1.) Jon - 02/27/2014

would "wetback" be considered a racist term??

[url]http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/24/chris-mapp-wetbacks_n_4849184.html[/url]

A U.S. Senate candidate is facing fierce criticism after saying ranchers should be free to shoot "wetbacks" on sight, using a derogatory term that the candidate describes as "normal" in his home state.

Texas Republican Chris Mapp, who is challenging Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) in the upcoming GOP primary, made the remarks during an interview with the Dallas Morning News' editorial board. The board noted Mapp's remarks in its February 16 endorsement of Cornyn.

"South Texas businessman Chris Mapp, 53, told this editorial board that ranchers should be allowed to shoot on sight anyone illegally crossing the border on to their land, referred to such people as 'wetbacks,' and called the president a 'socialist son of a bitch,' the editorial reads.

Mapp later defended his remarks to the San Antonio Express-News, claiming use of the racial epithet is as "normal as breathing air in South Texas."

“We can't have illegal immigrants, drug cartels, human traffickers or terrorists coming across our border,” Mapp said. “Our borders can either be sealed by choice or force, and so far choice hasn't worked.”

Mapp has also detailed his views on immigration on his campaign website.

"Let's face it, there would be a lot less concrete, roofs, and landscaping without illegal immigrants (yes, illegal immigrants - that is what they are)," Mapp writes. "The only reason they flood here is because of opportunity and because we allow it. There is no reason we can't stop the influx at the border - remove the politics and let the Border Patrol do their job."

"That kind of rhetoric is discouraging from anybody," Cornyn said Friday of Mapp's use of the racial slur. "I recognize this is a free country but that's not the sort of way to gain people's confidence that you care about them and you want to represent their concerns in the halls of Congress."

The Republican primary will be held March 4. In addition to Cornyn and Mapp, six other candidates are vying for the nomination, including Rep. Steve Stockman (R-Texas).

2.) Ventilator - 02/27/2014

If I was in Texas, Id vote for him. Sounds reasonable to me.

3.) DParker - 02/27/2014

[QUOTE=Jon;17246]would "wetback" be considered a racist term??[/QUOTE]

"considered" racist? Sure...pretty much anything can be "considered" racist by someone if they choose to, whether logically justifiable or not. Since the term refers to anyone illegally sneaking across the U.S./Mexico border by swimming/wading the Rio Grande River regardless of their racial ethnicity ("Mexican" is not a race) I'd say that there is no rational basis for applying the label "racist" to it.

Now, is it's public use by a candidate for the U.S. Senate politically moronic? Absolutely.

4.) Jon - 02/27/2014

I got into a discussion with a guy about this yesterday. I say it's not a "racist" term for the same reasons you pointed out but agree that it can be considered a derogatory term and certainly not a good idea to use it publicly when running for office.
My argument included calling a person robbing a bank a "bankrobber" and calling a person who stole an old lady's purse after thumping her on the head a "thug". It doesn't have anything to do with race thus can't be considered "racist". He countered that he wouldn't consider it racist if he saw a large amount of Canadians swimming the Rio Grande and we called them wetbacks. I told him that I would call them wetbacks when the Rio Grande takes a big northern swing up above the US border.

5.) Floyd - 02/27/2014

[QUOTE=DParker;17248]Now, is it's public use by a candidate for the U.S. Senate politically moronic? Absolutely.[/QUOTE]

Not if he wins. But yes, he's evoking an emotional response like any other 7-12 year old.

Has others used the term and won or lost political office?

6.) Floyd - 02/27/2014

Jon, what do US hockey fans call Canadian hockey fans and players? Nothing derogatory I hope. :re:

7.) DParker - 02/27/2014

[QUOTE=Floyd;17251]Not if he wins. But yes, he's evoking an emotional response like any other 7-12 year old.

Has others used the term and won or lost political office?[/QUOTE]

Local political office? Probably. National office (which is what he's running for)? Probably not in this century. And even if someone has, add in the calculus of whether such a thing is far more likely to hurt his candidacy than to help it.

8.) DParker - 02/27/2014

[QUOTE=Jon;17250]He countered that he wouldn't consider it racist if he saw a large amount of Canadians swimming the Rio Grande and we called them wetbacks. I told him that I would call them wetbacks when the Rio Grande takes a big northern swing up above the US border.[/QUOTE]

Which raises an interesting question: Who would you rather keep out of the country? A bunch of migrant farm workers....or Justin Beiber?

9.) Ventilator - 02/27/2014

[QUOTE=DParker;17254]Which raises an interesting question: Who would you rather keep out of the country? A bunch of migrant farm workers....or Justin Beiber?[/QUOTE]

At this point, we aren't keeping out either. lol

10.) Jon - 02/27/2014

[QUOTE=Floyd;17252]Jon, what do US hockey fans call Canadian hockey fans and players? Nothing derogatory I hope. :re:[/QUOTE]

Just Canucks but I guess that's racial??

11.) Floyd - 02/27/2014

[QUOTE=DParker;17253]Local political office? Probably. National office (which is what he's running for)? Probably not in this century. And even if someone has, add in the calculus of whether such a thing is far more likely to hurt his candidacy than to help it.[/QUOTE]

I didn't use any time reference. Illustrates.... "For the times they are a-changin'" Contrast to.... "The more things change the more the stay the same"

(they are both lines of songs)

12.) DParker - 02/27/2014

[QUOTE=Floyd;17257]I didn't use any time reference. Illustrates.... "For the times they are a-changin'" Contrast to.... "The more things change the more the stay the same"

(they are both lines of songs)[/QUOTE]

Well, if we remove the time restriction then people have won public office in this country saying pretty much everything, up to and including advocating slavery.

13.) Floyd - 02/27/2014

[QUOTE=DParker;17260]Well, if we remove the time restriction then people have won public office in this country saying pretty much everything, up to and including advocating slavery.[/QUOTE]

Agree

Yeah right, because history never ever repeats itself. Oops, historic recurrence of recurrences recurring historically. Philosophically speaking....of course. Advocating is not necessary, silence maybe? Silent consent?

I just read an article the other day about human trafficking and slavery in America. [url]https://www.freetheslaves.net/sslpage.aspx?pid=301[/url]

14.) bluecat - 02/27/2014

[QUOTE=DParker;17254]Which raises an interesting question: Who would you rather keep out of the country? A bunch of migrant farm workers....or Justin Beiber?[/QUOTE]

Justin Beiber, but I don't think he will be with us too much longer.