Those Huddled Masses Yearning For Free Stuff

Republicans like our own Rep. Diane Black might want to talk to some actual immigrants before putting their cockamamie notions about why people come to America into actual policy. Black wants to change the 14th Amendment, which has apparently been “misinterpreted for 145 years”:

“The current broad and misguided interpretation of birthright citizenship encourages chain migration and places an unfair financial strain on our social safety net,” Black said in a statement. “With record deficits and more than 11 million illegal aliens currently living in the United States, the last thing we need to be doing is incentivizing people to come to America for the sole purpose of giving birth in order to obtain automatic citizenship for their children, which qualifies them for taxpayer-funded programs.”

What fantasy world do Republicans like Diane Black live in? Under this cracked worldview, our taxpayer-funded programs are apparently so incredibly generous, so luxurious, so gilded, that they serve as a magnet for the world’s huddled masses! Can you believe that?

Are you people kidding me? Since when does Diane Black even care about the social safety net in the first place? For crying out loud, conservatives have been trying to dismantle it for the past 50 years. Remember Ronald Reagan saying Medicare would lead to totalitarianism? Puh-leeze. So, now you guys care about the social safety net all of a sudden?! Really! You don’t say! Sorry if we hadn’t noticed.

You know what, Republicans? Please stop using the same social safety net you’re constantly trying to destroy as the convenient excuse to shred every other piece of American policy you don’t like, too. Really, you’re being a tad too transparent here.

The overwhelming stench of bullshit wafting over this argument is unbelievable. Diane Black actually thinks we’re that stupid.

It’s not about the benefits, you idiots. If immigrants just wanted free stuff they’d go to Canada, where they at least get some damn healthcare, not to mention a social safety net far more generous than ours. It’s about the opportunity. It’s about being free. It’s about a chance to create a life for yourself and your family. They come here to work and be united with family members who are already here. It’s all the stuff that the flag-wavers and patriots are constantly beating their breasts about: family, freedom, apple pie, the whole shebang. It’s not about the oh-so generous free stuff Uncle Sam hands out.

Furthermore, the entire premise that immigrants are a drain on America is 100% wrong. In fact, the whole “birth tourism” fearmongering Black has glommed on to is something exaggerated by the racist folks at FAIR, Numbers USA, the Center For Immigration Studies, and John Tanton’s other anti-immigrant front groups.

And finally, let me say: It is with tremendous irony that I read that conservatives claim the 14th Amendment has been misinterpreted for 145 years, but the Second Amendment (with all that stuff about a “well regulated Militia” which conservatives routinely ignore) has not.

Yes, Republicans. Do tell me about how you believe in a strict interpretation of the Constitution. I’m all ears.