Black lawmakers accused Republicans...of trying to "manufacture tension" between African-Americans

[pampango]

and immigrants as GOP House members argued in a hearing that more minorities would be working were it not for illegal immigration."

GOP: Illegal immigrants taking minorities' jobs

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/01/AR2011030104064.html

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, D-Mo., chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, criticized the hearing's premise in a statement. Several other Democratic lawmakers echoed that argument, saying Republicans were ignoring their lack of support for job training, affirmative action, college financial aid and other programs more critical to employment of minorities.

"I am concerned by the majority's attempt to manufacture tension between African-Americans and immigrant communities. It seems as though they would like for our communities to think about immigration in terms of 'us versus them,' and I reject that notion," Cleaver said in his statement.

Rep. John Conyers of Michigan, ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, issued a warning at the start of the hearing against any attempts to pit blacks against Latino immigrants, a notion that he said he found "so abhorrent and repulsive."

The Republican takeover of the House has given the GOP the chance to shape the immigration debate this session. Republicans have been couching their immigration agenda in the context of the slumping economy and consistently high unemployment. Tuesday's hearing by the immigration and enforcement subcommittee was the third focusing on jobs, the economy and immigration enforcement.

[fittosurvive]

1. Clearly, more Americans would be working if not for illegal immigration.

...more Americans of all races.

[Cirque du So-What]

2. The plutocrats who own the repug party lock, stock & barrel

have been using divisive tactics for centuries - and going by the accelerating rate of transfer of wealth into their pockets, it would appear they've been winning. It's make-or-break time for what remains of the middle class in this society.