About that Channel 7 newscast…I am not a Minuteman
I received a call yesterday from Channel 7 News in Los Angeles. They wanted to put Lupe Moreno on to talk about the protests in Los Angeles, against HR 4437, the Sensenbrenner immigration bill. Unfortunately she was in Temecula all day at a Minuteman protest, and Rosie Avila was sick and unavailable. So I got stuck responding to the protests. They were supposed to introduce me as a campaign advisor to Moreno, or as a OC GOP Central Committee candidate – but instead they decided to say I was a Minuteman member. For the record – I am not. Consider this my clarification! I don’t get involved in political organizations outside of the GOP. I don’t think I was set up by Channel 7 – but they clearly got it wrong. Oh well – I hope next time Moreno is available. She would benefit from the publicity more than I.
As for my position on the protests – I think it is wrong for the protestors to wave Mexican flags – that only serves to undercut their position. I also am appalled that students were urged last Friday to leave their schools in order to protest. That is counter-productive and sets a bad precedent.
HR 4437 does a lot of good things, in my opinion. It increases our border security and does away with guest worker progams. It also fines businesses for employing those who are here illegally. As for the 12 million undocumented residents in our country, we still need to do something to formalize their status, but it should not be citizenship. If anything, they need to receive some kind of work permit so that they can start paying taxes like the rest of us.
Democrat George Putnam, a noted radio talkshow host, wrote an editorial about HR 4437 that bears noting. He found out that the Mexican Constitution allows that government to jail foreigners who involve themselves in the political affairs of that country. Very interesting – and yet Mexican nationals can protest to their heart’s content here in the U.S. That’s fine – we believe in free speech – but it sure makes Mexico’s government seem hypocritical, given that they have been buying full page ads in U.S. newspapers damning HR 4437. You can read the Putnam editorial at http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2006/3/24/134722.shtml.
Art-
Could you please explain how undocumented immigrants who are working here avoid “paying taxes like the rest of us”?
The only way I can think of involves their employer breaking the law. Couldn’t this be solved by enforcing current laws?
Art,
The Mexican constitution you speak of was written after a long occupation by “foreigners”, and should not be taken in the context you wish to take it in an attempt to prove a week point.
The law you are supporting also make those assisting anyone with out proper documents a criminal, thus violation the U.S. Constitution. This law should not only be thrown out, but laughed at.
Although we would probably all agree there is an immigration problem, this method is not the right path. I would choose either the Kennedy/McCain or even George Bush’s proposal.
I love it when the little drop outs march with the Mexican flag. It just makes every real american pissed off. remember 187?
Yes, of Course employers break the law. Duh!
Additionally what about all the people who employ people from Home depot and other locations do you really think they report and pay taxes?
187 may well have passed if the proponents at that time had not run that awful TV ad, showing thousands of Mexicans crossing the border. That one act more than any other made the whole thing appear racist.
I perdicted in 1998 when I ran for Assembly that no solution was likely for about 10 years because of how things were handled. 9/11 speeded that timetable up, but a solotion must be comprehensive, Balances and fair for it to work and be effective.
This is a rare occaision that I agree with Bush.
Yeah, I’m not crazy that they march with the Mexican flag, but I am damn proud that they can without being tortured, jailed or killed for freedom of expression. That’s what makes this country great!
It’s a double-edged sword and I’m a firm believer in the Bill of Rights/First Amendment. It’s no different than the flag burning issue. I do not like to see the American flag burned, except when it’s properly retired, but it is a protected form of freedom of expression.
I think Art quoted Shakespeare on some earlier post, so here goes ..
thou dost protest too much about your Minuteman involvement.
Undocumented immigrants pay taxes.
They shop retail; purchase cars and gasoline to fuel the cars; and they purchase homes that need lots of furnishings.
Employers look the other way because it’s good for the bottom line.
Capitalism, exploitation — ah, the American way.
If it look like a duck, walks like a duck, hangs out with ducks – it must be a Minuteman.
Which version of HR 4437 do you support? THe original version no longer exists.
Art Pedroza your original post was only another vain, self-serving attempt to draw the attention back to you.
Vanity thy name is Art Pedroza.
I have been surfing the net for awhile and it feels as if I am trying to find a needle in a haystack to get answers. It has been a relief to find your blog. I particularly enjoyed your most recent post.
Wishing you the best of luck,
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