Web Turns into Weapon in Arizona Immigration Fight

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer talks about signing the immigration bill SB1070 into law Friday, April 23, 2010, in Phoenix.

Supporters and opponents of Arizona's new immigration law are going at it with gusto as their argument moves from town halls to cyber gathering places.

A case of dog bites man? Something like that.

"By now, it would be more surprising not to see a political movement organizing online, or to see online technology that at least someone hasn't tried to use for political ends," said Colin Delany with Epolitics.com. "The tools are available to everyone, they don't care who uses them, and people are going to put the technology they depend on in their everyday lives to work for politics."

Even though it's only been a week since Governor Jan Brewer signed SB 1070 into law, passions ignited by the controversial bill, which would crack down on illegal immigration, have flooded cyberspace. Reaching for now-familiar high-tech tools, the sides have set up opposing pages on social network sites to mobilize the like-minded and get out the message.

Indeed, the "1 Million Strong Against the Arizona Immigration Law SB1070" page was well on its way toward its goal. By Thursday afternoon, almost 840,000 people had joined. (The page also included links explaining how to contact Governor Brewer, which might help explain why phone calls to her office were automatically being routed to a messaging machine.

Meanwhile, the Arizona Hotel and Lodging Association has created its own Facebook page where it's resisting  calls for a boycott of Arizona, warning that its members would get hurt needlessly. "Please spread the word that AZ Tourism was not consulted or supportive of this legislation and regardless of your stance on this bill - the only people that will suffer from a boycott are tourism employees."

Arizona Immigration Boycott Zeroes in on Baseball

Will Other States Follow Arizona's Lead on Immigration?

Photos: Immigration Protests

And so it's gone, extending to the Twitterverse where 140-character expressions of damnation have been met by equally heartfelt declarations of, well, it's about time they did something. But with several generations of people having grown up in an increasingly wired world, the use of these technology tools to gain attention and sway opinion has become second nature.

"This is the default position. Any serious political movement, whether local or national, is going to go viral and social," said Frank Sesno, who directs of the School of Media and Public Affairs at The George Washington University. "One, it's effective. Two, it's and easy and three, people have become accustomed to interacting, connecting and mobilizing online. They expect it. And the speed and anonymity and the ability to raise money is unparalleled. You can't ignore it if you're trying to mobilize opinion."

Into the Mainstream

Sesno's onto something. We're long past the stage where social networking tools were the esoteric preserve of the digerati. (Now, even Hugo Chavez is tweeting.) When opposing sides nowadays seek to sway public opinion, social networking has become so mainstream that the technology is expected to play a part in any political struggle. And not just in the United States, either. During last summer's demonstrations against the results of the Iranian presidential contest, the speed with which protesters used Twitter and social networking to post messages and photographs caught the regime off guard.

The unanswered question in Arizona is whether these tools will make a difference on the ground. It's an achievement when a group can sign up a million people for their Facebook page, yet how much are votes really worth when they are just a mouse click away? To be sure, the creation of that sort of cyber watering hole can help later with fund-raising and other organizational activities. But if most of the participants don't live in Arizona, they can't have a direct say in what happens in the state.

"There's a big difference between picking up a tool and wielding it effectively, since you need to bring power and influence to bear where they'll actually make a difference," according to Delany. He added that online tools do tend to let small groups of noisy activists look more potent than they actually are, pointing to Ron Paul's popularity with his supporters during the 2008 Republican primary contest and (he suspects) the Tea Partiers now. "The tools help, but they don't take the place of a good message."

But they do make it a lot easier to spread one.

[Eddiespaghetti007]

Lets pretend that for many decades workers were aloud to come into 'your' country on work visas and return after the season was over to their motherland with a substantial amount of money that they wouldn't have been able to make in their own country. (1940-1975)

But over the decades, your government starts ignoring the laws on the book concerning who gets to be inside their borders legally and instead panders to the corporate contributions being deposited into their bank accounts. And what if eventually the immigrant workers decide not to abide to the law of the land and not leave after their visa has expired once they realize no one is pursuing their infractions of the law in this foreign country they work in.

So your government, run by two influential parties that constantly fight each others agenda just to further their own perceptions of what a future America is going to be like that hopefully will benefit their party the most, does nothing to enforce its own laws on the federal books despite the constant clamor over the decades from the citizens of the country that elected them into office in the first place.

Lets pretend that on TWO previous occasions a President of this country (one from each party) gave amnesty to over ten million people each time with the promise to it's citizens that "IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN!" (1976-Carter..1986-Reagan)

But over the years the enforcement of these laws erode away despite your constant screaming voice to your elected representative in a futile attempt since 'THEY' have no need to patronize you anymore now that they are now in office. They are instead influenced by the mega billion dollar corporate empires that are throwing millions of dollars at EACH party to make sure their agenda is priority over the voters. No matter WHO gets elected into office, their corporate agenda will be perpetrated.

Now picture this, the only time your elected official wants to hear from you is when they are up for reelection the upcoming year, and suddenly this person has changed for the better and is now your best friend and "Understands Your Concerns" ...promising to vote the way you want them to once in office. After a few years of disappointment and no change from who you elected, a representative from the other party is elected into the office of your district and nothing changes once again! The people of this country start to realize over time that there's still a robber at their door! Even though they may have a different mask on, the results are the same!

Picture once again that this whole country is represented by every nationality and race of the world we live in. A country in which for hundreds of years there was a line of smiling faces waiting to become a member of this society willing to put in whatever it may take to become a viable asset and give a contribution to this growing country all in the legal way!

But when the situation arises of an illegal alien invasion on this sovereign nations border that is perpetrated by many different countries all using the same easy unsecured entrance into said country, the opposition singles out the fact that it's a racial issue. Even though this country is more diverse than any country in the world with all colors and races represented, a certain race is singled out as racist when they ask the elected officials to enforce the previous amnesty laws that were pushed onto the voting citizens of this country on many occasions before. The fact is ignored that every race in this country is represented in the outcry of opposition to this new amnesty, but in fact they single out the majority race as the obstacle to their infiltrating agenda!

We NEED to vote out every career politician from office NOW! It's not 1840 anymore and Washington isn't a 6 week ride away! We can speak for ourselves! Vote in someone completely new that listens to what we want!

Copy/Paste everywhere if you agree-Eddiespaghetti007

[compton79]

I BELEIVE ITS NOT JUST AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ISSUE BUT ALSO OUR WELFARE SYSTEM IS BEING ABUSED LEFT AND RIGHT FROM PEOPLE OF ALL RACE !!!!! IT IS REALLY SAD TO SEE KIDS THAT ARE TREATED LIKE DIRT AND ABUSED WHILE THEIR PARENTS SIT AROUND AND COLLECT TAX PAYERS HARD EARNED MONEY AND HALF THE TIME THE CHILDREN ARE LEFT TO FEND FOR THEIR SELF ANYWAY !!!!!!!!!!! WE ARE IN NEED OF REFORM AND NOT JUST AT THE BORDER BUT HERE IN THE USA .....NOONE SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO MOOCH OFF THE SYSTEM...ITS NEEDS TO BE FOR EMERGENCY SITUATIONS OR FOR THE DISABLED ....NOT FOR LAZY PEOPLE THAT KEEP POPPING OUT KIDS .....WAKE UP AMERICA ...WE ARE DOING THIS TO OUR SELFS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! QUIT MAKING IT SO EASY FOR US TO BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF !!!!!!!!!!!!

[Oahuperson]

Not at all. The problem is $$$ and taxes; it is said that the super rich have avoided taxes with bank accounts in Swiss banks for years, as do the Greek super rich. All of which don't pay their rightful taxes. The amount of these taxes could pay the US deficit!!! Get it? It is not the 'have nots' in the world; but the 'haves'. Tis true of the Greek shipping giants who avoid taxes; thus, the trouble in the Greek deficit. Anything else is prejudice. Don't blame the little guy, slovenliness, or your paranoia about someone taking advantage of who?

[compton79]

STAY STRONG ARIZONA .....WE HAVE BEEN USED AND ABUSED LONG ENOUGH !!!!!!!!! PUT A STOP TO ILLEGALS AND THEIR ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES !!!!!!!!!

[Speak_Out_Loud]

I live in neighborhood where many of the homes have been bought by Russian and Ukrainian immigrants who are not U.S. citizens. Although, homeowners, I am also aware that many of my neighbors (nice as they are) readily collect many benefits which enable them to have one spouse work at slightly above minimum wage jobs and still afford a similar-type home to mine because of the additional benefits they collect. For example, one family has immigrant grandparents living with them who collected SSI disability benefits and their son (homeowner) is paid to take care of them through the medicaid personal assistant benefit - even though the grandmother really takes care of the son's kids, does all the cooking and cleaning, and readily engages in leisure activities such as climbing ladders into their above-ground swimming pool. Medical transportation taxi services are frequently at the home to transport the grandparents to medical appts as the son does not despite being home all day and possessing two newer vehicles. I see this type of thing over and over again in both my neighborhood and in my work with populations that includes "legal immigrants."

Then, of course, there were the underground flyers, reportly found by a state financial assistance worker, teaching the Russian/Ukrainian immigrant community what to say and do to get the most money.

Hmmm, Belyakov, isn't that a Russian name? Are you here legally? And if you are, are you "mooching" off U.S. citizens, too? Including those Hispanic taxpaying citizens that are here legally? And are you willing to carry the necessary documentation on you at all times to prove that you are here legally and not bilkig U.S. taxpayers of their hard-earned money?

So how does it feel to be racially profiled?

[AlexisBelyakov]

Way to go Arizona! Now the rest of the states need to follow. Can you immigrate to mexico or anywhere else for that matter? Not if you're white you don't, just try it. Baseball boycott? What a joke, I boycotted all professional sports years ago. They don't give a dang about their fans and I don't give a dang about them. It's ironic that the only governor with cajones enough to bring this on is a woman. Good for yo! This is great and a great way to celebrated cinco de mayo LOL!

[Pat1890]

There is a strong link between the tanking of the U.S. economy and the increased crack-down on the undocumented workers, these are the people that were working and spending and building America.

And if everybody here would get their kids off the drugs then we wouldn't have the guys with AK's crossing the border to supply the demand and all the while shooting anyone in their path.

[tij12345]

First, I love Mexicans and diversity. I love Mexican food.

BUT BUT BUT Why are the Americans always being bullied by the illegal immigrants and their friends?

Darn! Why don't they protest in MEXICO and SHOUT. "GET RID OF CORRUPTION. We need jobs! We need a good life in MEXICO. JOBS for us. FREE EDUCATION for our children in MEXICO! JOBS, EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, HOUSING in MEXICO. Stop the Corruption!!"

Instead in the US, it is "We are illegal immigrants and we HAVE RIGHTS! My illegal immigrant parents and friends have RIGHTS in the USA. You cannot look for us and ask us for papers. This law is race motivated. Boycott this and that."

I don't get it. The USA always has to provide for everyone while its own citizens are suffering. Look at all the budget deficits supporting every illegal and legal person. Scratching head.

Just make them all legal and open up the borders. They are going to win anyway. The USA loses every time. The USA always loses to the illegal immigrants. The illegal immigrants will always RULE and they are always right. The illegal immigrants will always play victim, play the race card and human rights card and will get what they want from the USA. They will win!!! It is a 100% guarantee. That is why they keep coming.

[bodiebroadus]

Highlighting this issue to showcase how the web mobilizes isn't newsworthy. Also, the CBS/Facebook Connect feature doesn't work. http://******/c4DjVO

[Speak_Out_Loud]

You just don't get it, do you? Arizona's immigration policy violates the rights of U.S. citizens in order to try and weed out the illegal immigrants."

According to an FBI Behavioral Unit study 85% of the world's serial killers are in America. The Northwest has a notorious history of prototype killers. And the most common racial profile is that of a caucasian male, don't you think it would be similarly in the interest of public safety to require police to ask all caucasian men living in the northwest United States, based on profiled appearance, to provide appropriate documentation of their criminal history and, if not in possession of such at the time, to be detained until the appropriate law enforcement agency sends and receives criminal clearance from national criminal databases and the FBI.

Oh, yeah, this would violate the rights of every U.S. male citizen of caucasian ethnicity living in, or traveling in, the Northwest United States in the hopes of weeding out a serial killer or two. But I'm sure they wouldn't mind doing so in the inerest of public safety, right?

[noimmiez]

THERE IS GOING TO BE A HUGE BACKLASH AGAINST ANYONE WHO DOES NOT SUPPORT ARIZONA!!!!!!!!!! ANYONE WHO DOES NOT SUPPORT ARIZONA NOW IS A G DAMN TRAITOR AND WILL BE FIRED AT THE VOTING BOOTH! THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE SICK AND TIRED OF THIS B.S.!!!! WE ARE SICK AND TIRED OF CRIME AFTER CRIME AFTER CRIME BEING COMMITTED AGAINST US BY THESE UNCIVILIZED BARBARIC HORDES FROM SOUTH OF THE BORDER!

ARE THESE THE KIND OF IMMIGRANTS WE WANT?

Illegals Attack and Stab Government Workers in Santa Ana, California
http://www.alipac.us/article1195.html

Illegals Abduct and Repeatedly Rape White Suburban Child: http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/story?id=1596778&page=1

Torture Hallmark of Phoenix Drug Kidnappings (mexicans)
http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/05/19/phoenix.drug.kidnappings/

Illegals Murdering Cops in Arizona: http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/64385

http://patdollard.com/2010/04/violence-at-epidemic-proportions-illegal-mexican-aliens-killing-cops-throughout-arizona-geraldos-decent-hardworking-people-are-actually-violent-criminals/


How Does Mexico Treat Illegal Aliens?

http://www.gopusa.com/commentary/mmalkin/2010/mm_04281.shtml

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-437791


Have you actually read the law? It does not say that people hanging out at the mall will be stopped and interrogated. The law says, that "lawful contact" by the police officer must be made first. In other words, if you are breaking a law, then he can ask you for IDENTIFICATION. This has already been in practice for years. This is nothing new.



http://www.rightsidenews.com/201004299804/editorial/catholic-church-facilitates-foreign-invasion.html

Why do Catholic officials want to encourage illegal immigration? The answer is quite simple. Most of the illegal aliens are Catholics. Plus, the church makes lots of government money by hosting and serving the immigrants.

These facts are considered by some to be anti-Catholic, which is why you seldom read or hear about them in the major media. But the fact is that millions of American Catholics are disgusted and outraged by the Catholic hierarchy's statements and antics on this issue. They are organizing across the country.

James Russell, a Catholic who serves as National Secretary of Catholics for a Moral Immigration Policy, tells the story of betrayal of America by the Catholic Bishops in the book, Breach of Faith: American Churches and the Immigration Crisis.

[rf35]

Good going, AZ. While I find it a bit sad that the state had to pass a law to enable enforcement of existing laws, I'm glad it is being done. Without the illegals who pay no taxes utilizing tax-supported programs and services, perhaps AZ residents could eventually see their taxes go down...

[Speak_Out_Loud]

Analysis of national seizure data that identify the destination and origination of drug shipments shows that seven city areas (Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Miami, New York, and Tucson) are identified more often than any other cities as major points of both origination and destination for drug shipments.

Moreover, the Table 3. Metropolitan Areas Most Often Identified as Origination and Destination Points for Seized Drug Shipments, by Drug, 2008-2009 also include Seattle, WA and Lynden, WA for Methamphetamine and MDMA.

Hog Dog! Let's extend this insanity and start racially profiling those Canadians on the Northern Border, too!

[buzzm11]

Over 40% of the drugs come across in the Tucson Sector

UNITED STATES BORDER DRUG INTERCEPTS
(Source DHS/CBP)
FYEAR---MARIJUANA (lbs)---COCAINE(lbs)---HEROIN(oz)---METH(lbs)
1999-------1,170,941------------29,672-------------771-------------xxx
2000-------1,316,849------------23,203-----------1,209-------------18
2001-------1,166,764------------18,535-----------1,491------------144
2002-------1,234,329------------14,334-----------2,516------------229
2003-------1,350,809------------14,892-----------3,852------------356
2004-------1,347,356------------14,819-----------2,316------------977
2005-------1,208,663------------11,903-----------3,206------------728
2006-------1,369,602------------12,885-----------2,758------------594
2007-------1,859,299------------14,242-----------1,866------------342
2008-------1,642,420-------------9,272--------------735----------- 483
2009-------2,591,215------------10,907-----------3,056------------951
2010*------1,358,654-------------5,624-----------2,089------------557

*FY2010 stats as of 4/1/10 (6 months)

Drug Movement Into and Within the United States
http://******/cuck5W

Drug Transportation Corridors in the United States
http://******/ap3WKp

[hologram5]

sounds right, let's legalize cannibus and their numbers will start dwindling.

[Speak_Out_Loud]

Maybe I don't want to pay for the birth and education of your child or your relatives children. But guess what? I am. When I look at my property taxes, a huge chunk goes to my local school district when I don't have any children (and don't plan to have children). Yeah, as a taxpayer, I'm not only paying for your children and your relatives children but also my four closest neighbors who are legal immigrants and have a total of 18 children among them in the school district.

Another portion of my property taxes goes to pay for fire/emergency medical services which I haven't used once in the 7 years I've owned my home (or even prior to that).

Sorry but life is not fair. Get over it and find happiness where you can.