Racism and Sensenbrenner

Ruben Navarrette had an opportunity to interview Wisconsin Republican James Sensenbrenner recently. Sensenbrenner claims that he is not a racist. Here are excerpts from Navarrette’s column:

What concerns Sensenbrenner is that the [recent Pence-Hutchison proposal] “provides unlimited immigration from Mexico and Central America.”  . . .

He was talking about the ugliness of the debate. He’s not the bad guy, he insisted.

“I have tried my darnedest to keep the debate on the issue and not get involved in race-baiting by anybody,” he said. “I’m trying to get a responsible immigration bill passed that treats with fairness Hispanics who wish to immigrate into the United States. …”

Yet Sensenbrenner thinks it’s fair to object to a proposed solution on the grounds that it would allow in too many Latinos, then insists that he’s not appealing to bigotry.

You could have fooled me. Click here. for the full column.

bh