Thursday, July 22, 2010

Arizona Law being challenged today

Go take a look at this CNN story (soon, as the related videos might change) and take a look at the two videos in the left sidebar.

The first "related" video on the left sidebar could be considered journalism, showing the effect the law is having on some people's decision making in Arizona. Of course, the government isn't "forcing" them to do anything, and the law would only affect his wife if she got caught breaking another law.

The second video is pure propaganda, and shame on CNN. In light of the JournOList story breaking this week, it is clear that much of the media is involved in advocacy "journalism". America embraces Latinos and all others who come here legally. When you break the law, however, we have a problem with that. It's got nothing to do with your being Latino. This incessant drumbeat of substituting "immigrant" for "illegal alien" or "illegal immigrant" (or even "Latino" for "illegal immigrant") to confuse the argument is so blatant, everyone is on to it.

UPDATE: Someone commented on the story that Article VI Section II was the argument that the opponents of the law will try to use to justify that the Federal Government has the authority to trump the state law. So I went and looked:

Article VI Paragraph II
"This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding."
The law is not contrary to Federal Law, the law specifically echoes Federal Law. Since the Arizona law does not contradict Federal Law, this clause would not apply. If the feds don't want to enforce the law, it doesn't change the fact that it is the law. If they want to repeal the federal law, then they could do that (see where that proposition would get them at election time) ... but then again, if they repeal the Federal Law, then what federal law would this law be contrary to?
I also know of no treaty we have with any countries that say you can come on in here in viloation of immigration law and we won't do anything about it.

And as for the 14th Amendment argument ...
"No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States."
By definition, the people in question are not citizens of the United States.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Perhaps that commercial/marketing message for illegal immigration would be better suited using the Old Spice guy. "Look at your law. Now look at me. Look at your law. Now me. I broke the law. But that doesn't matter. Now I'm on a horse...on YOUR side of the border."

philmon said...

Love it!