Yeah, you’re right he had been talking about illegal immigration, John. I let my frustration short-circuit my short-term memory.
One more time, with feeling. Either Giuliani knows that applicants for citizenship have to demonstrate they can read, write, and speak English or he does not. If he does and he uttered that sentence, then that is a lie. If he doesn’t know that applicants for citizenship have to demonstrate they can read, write, and speak English then that is a stunning lack of knowledge for a presidential candidate regarding a not minor issue in the campaign. (Immigration, that is.) To be more clear, it’s such a basic thing, knowing what the requirements are to become a citizen. There’s only a handful. It’s not like it’s tax law. Or the situation in the Middle East. Can’t a staffer look that up for you? I expect presidential candidates not to pull shit out of their ass. It’s a thing with me, I know.
Now, if he meant that new citizens should be more fluent in English, fine. Then that’s what he should have said. But then, he shouldn’t pander to the Cubans by having his campaign address them in Spanish.
Demonizing immigrants (the poor ones) on the one hand and sucking up to immigrants (the well-off, politically influential ones) on the other is bad.
That’s what’s worser. It’s bad enough the quote we had initially. Then, after I’d read the blog entry in it’s entirety, and had some context, I thought - holy cow, not just a stupid fear mongering immigrant demonizing asswipe, but a hypocritical one! Gee, it’s worse than I thought! (Sometimes when I post - I’ll admit it - I assume the reader can make the connections I have made. You cannot. Noted. Next time I’ll make sure to write to your level.)
But I’m glad you’re back in this thread because you’ve taught me so much. Mind reading is bad unless you are the mind reader. Knee jerk reactions are bad unless they are yours. That reading comprehension isn’t important (because I’ve said fifty-ten times that English proficiency requirements at the citizenship stage have no impact on a person’s decision to come here illegally. You can agree or disagree on that point, but that’s the point I’m making. Not the broader issue of whether immigrants should have greater English proficiency.) Oh, and I’m not capable of understanding your argument. Check.