Peter Prengaman, Travis Loller spin "reconquista"

Peter Prengaman and Travis Loller of the Associated Press offer "Anti-Immigration Forces Warn of Plot" (original AP title). It discusses those that favor some form of "reconquista" and those who oppose them and tries to downplay the influence that those favoring "reconquista" have. On the other hand, it's good to see the AP at least acknowledging that such sentiments exist and publicizing them. And, surprisingly, the article could actually have been worse.

On the far fringes of the pro-immigration movement, some Hispanic activists openly yearn for the day when immigrants rise up and retake the American Southwest, more than 150 years after the U.S. annexed it.

However, near the end of the article they discuss the MEChA document "El Plan Espiritual de Aztlan" and bring on someone from the CSUN chapter to say that was just from the time when people were radical. And, they reveal that Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and former California Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamante were members; while they don't indicate when that was, most people will hopefully realize that that was during MEChA's (supposed) radical phase. The fact that two leading California politicians were at least at one time seeped in radicalism doesn't seem that "far fringe" to me.

To help throw water on concerns, they bring on Tamar Jacoby and Mark Potok of the SPLC. The first is identified only as a "senior fellow with the conservative Manhattan Institute think tank", and not as what we know her as: an amnestibot. And, Potok is identified as with an organization that "tracks and monitors hate groups". That will tend to associate those opposed to reconquista sentiments as "haters". They also fail to note that the SPLC has an indirect link to the Mexican government.

They also seem to be somewhat misrepresenting the concerns of the late Rep. Charlie Norwood, then bring on the group that he opposed for their response:

Cecilia Munoz, senior vice president for [National Council of La Raza], said the accusations of a radical separatist agenda are "a little like accusing the NAACP of being the Black Panthers." ..."We've been trying to play by the rules and have a polite policy debate about how to reform immigration," she said. "And everybody else has got their gloves off and is hitting below the belt."

I don't know whether Norwood was accusing the NCLR itself of having an explicit "radical separatist agenda" so much as he was pointing out that they have a cozy relationship with some who do. And, he wanted them to denounce any such agenda. Oddly enough, Prengaman and Loller fail to dwell on the fact that the NCLR consistently opposes enforcement of our immigration laws and that they've funded at least one MEChA chapter as well as the "reconquista charter school".

Comments

From the article: "Mainstream immigration advocacy groups — as well as academics and experts on nearly all sides of the illegal immigration issue — dismiss these "reconquista" notions as rhetorical, not to be taken seriously. But such talk appears to be galvanizing foes of immigration. Anti-immigrant activists and some conservatives have seized on such rhetoric to claim that a conspiracy is afoot among illegal immigrants to reconquer the Southwest." They're playing the Conspiracy Theory Card. How foolish. It's not gonna fly. The authors and their cited "academics and experts" have apparently not been to even one immigration demonstration. If they had they would know the reconquista sentiment (Pilgrims go back to Europe, Stolen Land, Viva Raza!) is mainstream, not fringe. It is in fact the driving force behind the Ladeeenyos' arrogant demands. They think they were wronged and now it's time for payback. MEChA, NCLR, LULAC, MALDEF - these creepy supremacist organizations aren't run by powerless ignorant people, they're run by their intellectuals, their leaders. They're mainstream, but they're still creeps! This sloppy piece of propaganda from the AP may fool some clueless guilt-driven morons in penthouses overlooking Central Park, but it isn't going to fool anybody who actually rubs elbows with the invaders.

How could I forget to mention Mexica Movement? And how could AP quote them, and then so quickly dismiss them? If anyone were to call the KKK, Aryan Nation, etc "a fantasy, a boogeyman" they'd be accused of being a sympathizer, and thus a racist. The hypocrisy and double standards of these hate-group watchdog moralizers are so stark, when they look in a mirror how can they not see the hater looking back at them?

More Latino radicals in government: http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/546449,CST-NWS-faln07.article

Incredibly well stated, Tanstafl, both your comments here. Just very, very accurate and directly said.

Thanks for countering the Anti-American spin Loller spews.