Hate in the Air

Last night, I was on local television, along with an anti-immigrant activist, to discuss the latest Bush immigration proposal.  Although it might surprise some of you, I mentioned that the President deserves credit for raising the issue of immigration reform.  The activist, however, lambasted the President and clamored for more Border Patrol officers (despite the fact that there is no evidence that this will reduce the undocumented immigrant population).  On camera, she seemed aggressive but vaguely coherent; off camera, she complanied about Bush succumbing to the “ethnic” lobby, Mexicans taking over the state, stealing jobs from Americans, etc.  I was shocked by how much antipathy she had for immigrants and how so much was race-based.  It made me wonder:  Why can’t we have a reasoned and rational debate about immigration?  Why is it that the ideologues are permitted to shout down moderates on the issue?  Why is there so much hate in the air about immigration?

KJ