Pierce Bush

What kind of message is being sent to the American people when political leaders from both parties are trying to halt a transaction that would hand over London-owned American port operations to an Arab-owned company?



The message is both ignorant and offensive.



Leaders are trying to block the transaction because they claim the deal raises serious questions regarding the safety and security of our homeland. The only serious question this proposal raises for me is how racially prejudiced is Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and the others who are trying to block the deal?



Do these people honestly believe that a company should be discriminated against simply because it is owned by Arabs? This company has a proven safety record and at the same time is owned by a country that is a loyal partner in our war against terror.



If these leaders believe that all Arabs pose a potential security threat, then we truly have not moved that far away from racism. I am deeply saddened by our ignorant lack of progress.

• Bush's interview on ''Weekend Today''