Foreign crazy-conspiracy theorist Trevor Loudon came from New Zealand to South Dakota again this week to tell us how to run our affairs. In his Sioux Falls hate fest Monday, Loudon showed how little he understands the limits of the authority American states have to control their borders:
The speaker, a New Zealand writer and filmmaker named Trevor Loudon, said South Dakota should pass laws labeling Muslim advocacy and student organizations as hate groups and create restrictions on refugees and immigrants.
“It would be great to see South Dakota, which is a small state and a relatively conservative state actually take some stands on these issues,” Loudon said. “The people of South Dakota have a right to determine who lives in their own state” [Dana Ferguson, “Speaker at Minnehaha GOP Event Says Congress Infiltrated by Traitors,” that Sioux Falls paper, 2017.09.19].
No, we don’t, Trevor. I might really want to keep a foreign infiltrator like you out of my state, but if the federal government grants you a tourist visa or a work visa or whatever surely proper immigration documentation you have received to come peddle your lies, no local law or state ordinance may restrict you from entering South Dakota and spending your time here in whatever legal way you please. South Dakota cannot tell any law-abiding person or any class of people that they cannot enter or remain in South Dakota due to their religious or political beliefs (or, in this case, to the warped versions of beliefs that you ascribe to the people you demonize).
Ferguson reports that Republican Senator Neal Tapio, who mimics Loudon’s shouting of baseless accusations against patriotic South Dakotans, drove down from Watertown to cheer Loudon’s call for illegal restrictions on freedom of movement and equal protection under the United States Constitution. So did his Republican colleagues Senators Jim Stalzer and Jack Kolbeck of Sioux Falls and Reps. Steven Haugaard of Sioux Falls and Michael Clark of Hartford. Any legislator the violation of such a fundamental Constitutional right as freedom of interstate travel should be considered in violation of his oath of office. We can’t remove such ignorant or dangerous legislators from South Dakota, but we can certainly remove them from office at the nearest legal opportunity.
Geez, they can’t limit themselves to out-of-state hucksters, now they are importing their hate from New Zealand. Hey, hire a local hater, you freaking idiots!!!!
As a foreigner spreading hate, you have to wonder why the authorities haven’t picked this Louden character off the street and deported him. Oh, wait. Certain kinds of hate and violence are acceptable in Trump’s America. Running down certain people–wink, wink–will be made legal next session, then DiSanto can join here foreign buddy in a little joy ride.
What is wrong with these people?
Wingnuts rail against money coming in from other states to influence public opinion in our state, but they are fine with bringing in foreigners who foment hate and xenophobia?
Only a wingnut would bring in a foreigner to speak about the dangers of bringing in foreigners.
Why is it that wingnuts are always preaching respect the Constitution and guard our freedoms like those against religious persecution and then they turn around and act like they don’t have a clue that the Constitution and freedom of religion apply to everyone –not just white Christians that were born in the US?
I wonder what questions these elected oath-taker legislators ask themselves before advocating these types of restrictions.
Do they ask whether their idea is constitutional, thus not contrary to their oath of office? If not, we have a problem due to the oath of office.
If they ask, then what authority do they look to for the answer: SCOTUS decisions? Plain language of the Constitution? Gut feelings? And what factor or factors should the oath of office require them to rely on, e.g. campaign donations or the views of the base?
Bearcreekbat, I’m worried Tapio is out stirring up a lot of gut feeling, wrapped in flags and Bibles and fear of others. It will be all the more important that we field as Legislative candidates passionate statesmen and stateswomen who can explain the Constitution to their neighbors.
Darin, these wingnuts need to get over their selfishness. I understand that they are afraid of losing their longstanding majority status. But they need to understand that the best defense they have against an angry majority looking to scapegoat a minority and take away their civili liberties is true respect for the Constitution. Boldly uphold the First Amendment and the Fourteenth Amendment, and no American majority of any creed or color will ever be able to legally oppress any American religious or ethnic group.
On Twitter this week, Loudon suggests the Pope is a Commie:
https://twitter.com/newzealblog/status/910165192780152833
I look forward to courting the Catholic vote in 2018.
Donald, yes, we could at least try to keep those dollars circulating locally. But that’s Neal Tapio’s gig, I guess.
At least the Chamber of Commerce in Sioux Falls recognizes the value of immigrants and diversity and is pushing back against the Tapio backed hate-agenda:
“We’ve got to grow into the community we need to be,” he said. “And I think that’s going to begin here, with us not only just valuing the diversity that exists in this community but finding ways to celebrate it.” Jason Ball, President and CEO of the Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce.
http://www.argusleader.com/story/news/business-journal/2017/09/20/sioux-falls-chamber-concerned-events-antagonistic-immigrants/686734001/
Racism and xenophobia is bad for business in addition to being morally repugnant and against everything this country stands for.
Darin, that’s a really important statement from the Chamber. Neal Tapio threw “Muslim Brotherhood” grenades at the Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce last month and has repeated his call (at the Aberdeen and Sioux Falls hate meetings) for an “army” of citizens to rise up and come to Pierre during the 2018 Session to help him pass anti-refugee, anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim legislation like his 2017 SCR 15. The Chamber is clearly laying down its Legislative chip, reminding legislators that no matter how many crazy shouters Tapio can recruit, business leaders will expect sensible (quiet translation: donation-worthy) legislators to focus on practical business.
Chamber of Commerce, I look forward to working with you in our common goal of beating back the anti-immigrant hysteria and prejudice that threaten our economic development. And if Republicans keep hosting and promoting this anti-business nonsense, I look forward to your helping elect Democrats whom I guarantee will protect your business interests from such toxic rhetoric.
Mr. Tapio … Watertown will never become the equal of Aberdeen, Huron and Sioux Falls until it welcomes a substantial immigrant community to live, work and raise families within it’s city limits.
Amazon is now backing that foreign conspiracy theorist Trevor Loudon by posting his documentaries on Amazon video. The movie is called The enemies within. It’s appalling- He calls all progressive and Democrat Senators, Russian Communists and Marxists, as well as providing false citation. I cancelled my Amazon Prime account and told them they went using their profits against me.