14th Amendment Repeal Push Is Un-American

Call it "The Blame Game." People are out of work, losing their homes, and it’s gotta be somebody’s fault, right? Some liberal Democrats blame George W.; some conservative Republicans are still blaming Bill Clinton! (Hello, it’s 2010!) But there is a growing wave of conservative Republicans, especially in Congress, blaming … babies! Of course, those children who are born here to illegal parents, or “parent” if you look at the actual statistics, it’s their fault. This is purely ridiculous.

[Check out a roundup of editorial cartoons on immigration.]

The 14th Amendment, Section I, is clear:

Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

It doesn’t say “if your parents are U.S. citizens” anywhere, does it?!?

Now a growing number of senators like Lindsey Graham and John Kyl want to repeal the 14th Amendment. Senate candidate Rand Paul wants to go a step further and strip children of their citizenship if their parent is an illegal. The belief is that these immigrants, who come here illegally, are coming here simply to have a child in the United States so their child can be a citizen, and “anchor” them here for good. But that is not what the statistics show. The stats show that most of the illegals came here for jobs. But they had babies!?! Yes, they had babies. That’s what we humans do. Legal, illegal, American, or otherwise.

[See who supports Kyl.]

The problem with repealing the 14th Amendment is, per usual, the politicians haven’t thought it through. Sure it makes for a great ad on TV with November around the corner, but it doesn’t address some of the essentials:

• What if one parent is an American citizen?
• How do we enforce this?
• How do we pay for this?
• How far back do we go? Grandparents? Great grandparents?!

It amazes me how the conservative right wing Republicans will kill to save the life of an unborn child, but they won’t fight for the right of citizenship for a child born to one or two illegal immigrants. Hypocrisy at its finest.

These babies’ parents aren’t taking your jobs--they’re picking lettuce, grapes, and other produce. These babies’ parents aren’t taking your homes--the banks are. These babies’ parents aren’t responsible for the poor economy--Wall Street, the government, and we the people are.

And there’s one more issue you haven’t considered. If we take the birthright away from these children, if we change/repeal/remove the 14th Amendment, which is next? The Second Amendment? Will they come for your guns next? Or the First Amendment? And deny your free speech or even your religion? Instead of, “and then they came for me,” perhaps we will be saying “and then they came for my First and Second Amendment rights”?

Repealing the 14th Amendment to blame these babies for the sin of their parent or parents is more than political posturing; it’s un-American. So let’s not throw the 14th Amendment out with the bath water. These children are entitled to their birthright. As are you. As am I.

• Check out a roundup of editorial cartoons on immigration.
  
• Follow the money in Congress.
  
• Read more coverage of the political stories of the year.