Republican Hispanic group slams Beason

A national Hispanic group is asking for an apology from Alabama state Sen. Scott Beason for using violent metaphors when referring to exhausting all possibilities to stop illegal immigration.
Somos Republicans, which has been fighting what it believes are incendiary comments and actions in Arizona, slammed Beason for his comments and said other comments show he does not support the birthright citizenship granted by U.S. law.
Beason, chairman of the powerful committee that determines which bills come to the Senate floor for debate, finished remarks about finding solutions to illegal immigration by saying "empty the clip, and do what has to be done."
The group condemned Beason for using the language at a time when there is "extreme tension and occasional violence over illegal immigration" and criticized the senator for not learning from similar rhetoric by other politicians, including former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
"Such violent metaphors can push some unstable people 'over the edge,'" according to the release from the Somos Republicans.
Beason, R-Gardendale, told the Associated Press he did not suggest any violence toward illegal immigrants or Hispanics. He told the Birmingham News he was using an analogy.
Beason has been an outspoken advocate for immigration reform and said he would like to see Alabama pass some of the reforms passed in other states like Arizona.
The organization labeled Beason as "intellectually dishonest" for backing laws that would likely be challenged in court costing taxpayers millions to defend.
The Somos Republicans, who criticized the Arizona state senator who sponsored the controversial illegal immigration measures there, called on Beason to renounce violence and "apologize for his poor choice of words."
The Somos Republicans want to increase the "Latino Republican voting block by 100 percent within two years."

-- posted by Sebastian Kitchen