Why is the american workers movement so prone to xenophobia and other weird things?

Having listened to southern state conservative talk radio for a while, I have come to wonder about some things. Obviously there is some sort of workers movement in progress in the United States. It is obvious that alot of people are very very upset with the social conditions that they live in. That particular talk host, who seemed to be rather popular in the region, liked to talk "anti rich people" talk alot, only he mainly talked about how rich politicians were communists that want to steal peoples money. He also liked to critize bush for being unable to win the war and granting amnesty to illegals (yup, bush is being eaten up by the extreme right).

What gets me though, is that from common sense one would think that the default position for any working-class person, should be a socialist, pro strong union stance. However in this particular region (and I would guess in many others too), the workers direct their hatred not at the ones who are in charge of the companies, but against foreigners. As if illegal immegration was the source of all their problems. It worries me that the american workers movement, which undoubtedly exists, is taking a very national-socialistic turn.

Why is it easier to hate a foreigner than to hate your boss? Maybe because the foreigner can't defend himself? I seriously don't know. :shrug:

It's called (oh crap I can't remember, so much for my brain). It's frustrating, passing on the fear and anger to those it is not meant for but it's safe to feel it against.

anxiety and anger - I think the hatred gets fanned by rw talk radio... and finds an accepting host, because it is easier to deal with focusing all of the anxiety and fear for survival onto a singular external target for anger.

On the other hand, when the lower-paid worker doesn't stand up for himself, that gets a little tiring, too.

This is not new.