No bias here, no sirree!

The Associated Press writes:

" Caught between business supporters who need foreign workers and conservatives clamoring for a clampdown on illegal immigration, President Bush tried on Saturday to give his temporary guest-worker plan a nudge by promising strong enforcement." [Emphasis mine].

Notice the language the AP uses to summarize a debate between the wealthy and the average American:

- Business supporters "need foreign workers." It's not that businesses "want" foreign workers. No, it's a proven, scientific fact that they NEED foreign workers. Didn't you take Econ 101, where they told you that there are no such thing as needs, just wants -- except for the need for cheap illegal immigrant labor? (By the way, I need a membership in the Cypress Point Golf Club, and I expect the President to get to work meeting my need, posthaste.)

- Meanwhile, those emotional, low-class, racist "conservatives" are "clamoring" for a "clampdown." (The unspeakableness of this drives the AP frantic with alliteration.) And we all know what that means! Cue The Clash:

The judge said five-to-ten
But I say double that again
I'm not working for the clampdown
No man born with a living soul
Can be working for the clampdown

And, anyway, Bush's "guest workers" will be here just for a "temporary" time. When their legal residency of six years, or whatever it will be is up, they'll just go home. What, do you think they'll break the law? I'm ashamed of you for even imagining that any foreigner wouldn't obey our immigration laws! What possible evidence do you have for such a hateful implication?

A reader writes:

The term "guest worker" seems to me to be another re-labeling of something to reduce the opposition to it, a standard leftist tactic.

Calling someone a guest implies all sorts of social obligations on the host - none of which we in the host group ever asked for. They aren't guests in the new context - they are simply job thieves, brought in to undermine American workers. The union people would instantly see them for what they are - scabs, although that term is normally reserved for strikebreakers. But we all understand that this is pre-emptive action - let's break the strike before it gets a chance to start!

There should be no echo on the restrictionist Right giving credence to the notion of "guest workers". Job theft program, scab program, whatever grating label our side can come up with - that's what should always be used, so that the people pushing the program will have to combat popular vernacular and will not be able to get away with coy labels.

My published articles are archived at iSteve.com -- Steve Sailer