Today’s political knowledge quiz will be in two parts. The first part will test our ability to discern how political rhetoric concerning immigrants has improved in the past 150 years. The second part will assess our sensitivity to political cognitive dissonance. Please remove all textbooks and notes from your desk as you take this quiz. There will be no grading on the curve.
Match the statements with the source:
- We must “guard against citizenship becoming cheap” . . . “Americanize America . . . and deport “these leeches upon our taxpayers.”
- These immigrants are “millions of leeches from a primitive country [who] come here to leech off you.”
a. Radio talk show host Jay Severin, speaking of Mexican immigrants in 2009.
b. Know-Nothing party leaders including Gov. Gardner speaking of Irish immigrants in the 1850s.
Match these political events with the appropriate political office holder:
- This Massachusetts state senator proposed an amendment to the recent casinos legislation to permit happy hours and other liquor promotions at bars and restaurants, same as proposed for casinos.
- This Massachusetts state senator owns a restaurant in Weymouth.
- This Massachusetts state senator is sponsoring a bill to toughen Melanie’s Law, the anti-drunk driving measure.
a. Senator Robert Hedlund
b. Senator Robert Hedlund
c. Senator Robert Hedlund