Capitalizing On Tragedy

Chuck'n'Steve, Iowa statesmen/immigration experts

The other day we saw how fringe right-wing talk show hosts like Glenn Beck and Bryan Fischer are using the Boston Marathon tragedy to boost their ad revenues and insert themselves and their bizarre agendas into the conversation. Ever so-slightly more mainstream conservatives-- Congressman Steve King and Senator Chuck Grassley, both of Iowa, come right to mind-- have been trying to fundraise for themselves and push their anti-immigrant hatred by pointing to the Tsarnaev brothers (legal immigrants). Dzhokhar is an American citizen.

We already knew that opponents of immigration reform had no good arguments in favor of preserving the status quo. Now we know they have no shame.

Some of them are deliberately mixing apples and oranges and trying to use the tragedy of the Boston Marathon bombing to scuttle efforts in Washington to achieve immigration reform.

...Earlier this week, Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa-- a vocal foe of immigration reform who has suggested the answer to securing the border is electrified fencing because, as he once said on the House floor, "we do this with livestock all the time"-- suggested that the congressional debate on the immigration bill should go slow because the suspects in the Boston bombing might turn out to be foreign nationals.

...On Friday, Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa jumped into the fray during a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

"Given the events of this week, it's important for us to understand the gaps and loopholes in our immigration system," he said. "How can we beef up security checks on people who wish to enter the United States? How do we ensure that people who wish to do us harm are not eligible for benefits under the immigration laws, including this new bill?"

Also piling on was conservative columnist Ann Coulter, who has made clear over the last few months that she opposes immigration reform because she thinks it would lead to the "end of America" since Latinos are busy "having illegitimate children and going on welfare." She marked the shootout in Boston, and took a poke at the Florida senator who is leading immigration reform efforts, by mischievously tweeting:

"It's too bad Suspect No. 1 won't be able to be legalized by Marco Rubio, now."

Again, the Tsarnaev brothers were immigrants, but they didn't need to be "legalized." They were already in the country legally. But, hey, why let facts in the way of a good screed?

And, of course, fake charities-- a tragedy of another kind-- were quick to spring up to take advantage of all the maimed and wounded victims in Boston. The FTC is warning people to be careful who they contribute to. Right-wing religious charlatans have become fabulously wealthy be tricking frightened and dull-minded simpletons into sending them money. For them the Boston Marathon tragedy is just another opportunity for their business model.

The consumer protection agency said scam artists might be posing as charity groups to profit off of the outpour of support after the terror attack.

“Urgent appeals for aid that you get in person, by phone or mail, by e-mail, on websites, or on social networking sites may not be on the up-and-up,” FTC consumer education specialist Colleen Tressler wrote in a blog post this week. “Unfortunately, legitimate charities face competition from fraudsters who either solicit for bogus charities or aren't entirely honest about how a so-called charity will use your contribution.”

In the wake of tragic incidents, scammers posing as charities may often emerge to take advantage of the public's goodwill.

...State officials have also warned about potential scams. On Wednesday, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley issued a statement advising "people to do their homework on the charity before giving to ensure their money will go to the purpose they intend.”

...According to the state's Undersecretary for Consumer Affairs Barbara Anthony, within four hours of the attack more than 125 online domain names were registered claiming to collect money for victims.

“It is unspeakable that anyone would sink to capitalize on Boston’s sorrow as we recover from this tragedy," she said in a statement. “We remind consumers to exercise caution and do their homework before reaching out to help.”