It's surprising that it took this long for the outside media to discover Fresno Mayor Alan Autry's outspoken position on the nation's immigration policy. But in today's Los Angeles Times, there 's an extensive story on Autry, and his immigration remarks at his State of the City address last month.
As we know in Fresno, Autry has been a critic of large-scale immigration roundups, claiming it's hypocritical for the government to coax illegal immigrants to come to the United States to work in the fields or in hotels, and then arrest them for doing what government policies encouraged in the first place.
What makes people scratch their heads is that Autry is a conservative Republican. He's supposed to be a demagogue on the illegal immigration issue, not point out the hypocrisy.
According to Bee stories, Autry said some businesses are "totally hooked on illegal labor," and that chambers of commerce across the country and the governments of the United States and Mexico are part of a "coalition of greed" dependent on the cheap labor of illegal immigrants. The Fresno chamber was the sponsor of his luncheon speech, and there were a few business folks squirming in their seats.
That performance won't win Autry a Chamber of Commerce Legislator of the Year award. But then speaking the truth doesn't get you far in politics.
"Speaking the truth doesn't get you far in politics," is the last sentence. That and the fact that his comments are not judged true to the Republican mind-think: Why, oh, why are the "rules" so tight for our elected leaders?
That's why I admire Autry. And why does an officeholder have to stick to some pre-set rhetoric?
I want a leader to just tell the truth as he/she sees it. Moderation and common sense should prevail. I take special note of the person who thinks for himself.
The whole immigration problem would go away if the legally constituted authorities would simply do one thing - enforce the existing law. No new laws are needed, just abide by the ones we have already!
I can't for the life of me figure out why the feds are so willing to enforce every archaic, bizarre, politically correct, and irrational mickey-mouse law - prying into every vestige of our lives (smoking, eating, praying, etc.), requiring us to "think correctly" on such subject s as gender equity and homosexuality, staying overly "concerned" about our mundane lives and yet cannot manage to enforce long-time immigration laws that are clear and specific!
It may have something to do with business interests not wanting them to enforce the law. Cheap labor makes a lot of employers very rich.
I AGREE WHOLE HEARTEDLY WITH THIS MAN. FOR ONE THEY ARE STABBING OUR AMERICANS IN THE BACK. THAT IS THE ALOT OF THE REASON FOR THE HOMELESS. I THINK THEY SHOULD LEAVE THE IMMIGRATION LAWS AS IS AND START ENFORCING THEM TO THE FULLEST, AND WITH THAT PROBLEM OUT OF THE WAY THEY CAN START FOCUSING ON OUR REAL PROBLEM, WHICH IS ILLEGAL DRUGS. I THINK WE SHOULD DO LIKE TEXAS DOES, ANYBODY THAT IS CONVICTED FOR SELLING DRUGS SHOULD DO LIFE IN PRISON WITH NO POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE ON THE FIRST OFFENSE