Phoenix Suns. Major League Baseball Players Union. Japanese Americans Citizens League. National Urban League. National Federation of Filipino American Association. Service Employees International Union (SEIU). United Food and Commercial Workers. San Diego City Council. New York City Council. Denver Public School District. That's a tiny part of a long list of organizations with something in common-they publicly oppose SB1070, Arizona's new immigration law.
Now add to that list...evangelicals?
Indeed.
According to a report filed by CNN, a number of prominent evangelical leaders are speaking out against Arizona's immigration law. Richard Land, head of public policy for the Southern Baptist Convention, called Arizona's law "the wrong way to attack the problem" of immigration. Rich Nathan, head of a 10,000 member evangelical congregation in Ohio said it was "not true to our values," that "as Evangelicals we have to see the immigration issue as a family issue."
Evangelicals are just the latest religious leaders to come out in opposition to Arizona's immigration law. Almost 90 major Jewish organizations and prominent leaders signed a letter in protest. A leader in the United Methodist Church called the law: "unwise, short sighted and mean spirited." A prominent Catholic bishop, who said he was speaking on behalf of fellow bishops, labeled the bill "draconian." But I have to admit, hearing the largely conservative evangelical movement attack Arizona's new immigration law came as a surprise. After all, over one third of those who identify themselves as Republicans are white evangelicals Protestants. But then I read the CNN article a bit closer. Yes, The National Association of Evangelicals stated that they were against the law because "discussion of immigration and government immigration policy must begin with the truth that every human being is made in the image of God," a beautiful and laudable sentiment. But the article then went on to strongly imply that one of the Association's concerns with the Arizona law was a little more down to earth.
Votes. As in, the loss of them: if Hispanics turn away from the GOP the result could be the election of more Democrats. And traditionally, that's something that doesn't make evangelical churches too happy.
Even before Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed the immigration law many were predicting that Hispanic voters may be one of the keys to who wins this year's midterm elections. Since the law was passed many Republican supporters are concerned about what it will do to the GOP in the long run: as conservative columnist Mona Charon warned: "Republicans must tread carefully to avoid alienating the important Hispanic vote."
Richard Land said he wants to make sure Hispanics learn of evangelical opposition to SB1070 because he's concerned "about being perceived as unwelcoming to them." CNN says evangelical leaders are "working to convince Republicans that the party will lose Hispanic voters if they take a strident line on immigration." If that's indeed true, they might start with a guy involved in one of those midterm elections. He's a supporter of the law, and last week voters in Arizona saw an ad that targeted him solely on that support.
John McCain, the list of those against Arizona's immigration law keeps growing. Maybe you should listen to the evangelical community and consider joining too.
Comments
These fools getting involved with Arizona business should also see that people are boycotting THEM. And it's not just from Arizona. We havent bought ANYTHING from our suppliers in CA ever since the City of San Fran demanded boycotts of their city employees a couple weeks ago. We still SELL and SHIP there,..but buy nothing and it will remain that way until they back down. The same thing applies to any other states or large business who gets involved.
Arizona is upholding FEDERAL LAW....laws in which the Federal government have been to lax on and costing the states millions. It's just not Arizona. My state will be next.
The Feds need to do their job or stay the hell out of the way and let the states handle it. it is THEIR tax dollars.
Ooo, watch out world, Arizona is boycotting you...
*eye roll*
Good show Tim.
It is still a free country and anyone can express an opinion about the Arizona law. Those who send money to Arizona to help offset the burgeoning costs of the illegal alien invasion are the ones who truly care about the state and the illegals themselves. Mexico is not sending any money, just people.
If you wish to help Arizona with this problem and you are not just shooting off your mouth, send contributions to:
The Honorable Jan Brewer
Governor of Arizona
1700 West Washington
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
Disclosure: I live in MO and have no political affiliations or connections to anyone in AZ. But I have common sense.
Tim says:
"These fools getting involved with Arizona business should also see that people are boycotting THEM. And it's not just from Arizona. We havent bought ANYTHING from our suppliers in CA ever since the City of San Fran demanded boycotts of their city employees a couple weeks ago..."
uh, yeah...like your $36 of supplies is going to bankrupt California...they probably haven't even noticed your missing order.
Whats missing in this is the sorry corrupt Mexico that cannot take care of its own people. THAT is the crime here.
CLOSe AND LOCK the border then we can talk about the illegals already here. NOT until the source is fixed can the illegals here be dealt with.
If this failed regime secured the borders, I am sure you would see many many more people willing to allow some of those here a path to a better life. Citizenship IS NOT A RIGHT! Citizenship is NOT the only way to "legalize" those already here. If they are here to work as we are told , then giver them a work permit, NOT citizenship. Citizenship is reserved for those WHO DID NOT BREAK OUR LAWS as their VERY first act.
SECURE the borders and well talk about what to do next THEN.
You don;t clean the water out of your basement while the pipe is still leaking do you?
The DOJ has nothen better to do then hurt the people of AZ, but let the black panthers go after their criminal acts. Where was the out cry about that mr Obama.
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