Everyone and their mami is jumping on the outburst heard round the world. Let’s take a look at how organizations that claim to be progressive or at the very least Democratic, are repping what down during Obama’s health care plan pitch.

The Free Press Action Fund, an org whose mission according to it’s tagline is to “Reform Media, Transform Democracy”, took the opportunity to ask for funds. In their request letter, they focus on the failings of the mainstream media:

For the past 24 hours, the media have focused on the controversy surrounding Rep. Joe Wilson’s outburst, but not on the substance of his claim — that the president lied about coverage for undocumented immigrants — which is demonstrably false.

As in nothing to see here folks. Undocumented (at least they didn’t use the word illegal) won’t be covered. Hmm I wonder how independent media makers such as myself can get in on some of that fundraising action?

Immigration reform organization America’s Voice, targets Wilson’s attack by reminding us of two things. One:

President Obama was denouncing myths — spread by cable news, talk radio, anti-immigration extremist groups and anti-immigrant politicians like Joe Wilson — that immigrants living in the U.S. illegally would receive free coverage under his health care plan.

In fact, illegal immigrants are barred from doing so, as CNN, the Associated Press, FactCheck.org, and others have highlighted repeatedly throughout this debate.

And two:

Who is behind these lies? Groups like the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR). They pose as mainstream lobbyists to spread bigotry, lies and hate — and they are trying to meet with your Representatives this week.

Targeting FAIR is legit. They are disgusting hate group that the mainstream media gives too much cred to as sources. Pero for an organization that wants “Common Sense Immigration Reform” to adopt the language of the “illegal immigrant” is concerning to say the least.

Additionally, America’s Voice Executive Director, Frank Sherry, wrote a post for FDL that explains in greater detail just how the undocumented are kept out of the current health care plan.
(Full disclosure, America’s Voice has advertised on VivirLatino and they sponsored my trip to Netroots Nation).

The Service Employees International Union sent their own mass email out. Their focus was to “set the record straight on immigrant access to health care” via letters to the editors of your local papers. It’s important that Congress not be divided by distractions.

People in the country legally, who work hard and play by the rules, deserve affordable coverage and access to public programs, as they do with children’s health insurance program (SCHIP), and subsidies.

Health reform must be inclusive and must end the unfair treatment of immigrants.

And if we’re going to pass comprehensive immigration reform, we need to pass health care reform first.

I’m a little confused by the message here. Do only the documented and their children deserve access to health care or should all immigrants, especially the hard working ones (I’m not sure how this is proven)? Is health care reform that from the get excludes the undocumented another way of setting the stage for immigration reform that is going to be based on the good vs bad narrative?

The National Council of la Raza didn’t put out a specific reaction to the Wilson incident, rather the Latino Civil Rights organization put out a release that expressed it’s pleasure with the Obama plan in general.

NCLR calls on Congress to act swiftly on the president’s plan, remove barriers to health care for legal immigrants, and stand up to disruptive naysayers who oppose heath care reform and are trying to derail it with anti-immigrant rhetoric and vitriol. The outburst from Representative Joe Wilson (R–SC) during last night’s presidential address is the latest example in a campaign to stop real progress for Americans. We cannot afford to waste crucial time on those who will never support reform. We must take the necessary strides to reform the system while we have the opportunity to make health care work for Americans.

So according to the self-proclaimed largest Latino civil rights groups, the barriers for documented Latino immigrants is the priority? Health care should work for “Americans”, unless you’re a South or Central American without papers?

The Illinois Coalition for Immigration and Refugee Rights took the opportunity to ask for donations for their general work supporting health care and immigration reform and rights.

The effort to scapegoat immigrants as a means of sabotaging health care reform is a conscious tactic to use racial fear to derail a policy debate. The New York Times editorialized today “…immigration is an all-purpose policy explosive. Toss it into any debate and, boom, discussion stops because you’ve got people afraid that benefits or services might be going to those who don’t deserve them.” It is a strategy that demonizes our country’s most vulnerable populations.

I am reaching out to you to ask for your help in opposing these hateful tactics. Please make a contribution today to help us fight for health care reform and a path to citizenship for the undocumented. Send a strong message to anti-immigrant hate-mongers that we will stand up for an America of democratic inclusion, not race-based fear and hate!

I have to say that I am pleased that they are talking about race and rights, something you won’t hear many CIR orgs mention.

As la Macha mentioned, Wilson’s outburst has created a flurry of economic support for his Democratic opposition, Rob Miller. MoveOn.org even did a mass email asking for donations for the Marine Corp vet as a way of showing disapproval for Wilson’s actions during the health care speech. However, I have yet to learn what Miller’s stance on immigration is and if he, like Wilson and President Obama, is ok with using “illegal” language while claiming to be a better choice than a Republican.