Just got done watchin a segment on MSNBC Hardball and Chris Matthews just put a smackdown on Republican Representative Phil Gingrey from Georgia. Call it a smackdown, stump, or whatever you want, but he has Rep. Gingrey almost speechless at the end. Here's a video and the best part is the last few minutes.
The discussion started off by discussing the so called "anchor babies", the latest Repiblican talking point in the immigration debate. However, Chris Matthews finally turns the table on Rep. Gingrey when he poses different scenarios for him. He first asked what if a child was born to a mother who was in the United States on a work visa or student visa. Rep Gingrey responded by saying that the child would be an American citizen. Then the next question was regarding if the mother was a citizen and a father was here illegally, or if the father was a citizen and the mother was here illegally. Rep Gingrey's answer? The child would NOT be a citizen!!
During the discussion, Rep Gingrey started debating how that scenario would not happen because one of the individuals would have a green card due. Of course, Chris Matthews didn't let him off that easily, reminding him that people do have babies out of wedlock. He also reminded Rep Gingrey that these are questions that the Republicans need to think about as lawmakers, that they just can't use a talking point and go with it. Unfortunately, they can and they are.
However, it poses another question to me. How do they decide if a parent is here illegally? I know, I know. Put INS agents in each hospital to check the citizenship of the parents of anyone being born. How do you determine who the "real" father is? Through DNA tests of course!! Sounds like big government to me and it sounds like a lot of money being spent on determining all that. But, I guess that what the Republicans want. Wonder how they expect to pay for all of this. Just a thought.
I'll stop my crazy talk now, but please check out the video.