Mayor Mike Bloomberg wails against xenophobia strawman

In yesterday's State of the City speech, New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg stood on stage with five immigrant families from Flushing, and said:

I wanted to invite these families today, and a number of others in the front rows, because the diversity they represent is what makes our town special. This is New York City... Their presence is a two-way street. New York gives them unlimited opportunities and these families help make New York the nation's economic engine, its financial hub, its fashion center, its media mecca, and its cultural capital. And that's one of the messages I've been speaking out on, to those who are wailing against immigration, to those politicians who, all of a sudden, have embraced xenophobia, I say: open your eyes... "Take a look behind me. This is what makes America great. This is New York City. This is Freedom. This is Compassion, and Democracy, and Opportunity.

For those who are new to this issue, Mayor Mike was engaging in a strawman argument. No one is "wailing against immigration" in general; many are concerned about massive illegal immigration or massive immigration from one country or region. Being concerned about, say, giving the Mexican government even more political power inside the U.S. is not "xenophobia". I wonder whether Mayor Mike would have dared give his speech at a popular illegal crossing spot on the Mexican border; perhaps if there's video available someone could make something like that. And, perhaps the "two-way" street is a little nod to reality, such as avoiding allowing people in mean us harm or who have divided loyalties or none at all (link, copy here).

He also, of course, mentioned a few of his nanny state proposals.

Related:
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Bloomberg links illegal immigration "crackdown" to tourism
Michael Bloomberg: possible illegal alien taxi drivers isn't dangerous
Mayor Mike Bloomberg, "The Open Borders Mayor"
Mayor Mike Bloomberg's "Immigrant Muddle"
Mayor Mike has an immigration plan for you, Citizen

Immigration2008a · Fri, 01/18/2008 - 09:55 · · Importance: 1