MLB All-Star Boycott? Bob Menendez Calls For Baseball Players To Boycott Arizona Game

WASHINGTON — Sen. Robert Menendez is urging the Major League Baseball Players Association to boycott next year's All Star Game in Phoenix over the recently passed Arizona law to crack down on illegal immigrants.

The New Jersey Democrat says in a letter that 27 percent of Major League players are Latinos and they shouldn't be subjected to a law Menendez says codifies racial profiling.

Rep. Jose Serrano, a New York Democrat, has similarly asked the players to boycott the 2011 event, noting that in 1993 the National Football League rescinded its offer to host the Super Bowl in Arizona because it didn't then recognize Martin Luther King day.

Players Association Executive Director Michael Weiner has come out against the law, saying it could negatively impact hundreds of players.

Comments

[AZ BONEZ]

03:27 PM on 06/01/2010

Other than that you can boycott all the sports for all I care. - I hate the traffic.

[AZ BONEZ]

03:27 PM on 06/01/2010

How overpopulation from illegal immigration will destroy the US as you know it.

This Lecture was done in 1999. - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FM1YU-Ni_84

Looking at the chart when he gets there,
What they estimated in 1999 for 2010 is spot on what actually happened.
[Estimated in 1999 it would be just over 300 million in 2010.]

When he gets to the gumball demonstration keep in mind the large jar represents the people in the world that are WORSE OFF than Mexicans.

Because of illegal immigration from 1999 to present we've had to:
Build TWICE as many schools.
Build TWICE as many roads.
Build TWICE as many sewer plants.
Build TWICE as many power plants.
Build TWICE as much about anything else.
Add twice as many cops and firemen and teachers. [Or leave areas under serviced.]
Use TWICE as many trees and other natural resources.

Anyone that thinks illegal immigration isn't a significant load on our economy and natural resources is a moron.

If you don't want every city in the US to become a giant LA Slum within our or our children's lifetimes then illegal immigrtion has to STOP NOW!

~

Link to just the chart. [Sorry about the quality.]
http://www.numbersusa.com/content/files/imagecache/fpage/files/cck_images/population.jpg...

[Al K]

11:28 PM on 05/11/2010

Arizona does not usurp federal immigration law. This is what the Constitution says about immigration law:

"The Congress shall have Power To ...establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization"

That is the extent that the Constitution covers immigration. Congress has already established the Rules of Naturalization. Arizona follows those rules and in no way contradict or usurps them. SB1070 and HB2161 also prohibits profiling. Arizona's immigration enforcement efforts are constitutional.

[PatLow]

01:51 PM on 05/12/2010

There is no way for law enforcement to act on the new law without profiling. In addition to being exposed to lawsuits if citizens don’t think enough is being done, this is a major reason why the majority of local law enforcement is opposed to this law.

If an officer is driving through a Hispanic neighborhood and passes a group of say 5 or 6 Mexicans on the front porch of their house, that in of itself constitutes reasonable suspicion.

[Al K]

07:06 PM on 05/12/2010

The way the law was written, it was designed for when the police have to ask for ID anyway because they have pulled you over for something a traffic violation or they had to ask for your ID because you are suspected of a crime. If you have no ID or if your ID is foreign, they are going to ask why. Pretty straight forward and no profiling necessary.

[voyager48]

07:33 PM on 05/12/2010

Not even close - you obviously have no clue about what it takes to effect an arrest! If they tried that the ACLU and a bunch of people would be all over it for 4th and 14th amendment violations. What this law does is allows an officer who is in the process of a lawful contact such as pulling someone over for speeding to pursue the possibility that the reason the driver cannot come up with a drivers license MIGHT be because they do not have one because they are illegal. The bill specifically states that may not be the criteria.

Previously the officer was not even allowed to go there regardless of circumstance - which is why we have an immigration problem in the first place. The feds have not been effectively enforcing the laws that have been on the books for around 40 years

[Ricardo01]

12:19 PM on 05/11/2010

Pull out of spring training games too. The LA Dodgers just moved their spring training camp from Florida, after playing in Vero Beach for decades.

[jwoww]

12:18 PM on 05/11/2010

Menendez is done in 2012 and the dems will realize how useless this guy is this year because he is chair of the senatorial relection committee.

[Garspies]

12:38 PM on 05/11/2010

YOU just decide or do we get to have an election?

[Lukester]

11:21 AM on 05/11/2010

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA) spoke today at Emory University's commencement, and got in a good zinger about Arizona's controversial new immigration law.

"I was also going to give a graduation speech in Arizona this weekend," he said. "But with my accent, I was afraid they would try to deport me."

[PatLow]

01:53 PM on 05/12/2010

CA is loving this as they are in a great position to capture the tourism and convention market that is staying out of AZ.

[DSOTM]

10:29 AM on 05/11/2010

The NFL pulled the Super Bowl out of Arizona in the 90's when they wouldn't recognize MLK day as a national holiday.

Trust me, if MLB pulls the All-Star game, Arizona will repeal this law, money always wins.

[jwoww]

12:21 PM on 05/11/2010

The AZ law only mirrors and enforces the current federal law on immigration. The MLB, NFL,NBA and NHL needs to stay out of politics.

[DSOTM]

12:45 PM on 05/11/2010

Sorry, your Supreme Court ruled that corporations are people, lets see what happens when the people with money pull out of Arizona leaving their state in more need of money than they already are.

Your state has the 4th worst economy in the country, leave it to you idiots to pass a law that will kill your already dying economy.

You guys are really baking in the sun way to long.

[Garspies]

12:49 PM on 05/11/2010

Where in the Constitution does it give the states the right to usurp Federal jurisdiction?

With a statement like yours above, you need to add yourself to your list.

[higgywiggy]

10:25 AM on 05/11/2010

menendez is a racist idi0t!

[Larkhill]

11:25 AM on 05/11/2010

Getting the right balance in your meds is tricky, isn't it?

[den1953]

09:59 AM on 05/11/2010

I don't see it as a political problem i see it as a big business problem it is less costly for there bottom line when they can bring in cheap labor with no benefits period and it doesn't matter who the president is it is all about corporate bottom lines!

[CCee]

10:19 AM on 05/11/2010

Amen to that brother...

[Cheryl2]

11:45 AM on 05/11/2010

Watch, the AZ businesses will move to Mexico.

[GrumpyinAZ]

09:58 AM on 05/11/2010

wh half measure, MLB should refuse to play in Arayanzona at all

[Pete H]

09:48 AM on 05/11/2010

To anyone who perceives the new illegal immigration law just passed in arizona "Un-Constitutional" I suggest you actually read the Constitution first. The law in Arizona is 100% legal & Constitutional; and mirrors the Federal Goverments Illegal Immigration law which has been on the books for 50 years. Fact is we are all required to carry on our person a drivers license, state Id card and SSC. These are needed for traffic violation stops, employment and travel both here and abroad. We Americans have a screwball idea about this law and if the the federal goverment actually committed to enforcing their immigration laws states like Arizona wouldn't need to pass legislation like the one they just passed. And shame on Senator Menendez for requesting a boycott of Arizona for the All-Star Game. This fact alone shows his bias towards "Some Americans" rather than "All" the Americans he is supposed to be serving within his state. Better than 70% of Americans are in support of the Arizona law and 80% of Arizonians agree with this legislation. If the Hispanic American population in Arizona are not involved in criminal activities I surely doubt that they will be requested their identification and verification of citizenship documents. In the end the real victims are the citizens of the state of Arizona who under pressure from Illegal Immigration & the lack of Federal enforcment from the US goverment were forced to pass their law.

[CCee]

10:18 AM on 05/11/2010

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/00000.html

Looks like 9 percent of white people think this law will profile and lead to an explosion of racism - the rest - the negligible percentage - will feel that they are the ones being profiled.

Under the current laws in the United States, you could be considered breaking the law crossing a road... There are so many laws on the books that "The Man" will always find a way to arrest you if they want to. The only thing stopping them are reports of harassment.

This law Legalizes Harassment.

I understand your argument, but it's a paper thin and pathetic argument - a grasping at straws, as this law does more to destroy a US Citizens' Rights and Freedoms - You Know - the rights and freedoms you tout as being the Greatest the world has ever known - than to curb illegal immigration.

If AZ actually went after the employers who break the law - Immigration in AZ wouldn't be an issue. You are saying Let the Businesses get away with hiring illegals but the rest of us are required to give up our rights to not be arrested for not carrying ID.

Madness.

[hoffalypse]

11:14 AM on 05/11/2010

You say his argument is paper thin yet you really don't say why.... First off, in any state if you do not have ID the law states that you can hold someone until ID is established so the new law doesn't change that.
When did liberals start worrying about the government taking away your freedoms anyway?

[Garspies]

11:51 AM on 05/11/2010

You--"I suggest you actually read the Constitution first. The law in Arizona is 100% legal & Constitutional; and mirrors the Federal Goverments Illegal Immigration law which has been on the books for 50 years.

Since when do states get to usurp Federal jurisdiction and replace it with poorly written profiling State laws? The law will have an injunction from Federal District court before or when it takes effect, will be tied up in Federal court for months or years and ultimately be found unconstitutional. Come back then and revise your sage statements.

[AZ BONEZ]

09:00 AM on 05/11/2010

For racism to be a problem out HB2162 - the Police on the street would have to be the racists.

In AZ the Police on the street are ~50% Hispanic because cops need to speak Spanish and that makes them a hiring preference.

Do you actually believe a racist would last long in a Law Enforcement environment where 50% of his/her co-works are the object of said racism?

~ How ridiculous!.

[CCee]

10:00 AM on 05/11/2010

How fast would a White US Citizen - detained for being a suspected Illegal Canadian Immigrant - (cuz - just for say - he forgot to carry his drivers license while taking his dog for a walk) Sue the State and Law Enforcement Agency which detained him.

I think that Any Hispanic law enforcement who does thier job to the letter of this law wouldn't have a job, if he did his job to the letter of the law.

White people would SCREAM - "Vendetta and Reverse Discrimination"

This is where the profiling comes in.

Law Enforcement would Need to profile - just to reduce the Probability of MAJOR Lawsusits.

[voyager48]

01:39 AM on 05/12/2010

You are spreading misinformation. All a US citizen is required to do is identify themselves by stating their name. They are not required to carry ID if walking a dog.

However AZ does have laws that require a driver to produce a license during a traffic stop. If the driver cannot produce a license then the officer can pursue the reason why not. This bill allows the officer to pursue the line of question as to legal status which may be one reason the the license cannot be produce. Previously they were not even allowed to ask the question.

The burden of reasonable suspicion and probable cause still applies. Just in case yo want to do a frisbee on these terms - they are not vague but rather have very specific meaning and connotations derived from case law.

[Garspies]

11:54 AM on 05/11/2010

Please direct those comments to Rodney King and the large portion of LAPD that are Hispanic or Black.

"how ridiculous" indeed.

[Palemoon]

08:42 AM on 05/11/2010

HUFFPOST SUPER USER
IrishLover 7 hours ago (1:16 AM)

"Arizona Immigration Law

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- law is unconstitutional "

You can stop the list right there because you have no idea what you are talking about. I AM the Constitutional scholar around here, remember? President Obama is NOT, never has been, never will be. So people need to quit hyping him into something he obviously is not...

Article 1, Section 10, UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION...

"No state shall, without the consent of Congress, lay any duty of tonnage, keep troops, or ships of war in time of peace, enter into any agreement or compact with another state, or with a foreign power, or engage in war, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent danger as will not admit of delay."

That right there gives Arizona to do what the US Govt is refusing to do. If the Feds refuse to do their jobs, States can then act upon their own authority. And because the DO NOTHING DEMOCRATS who have been in Congress for FOUR YEARS now refuse to do anything about immigration reform, the people of Arizona have now forced Congress into a Constitutional crisis and will force Congress to have to create immigration reform, or not. And it's that NOT part that will get ALL of the Democrats thrown out in 2010 and 2012 elections.

[Palemoon]

08:42 AM on 05/11/2010

I'm just trying to save you guys, you can be F00LS if you wish and lost elections. More power to you. But if you think that more people agree with you than oppose you, well, your wake up call is coming November 2010. I'll be more than happy to say "I told you so, you should have listened to me..." just like I've been doing with the lost Mass seat, the failed healthcare reform, failure to get anything at all done...

And before someone starts up with the "but... but... but Clinton!!" excuses... a veritable army of foreign nationals pouring across the border is qualified as "imminent danger", especially since many of them are engaging in criminal activity from drug smuggling, human trafficking, terrirism, etc.

[Garspies]

01:06 PM on 05/11/2010

When undocumented workers are LEAVING the State of AZ , Please cite the "in such imminent danger as will not admit of delay."

You post a lucid argument (that fails however) and then answer it yourself. Almost a new low. Go ahead and fan yourself.

[CCee]

09:47 AM on 05/11/2010

That's why KISS came under fire from extremists during their invasion :o)

I guess this is why they say that the Devil can quote from the bible to serve his purpose... Not that I think you are the Devil - Brewer and He may be on first name basis though... Just that - Of all the ways to fix an issue - to declare war on the liberties of US Citizens instead of Enforcing the laws on the books and mobilizing an independent "Enforcement" agency at the border to Physically Repel... Makes no sense. None.

AZ talks of Invasion but doesn't act in a fashion that would actually physically repel any physical invasion, more they act in a fashion to oppress US Citizens. So even though I guess that quote could be used as an "Excuse" You Know - We All know - That's Just what it is.. An Excuse, and no court of thinking people wouldn't see this - Especially as their decision would set a precedence which could be used to shape the entire US? To Basically Legalize Racial profiling.

The rights and liberties of US Citizens will not be usurped in such a plainly ridiculous and transparent manner. No matter What Arizona's Real Problems - Everyone knows that there are better - less invasive ways of getting the job done.. The Federal Courts Know this. This Law Will Fall.

[Palemoon]

07:41 AM on 05/11/2010

KarateKid 12 hours ago (7:09 PM)

"What's YOUR solution? That would be more interesting to read than a rant about hypocrisy."

That's a very good question, and not only will I attempt to answer it, but I will do what NOBODY has done so far... whether they are bloggers or politicians, answer it.

I guess the first step is, shutdown the border, with both Mexico and Canada until Congress can get off it's backside to create a comprehensive immigration policy.

The illegal aliens that are here, give them a choice. Give them a time limit to come forward, or face deportation after the time limit expires. Then give them more choices if they come forward. Do they want to stay? Do they want to go back? Also, find out what they are here for. Honest people will come forward and cooperate. I have no problem letting them stay if they are coming here with good intentions and are showing that they are simply trying to find a place within our society with which to make a better life for themselves and/or their family. Nothing wrong with that. The criminal elements, the drug runners, gang members, etc, they likely won't come forward knowing that if they do they will be apprehended, so they'll fail the time limit and get sent back from whence they came.

continued

[Palemoon]

07:42 AM on 05/11/2010

If some simply want to come to the US to compete for jobs, cross-border employees who live in Mexico but drive across to where their job is, I have no problem with that either. Can give them a legal status to be here and work while living back home. Course, taxes that they have to pay poses a different problem. I'd have to rule that if they make the money here, they should pay the taxes here. ;o)

Anyways, once things get rolling and things start sorting themselves out, re-open the borders and conduct business like we should be doing. Allowing legal and well meaning citizens to cross back and forth as comfortably as possible while also remaining vigilant against those who would do us harm, whether they are drug runners, gang members or terrirists.

I'd like to think we can have our protection and allow responsible immigration at the same time. And what would be wrong with that?

Remember, the reason Nine-Eleven was a great success... nobody knew the guys were in-country. And of the ones they did know about, they had no way of knowing where they were. Remember, FIVE of them were living in a hotel room 1 block from the NSA who were looking for them. Hiding in plain sight.

Do we want that again?

[Cheryl2]

03:41 PM on 05/11/2010

9/11 was a success for the terrorists because Bush had his head in the sand, no more no less. Your suggestion for the immigration problem has a lot of your preferences in it, I doubt many conservatives would agree with what you propose. The last time immigration was discussed there was a lot of dissatification expressed for allowing any of the illegals to stay, seeing that they broke the law and were considered criminals.

[AZ BONEZ]

08:58 AM on 05/11/2010

Take the first step. [Close the border.]

THEN discuss the next one.
.

[Wilk]

06:43 AM on 05/11/2010

How about we get rid of affirmative action too? is that not racial profiling?

[CCee]

09:19 AM on 05/11/2010

Ok I will Bite... Yes it is

Alright! Don't Rip my Head Off!

Just always thought it would be kinda hard for us all to come together when one side - doesn't matter what color grievance or reason - seeks or demands or are given special treatment because of their race, Black, White (Roman & Viking Issues), Asian, All of us had been somebody's b*t*h throughout history. We are never going to come together if we don't let the past lie, and we begin to see each other as equals.

I always see those kinds of things as like poking at a scab, instead of giving it time (might take generations - but then it's been generations) to heal.

[AmericanLeslie]

09:54 AM on 05/11/2010

How about you make an effort to learn something BEFORE you make uninformed comments and suggestions...

1). the USA's affirmative action policy is a replication of the USA's GI Bill which gives special preference to veterans;
2). the USA's Affirmative Action Policy also covers women and not just non-whites as you've implied (so not Affirmative action is not racial profiling);
3). since the inception of the GI Bill white males have been the primary recipients of the preferential entitlements; and,
4). since the inception of affirmative action, white women have been the primary beneficiaries.

Isn't it interesting that many of the anti-Affirmative Action folks - whose families have benefitted for decades from preferential entitlement policies such as the GI Bill and Affirmative Action - really don't seem to have any complaints about special preferences until they were extended to non-whites. How telling.

[CCee]

11:02 AM on 05/11/2010

I thought he was referring to race based preferential treatment. You Know.. Racism.. And since my Icon plainly displays me as a Fox (Basil Brush actually) what makes you think I am any particular color?

Nice history lesson though...

I'm All for Heroes (of any color) getting preferential treatment, the rest of us though - able bodied - of different colors.. We should regard ourselves as equals. I'm sure you disagree, but then that doesn't prove Me a Racist does it.