Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-PA) is a disgrace to his Irish roots. Last week, he was one of just nine Democrats who voted to never allow "amnesty" for undocumented persons in America.

He was also the only Irish American to sign up to support the nativist crazies from the Tea Party and elsewhere who want to end all discussion on illegal immigration by driving those allegedly guilty out of the country at the point of a gun.

Murphy should be ashamed of himself. He has joined the ranks of the anti-immigrant lynch mob that seeks to ensure that immigrants are treated with hate and suspicion.

Back when Murphy's forefathers were trying to come to America, there was an ignoramus group called the Know-Nothings that, like Murphy now, wanted to seize the Irish and deport them in chains back to the old country. They hoisted signs like "No Irish Need Apply" and portrayed us as apes and simians.

The Irish were hunted down in those times. Archbishop John "Dagger John" Hughes of New York and the Ancient Order of Hibernians defended St. Patrick's Church in the city from the Know-Nothings in a famous incident in 1854, after they had gone on a rampage burning Irish churches and schools.

These Know-Nothings are the people that Murphy is proudly lining up with today. Fortunately, there are Ancient Order of Hibernian leaders in Pennsylvania who have made it clear to the congressman what they think of his stance on this issue.

I understand his office has received many calls, including from some Irish supporters, who have financially backed him in his run for Congress. It appears the congressman had planned an Irish fundraiser for St. Patrick's Day this year. I would have my own strong opinions on that.

The Irish overcame all that discrimination, and Murphy is a congressman today because of what his forefathers were able to achieve.

I'm sure they are turning over in their graves at the idea of what their descendant has decided to do – join the ranks of the modern Know-Nothings and seek to inflame hatred and violence against immigrants. Some of them today, by the way, are from the same country that Murphy's people came from.

Not far from where this congressman's district is located is a place called Duffy's Cut, where in 1832, an estimated 57 Irish laborers were found dead. Many had been murdered because locals feared they were spreading cholera. They were only six weeks in America.

Near Scranton, Murphy can find the graves of many of the Molly Maguires who were convicted and similarly murdered by mine bosses because they dared to revolt against sickening working conditions.

Murphy should know his history – he is a former Marine who served in Iraq, and he should know that turning on the weakest and most vulnerable is not the Irish or the American way.

Except, it is for Murphy, a man who has disgraced his roots and his history. Shame on him.

*Incidentally, the headline refers to Catholics during the Famine who became Protestants and took the soup offered to them, as well as their neighbor's farms.