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Political Animals

Rebecca Forest: Tea Party Leader Tells Austin Rally There's Too Many Hispanics in Legislature

By Richard Connelly Mon., Jun. 13 2011 at 4:01 PM

Categories: Immigration, Political Animals

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This weekend saw another thrilling right-wing rally in Austin, and in this one Rebecca Forest, a co-founder of an immigration group called Women on the Wall, offered a unique take on why Texas can't get hard-core legislation passed like Arizona and Alabama.

If you want to know why we can't pass legislation in Texas it's because we have 37, no 36, Hispanics in the Legislature. All of the states that have passed legislation have a handful and I mean literally, some of them have NO Hispanic legislators, well, maybe 3 or 5 or something. So that's, umm, part of our problem and we need to change those numbers. We need to do something about that.

Forest went on to say "during the debate on sanctuary cities, several Hispanic legislators testified that their grandparents and their parents were migrant workers who came over here to work and that THEY even worked in the fields. And some of them even admitted that they had been here illegally and that they came illegally. So the problem is these Hispanic legislators...is that it's too close to them and they, umm... simply cannot vote their conscience correctly."

THAT'S the problem -- Hispanic politicians can't vote their consciences correctly.

It's no surprise there's been some reaction.

Texas Democratic Party executive director Anthony Gutierrez said:

While Ms. Forest's comments are incredibly offensive, it's about time a Republican was finally upfront about their Party's hateful attitude toward Hispanics. The 'sanctuary cities' debate is really about the belief Ms. Forest confirmed: that Republicans simply think there are too many Hispanics in Texas.
This legislation being debated today is yet another attempt by Republicans to pander to the Tea Party by attacking Hispanics. Cowardly Republican politicians like Rick Perry, David Dewhurst and the legislative majority have shown they are willing to trample the rights of Hispanic Texans in order to score points with their Tea Party base.

To be fair to Forest, she didn't say there were "too many Hispanics in Texas." She said there were too many Hispanics in the Texas legislature. Big, big difference.

For all we know, she might want tons and tons of more Hispanics in Texas, as long as they don't vote.

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Hispanics, Illegal Immigration

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Rebecca REALLY you don't want hispanics here unless they are cleaning your house.Are doing your dirty work. 2 FACED
Once a racist... always a racist..
What's funniest thing of all is that no matter how much they wail about it, no matter how much they gnash their teeth or shake their fists at the sky, texas is becoming more and more hispanic and they can't stop it. They're on the wrong side of history and they can't even see it. Instead of embracing the future, they're fighting it. How funny, and sad, really.
If'n you wanna know why millions of Texas hispanics, who are just as Texan as everyone else (5th generation, myself), are uncomortable as HELL with the Tea Party movement and the anti-immigraiton movement, this should give you a hint. Legally elected (hmm, sounds like one of "America's founding principles") hispanic legislators are a problem that we need to do something about. We are Americans, we are Texans, we are Hispanic. I'll stand on this dirt that I was born on, that my ancestors fought and died for, and that was built on such founding American Principles as "all men are created equal," and tell you to stick your Tea Party and your anti-hispanic rhetoric right up your teapot.
A day & time exists when, in order for European-descended anglos to come to this place they were REQUIRED to pledge allegiance to Spain, & then Mexico. Did that gov't get to thinking there were too many of those immigrants here?
she is a racist i am black and i say to my hispanic brothers and sisters donot fade away your political voices for the well-being of a racist pig God Bless America I love all races and we got to STICK TOGETHER no matter what, we all we got http://ethicalfutures.wordpress.com
Closer and closer sewing yellow stars on clothing again and number tatooes on our arms again
All of u who agree with Rebecca, are stupid especially her...who do u think cleans your house, when you go to a restaurant who do you think is cooking your food, who do you think built the home you live in, pass by the next construction site...U will NEVER see any other race breaking thier back or work for low wages....this country is messed up because of the bad corporate decisions that are made & the govt. Right along side for the ride... not HISPANICS....so what u should be doing instead is THANKING GOD for the job u do have and the opportunity to make a difference for the better
Your logic isn't strong enough to overcome their cognitive dissonance.
90% of the shit the Tea Party says is ridiculous. How can we possibly know which of their fantasy-based jabberings they want us to listen to, and which ones they want us to ignore? Given that she was addressing the crowd using THEIR PA system at THEIR event, she damned well DOES speak for the Tea Party.
People like her are attracted to your group like flies to shit. Why is that, I wonder? Maybe you need to re-evaluate the people you've chosen to hang around with.
"There is no war with East Asia. We have NEVER been at war with East Asia."
Like yourself, perhaps?
Hey Rock: "So that's, umm, part of our problem and we need to change those numbers. We need to do something about that." So what, exactly, does that mean?
I am a white, native Texan, tea party member, I am also most definitely against illigal immigration. But this female's little speech was totally her own brand of crap. And it is offensive and not how tea partiers think. God, where do these people come from?
Deep I say, derp
Dippy derp, obvious troll is obvious!
YEAH! Laws schmaws! They are just here to feed their families! *sad violin music playing in the background*
Let me guess, you are one of those poor, poor, oppressed "brown people"? Surely no bias there. No way.
Don't make the mistake of thinking she somehow represents the Tea Party. There are a couple of fools in every crowd.
How many times are you planning on typing "brown people"? You are like a broken record.
You toss them so much you don't even realize you are doing it. Pull your head out of your ass.
Race card bingo! If you say it enough, do I get a prize? Maybe a white hood or a Confederate flag lapel pin. and don't reply to your own post, that is so weak. Step your trolling game up, son!
White people have no bias. Its all those brown people that do. /s
??? Speaking of pathetic, take the time to educate yourself so you don't come off as quite the dumb, ignorant race card tosser. www.immigration911.com
Why would I be? And I'm not your bro, our family tree has branches.
This author takes it a little too far by saying hispanics are somehow attacked....if her point is that they cannot vote their conscience correctly, then she made that point. A representative should leave his/her bias out of it...we are a country of laws or we are not. It's not about where your relatives are from or some experience you had.
U mad bro?
Replying to your own post? How pathetic. also, scary brown people taken yer white women!
Go home.
Speaking of logic, anyone with even half of a brain would realize she does not speak for the Tea Party. What she said was ridiculous.
Correct, it's about the law. Why do you not want them enforced? Any other laws you want to sweep under the rug?
I love how those who claim to be fierce defenders of the Constitution often tend to express some of the most anti-democratic and unconstitutional positions. Their are not too many hispanic law-makers in the state legislature. All representatives were democratically elected and some happen to be hispanic.
I thought you had to be a US citizen to get elected into office. But of course, anti-immigration groups aren't about race.
I guess the Tea-Partiers only believe in the Constitution and democracy for them. Who cares if their constituents voted their representatives into office.
Dude, even my racist uncle has a black friend or two. I'm not saying the Tea Party is necessarily racist. Just that your logic sucks.
But apparently that's OK to do as people turn their heads and pretend to not notice.
Of course the number of Hispanics is going to grow with 15 million illegal foreigners here breeding like rabbits to produce as many anchor babies as possible.
Awww, not used to not getting your way? Awwwwww.
And on the other hand, Hispanics want to elect other Hispanics to office solely on their race.
The number of Hispanic representatives in the Texas legislature will only increase...DEAL WITH IT BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT TIME!
Rebecca, you think there are too many Hispanics in the legislature now!, wait and check in about 10-15 years. You and your group will be the minority!
The time has come to give up on educating the unteachable about our demographic future in Texas. Latinos are now about 37% of the state and that figure is only going to grow in the coming decades. We have to harness that momentum and focus it with laser-like precision on the most egregious attempts to "disappear" us first -- that means the redistricting fight. We weigh in and we don't let up. And we just keep punching - no psychotic fear-based state and local immigration "reform"; no destruction of ethnic studies programs in higher education; a public school system that actually uses the best pedagogy to teach our children, including the use of the Spanish language. And we go on and on. War has been declared against us. We MUST respond with our time (naturalization and voter registration drives) and/or our money. We can win this one. We're a younger, stronger, more inclusive population than our opponents. If we lose this fight, we have only ourselves to thank. What will YOU do this week?
This woman is full of crap!
The number will only grow. @laurie..Right on!
Terrible biased article. First of all, there is no Tea Party leader. I don't agree with what this lady said, and most Tea Partiers don't either. Perhaps you could listen to the reaction from the largest Tea Party in D.C. when Latino Tito Munoz spoke and listen to the crowd. See video below. It's obvious that the crowd loves him. I know you want a racist narrative out there when it comes to the Tea Party, but it's simply a lie. Shame on you for spreading it. One stupid statement does not define the millions of Americans (including Hispanics) who are fighting against an overreaching government. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eLqAWJ6NX4
double post! File that under troll. So the more important thing is, do you agree with this lady, or not?
I`ll do my best to help with that! Viva Tejas!
This Non-Hispanic White Texan cannot wait for the day when the majority of Texas legislators are Hispanic and these racist, wacko Tea Party people can't elect a dogcatcher!
"To be fair to Forest, she didn't say there were "too many Hispanics in Texas." She said there were too many Hispanics in the Texas legislature. Big, big difference." File this under "opinion editorial" because she didn't even say "there were too many Hispanics in the Texas legislature". Those are your words. She simply said "If you want to know why... it's because we have 36 hispanic members in the Texas Legislature". Your title is inaccurate, then you correct the misquote with a misquote. Richard, you have now officially been demoted to blogger status.
Well we'll just have to breed Mrs. Forest and her kind right out of this state! Then we can officially change the name back to Tejas!! Arriba arriba!! Epa epa!! Andale!!!
"So that's, umm, part of our problem and we need to change those numbers. We need to do something about that" Come on, Rebecca! Don't hem and haw, say what you really mean.
Far FAR too many Republicultists in Texas. AND in the Legislature. And I'll stop there for legal reasons.
Wow. I am the last one to support illegal immigration, but I fully support all legally elected American citizens in our legislature's right to be there. You could use this 'too many' argument in so many cases though so I am going to start with.... the recent anti-abortion legislation only passed as there are too many men in the legislature. We have to do something about that.
If they're white, they'll vote right. If they're brown, vote them down!