Congressman Patrick Murphy, does not like Irish Immigrants.

Congressman Patrick Murphy, does not like Irish Immigrants.

From: oneillsirishpub@hotmail.com - 1/23/2010 9:51:15 P.M. Eastern Standard Time

Congressman Patrick Murphy of Pennsylvania is a disgrace to his Irish
roots. Yesterday he was one of just nine Democrats who voted to never
allow 'amnesty' for undocumented persons in America.

Congressman Murphy should be ashamed of himself. He has joined the
ranks of the anti immigrant lynch mob which seeks to ensure that
immigrants are treated with hate and suspicion.

Back when Congressman Patrick Murphy's forefathers were trying to come
to America there was an ignoramus group called the Know Nothings that,
like Patrick Murphy now, wanted to seize the Irish and deport them in
chains back to the old country. They hoisted signs like 'No Irish Need
Apply' and portrayed us as apes and simians.

The Irish overcame all that discrimination and Patrick Murphy is a
congressman today because of what his forefathers were able to
achieve.

I'm sure they are turning over in their graves today at the idea of
what their descendant has decided to do -- to join the ranks of the
modern 'Know Nothings' and seek to inflame hatred and violence against
immigrants. Some of them today , by the way, are from the same country
that Congressman Patrick Murphy's people came from.

Not far from where this congressman's district is located is a place
called Duffy's Cut where in 1832 an estimated 57 Irish laborers were
found dead. Many had been murdered because locals feared they were
spreading cholera. They were only six weeks in America.

Near Scranton, Congressman Patrick Murphy can find the graves of many
of the Molly Maguires who were similarly murdered by mine bosses
because they dared to revolt against sickening working conditions.

Congressman Patrick Murphy should know his history -- he is a former
Marine who served in Iraq, and he should know that turning on the
weakest and most vulnerable is not the Irish or the American way.

Except it is for Congressman Patrick Murphy, a man who has disgraced
his roots and his history. Shame on him.

Comment:

To be sure, Congressman Murphy has done a disservice to his Irish heritage, his Irish Catholic constituents, and his Brother and Sister Hibernians by signing onto the Chaffetz/Kratovil No Amnesty Bill HR 1026. I stated in a recent e-mail that he should be reminded by the A.O.H. National Board of our solid commitment to the passage of legislation that would be beneficial, not only to future immigration from Ireland, but also to resolve the plight of the undocumented Irish currently residing here in the U.S. That suggestion does not in any way, shape, or fashion mean that I, or for that matter any member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, condone the nasty innuendos in the attached memo from the ILIR.

Congressman Murphy is not, by any stretch of the imagination, a member of an "anti immigrant lynch mob" and he should certainly not be likened to the infamous "Know Nothing bigots" of long ago. I still believe that Congressman Murphy should be reminded by our National Board of our policy regarding immigration reform but I feel even more strongly that the ILIR and any other group with whom we work on the immigration issue should be told in no uncertain terms that we will not tolerate open nastiness toward our members who may have made what we consider to be an error in judgement. With friends like those above, who needs enemies!

Jack Meehan, Past National President

Ancient Order of Hibernians in America