Black SC lawmaker: Immigrants are hardest workers

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - An African-American lawmaker in South Carolina says stricter illegal immigration laws would hurt the state because blacks and whites don't work as hard as Hispanics.

State Sen. Robert Ford made his remarks Tuesday during a debate over an Arizona-style immigration law. The Charleston Democrat provoked nervous laughter in the Senate after he said "brothers" don't work as hard as Mexicans.

Ford added that "the brothers are going to find ways to take a break. Ever since this country was built, we've had somebody do the work for us."

He then said whites also don't work as hard.

The executive director of the state GOP called on Ford to apologize.

The leader of the state NAACP did not immediately return a call seeking comment.