Posted on 07/19/2005 8:54:01 PM PDT by Excuse_My_Bellicosity
Radio show: A program host, in Spanish, told listeners in 2004 to give to the campaign, even if the donors were undocumented immigrants
WASHINGTON - Rep. Chris Cannon's campaign has resolved a flap over a Spanish-language radio show the congressman appeared on last year where it was suggested that undocumented immigrants should find a way around the law to contribute to Cannon's re-election bid.
The Cannon campaign quietly settled the matter with the Federal Elections Commission last month. As part of the agreement, Cannon's treasurer, state Sen. Curt Bramble, and staffer Marco Diaz agreed to attend an FEC-sponsored seminar on campaign finance law.
“That doesn't qualify as a slap on the wrist,” said Cannon's chief of staff, Joe Hunter. “It turned out to be much ado about nothing. The fact that there even was a settlement was simply the desire to put it behind us.”
During an interview on May 22, 2004, on the Spanish-language radio program “We The People,” host Jose Libardo Rivera made an appeal for listeners, including those in the country illegally, to contribute to Cannon's campaign, which would violate federal election law.
“We welcome this money,” Diaz said in a translation accompanying the complaint, “but you have to find someone who is legal in order to donate the money.”
In his statement to the FEC, Cannon said he and Diaz, who was with him during the interview, tried to correct Rivera's misstatements, but the attempts were “hijacked” by the host. Diaz said he did not knowingly try to encourage people to break the law. Both also disputed the accuracy of the translation of the program.
The radio interview became fodder for attacks against Cannon from anti-immigration groups.
Russell Sias of Provo filed the complaint with the FEC. Sias was co-chairman of a group called Utahns for Immigration Reform and Enforcement, which supports strict enforcement of immigration laws, and has been part of the Utah Minuteman Project, which has staged citizen border patrols.
Cannon has been the sponsor of legislation authorizing a guest worker program, which would allow undocumented immigrants working in agriculture to earn citizenship. It has the backing of immigrant groups, but drew scathing criticism from opponents.
Bramble was required to attend the FEC seminar because he was Cannon's treasurer. He was not directly involved in the incident.
The FEC also has an ongoing audit of possible reporting irregularities in Cannon's 2004 campaign.
Sounds a bit harsh. Can't they just duel with pistols or swords?
Cannon needs to attend another seminar to learn that Spanish is not some secret code, and that there are a few white folks who speak it well - in addition to Spaniards, that is, who are of course most definitely white.
This guy is a savvy lawyer by trade. From his biography on his Congression web page: "Chris was named Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law. As part of his jurisdiction, Chris oversees issues directly affecting Utahns, including privacy, bankruptcy reform, limiting frivolous lawsuits, and Internet tax laws."
He is on several committees including the judiciary. But when it comes to campaign finance law, he suddenly can't remember what makes water boil. This guy is a RINO scumbag. He's been trying to enact "guest worker" and outright amnesty schemes for years. Sometimes he's right in the open, other times he's trying to fly under the radar. It's crap that he keeps getting re-elected.
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