It is a brave politician who takes on the rich and powerful. Politicians who oppose the National Rifle Association or the AARP or the Chamber of Commerce show real courage, whether or not you agree with their positions.
Then there are the politicians who make a career of picking on the powerless, on people who can't fight back. Lou Barletta, our newly elected Congressman, made his reputation attacking a small minority of immigrants. He diverted attention to his own failings by targeting newcomers to Hazleton.
Now I see that Jerry Knowles, Representative from Schuylkill, has joined Barletta. In a letter to the Times News last week, Rep. Knowles wrote that he supported legislation modeled on the Arizona law to require law enforcement to verify citizenship status if a "reasonable suspicion" exists that the person is in the country illegally.
How many of us carry proof of citizenship around with us? I don't, and probably Rep. Knowles doesn't. Of course, Rep. Knowles is a white guy, so he will be above suspicion.
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