Anti-Immigrant Electoral Campaign - "The New Willie Horton" - Rooted in Old Racism

On the heels of Sen. Hillary Clinton's equivocations about driver's licenses for the undocumented, many a pundit and political strategist has taken to calling immigration the "New Willie Horton" issue. Whether or not the comparison works, likening the anti-immigrant campaign to the 1988 campaign that turned Horton, an African American convicted of murder and rape, into the central component of a "winning" electoral strategy does make one thing painfully obvious: racism can still turn elections -- and not just racism against African Americans.

To the detriment of all, failure to counter the relentless mainstreaming of such politics means that the sanctioning and institutionalization of racism against blacks will only continue deepening and expanding to include Latinos and Asians.

Consider these words from Newsday columnist, James Pinkerton,

"I'm long out of partisan campaign politics, but Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton reminds me a lot of Dukakis. As he was two decades ago, she's from a big state, has a lot of money, is ahead in the polls -- and she's been grievously injured. This time, the issue isn't prison furloughs, but driver's licenses for illegal immigrants in her "home" state of New York. Clinton has broadly defended Gov. Eliot Spitzer's unpopular plan, even as most New Yorkers have reviled it."

Pinkerton's decision to completely avoid using the words "Willie Horton" anywhere in his Newsday commentary by replacing them with the phrase "prison furloughs" previews what will surely be the deployment of racial codes as the "New Willie Horton" election approaches.

The turn to make immigration the "New Willie Horton" campaign follows the tried and true logic of Republican race baiters like Reagan and Bush I strategist Lee Atwater. Karl Rove mentor Atwater helped the elder Bush overcome a 17-point Dukakis lead by injecting into the campaign racist ads linking Horton to the former Massachusetts Governor. Atwater's Horton campaign tapped into fears and myths resounding nationally thanks, in no small part, to the earlier machinations of the now gigantic right wing echo chamber.

Long before the 1988 Presidential campaign, major donors and large foundations had already begun the work of mainstreaming anti-black politics by funding multi-million dollar think tank "research" projects. Charles Murray, author of the infamous Bell Curve, for example, received fellowships and other support from the American Enterprise Institute, Manhattan Institute and the Bradley Foundation, which gave him more than $1 million. Eugenicist philanthropy also did its part as in the case of The Pioneer Fund, which contributed $3.5 million to work done years before by researchers cited in The Bell Curve. So, by the time Atwater's Horton ads appeared, the mainstream and even some alternative media outlets had already saturated the airwaves for years with news of the "findings" that gave cover to racist sentiments towards black people.

Similarly, many of the main anti-immigrant, anti-Latino groups behind the "New Willie Horton" are getting money from some of the same funders like the Scaife, Olin and other foundations behind the mainstreaming anti-black campaigns of the 80's. Most TV viewers and voters today have no idea that many of the main anti-immigrant voices appearing on CNN, 60 Minutes and other mainstream news shows they watch are those of individuals belonging to organizations like the Federation of Americans for Immigration Reform (FAIR) and other groups that received early funding from the eugenicist, anti-black, Pioneer Fund. And we can only imagine what the "new" political ads in the upcoming elections will look like.

So, when we hear the immigration issue being called "the New Willie Horton", some of us -- conservatives, liberals, progressives, African Americans and people of conscience generally -- should pause. We should ask ourselves why we get that weird feeling when we hear friends -- or ourselves -- expressing positions around immigration that sound uncomfortably similar to those of the reborn Ku Klux Klan, neo-Nazi groups and scores of Republicans. We should also question Democratic party leaders like Rahm Emmanuel who is giving candidates like Senator Chris Dodd and "pragmatic Democrats" the green light to go anti-immigrant with his descriptions of immigration as a "third rail" of politics.

The short-term political profits gained from turning the immigration issue into a new "New Willie Horton" may or may not yield the desired dividends. We'll see. But whether or not this resurrected racialized approach to campaigns works, it must be denounced forcefully, if only because of the long-term social liability beyond the elections. Latino, Asian, African and other immigrants have demonstrated in the polling booths and in the streets that they will not stand by and simply watch the unchecked growth of the politics of fear. The "old" Willie Horton campaign taught many of us about the relationship between racial appeals directed at a predominantly white electorate and economic recessions like that of the late 80's.

That the "New Willie Horton" approach to immigration insinuates itself in the context of another, more intense global economic meltdown is less a unhappy coincidence than it is tragic proof of tried and true political calculation; that this "new" political race baiting takes hold alongside an unprecedented and highly racialized "global war on terror" makes it even more noxious -- and dangerous -- to the body politic. Failure to do anything about this politic inches all of us ever closer to the race war scenarios that are every eugenicists and racists dream.

Comments

[1will]

The author is beating a dead horse. This is his second column on the illegal immigrant issue in a month. Of course he doesn't call them illegals. They are just immigrants to him.
This seems to be the one issue that both Left and Right Wingers can unite behind. It's a shame our lawmakers (and Idiot in Chief) will not listen to the will of the people.
Why is it racism to expect the government to secure our borders? No doubt if we had 12 million Canadians flooding into our country, driving down wages, stealing SSN and identities there would be the same outcry for secure borders.
As for the argument that they were here first I say fine. If you can find any of these illegals that were living in North America when we gained Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and CA then let them in. If you want to play that who was here first game why not go back to when the first people crossed over into North America via the land bridge at the Berring Straight. We can then give unlimited immigration rights to the Russians if that's what Mr. Lovato wants.

[olephart]

Protecting American workers against insourcing has nothing to do with race. The anti illegal immigration factor is based on economic necessity not racial hatred. This protection also manifests itself in opposition to the massive issuance of H1B visas to foreign skilled workers while Americans with those same skills are either unemployed or under employed. It is a simple matter of business lowering its labor costs at the expense of American workers. This country is being raped and pillaged by the corporations and businesses that have flourished here because of a well paid workforce that provides those same businesses with customers. It is all too obvious to those in touch with working America that this relationship has broken down. The Government has even provided tax incentives to businesses to ship their production and jobs overseas to take advantage of cheap labor. This same government has chosen to look the other way in the enforcement of the immigration laws. The resulting situation has allowed desperate people made so by THEIR OWN GOVERNMENTS to flee poverty in hopes of a better life. Just because the majority of these people are a 12 hour bus ride to our border does not give them preference over the other 5 billion people in similar situations. I submit that support of this group over billions of others is as much a racially motivated action as any actions you decry. No one is objecting to legal immigration of any ethnic or social group. We are objecting to those who would usurp our citizenship by their illegal actions in entering this country.

[MARTYB]

Alkamm, these "good people" are the same ones who call Blacks "monkeys" in Spainish, right? Ruleoflaw and Sparkandy have the right of it. Most Blacks i know, me included feel that Mexican Latinos have used the proximity of the border to illegal advantage and are demanding rights they have not earned by a loonngg shot! They have a country, come visit ours, go home.

[joja]

Mr. Lovato --

You have entirely misjudged the situation. Being anti-illegal immigration is not equivalent to racism, no matter how hard you & Mexico City try to paint it.

If anyone is playing the race card it is people like you, who willingly turn a blind eye to the racist immigration policies of Mexico, where illegal immigration doesn't exist because violators are shot on sight or jailed & deported with no legal or social benies.

In addition, Mexico City has been engaged in oppressing its own indigenous populations in its southern states, yet there's never any mention of it by immigration advocates who are so quick to brand Americans with racial epithets, just for trying to enforce our laws.

Why don't you push for change in Mexico, which has been independent since 18fuckin'21 and still looks like the 19th century shithole it is?

Why all the chicken shit games about immigration? Why can't Mexico provide jobs for its people? What the fuck is wrong with them?

[AlexSpecht]

Lovato does not downplay the immigration problem, but shows its political value as a platform for the upcoming election.
Imagine driving home from a 12 hour shift to get pulled over for a bad headlight and the next day shipped back to Mexico, and left without a pot to piss in.
The two campaigns are related one because of cheap labor, and second a "potential threat" to the US. Whos more threatening a convicted murderer, or a day laborer, who farms the food that you and your congressman eat.
The "new Horton" is a great example of equal opportuinty. When my Grandparents came to this country, they were immigrants. As a matter of fact all of our ancestors were immigrants. Perhaps the "Illegal Aliens" with Native American blood such as Aztec and Mayan are the only ones who's ancestors were NOT immigrants.
Euginics is obsolete, and so should be the idea of the "Model American" as one with white skin, blonde hair and blue eyes. The world is globalized, and the US should position itself as a multi-national corporation rather than a country western band that plays gigs in dive bars.

[Mormondude]

What a crock. One could argue that Willie Horton had NO IMPACT WHATSOEVER on society in general. It was playing on people's emotions and fears.

Illegal immigration has DEVASTATING effects on the entire country. The two are in completely different categories.

The fact that you try to DOWNPLAY illegal immigration by linking it to Willie Horton just shows how out of step YOU are with practically everyone else in this country. Whether they agree with amnesty or not, most people are intellectually honest enough to acknowledge that the problems are real, and they are large.

[iswearington]

adding the immigration issue to the plethora of white ...born again, mormon and evangelical racists throwing words around like ..."social conservative"...a very thinly disguised euphemism for (deeply entrenched ...diehard racist) is akin to pouring gas on a kerosene fire.but pray tell...riddle me this. if the mexicans were here on what later became america ...thousands of years before irish and other whitefolk left woadyland(britain)...who are the real illegal immigrants?

[tkk]

How do you know for sure people are anti-latino because they object to people entering the country illegally? That's the main problem with trying to champion this issue. If people objected to latinos who were not breaking the law that would be racism, but since the illegals are breaking many laws, not just illegal entry, no one can assume that if a legal citizen objects to illegal entry, it automatically follows that the person is racist.

Democrats are poised to win the battle and lose the war on this one.

[mommamia526]

It is just amazing that the same group by hook and by crook insists on putting out the same tired old non arguments, deliberately acting confused on immigration vs illegal trespassers, etc. Now, they should understand, once and for all, Americans have heard you, and they have your number! They know where you are coming from, what your angle is, and that you are a privileged group. This is something you should know, though, Americans are tired of this, and that includes even legal immigrants who have long since become U.S. citizens, who speak and think in American, and yes, it even includes legal latino immigrants I have heard. Give it up already. This is one issue Democrats and Republicans agree on. It is also a huge issue which will decide the coming election. Americans will NOT ELECT someone who gives amnesty to illegals. Have you noticed how it gets Hillary in trouble? Americans are tired of hearing you speak Spanish in their presence when you are serving the public for example as cashiers. And so is this specific former immigrant. I adjusted and speak American English and you can too. I came here legally, and so should you, or you should stay out.

[marko77]

This is not a new "Willie Horton" issue. The corporations want cheap labor as do other smaller business people. The unions have been broken, and now businesses want to take it one step further - dirt cheap wages across the board and no paying of taxes either. This is the real issue.

[skepticali]

Is this the same croud that was all in a frenzy about "the gays" last time there was a vote, because if you have not noticed THERES A WAR GOING ON!! In fact, it's been going on longer then WWII. The truth is I see latinos lined up for work, and I see a lot of people from this country walk past asking for change and not all are crazy, just lazy. When it comes to senting jobs to India or China STOP BUYING THERE PRODUCTS ECT. I bet all you people that hate the immigrants drive ford trucks, did you Know there made in Mexico? FOOLS! As for the guy that was uncomfortable with people speaking spanish around him, are you sure your not just embarassed about you being kind of stupid? Most people in other western countries speak at least two languagies if not a few more.

[1will]

Until we reach 0% unemployment I don't believe we need 12 million illegal aliens taking jobs and driving down wages.
The author is fighting a losing battle on this issue. Left and Right, Democrat and Republican, it doesn't matter. The American people are united in wanting our borders sealed. Of course our politicians on both sides seem intent on screwing us on this issue.

[1will]

When you have a weak argument imediately cry racism.

[rayanthony]

"the reborn Ku Klux Klan, neo-Nazi groups and scores of Republicans."

So are you saying the Republican party is the same as the KKK, or neo-Nazi's?

The only reason the Dems are being nice to illegal aliens(not immigrants!!) is so they can enslave them the same way they have the black community!

http://www.redstate.com/blogs/rayanthony/2007/oct/25/the_enslavement_of_black_america

For Republicans this isn't a race thing. This is about the integrity of our borders. I don't care what race you are, if you're here illegally, I want you to leave!

[scooperss]

Enough already. American citizens are having it tough enough without more job competition.

And BTW didn't those in government tell us that one reason why gas was so high in the US was because the US didn't have enough.
And yet you want to add more people and burden us further.
And no I'm not a racist or any of the other names you might want to call me.
And for the excuse illegal immigrants are just trying to feed their families, so are some of the people who are now turning to a life of crime in this country. Let's talk about those elderly people down south who were caught selling their prescription medications in order to eat. Why were they punished? Sure, they were just trying to feed themselves but did you stick up for them?