House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is taking heat for comments she made about migrants and the country’s “need for them to pick crops.”
During a press conference on Friday, the House speaker took aim at Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) for transporting migrants to Martha’s Vineyard.
“Right now, the best thing we can do for our economy is to have comprehensive immigration reform,” Pelosi said.
If only Pelosi was in a position where she could do something about that.
She went on, “We have a shortage of workers in our country. And you see, even in Florida, some of the farmers and growers are saying, ‘Why are you shipping these immigrants up north? We need them to pick the crops up here.’ But that doesn’t mean that we don’t recognize our moral responsibility as well.”
Watch the video below:
Nancy Pelosi suggests we need illegal migrants to work in the fields in Florida.
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) September 30, 2022
"We need them to pick the crops down here." pic.twitter.com/g4DlYOh5Ge
It did not take long for reactions to pour in.
Journalist Sharyl Attkisson wrote, “Had Trump/DeSantis said this, their enemies would insist they be arrested for inciting crime. It’s illegal to employ illegal border crossers [and] asylum seekers. (It’s not illegal to hire ‘immigrants,’ though, which is why common usage of that word in the media is a misnomer.)”
Had Trump/DeSantis said this, their enemies would insist they be arrested for inciting crime. It's illegal to employ illegal border crossers & asylum seekers. (It's not illegal to hire "immigrants," though, which is why common usage of that word in the media is a misnomer.) https://t.co/qHe1miQeZD
— Sharyl Attkisson?️♂️ (@SharylAttkisson) September 30, 2022
Meanwhile, columnist Eddie Zipperer wrote, “Pelosi is upset that DeSantis deprived Florida farmers of the opportunity to violate federal law?”
Pelosi is upset that DeSantis deprived Florida farmers of the opportunity to violate federal law? https://t.co/OukT8NAlld
— Eddie Zipperer (@EddieZipperer) September 30, 2022
“A massive and uncontrolled wave of illegal immigration isn’t a solution to anything, but this is how they think,” tweeted Rich Lowry, the editor of National Review.
A massive and uncontrolled wave of illegal immigration isn’t a solution to anything, but this is how they think https://t.co/TOb5j1dNJi
— Rich Lowry (@RichLowry) September 30, 2022
Check out some of the other reactions below:
This is basically racist. https://t.co/H0fbtXFx58
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 30, 2022
Immigrants, what are they good for? https://t.co/By7XMUBpFm
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) September 30, 2022
For Democrats, mass immigration checks two boxes:
— FAIR (@FAIRImmigration) September 30, 2022
1. More future voters
2. Cheap foreign labor https://t.co/X4e0oQNZnf
oh boy https://t.co/r8ZOoYZ8eX
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) September 30, 2022
Democrats: The parties switched places!
— Sunny McSunnyface (@sunnyright) September 30, 2022
Also Democrats: Why Jedediah, those darned Republicans encouraged the cheap labor to go north, now who will pick our crops? https://t.co/curIDQJ47V
‘oranges don’t pick themselves’ is the new ______ https://t.co/UAF3rLFpmS
— C.J. Wilson (@str8edgeracer) September 30, 2022
‘oranges don’t pick themselves’ is the new ______ https://t.co/UAF3rLFpmS
— C.J. Wilson (@str8edgeracer) September 30, 2022
Pelosi appeared to be paraphrasing concerns she allegedly heard. But as a wealthy, white, powerful politician, it’s just not a good look to have those words coming out of your mouth.