First they came for the communists,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a Jew.

Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me.

-Pastor Martin Niemoeller

Call it good old-fashioned “race-baiting.” Actually, there is nothing good about it. And courtesy of people like Congressman Joe Walsh, it can no longer be called old-fashioned.

Race- baiting has been defined as the making of verbal attacks against members of a racial group. Walsh’s words during a recent town hall meeting certainly rise, or rather sink to that level.

Congressman Walsh said, “They want the Hispanic vote, they want Hispanics to be dependent on government, just like they got African-Americans dependent on government. That’s their game…” “So many people want hand-outs. The Democratic Party promises groups of people everything.” Jessie Jackson would be out of work if they weren’t dependent on government.”

While African-Americans, Latino-Hispanics, and Democrats have a right to be offended by such bigoted and in my opinion “racist” statements there is another, perhaps less obvious, group that should be offended as well. Namely, the constituents of Walsh’s would-be Congressional District. Here’s why. In addition to the above definition of race-baiting, there is another definition as well. Race-baiting is also defined as: “The unfair use of statements about race to try to influence the actions or attitudes of a particular group of people”.

In my opinion, Walsh’s words, were attempting to play on what he hopes are racist or xenophobic attitudes among his constituency. He is hoping that the long disproved stereotypes that he appears to hold may be held by others and that because of those views they will vote for him.

Tapping into anti-immigrant sentiments, bigotry, and prejudice have proven effective for some candidates in the past and apparently Walsh is hoping that strategy will hold sway again. Other candidates have used similar language in their campaigns this year as if reading from a script. The damage done to individuals, groups, and our unity as a people are inconsequential in the mind of a “race baiter”.

It is time for the people of his would-be district to say “enough”. It is time to let Joe Walsh know that we know what “his” game is.

Chris Pierson