on the 1st amendment, elected officials, and human dignity

Two days ago, State Rep. Douglas Bruce stated:

"I would like to have the opportunity to state at the microphone why I don't think we need 5,000 more illiterate peasants in Colorado"

Fortunately, those moderating the debate did not allow him to continue, and his remark has been met with general outrage. In his defense, he "looked up 'illiterate' in the dictionary and it means somebody who is lacking in formal education or is unable to read and write...I don't think these people who are planning to come over here and pick potatoes or peaches are likely to have much of a formal education. I looked up the word 'peasant.' The word 'peasant' means a person who works in agricultural fields."

Yes, the 1st amendment guarantees freedom of speech. I believe that this should be a universal human right, but this is by no means the case. So it makes sense that we as Americans cherish, exercise, and constantly defend this right. So when analyzing Bruce's remark through a more legalistic, Constitutional paradigm even I will begrudgingly agree that he technically DOES have a right to say that.

But to focus exclusively on the First Amendment would be to miss the issue entirely. The problem here is not necessarily whether or not he has a right to express a certain opinion, but how he chose to do so. With an issue as sensitive as immigration, one would expect that elected officials would be equally as sensitive in their commentary. We (well, those who voted for him anyway.. which doesn't include me) elected him because we trusted his ability to lead, his ability to exemplify American morals and ideals, and ultimately, his ability to recognize that politics is not just a system to maneuver, but a way to fundamentally help society progress.

Immigration is an issue that transcends political processes and geographic boundaries.

To excuse his comment on the two technicalities that a) his statement is protected by the 1st amendment and b) the words he used had correct denotations would be a failure to acknowledge the complexities that layer the issue. His remark was an insult to human dignity, and the polar opposite of what we should expect from the individuals that are running this country.