When the facts don’t suit your agenda, distort them. Worked for the neoconservatives (pseudoconservatives) in their pursuit for a conflict with Iraq and now with Iran. In the same tradition, a “progressive” website made the following claims in an attempt to slander Ron Paul:
“Rep. Paul is not a liberal, protesting against the War in Iraq. He is an isolationist, who seeks to keep America’s business at home.”
Wrong. Non-interventionist. This means he advocates trading with other nations and staying out of their internal conflicts. It doesn’t mean we ignore the world.
“Rep. Paul is not socially liberal, but economically conservative, as some have claimed. He is an old-style Conservative, through and through. “
Wrong, he is mostly socially liberal AND economically conservative. Otherwise known as a classical liberal.
I suspect spreading disinformation about Ron Paul is in response to his growing numbers of liberals, conservatives, and independents who find his message of liberty appealing.
Furthermore, Hillary Clinton, John Edwards and Barack Obama are betraying their own constituency by backing out of any promises to end the war. If anyone is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, it is these fake liberals who are looking more like pro-war neoconservatives everyday.
To clear up misconceptions about Ron Paul:
He may not like gay marriage, but he believes the contracts between two people should be enforced by the government. That means if a church wants to marry two gay people, Ron Paul believes the government should honor that agreement, and that heterosexual marriages should hold no special privilege.
He may detest abortion, but he believes such matters should be decided by the individual states and not the federal government. (Which means some states will allow abortion and some won’t. And perhaps it is better this way until we understand human consciousness better).
He opposes affirmative action, because he wants to treat people like individuals, not as arbitrary groups of people with special privileges, regardless of their skin color. He believes treating people like individuals and allowing them to exercise their liberties is a better way to achieve equality.
He strongly opposes the war on drugs, because prohibition causes more problems than it solves. There are only two democratic candidates who oppose the war on drugs: Gravel and questionably Kucinich. After all, should the government put you in jail for consuming Burger King food and putting yourself at risk? Why should it be any different with the personal use of drugs? Furthermore, the FDA prevents many useful medications from being sold in the market, forcing people to seek other alternatives abroad, increasing the cost of medicines, and sometimes leaving patients with no options.
He strongly opposes the Iraq war, on the grounds that we have no right to start wars of aggression. On the other hand, we have seen that Hillary and Obama are very likely to pursue an unnecessary conflict with Iran and start a new conflict in Sudan, as if we hadn’t learned from Vietnam and Iraq, already, and despite the fact that the majority of voters want out of Iraq.
Ron Paul doesn’t arbitrarily choose issues when it is convenient, like the majority of Republicans and Democrats. He goes by the principle of individual liberty, which means his stances on most issues are consistent and predictable, instead of progressively changing based on the whim of lobby groups.
I know it’s threatening to see Ron Paul earn more in donations in seven days than John Edwards earned in ten days. I know it’s threatening to see that liberals and conservatives are finding good reasons to support Ron Paul. But instead of misinforming voters, try to engage in honest discussion.
September 30th, 2007
Posted by
eaglescout |
Ron Paul, Iran, Lies, Politics, 2008 Election, Neoconservatives, War on blogs, Iraq War |
no comments
(UPDATED - Please see the updates and comments at the bottom of the article. The article in question is factual, but inaccurately sourced)
An article posted on Digg claiming that Mexico uses racist and extremely tough immigration laws derived from the constitution turned out to be completely fake.The article in question is called: Mexican Constitution, Immigration Laws Vs. U.S. Constitution
This article on MichNews.com [deleted as of 18:26 Pacific and resposted - but also posted at The Federal Observer] was recently made popular on Digg.com here. This is the introduction:
Special Interest Groups consider U.S. Immigration laws racist, inhumane and unjust. A possible answer to the problem would be abolishing all U.S. Immigration Statutes and adopting “word for word” Mexico’s standards and law per their government constitution. How could any group in the United States including LULAC or ACLU be offended? DHS Secretary Chertoff appears to hate the idea of enforcing U.S. laws on the books because it would separate families. […]
That seems reasonable, I thought.
Then I came across this comment on Digg.com by user Zaetha, claming the article was a complete lie. Zaetha posted a copy of the Mexican constitution for everyone to see.
The problem with the article is that it’s not a mistranslation.
It is an deliberate fabrication inaccurately sourced article, deceptively claiming to reference specific articles of the Mexican constitution.
Thus, here is an online version of the Mexican Constitution in English, for your own eyes.
Now let’s look at the false claims:
Claim:
Mexico welcomes only foreigners who will be useful to Mexican society:
Foreigners are admitted into Mexico “according to their possibilities of contributing to national progress.” (Article 32)
Factual, straight from the constitution:
Article 32. Mexicans shall have priority over foreigners under equality of circumstances for all classes of concessions and for all employment, positions, or commissions of the Government in which the status of citizenship is not indispensable. In time of peace no foreigner can serve in the Army nor in the police or public security forces.
In order to belong to the National Navy or the Air Force, and to discharge any office or commission, it is required to be a Mexican by birth. This same status is indispensable for captains, pilots, masters, engineers, mechanics, and in general, for all personnel of the crew of any vessel or airship protected by the Mexican merchant flag or insignia It is also necessary to be Mexican by birth to discharge the position of captain of the port and all services of pratique and airport commandant, as well as all functions of customs agent in the Republic.
Claim:
Immigration officials must “ensure” that “immigrants will be useful elements for the country and that they have the necessary funds for their sustenance” and for their dependents. (Article 34)
Factual:
Article 34. Men and women who, having the status of Mexicans, likewise meet the following requirements are citizens of the Republic:
1. Having reached eighteen years of age, if married, or twenty-one years of age if unmarried;
2. Having an honest means of livelihood.
Claim:
Foreigners may be barred from the country if their presence upsets “the equilibrium of the national demographics,” when foreigners are deemed detrimental to “economic or national interests,” when they do not behave like good citizens in their own country, when they have broken Mexican laws, and when “they are not found to be physically or mentally healthy.” (Article 37)
Factual:
Article 37.
1. Mexican nationality is lost:
1. By the voluntary acquisition of a foreign nationality;
2. By accepting or using titles of nobility which imply submission to a foreign state;
3. By residing, if a Mexican by naturalization, for five consecutive years in the country of origin;
4. By passing in any public instrument, when Mexican by naturalization, as a foreigner, or by obtaining and using a foreign passport;
2. Mexican citizenship is lost:
1. By accepting or using titles of nobility which imply submission to a foreign government;
2. By rendering voluntary services to a foreign government without permission of the Federal Congress or of its Permanent Committee;
3. By accepting or using foreign decorations without permission of the Federal Congress or of its Permanent Committee;
4. By accepting titles or functions from the government of another country without previous permission of the Federal Congress or its Permanent Committee, excepting literary, scientific, or humanitarian titles which may be freely accepted;
5. By aiding a foreigner or a foreign country, against the Nation, in any diplomatic claim or before an international tribunal;
6. In other cases which the laws may specify.
Claim:
The Secretary of Governance may “suspend or prohibit the admission of foreigners when he determines it to be in the national interest.” (Article 38)
Factual:
Article 38. The rights or prerogatives of citizens [emphasis added] are suspended:
1. Through failure to comply, without sufficient cause, with any of the obligations imposed by Article 36. This suspension shall last for one year and shall be in addition to any other penalties prescribed by law for the same offense.
2. Through being subjected to criminal prosecution for an offense punishable by imprisonment (pena corporal), the suspension to be reckoned from the date of the formal order of commitment;
3. Throughout a term of imprisonment;
4. Through vagrancy or habitual drunkenness, affirmed in the manner prescribed by law;
5. Through being a fugitive from justice, the suspension being reckoned from the date of the order of arrest until the prescription of the criminal action;
6. Through final sentence imposing such suspension as a penalty.
The law shall specify those cases in which civil rights may be lost or suspended and the manner of rehabilitation.
Here is the rest of the article, summed up for brevity. You can still follow the links to the English version, to compare
Claim:
Mexican authorities must keep track of every single person in the country:
Federal, local and municipal police must cooperate with federal immigration authorities upon request, i.e., to assist in the arrests of illegal immigrants. (Article 73)
Factual:
Article 73 -Simply outlines the structure, powers and responsibility of congress, but says nothing about “keeping track of every single person in the country” or cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Claim:
A National Population Registry keeps track of “every single individual who comprises the population of the country,” and verifies each individual’s identity. (Articles 85 and 86)
Factual:
Articles 85 and 86 -85 talks about the reasons and procedures for appointing interim presidents. 86 talks about acceptable causes for presidential resignation. There’s nothing about a National Population Registry.
Claim:
A national Catalog of Foreigners tracks foreign tourists and immigrants (Article 87), and assigns each individual with a unique tracking number (Article 91).
Factual:
Article 87 - Outlines the presidential oath that must be taken when taking office. Article 91 - “To be a secretary it is required to be a Mexican citizen by birth, to be in exercise of his rights, and be at least thirty years of age”.
Claim:
Foreigners with fake papers, or who enter the country under false pretenses, may be imprisoned:
Foreigners with fake immigration papers may be fined or imprisoned. (Article 116)
Factual:
Article 116 - The States have the power to fix their respective boundaries among themselves, by amicable agreements; but such agreements will not be put into effect without the approval of the Congress of the Union.
Claim:
Foreigners who sign government documents “with a signature that is false or different from that which he normally uses” are subject to fine and imprisonment. (Article 116)
Factual:
See above - Article 116
Claim:
Foreigners who fail to obey the rules will be fined, deported, and/or imprisoned as felons:
Foreigners who fail to obey a deportation order are to be punished. (Article 117)
Factual:
Article 117 - Limits the powers of the states (for example, states cannot make coins).
Claim:
Foreigners who are deported from Mexico and attempt to re-enter the country without authorization can be imprisoned for up to 10 years. (Article 118)
Factual:
Article 118 - Limits states further - they may not impose certain port levies, nor start wars with foreign powers.
Claim:
Foreigners who violate the terms of their visa may be sentenced to up to six years in prison (Articles 119, 120 and 121). Foreigners who misrepresent the terms of their visa while in Mexico — such as working with out a permit — can also be imprisoned.
Factual:
Article 119 - Each State has the obligation to deliver without delay the criminals of another State or of a foreign State to the authorities who claim them.
Article 120 - The governors of the States are required to publish and enforce federal laws.
Article 121 - States must respect each others’ laws.
Claim:
Under Mexican law, illegal immigration is a felony. The General Law on Population says,
“A penalty of up to two years in prison and a fine of three hundred to five thousand pesos will be imposed on the foreigner who enters the country illegally.” (Article 123)
Factual:
Article 123 - Why would a constitution contain the specific monetary fine? Either way, this talks about Labor and Social Security.
Claim:
Foreigners with legal immigration problems may be deported from Mexico instead of being imprisoned. (Article 125)
Factual:
Article 125 - “No individual may fill two popularly elected federal offices at the same time […]”
Claim:
Foreigners who “attempt contempt against national sovereignty or security” will be deported. (Article 126)
Factual:
Article 126 - “No payment may be made that is not included in the budget or provided for by a subsequent law.”
Claim:
Mexicans who help illegal aliens enter the country are themselves considered criminals under the law:
A Mexican who marries a foreigner with the sole objective of helping the foreigner live in the country is subject to up to five years in prison. (Article 127)
Factual:
Article 127 - President, Supreme Court Justices, and other public officials receive compensation specified and paid by the national treasury.
Claim:
Shipping and airline companies that bring undocumented foreigners into Mexico will be fined. (Article 132) *1917 Mexican Constitution… ref. Center for Security Policy
Factual:
Article 132 - Certain buildings used by the government for public service and common use are under federal jurisdiction.
So what “Mexican Constitution” was John W. Slagle using? [See 9/2/07 update].
UPDATE: The fabricated mis-sourced article has made its way to about seven different websites. Some places where it was posted include: ALIPAC (message board post), Newsvine, The Federal Observer, MichNews, Shankradio, The Conservative Voice.
UPDATE (9/2/07): It may not be an intentional fabrication, but rather a bad honest mistake: They are quoting the General Law of the population, and not the Mexican Constitution, even though they claim to be quoting the Constitution.
UPDATE (9/3/07): I apologize for passing judgment hastily. The source of the article is simply The General Law on Population, and not the Mexican Constitution as originally claimed.
September 1st, 2007
Posted by
eaglescout |
Lies, Mexico, Extreme Spin, War (Psychology), Politics, Analysis |
6 comments