South Carolina legislator ignites immigration debate with comments

PHOENIX - A South Carolina legislator who made remarks challenging legal citizens to do the jobs of undocumented workers is the latest example of how Arizona’s immigration debate is catching on around the country.

“Americans are not going to do no hard, hard work,” said Senator Robert Ford. “The foundation right now for industry going to be laid by Mexican workers. That's a matter of fact. Now, they got some people upset about that? They better learn American history and they better get a life.”

Ford is not backing down from the controversial comments he made during a debate, fighting against proposed legislation modeled after SB1070.

“I go out there every day and watch the workers,” said Ford. “All of that dirt, all of the digging, all of the piling, that’s Mexican workers.”

Ford said “brothers” don’t work as hard as Mexicans, and then followed that comment with, “blue-eyed brothers” don’t either.

“All the media call me, ‘Oh, Senator Ford, you should apologize,’" he said. “For what? Americans not going to do no work. The hard work is always done by new immigrants. In this case they happen to be a Mexican, Mexican immigrants, and I'm fighting like hell to make sure they stay here and become citizens. And then once they become citizens, they not going to do no hard work, either.”

Ford argues against driving illegal immigrants out of the country, saying they are the backbone of America’s economy.

But his critics are taking offense to the notion that Americans are lazy.

“Nobody do no hard work, not Americanized,” said Ford. “Americans do not do hard work, period.”

So this American will keep working to stop his state from following in Arizona’s footsteps.

What do you think about Ford's remarks? Did he overstep his boundaries or were his comments justified? Let us know what you think by leaving a comment below.