07/19/2007
Bill O'Reilly: Gays, Immigration, and Fraud
Bill O'Reilly has a conversation with at Rachel B. Tiven, Executive Director of Immigration Equality, regarding the struggle to pass the Uniting American Families Act.
Incidentally, if you have the chance to see Sebastian Cordoba's illuminating film Through Thick and Thin which features the stories of several committed gay and lesbian couples struggling with the immigration issue, take the opportunity. It just screened at L.A.'s Outfest, but there will surely be more screenings coming up.
Posted 4:00 PM EST by Andy Towle in Bill O'Reilly, Immigration, News | Permalink
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O'Reilly is a poor ignorant asshole, Period! The poor guy doesn't get it. All we want is to have the same right straigh people have. We are not asking for more or less...just the same..if straight people are breaking the law then they need to create a better system..but to refuse Gay people to have the same opportunity is wrong ...it's called DISCRIMINATION. PERIOD!
Posted by: Jesse | Jul 19, 2007 10:18:38 PM
Bill O'Reilly is not nearly as bad as most people in this thread are making him out to be. As an open-minded liberal living in Massachusetts I can tell you that I have heard all this negative O'Reilly bashing before - I was one of them! Then one day I decided to actually watch his show every now and then. I was shocked to learn that he isn't the hate-monger that he is often made out to be. Most people who make condemning statements towards Mr. O'Reilly never watch his show - they only respond to a sound bite, a biased news report, or what someone else tells them. I certainly don't agree with much of the so called "conservative" agenda that people associate with O'Reilly, rather, I support the protection of America's environment and regulations and education against overpopulation. The U.S. must start enforcing strict immigration laws or our land and resources will quickly disappear. Gay's must pick their battles carefully. At this time the fight needs to stay focused on the right to equal marriage. Once that is obtained - and eventually it will be - the immigration laws will, by default, reflect the right for a gay immigrant to remain in the U.S. as long as he/she is married and meets the other requirements that heterosexual couples now do. I'm surprised this was never brought up by Mr. O'Reilly as he's usually on the ball. By the way, I cannot recall even one time that Bill O'Reilly said anything against the gay community - he is certainly no Dr. Laura!
Open boarders or any increases in immigration numbers would be disastorus to our nations resources and sovereinity. Could you imagine how many people would abuse a law that let's people into the country because they claim to be in a relationship with someone? That privilege is already abused by married heterosexual couples and remains unenforceable. I have met many people who have married an immigrant to make a profit. It's very hard to prove that someone is taking advantage of this law. After the recent government ploy to try and create another amnesty the American people are pissed and therefore demanding strict enforcement of illegals. With the renewed vigor of the American people to protect our boarders and decrease immigration this is the wrong time to ask for an exception. Once gay marriage is the law then this should not be an issue anymore. Focus on the right to marry and this problem will be solved.
Posted by: Charles | Jul 19, 2007 11:00:59 PM
I don't think the woman made a very compelling argument. I think the risk of fraud is great, and she did not answer the question of what would happen if a couple broke up immediately thereafter or if it were fraudulent. And the fact that this argument applies to straight couples as well does not make it ok. It means that this should be disallowed for all couples, and that people should immigrate as individuals and not as one half of a couple.
Posted by: ME | Jul 19, 2007 11:18:39 PM
I hate when I open this page and the first thing I read is Bill O'reilly's name. Its been like 6 hours...put up a cute guy pic or somethin' already damn!
Posted by: Jersey | Jul 19, 2007 11:45:04 PM
I am 100% behind the immigration equality movement. That said, they really need to find someone who can out-argue the stupid viewpoints laid down by people such as Bill O'Reilly. Unfortunately, Rachel Tiven just doesn't cut it, based on this one youtube video.
Posted by: simon | Jul 20, 2007 12:17:06 AM
I am TOTALLY in favor of the immigration equality platform for gays....but only because most of the gays already in the U.S. are so FUGLY that we need some fresh meat (especially in northeastern part of the country). Eck.
TONY THE TIGER
Posted by: tony the tiger | Jul 20, 2007 12:21:43 AM
Thanks you guys for all of your support. I am in a same sex binational relationship. And after seven years our time has come. I am one of the lucky ones, my partner is from Canada. Therefore, even though I must say goodbye to my family and friends in the US, I am finally moving on to a country that will respect me as a human being. Viva la Canada. There are many binational couples that do not have the choose that I have been given. Therefore their only option is to either break up or stay in the country illegally. For more information on this topic go to www.immigrationequality.org. This discrimination has hurt far too many people. It is time to fight.
Posted by: nola | Jul 20, 2007 12:52:06 AM
We should keep our focus on the right for gays to marry in America. That is where our fight should be right now. Once gay marriage is legal we will be granted the same privileges as hetero married couples. We're so close to finally gaining this right - let's not lose focus.
Posted by: Wolfgang | Jul 20, 2007 1:12:42 AM
Well, I guess he told her. What I also have to ask is, why is she on an OBVIOUSLY "right" wing Republican run channel, trying to advocate for gay rights?
Posted by: Chris | Jul 20, 2007 7:41:57 AM
Bill O'Reilly is a hatefull ass!
Posted by: mike | Jul 20, 2007 8:44:08 AM
she did a great job.
Posted by: halifax | Jul 20, 2007 10:41:32 AM
Rachel Tiven is on the "OBVIOUSLY "right" wing Republican run channel, trying to advocate for gay rights?" because no other national media outlet is willing to cover this problem. People caught in this immigration problem truly are the "silent victims". For all intense and purposes nobody seems to care.
Posted by: Nola | Jul 20, 2007 12:36:10 PM
Bill totally lost me on this segment when he mentioned the money. Saying something like "People could just pay $50,000 for a gay marriage and then become a citizen." He must make so many millions of dollars that in his mind, 50k is chump change for an immigrant to pay. I know of some people trying to buy green card marriages offering prospective partners 5k or 10k to fake a marriage, but 50k? No way. Whatever else Bill said after that didn't matter. He proved to me with that comment that he was ignorant on this issue and the emotional toll it takes on a bi-national couple separated b/c of US laws.
Posted by: Daniel | Jul 20, 2007 2:16:30 PM
Bill totally lost me on this segment when he mentioned the money. Saying something like "People could just pay $50,000 for a gay marriage and then become a citizen." He must make so many millions of dollars that in his mind, 50k is chump change for an immigrant to pay. I know of some people trying to buy green card marriages offering prospective partners 5k or 10k to fake a marriage, but 50k? No way. Whatever else Bill said after that didn't matter. He proved to me with that comment that he was ignorant on this issue and the emotional toll it takes on a bi-national couple separated b/c of US laws.
Posted by: Daniel | Jul 20, 2007 2:18:23 PM
Charles, we're not asking for an "exception," just that the current "exception" that is made against us be lifted. If immigration is such a problem, then just as "Me" wrote, disallow hetersexual families from doing the same thing. Although I think everyone should be allowed to bring their significant others here, I can live with dropping family immigration altogether because at least then straights and gays will be treated equally. Don't tell us to pick our battles, we shouldn't have to battle at all.
Forgive me if I sound bitter.
Posted by: John | Jul 20, 2007 7:04:21 PM