In 2011, journalist Jose Antonio Vargas revealed that he was an undocumented immigrant who had successfully stayed in the US for 14 years, and had unmasked himself to bring attention to the plight of other undocumented immigrants in America.
Yesterday, Vargas continued to tell his incredible story in a CNN documentary, which promoted his film Documented with the following good idea:
Do you think Jose should be deported? Answer with JOSESTAY or JOSEGO using #Documented pic.twitter.com/RGKrVlgoUB
— CNN (@CNN) June 30, 2014
This is actually a question that Vargas asks his interview subjects, and it makes sense when a human is asking that question to a fellow human. “At a time of political standstill, with reporters calling immigration reform, ‘dead,’ we gotta humanize this issue,” he told Buzzfeed. “Asking ‘JoseGo’ and ‘JoseStay’ is a way of asking my fellow Americans, ‘What do you want to do with me? What do you want to do with us?’”
When people saw it framed as a CNN poll on non-human Twitter, however, they were not amused:
Immigration isn't a TV contest MT @CNN: Think Jose should be deported?Answer w JOSESTAY or JOSEGO using #Documented pic.twitter.com/DU4Y3NGIOa
— natalie baur (@nataliembaur) June 30, 2014
Do you think @CNN should be ashamed of itself? Answer with #CNNSHAME or…well…that's actually the only reasonable response.
— Erin (@sqwerin) June 30, 2014
#Documented josestay or josego shouldn't be the poll. The poll should be CNNGO or CNNSTAY I vote CNNGO @CNN CNN SUCKS!
— Brett Williams (@brflux) June 30, 2014
#Documented
#JoseStay because the 3 people watching CNN right now are stoned & don't know any better
— Pol's Redskins (@PointlessPol) June 30, 2014
How the fresh hell is Adios Amigos a crime against humanity but Josestay/JoseGo a fun #CNN party game?
— S.M (@redsteeze) June 30, 2014
However, FTVLive felt that this was the most appropriate question of the evening:
Do you think Jeff Zucker should be fired? Answer JEFFSTAY or JEFFGO using #FTVLive pic.twitter.com/qGAy8Cs9mK
— FTVLive (@FTVLive) June 30, 2014
[Featured image via CNN]
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