Frank Luntz, please report to the nearest burn ward.
On Wednesday, the political consultant and pollster shared an (unsupported) assertion on social media from a factory CEO in Springfield, Ohio, one Jamie McGregor of McGregor Metal, who was singing the praises of Haitians as employees. At present, about 10 percent (30) of McGregor’s employees are Haitian immigrants:
“Our Haitian associates come to work every day, they don’t have drug problems, they’ll stay at their machines, they’ll achieve their numbers, they are here to work – that’s a sharp difference from what we’re used to.”
Luntz took to X to present the case, with the above quote from McGregor, an embedded video, and no other comment:
Factory CEO in Springfield, Ohio:
“Our Haitian associates come to work every day, they don’t have drug problems, they’ll stay at their machines, they’ll achieve their numbers, they are here to work – that’s a sharp difference from what we’re used to.”pic.twitter.com/6NAaon41dI
— Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) September 11, 2024
The video attached to this X post presents a pretty even-handed report on the issues this sudden influx of Haitians has had on this small Midwestern town, and very little of the impact has been positive, except, perhaps, to McGregor Metal’s bottom line.
The X community proceeded to drop-kick Luntz and, by association, McGregor, into an adjacent time zone:
The fact that corporations want cheap pliant foreign labor doesn’t mean the rest of us don’t get to have a country, Frank.
This is a nation. Nations owe their loyalty and allegiance to their own citizens. To their own towns and communities.
How many unvetted illegals from…
— Stephen Miller (@StephenM) September 11, 2024
The post continued:
How many unvetted illegals from Haiti are you hosting in your mansion?
Would you still support the mass fly-in program if they were flying in to your community?
You could volunteer to take them right now.
To be fair to Mr. Luntz, it’s not at all clear that he’s taking a side here. But we might also note that the only text he provides is that complimentary tidbit from the McGregor Metal CEO.
Of course he likes slave labor.
That’s not what is in question. The question is about the impact on the local community.
This just proves they stole American jobs , further proving immigration is a net negative for Americans and their families.
— Thomas Musket ⓒ (@ThomasMusket) September 11, 2024
“Slave labor” is perhaps a bit much; the Haitians are being paid and are free to leave said employment if it suits them. But it seems a big ask, for a small town to suddenly adapt to an influx of thousands of people from one of the most backward countries in the hemisphere, and to then be told, “But, they’re great employees!”
This CEO got 30 new employees while the city of Springfield has to foot the bill for increased costs for 15,000 new residents. If you listen to the whole PBS report it’s clear that the local elite (the factory owner) has a huge benefit while the non-elite are paying the costs.
— Cate Long (@cate_long) September 11, 2024
That’s a fair assessment. Here at RedState, we have covered that cost in detail over the last several days.
See Related: WATCH: Springfield Woman’s Heartbreaking Remarks to City About How Immigration Problem Has Affected Her
LISTEN As Man in Springfield, OH Calls Police Dispatcher About 4 Haitians Carrying Geese
I’m somewhat familiar with small Midwestern communities, having grown up in one. Midwesterners are, by and large, open and accepting of newcomers. But those newcomers have historically been a family or two here and there, not 20,000 immigrants bussed to a town and dumped, straining already-scarce municipal resources. So one local company gains 30 employees who will work more cheaply than Americans – in what way does that justify this strain on the town?
To say that this isn’t a good look for either Frank Luntz or McGregor Metal is nothing short of a gross understatement.
