Posted by Mark Impomeni (Profile)
At the White House today, during the welcome ceremony for Mexican President Filipe Calderon - a welcoming to an official state visit wherein Calderon is to be celebrated - President Obama stood by as Calderon trashed the state of Arizona and its citizens over Arizona’s immigration control law:
At the start of Wednesday’s White House visit, Calderon said the law discriminated against Mexicans and called for the two countries to work together to develop an immigration policy that did not force people to live in the shadows “with such laws as the Arizona law, which is forcing our people to face discrimination.” [emphasis added]
Obama did not defend Arizona, as one might expect a President of the United States to do, especially at the White House. No, that’s not what change looks like. Obama instead joined in with a foreign head of state in bashing US citizens on US soil.
Obama claimed to understand the frustrations of the people of Arizona in passing the law, which exactly mirrors the requirements in a seventy year old federal statute. But he again characterized the law as “misdirected,” and outright lied about the law’s intention.
“We’re examining any implications especially for civil rights because in the United States of America, no law abiding person — be they an American citizen, illegal immigrant, or a visitor or tourist from Mexico — should ever be subject to suspicion simply because of what they look like.”
It is well known by now that the Arizona law authorizes no such thing. In fact, racial profiling is specifically outlawed in the law as a means of enforcement. But Obama nevertheless took the opportunity to make cause with a foreign government at the expense of America.
And with that, the apology tour comes home. No need for Obama to grovel in far flung world capitals any longer. Now, foreign heads of state can come to the White House and trash America and her citizens with impunity.
Pretty soon President Obama is going to have to make a decision. Either he is President of these United States, warts - as he sees them - and all, or he is some kind of post-national leader: a kind of president-in-exile within his own country.
A man cannot serve two masters. He will love the one and despise the other. The question for Obama is whose servant is he?
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