The American Spectator

Special Report

Anheuser-Busch v. Alito

By Carl F. Horowitz on 1.12.06 @ 12:07AM

(Page 2 of 2)

LET'S CUT THROUGH the multicultural pieties. Judge Alito's "insensitivity" is rooted in a sound belief that anyone who resides in America must do so legally, that an ability to speak English is essential to a person's daily functioning here.

It's a position that needs no defense. In 2005 more than 35 million immigrants live in this country, roughly a third of them illegally, according to an analysis by the Center for Immigration Studies. Mexico is the sending nation for slightly over 30 percent of all new arrivals, double its share in 1980. And the problem of illegal entry from Mexico remains severe, despite a tripling in Border Patrol strength over the past decade.

Through lawsuits and public-relations campaigns, MALDEF helped bring about this situation. The group is candid about wanting to transform Mexican-Americans into a powerful voting bloc for cultural separatism. Don't be misled by the fact that most immigration still originates from outside Mexico. High levels of immigration, and high resistance to assimilation, whatever one's country of origin, strengthen Mexican interests by weakening American sovereignty.

Anheuser-Busch, along with more modest donors to MALDEF such as Wal-Mart, Coca-Cola, Citigroup, and Toyota, don't quite see things this way. Fearful of becoming targets of boycotts or lawsuits, they have responded by unceasingly promoting affirmative action, regardless of shareholder wishes.

Last September 20, NLPC President Peter Flaherty wrote a letter to Anheuser-Busch President and CEO Patrick T. Stokes, criticizing his company's $100,000-plus donation to MALDEF, at the time opposing Supreme Court Chief Justice nominee John Roberts. Jesus Rangel, Anheuser-Busch's vice president for sales development and community relations, replied two weeks later: "While we may not always agree with MALDEF's position on every issue, we strongly support MALDEF's past, present, and future efforts in regard to protecting and promoting civil rights in the Latino community."

Do Stokes, Rangel, and other Anheuser-Busch officials actually believe that a large donation to a nonprofit pressure group translates into higher sales of Budweiser and Michelob to Hispanics? It would seem that way.

MALDEF can count on continued support from such corporations, ever sensitive to the slightest tarnishing of their good-citizen image. Rare indeed these days is the CEO who doesn't timorously trumpet his company's "commitment to diversity." By contrast, Judge Alito poses an obstacle to the advance of radical Mexican-separatism. That's why MALDEF is a major player in the campaign to deny him a seat on the Supreme Court.

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