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Home Page > Blogs > News blogs > People and Politics > Let's electrocute all Irish who come to the US illegally --Well Herman Cain wants to do it to Mexicans

People and Politics by Patrick Roberts

Let's electrocute all Irish who come to the US illegally --Well Herman Cain wants to do it to Mexicans

Posted on Saturday, October 22, 2011 at 07:10 AM

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Timothy Egan writing in The New York Times asks what would the reaction be if a leading American presidential candidate advocated an electric fence that would stop immigrants coming in from Ireland by electrocuting them.

Herman Cain, the latest name of the month in the Republican field suggested just that twice this week, not for Irish but for Mexicans coming across the border.

He said it twice after first apologizing for it.

Worse, he was cheered loudly by the Republican audience that he appeared before when he made those remarks.

The comments were disgraceful and should disqualify him from any office.

But in the topsy-turvy land of Republican politics it passes for good ideas.

Republicans have cheered Cain for such comments and Texas Governor Rick Perry for happily admitting to having executed as many death row prisoners as he could.

The strain of ‘Know Nothings’ the fear of foreigners, the dread of anything from outside has long been evident in American politics.

Its' current manifestation is scary, not because it is any different but because it is so mainstream.

Executing Mexican,s killing death row prisoners, advocating electric fences is all part of a profound fear factor among aging white people in this country.

Many shelter behind the Tea Party mantle, and find safety in numbers.

By 2041 they know the Hispanics will be in the majority in America. It scares them and they want it to go away.

But it won’t and instead of facing into and embracing change they are trying to fantasize about stopping it.

They might as well try and stop the wind.

Republican candidates have been forced to dumb down to an incredible extent to appeal to the Know Nothings.

Any sense that an issue is complex, has no easy answer and doesn’t yield to instant solutions is considered traitorous.

Watching the most recent Republican debate it is clear as day that only Romney is in any way equipped to run the country.

The rest are charlatans, cheered on by Know Nothings.

Why do I have the feeling that if I went out and grabbed the first six people I met on any street in America they would talk much more sense?

In fact I know they would.

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56 Comments

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HenrikLarsson | Nov 24, 2011, 07:40 AM EST

I am deeply saddened and stunned by the far-right views and intolerance of many Americans, as is well demonstrated on this comments thread. What a frightening nation, and it seems these views are widespread. Following the illegal war in Iraq, a seemingly illegal election victory for W Bush etc. I just cannot wait until the Chinese establish their supremacy, I'm sorry to say that but feel that modern China, a country learning and improving constantly will have a better influence than the tired ol' USA, which is perhaps regressing having peaked.

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eiriamach | Nov 04, 2011, 11:58 AM EDT

Jacquelyn, I lived for many years just 15 minutes from the border. I crossed the border many times and returned safely, but also witnessed the harassment that Mexicans who cross the border are subject to. Americans who live in the Southwest routinely cross the border, no questions asked of them, to find affordable doctors, dentists, pharmacists, and shopping. You are correct that drug running is the major problem for border areas. But the drug running is an AMERICAN problem. If you could close down the market for drugs in US cities, you would end the illegal-entry drug-runner problem! The illegals who cross the border to work here pay taxes and for the most part obey the laws. Electric fences will not stop drug running. Remember the miles-long tunnel the drug runners dug south of San Diego? Do you know how many cross the mountains in remote areas surrounded by Native American lands? Police and Border Patrol check points on highways will not stop drug running. Only one thing will stop the illegal drug traffic: closing down the market for drugs in American cities. Let's place the responsibility where it belongs.

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paddyRanger | Nov 02, 2011, 08:00 PM EDT

The only thing more stupid than this article is the note from the bigger prat "seanomelbourne" check out the following "The article is about Herman Goering oops sorry Herman Cain.Nothing to do with Ireland"............wow what a KNOBhead he is able to somehow connect Herman Cain to Herman Goering, and the moron thinks that is funny........don't give up your day job son, as a CLOWN R

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Jacquelyn | Nov 02, 2011, 02:19 PM EDT

I agree with Western and his post.. if you've actually LIVED near the border, you KNOW that illegals are a HUGE problem. There are US cities on the border that are so overrun by illegal drug opperations that people get killed almost every day and the govmnt just pretends like it doesn't happen. They will kidnap anyone who's white just to get money and they'll chop your fingers off and mail them to your family. if they don't have the money the next day, they'll cut your body into little pieces and leave it on your family's doorstep. It's happened before and happens a lot! The border is straight up dangerous. I'm suprised the military doesn't roll through with Tanks machines of war like they should, all along the border towns. Innocent people pay for the lack of security because of stupid political crap. Mexican-Americans however, are a bigger financial problem overall if you live here and understand what's going on... But as far as any "electric" fence. If you know anything about electricity you know that the "high voltage" on a fence like that probably won't kill you. Voltage doesn't kill people unless it's very very high. It's Amperage that kills people and as little as a tenth of an amp can kill. How much amperage does that electric fence have? Amperage is the actual electricity, the voltage is the "current" that carries the electricity where it needs to go. Yah, it'll give you a good shock, tho, and maybe srsly mess you up.

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Peggy P | Oct 29, 2011, 10:22 AM EDT

The irish believe in fairies so why surprised there are some that actually think Cain will zap irish immigrants. We do not need, nor want, any more illigal immigrants irish or otherwise. My parents came here with sponsors and jobs before being able to set foot on American soil and were never on the dole. Where did we mess up.

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allentown | Oct 24, 2011, 09:36 PM EDT

When you have to write an article five times per week instead of two times a week, sometimes you really have to stretch it.

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seanomelbourne | Oct 24, 2011, 06:03 PM EDT

The article is about Herman Goering oops sorry Herman Cain.Nothing to do with Ireland.

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DLW12183 | Oct 24, 2011, 10:15 AM EDT

Since when has Ireland opened its boarders to me to come and go as I please, live there or otherwise, without the correct documentation? Have you ever tried to get dual citizenship? Seems like a double standard to me but whatever serves the left agenda is ok with them to say and print.

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MotherIrish | Oct 24, 2011, 08:37 AM EDT

America has the RIGHT & DUTY to protect its boarders - and there is no reason to not have this fence. Illegals sap the GNP, tax money and patience. YOU GO HERMAN! He is a man with a plan. And if the Irish are illegal - my dad was a legal immigrant by the way - well they can go home too. We hve the right to protect our boarders. If Ireland want to welcome all illegals into their county - and it is a lovely country - that is their issue.

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seanomelbourne | Oct 23, 2011, 11:09 PM EDT

Cain apologised for his statement then repeats it over and over to satisfy the bigoted thehadist vote he is courting.

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JimMcGarity | Oct 23, 2011, 08:03 PM EDT

It's time to change all our laws in the US. We can't pick and choose the ones to enforce.

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McNamara31 | Oct 23, 2011, 01:55 PM EDT

@eiriamach Also, the same situation with me. Posts were posted, in my name, that I would never had written.

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eiriamach | Oct 23, 2011, 08:12 AM EDT

Thanks for the tip, McNamara31. It has happened to me once before too, but this time, it's just too weird, not something I'd ever write.

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antoman | Oct 23, 2011, 07:43 AM EDT

A shocking title for an article.

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MrSinatra | Oct 23, 2011, 02:56 AM EDT

what nonsense. this is why the left is a joke, b/c they take a statement and actually believe that Cain was seriously saying he wants a fence that will KILL people. no he doesn't, and he said he doesn't later. does he want an electric fence? YES, and so do i if it works. do either of us ACTUALY want to see people DIE on it? NO. Roberts knows this, but he's a dope and just wants to demonize Cain.

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