Dumbocracy in Action: The Immigration Bill Goes Down

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Dumbocracy in Action: The Immigration Bill Goes Down

Posted Jun 28th 2007 1:30PM by Mo Rocca
Filed under: George Bush, Democrats, Republicans, 9/11, Illegal Immigration, Mo Rocca

When Joel Kaplan, Bush's Deputy Chief of Staff, offered a comprehensive briefing on the Immigration Bill before its demise earlier today, he made a lot of sense:

"Look, this is a complicated bill. It's taken some time for people to understand what's in there. Obviously, it's a compromise and it's in the nature of compromise that everyone doesn't get everything they want."

But here's the problem: We're not conditioned to hear complicated proposals from this White House. They've been more committed than any White House in memory to turning us into simpletons. The President has been proud of framing everything in black-and-white. (If "nuance" weren't a French word, would he hate it as much?)
From the beginning, keeping things as simple as possible has been a guiding principle of the Bush White House. Remember Bush naming Jesus Christ as his favorite philosopher at a 2000 New Hampshire debate? A bold answer, shared of course by millions. But what was Bush's reason? "Because he changed my heart." That's it? That's your reason for naming the central figure in Western religion? You've still got 30 seconds, Mr. President. How about something from the Sermon on the Mount? Anything?

His answer ranked with Paris Hilton's answer to Larry King when he asked for her favorite Bible passage. (Answer: She smiled and looked away.)

But until now it's been hard to argue with the simpleton strategy. He got us into Iraq with three letters (a record in crystallization): WMD. And it got him re-elected with three numbers (with a slash through the first and second): 9/11. The 2004 Republican Convention was a master class in messaging: Each night had a smartly named theme but the whole thing was really 9/11, 9/11, 9/11. Ironic that the Democrats, the party in bed with Hollywood, can't produce its way out of the electoral toilet. Their convention was a total snooze.

I'd give Trent Lott points for courage (madness?) in criticizing talk radio for branding a complicated Immigration bill as nothing more than mass amnesty - except that talk radio's not to blame. The right-wing hosts didn't like the amnesty part of the bill so naturally they were going to highlight that part of it and ignore the tightened border security, guest-worker program, and fines. That's their prerogative and they'd be stupid not to exercise it.

(Meanwhile poor sad John Kerry once again misses the point and wants to resurrect the Fairness Doctrine so that talk radio will be more diverse. Classic loser issue for the Democrats. What's next? A bill to affirm the rights of Americans to burn the flag? I'm shocked that the normally sensible Dianne Feinstein would even flirt with the idea of bringing back the Fairness Doctrine.)

President Bush, you probably won't have another shot at Immigration legislation. But if you do, make sure you make it easier to understand.

Start with "immigration": That thar werdz got fore big sillables! Ow my hed hertz!!

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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 15)

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1. The White House is now responsible for the the american public's inablility "to understand complicated matters"? Is no one responsible for anything anymore, including what they think? Good thing we have your simplistic drivel to enlighten us...cheers

Tad Driscoll at 2:15PM on Jun 28th 2007

2. Hello Mo --
I'm a teacher here in California. As I read your article, I have to wonder how much you are paid for this article? Don't take this wrong, but I get really tired of reading things written by people who I suspect make a whole lot more than the $40K-ish I get here as a teacher [with an M.A. and 12 years of experience], and I see the usage of its/it's.

PLEASE! It's = it is. Its = belongs to... and the correct usage in this sentence.

Other than that, how about talking about the real 'elephant in the room' of this immigration issue, the fact that employers WANT and NEED the cheap labor force these immigrants offer. Why do Bush et al support the guest worker program? We need to re-read our history books about the REAL issues behind slavery pre-Civil War. It's easier to compete in the market if your labor force is free or nearly so.

DeeDee at 2:40PM on Jun 28th 2007

3. "This passes for an intelligent analysis of this matter?"

Only if you make it so.
Its obviously intended to be funny.

Tad O'Comedy at 2:25PM on Jun 28th 2007

4. Let's set the record straight about ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
They have committed a crime..they work (yes, for less) but they pay no taxes to the IRS, no state or local taxes. They demand a second language teacher for their kids in school, free maedical care, school breakfasts and lunches, free prescritions. Oh yes, because they have committed the ILLEGAL act of immigrating they drive without licenses and insurance.
When you can do this in this Democracy let me know!
The real question I have is: how do you expect the crime rate to go down when you reward these people who have brolen the law of the U.S.?

Pamiss45 at 2:25PM on Jun 28th 2007

5. Good argument -- "You're dumb!" That'll take you places in the business of political analysis.

le

le at 3:24PM on Jun 28th 2007

6. Now Mo, our country is founded on good simpleton values and morals, clearly there is no shame in thinking in such a manner both because Jesus loves me and he loves you too!

And weren't you at the Democratic National Convention Mo, making ketchup jokes about Teresa Heinz Kerry? You got to get some juicer material Mo and bring back some life to that next year.

Anyway, as I figured, immigration, the once proud term that stirred up images of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and quaint neighborhoods of diverse cultures and peoples, has turned more unpleasant than planning a visit to your grouchy in-laws. Why not compromise and give Texas back to Mexico, it was originally theirs to begin with. We got Puerto Rico so we'll still have fifty states either way.

Anything that would help immigration right now is a lost cause as there is too much dim witted opposition. Thank you talk radio and whoever else is making some overly complex tirade about it. Seems like we're more interested in things like firing Don Imus over something completely trivial instead of giving Pedro and pals legal jobs. Perhaps Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton will eat out the other radio political pundits the next time they say something partially racist or offensive.

But what can you do? Nothing worthwhile is going to be accomplished while this administration is still present. Let the dinosaurs bicker amongst themselves, by then, enough illegal immigrants will have already snuck in. So much for the super-fences.

Everything free in America
for a BIG fee in America.
Your friend, Blayze "Shaggalo" O'Brien from the Bee

bobrien at 2:37PM on Jun 28th 2007

7. the bill failed because we don't trust the government to enforce immigration law..they haven't thru two administrations why would just adding more laws result in any change

robrt lipton at 2:45PM on Jun 28th 2007

8. OH wait now I know what's missing here... the usual disclaimer/comment from Bush 43:

"It's Hard Work!"

poor dubya

DeeDee at 2:46PM on Jun 28th 2007

9. The White House, as well as agencies like the CIA and the FBI, may not be responsible for dumbing us down, but there is one policy all three have used that seems to work (for a little while at least): deception.

I can understand why, because if we, the American people, knew everything that was going on, we would be a country in a state of constant panic, because our government deals with a lot of things, good, bad, and dangerous, on a daily basis. But when it comes to deceiving a country into why it must go to war (hint: there were no WMDs, or at least no WMDs with the capability to do the kind of damage the White House was proposing), and while I do agree that Saddam was a dangerous man who needed to be removed from power, I think the danger our troops face now is alot worse than before we occupied Iraq.

As for the issue of immigration itself, it doesn't seem to be that big of a problem here in Philadelphia. But, as the saying goes, "Just because you can't see it doesn't mean it's not there." I do support legislation that registers illegal immigrants for the simple reason that these men and women should be afforded the same rights as I. Due process, health insurance, 'Lost' on ABC - immigrants deserve access to all these things. While it is a complicated issue, it's not right for the higher ups to surrender behind that kind of thinking. Life is complicated, but that doesn't mean we should bend over and take it. You do something about it, whether you like it or not. At least that's what adults are supposed to do.

Marta R. at 2:50PM on Jun 28th 2007

10. The big bad so called comprimise first should have made it iron clad against more ILLEGAL INVADERS from coming across our mostly southern border.
bush throwing another 4 billion at the protection issue shows he wasn't serious in the first place, just bribing the Sanate and then like the "BIG BAD FENCE would forget about it when he got cheaper labor forever for his agribusiness and big box retail supporters.
THE FACT THAT GUYS WITH STICKS OF DYNAMITE AND UZI MACHINE GUNS FROM THE FAR EAST OR BOSNIA COULD BE INCLUDED DOES NOT SEEP INTO HIS SO CALLED BRAIN

Jack F. Doyle at 2:53PM on Jun 28th 2007

11. This whole debate reminds me of something Flo and Eddie said about the song KUNG FU FIGHTING: "That song sucks... I didn't buy it. And you know you didn't buy it. So who the hell bought it? Oriental Negroes, that's who."

I have trouble with the "people are fooled" argument because it's always made by people who insist they weren't fooled. It's said that the entire audience for beauty pageants is made up of people who say "I can't believe people WATCH this crap." My point is, if you aren't taken in by this simplistic message, and I'm not, and you're readers aren't, and their friends aren't, well, where are the people who ARE?

Daniel K at 2:58PM on Jun 28th 2007

12. One more thing I forgot to add: thousands of refugees from Iraq applied for amnesty in the U.S. in 2006 - only 68 requests were granted. It pays to consider all the things that could arise as a result of your actions. For a multi-billion dollar war, I doubt the administration gave it the kind of consideration it deserved before the occupation.

Marta R. at 3:02PM on Jun 28th 2007

13. ONE OF YOU SUGGESTRED GIVING TEXAS BACK TO MEXICO BECAUSE WE TOOK IT FROM THEM. EXCUSE ME APPARENTLY YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE BATTLE AT THE ALAMO AND SAN JACINTO WHERE WE DEFEATED THE MEXICANS AND TOOK TEXAS. HAD TEXAS STILL BEEN PART OF MEXICO LOOK AT WHAT IT WOULD HAVE TURNMED INTO. LOOK AT MEXICO AND THEIR LIES THE ANSWER. I LIVE IN TEXAS AND THE STREET I DRIVE DOWN TO GET TO MY HOUSE IS NOTHING BUT ILLEGALS WITH THEIR ANCHOR KIDS. THEY HAVE A SPECIAL BUS THAT PICKS THEM UP AND TAKES THEM TO A SPECIAL SCHOOL AT TAX PAYERS COST. THEY HAVE TAKEN OVER THE LAWN MAINTENANCE JOBS HERE BECAUSE THEY WILL MOW AND WEED EAT A 40 ACRE PIECE OF LAND FOR $100.00. IF YOU WANT TO GIVE MEXICO ANY STATE MAKE IT YOURS. BTW FLORIDA BELONGED TO SPAIN. HOW ABOUT GIVING IT BACK TO SPAIN.

lois A. at 3:08PM on Jun 28th 2007

14. Excellent post. The truth may hurt for some, but the facts can't be ignored.

The author and inspirational speaker, Iyanla Vanzant, talks about how when you're climbing the mountain of success there will be those (haters) who will throw rocks at you to try and make you fall. But the rocks that they throw just fall back on them and hit them in the head.

You are blessed, babe. Just ignore the haters and keep right on climbing.

giftedgirl at 3:22PM on Jun 28th 2007

15. Wait a minute. I just remembered I work with a dumb guy!

Daniel K at 3:27PM on Jun 28th 2007

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Mo Rocca appears on a bunch of shows, including CBS News Sunday Morning (with the indescribably wonderful Charles Osgood), The Tonight Show on NBC, and NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! He's a sometime judge on Iron Chef and was featured on Telemundo's Amore Descarado. Last year he starred on Broadway in the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. His expose "All the President's Pets" was published by Crown in 2004.