Julia Preston/NYT discovers: natives are restless over immigration bill

Julia Preston of the New York Times - last seen here promoting a misleading poll - goes to Michigan and comes back with "As Immigration Plan Folded, Grass Roots Roared". The main subject of the article is a housewife from the suburbs of Detroit. Speaking from her "neatly maintained home" she says:

For Mrs. Thibodeaux and others on her side, the immigration debate was a battle for the soul of the nation because it seemed to divert taxpayer-financed resources to cater to foreigners who had not come to this country by legal means.

Yeah, I guess there's that $2.5 trillion estimated net retirement cost, huh? But, perhaps in the NYT's universe that money would only "seem" to have to be spent.

"A lot of our American people in Detroit are hurting," Mrs. Thibodeaux said, noting that she has often done volunteer work in poor neighborhoods here. "It's just not right."

If she weren't a Republican and didn't oppose massive illegal immigration, the NYT would be portraying her as a saint instead of giving the impression that they feel like they're visiting another planet. And, it's curious that they focus on her; could it be because she's a supporter of mass deportations, and they're attempting to portray all opponents as supporters of such efforts? Something to ponder, as are the rather forceful adjectives Preston uses:

...The assault on lawmakers in Washington was relentless... supporters conceded that they were outmaneuvered by opponents who boiled down their complaints to that single hot-button word, repeated often and viscerally on talk radio programs and blogs... But many of these Republicans are enraged at their party leaders... they feel betrayed by Mr. Bush... Opposition to the Senate bill brought together many Americans in states where immigration was not traditionally a fervor-inspiring issue, but where illegal immigration has become more visible in recent years.

Other groups mentioned include Let Freedom Ring, Grassfire.org, and The John and Ken Show.

Immigration2007a · Sat, 06/09/2007 - 10:47 · · Importance: 1