Ehrlich and Kilgore: Immigrant Bashing Peas in a Pod

By: Lowell
Published On: 10/24/2005 1:00:00 AM

According to Jerry Kilgore's website, this Thursday the Republican candidate for Governor of Virginia will be holding a luncheon fundraiser in Tysons Corner with Maryland Governor Bob Ehrlich -- or, as it's (mis) spelled on Kilgore's website, "Ehrilch." 

Well, whatever his name is, I'm sure that Jerry and he will get along great.  One topic of conversation that undoubtedly will keep them happily engaged is that of Hispanic immigrants.  It seems that both Republicans -- governor and governor wannabe -- have a slight problem with them. 

Kilgore, of course, has been busy immigrant bashing for months now, particularly on the Herndon day laborer issue, even while he himself was a lobbyist for a company -- KBR -- that was recently busted for employing illegal immigrants!  In addition, let?s not forget that Kilgore has received nearly $35,000 from KBR.  And then there's Kilgore's running mate, Bill Bolling, running a wildly racist ad that depicts Hispanics viewed through mlitary-style night-vision goggles, strongly implying that they are the enemy to be defeated. 

So now along comes Maryland Governor Bob Ehrlich (however you spell it), who got into major hot water in May 2004 by bashing "this multicultural crap" and calling it ?damaging to society."  The reaction was swift, with "Hispanic leaders call[ing] the remarks divisive, destructive and shocking."

Del. Ana Sol Gutierrez (D-Montgomery), a first-generation immigrant from El Salvador, had this to say about Gov. Ehrlich's remarks:

I think what the governor said absolutely is offensive.  It's also a dangerous comment. What I am sensing is that these kinds of comments from leadership, from people who are in high-level positions, are really fueling an environment that is very dangerous and negative. It says it is okay to consider people who are different as something less.

Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan (D) chimed in as follows:

People from different backgrounds, different religions, and different parts of the world are what make this country strong.  It is troubling to hear anyone degrade our diversity and multiculturalism.

And Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley pointed out that:

"Few of us would be here if our non-English-speaking relatives hadn't struggled for a few years - or decades - to learn English.  This is something we should try to remember if we're inconvenienced for a few minutes during the course of our daily routine because someone is learning English.

Finally, the Democratic Party of Maryland analyzed Ehrlich's remarks as "Seeking to capitalize on anti-immigrant sentiment well entrenched in the right-wing base of his party."

Anyway, welcome to Virginia, Governor Ehrlich!  I'm sure that you and Jerry "Immigrant Basher" Kilgore will have much to talk about in your lunch this Thursday. 


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