We have all become used to elected officials who approach their duties with their fingers raised to test which way the wind is blowing, and their ears to the ground to see which way the crowd is going. As one wag put it, it’s hard to look up to someone in that position. Once elected, all too many of them put being re-elected at the very top of their “to do” list, and conclude that laying low is the best way to accomplish that.
So it was both surprising and gratifying to see Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry come out against Senator Delph’s ill-conceived and mean-spirited immigration bill.
Curry pointed out the bill’s legal flaws, including the fact that immigration is a responsibility of the federal government. But he went farther, describing the proposal as a waste of resources–not only because a legal challenge would be inevitable, but because the law would further erode the ability of local law-enforcement to focus on their primary duty to ensure public safety.
Curry is correct on all counts, of course. But more importantly, he was willing to speak out against a proposal that would marginalize some of our citizens in order to play to the prejudices and misconceptions of others.
A prosecutor who wants Indiana to respect the Constitution and the law and is willing to say so–how incredibly refreshing!
Isn’t it more politically courageous if the criticism of a Republican fringe bill actually comes from a Republican? Don’t get me wrong, I really like Terry, but when the State Attorney General, a Republican, took a position against this silly bill, that took real courage.
You make a very good point. While our Attorney General has taken some positions I would argue with, he did display courage–and integrity–with this one.