November 16, 2007

Felipe Calderon's "League Against Discrimination of Mexicans in the United States"

Here's the next grand plan of the Mexican government that will a) backfire, and b) reveal some in the U.S. to be little more than de facto agents of that government (link):

Mexican President Felipe Calderon has forcefully inserted himself into the U.S. presidential campaign, denouncing the candidates for demonizing Mexican immigrants and announcing that the government would finance a public relations campaign aimed at reversing Americans' negative perceptions.

...[The Mexican government] also said it would back a proposal by the immigrants agency [the Institute of Mexicans Abroad] to organize a coalition of Mexican activists inside the United States to respond to political attacks on immigrants. The coalition would be called la Liga contra la Discriminación de los Mexicanos en Estados Unidos, or the League Against Discrimination of Mexicans in the United States.

But the most unusual initiative would budget an undisclosed amount for a campaign inside the United States to "win the battle of public opinion" by highlighting inspirational "success stories" of Mexican immigrants who had prospered in American society.

Calderon did not disclose details of the new campaign, but he said it would help the U.S. public recognize "the irreplaceable contribution of Mexicans to the United States, to its economy and its society."

A particular target will be the U.S. news media, where he said he would seek an "objective dialogue" on immigration.

"Strategies of simple confrontation and rudeness aggravate an anti-Mexican feeling," Calderon said, amplifying "the worse phobias even more."

And, I welcome this news, because we Americans love it when corrupt foreign countries try to spread propaganda inside our country. This move will also cast doubt on anyone who supports Mexico agenda from now on: are they part of Mexico's propaganda push? Are they being paid or at least directed by Mexico?

Note that members of the IME helped organize last year's illegal immigration marches, as did a former Mexican consul general. And, just recently the Blue America PAC joined with a group whose president is with the IME to push amnesty.

In other news, Mexico is lowering the banking fees on remittances to Mexico City. Surely it was just a humanitarian move.

Posted to Immigration2007b at November 16, 2007 09:59 AM