Leo Berman (Staff file photo by Tom Turner, Tylerpaper.com)
March 30, 2009 | Yvonne Lim Wilson
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Have you ever been told to “Go back where you came from” or “Go home”?
I have. A woman objected to my charging her 50 cents (the going rate) for a newspaper because she “was friends” with the owner. Instead of taking it up with the owner, she decided to yell at me, and on her way out told me, “Why don’t you go back to whatever country you came from.”
This woman evidently was spouting off a sentiment that is alive and well in Texas and in the country.
Texas state representative Leo Berman (R-Tyler) was on record telling an attorney of Chinese heritage to “go home” and he wasn’t talking about going back to his house.
During a panel discussion on Feb. 18, Berman spoke about his bill to relocate illegal immigrants to “sanctuary cities.” Harry Joe, who practices immigration law with the Winstead law firm in Dallas, approached Berman afterwards, and the discussion became heated, according to media reports.
Joe acknowledged calling Berman “despicable” and “an evil man,” and Berman countered with the “go home” remark and told Joe that he could “kiss my [expletive].”
Joe later apologized for his remarks, but Berman refuses to apologize, adding that he is proud of his comment.
“My constituents are saying that it’s about time that someone have the intestinal fortitude to stand up to these liberals who will call you a racist and who will try to do anything to stop you from dealing with illegal aliens,” Berman told a KLTV (Tyler) reporter.
In response, political blogger Vince Leibowitz started the “Censure Leo” movement at www.censureleo.com. In addition to calling for a public apology, Leibowitz is urging people to have their representatives censure Leo, which is a formal reprimand, and ask Republican leaders to publicly admonish Berman.
The story has been picked up by major news networks, newspapers and blogs and Leibowitz said he will be adding new more posts this month.
Attention to the issue may be more pressing as Berman may have gubernatorial ambitions.
“He may be candidate for Governor soon so we want to keep the pressure on him,” Leibowitz said.
While there have been no other cases of censure in the Texas House, Leibowitz points to a Utah legislator who was censured for anti-gay remarks.
For his part, Berman said he would be proud to be censured on this issue.
“It’s a badge of honor if they’re calling for censure because I’m doing my job and obeying my oath of office,” said Berman in the KLTV Tyler report.
What is even more surprising is the support Berman has been getting via Internet postings, defending his comments and even calling Joe “cowardly” and motivated by greed as an immigration lawyer.
“There is a radical fringe of the Republican party that thinks the things Leo Berman does is fine and dandy,” Leibowitz said. “Unfortunately those people are more vocal than the silent majority who think his actions are morally reprehensible. That’s why it’s important to get the word out.”
Back to my personal story. The woman came back a few weeks later and apologized for losing her temper. While I appreciate the gesture, she can’t erase the fact that she is racist.
It’s important to send a message to our legislators and let them know that racism has no place in our government.
“Rep. Berman is a person who doesn’t represent the views of the majority of the people of Texas,” Leibowitz said.
Visit www.censureleo.com and join the movement.
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2 comments
I can't believe that guy. It's disturbing to hear about such remarks from a representative. How irresponsible is this guy?
wow