
However, The (Newark) Star Ledger reported Tuesday that the man — Rodolfo Godinez — obtained permanent legal residency in 2001.

Putting aside the brutal murders that took place and indeed they were brutal, Gingrich is doing trying to score points on those who are powerless advocating a lie and an appealling to the lowest end of our nature. It is well known that the crime rate among latino immigrants "is lower than that of the general population, and most other ethnic groups as well, including whites." This is a fact that any politician knows and if they don't they are even more of an assclown.

But, to play on people's fears much the way the Bush administration has done with Arab Americans is sickening. It appeals to the nativist in America, the xenophobia that is here and the nationalism that has gripped America since September 11, 2001. He seeks to blame an entire population of immigrants for the crime of one. Shame on him for he is an Assclown.