Illegal Immigration advocate Rep. Luis Gutierrez attacks Senator Marco Rubio

On June 15, 2001, Senator Marco Rubio, (R) Florida delivered his first speech on the floor of the United States Senate.   The speech has been called by some as the best speech of the presidential campaign, although Marco Rubio is not seeking the nomination. In his speech entitled "A New American Century", Rubio declared that the United States has now reached a turning point, and can usher in  a new era of American prosperity.

"We will either bring on another American century, or we are doomed to witness America’s decline. Another American century is fully within our reach because there is nothing wrong with our people. The American people haven’t forgotten how to start a business. The American people haven’t run out of good ideas," Rubio said."We Americans are as great as we have ever been. But our government is broken. And it is keeping us from doing what we have done better than any people in the history of the world: Create jobs and prosperity."

Senator Rubio's maiden speech to the Senate was an important one and it touched on many of the issues that we face today.  The son of Cuban immigrants, Rubio spoke about the opportunities that this nation has offered  not only to his family, but immigrants from all over the world.  They have been given a chance for a new life, to prosper and grow in this free society. Although he did not dwell on it,  Mr. Rubio is also a supporter of laws that curtail the flow of illegal immigration in this country, and he opposes the DREAM Act.  This applies to all who come here illegally regardless of their country of origin. 

According to Politico's On Congress section, the Florida senator's speech prompted a personal attack by another member of Congress:
Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) haven't met before. But Gutierrez, one of the House's most passionate pro-immigration advocates, is getting personal with the freshman tea-party senator, labeling him an "extremist" and saying his Cuban-born parents benefitted from the same type of "generous" immigration policies that Rubio opposes."I can't think of a more generous immigration policy than the one his parents benefitted from," Gutierrez, a liberal from Chicago of Puerto Rican descent, told POLITICO on Wednesday. "All they had to do was show up."

Two Sisters From The Right believe that such a statement cannot go unchallenged.  It is beyond ludicrous, that Rep. Gutierrez, a Latino of Puerto Rican ancestry can even begin to compare the plight of the Cuban people to that of other illegals.  Advocate of the illegal immigrants though he may be, let us remember that Puerto Ricans are American citizens and can come and go from the island to the mainland freely and at will, as Puerto Rico is an American Commonwealth ceded to the United States by Spain after the Spanish American War. We doubt Mr. Gutierrez has much personal experience with the subject.

Cuba on the other hand, is described by the United States Department of State as  totalitarian communist state; its  current government assumed power by force on January 1, 1959.  Cuba gained its independence from Spain in May 1902 after fighting a long and bloody war.  When the USS Maine was destroyed in Havana Harbor the United States intervened.  It granted Cuba its independence and did not keep it as was done with Puerto Rico.  The U.S. retained the right to intervene in Cuban affairs to preserve Cuba's independence.  We all know about Fidel Castro's long Communist dictatorship. History buffs know well where that retained authority went.

It is completely absurd that Representative Gutierrez in his effort to keep American borders open and unprotected, would even dare to compare the struggle of Cuban immigration to that of others.  It is one thing to willfully emigrate from one's country for economic reasons, and yet another to flee an oppressive murderous government where human rights are non existent, and freedoms are but a distant memory.

Why then would Representative Gutierrez attempt to darken Marco Rubio's rising star?  Why attempt to ridicule him?  The reason of course has to be political.  Whereas Marco Rubio represents ALL the people of Florida, and is willing to abide with the rules of immigration for all, Mr. Gutierrez is attempting to please and gain the support and even votes of a growing population in Illinois - Illegals from other countries, mainly Mexico.

This  blog as most regular readers know is written by two sisters who live across the United States from one another.  One lives in the North West Suburbs of Chicago, the other is a scant two hours north of the border with Mexico.  We know illegal immigration.  We've seen what it does to our communities, and to our economy.  Even Mr. Gutierrez should know that there is a huge difference between fleeing for political reasons, and leaving one's country willingly because  the government is corrupt, inefficient, and is going through rough economic times.  Cubans who attempt to leave the island are imprisoned or killed. Given Mexican President Calderon's recent speech to Congress  criticising the Arizona laws  against illegal immigration, one can't help but believe that the Mexican government encourages it.  Calderon also went on to accuse the United States of  discrimination towards illegal Mexicans.  Does Representative Gutierrez agree with Calderon, yet opposes his own colleague in the Congress of the United States?   

We don't recall any other Freshman senator's maiden speech receiving the attention that Senator Rubio's has received. Perhaps Gutierrez has fallen prey to the green eyed monster.  Whether one agrees with the entire speech or disagrees with it, in whole or in parts, it is pathetic that Representative Gutierrez would attempt to occlude an inspiring speech delivered to motivate Americans to "reach for the stars" by interjecting his pet project, opening our borders to illegal immigrants who will only interfere with our growth and recovery.

We suggest that Representative Gutierrez reach out to Senator Rubio and at least assess the man,  gauge his honesty and his intent before he tears him apart.  The numbers of immigrants from Cuba and those from Mexico differ greatly. If he wants to get persona, we'd like to hear Gutierrez criticize Calderon and the Mexican government for their treatment of those persons from Central and South America who enter Mexico illegally. 

Two Sisters From The Right, from a humanitarian point of view  can understand what motivates the politically and  financially oppressed to seek to better their lives.   However,  this is a nation governed by the rule of law and we must abide by it.

If we thought that it was pathetic of Gutierrez to rain on Senator Rubio's parade, we find it even more contemptible and deplorable that Representative Gutierrez, either following orders, or for political reasons should attempt to incite a rift between immigrant groups who live and are citizens of the United States, especially Latinos.  It is a despicable act and defies comprehension.
 
Two Sisters From The Right


Copyright June 16, 2011


The complete text of Senator Rubio's maiden speech can be read here, courtesy of the Babalu Blog.