THE ROBERT W. WHITAKER ARCHIVE

At a meeting in Arizona, Bill O'Reilly of Fox Cable News was talking to Senator John McCain. O'Reilly made the statement that "American immigration policy should be made for the benefit of AMERICANS."

What O'Reilly said seems fairly obvious to my old-fashioned mind.

After all, the purpose of the United States Constitution is declared in the Constitution's Preamble

"WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty TO OURSELVES AND OUR POSTERITY, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

America was set up by the AMERICAN people for the AMERICAN people.

So who could disagree with O'Reilly's statement that American immigration policy should be made in the interests of Americans?

The Senator from Arizona, John McCain, could disagree.

And McCain DID disagree, in no uncertain terms. McCain explained that Americans with a Mexican heritage owe their loyalty to "their Hispanic culture." He indicated that even if they were born in the United States, they should side with potential Hispanic immigrants.

The Arizona audience booed McCain and cheered O'Reilly.

If I had said the same words McCain said a generation ago, I would have been accused of being an enemy of all Mexican-Americans.

Back then what McCain said was an argument AGAINST immigration.

Anti-immigrants used to argue that foreigners who take American citizenship are still foreigners. They said exactly what McCain said, that immigrants are not loyal to the American people.

So if I had said what McCain said a generation ago, I would have been labeled an anti-immigration BIGOT.