Posted on 08/10/2004 11:18:33 PM PDT by lonewacko_dot_com
The link leads to a press release from FAIR detailing a recent extremely unwise decision by Kathy McKee, the Chairman/Director of the Protect Arizona Now 2004.
McKee has selected Virginia Abernethy to lead PAN2004's national operations, and Abernethy is an admitted white separatist.
This move is both wrong and stupid; it's like giving the opposition to PAN tinder and matches and then helping them start the fire.
See the Arizona Republic article Protect Arizona Now adviser denies racism charge:
The anti-illegal-immigration group Protect Arizona Now has named a white supremacist to lead it's national operations, an anti-bigotry group charged on its Web site Friday.
..."There's a huge difference [between being a white supremacist and a white separatist]," said Abernethy, 69. "We're not saying anything about supremacy, not at all. We're saying that each ethnic group is often happier with its own kind."
Kathy McKee, PAN director, said her group would not involve a known racist. "I think we've all been called that and it's really getting to be old."
"(Abernethy has) been considered the grande dame of the anti-immigration movement," McKee said.
Meanwhile, FAIR has called for both McKee and Abernethy to be replaced:
While organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center and the virtually unknown Center for New Community would like to tar all supporters of immigration reform with the same brush, there is a time for complete candor and sober assessment. When there is evidence someone has crossed the line, we are compelled to speak out: Views expressed by a Ms. Virginia Abernethy, a Nashville, Tennessee advisor to Kathy McKee -- appointed after the signature turn in and utterly uninvolved in the signature gathering process -- are repugnant, divisive and do not represent the views of the vast majority of Arizonans who support Proposition 200. These views were reported by the Arizona Republic on Saturday, August 7, 2004. We do not know why she was appointed by Ms. McKee, but FAIR and everyone FAIR represents categorically denies and repudiates Abernethy's repulsive separatist views... The only separatism we advocate is separating Virginia Abernethy and Kathy McKee from this effort before they do any more damage.
There's no way to spin the Arizona Republic article as a smear, because smears are lies and Abernethy is an admitted white separatist. It's moves like these that could lead to PAN going down in flames. This move will be used by the opposition not only to PAN, but by the opposition to other initiatives designed to reduce illegal immigration.
Those who want to see PAN succeed should consider urging Protect Arizona Now 2004 to replace at least Abernethy and perhaps McKee as well.
Who appointed them??
McKee apparently appointed Abernethy recently. I don't know who appointed McKee. I vaguely recall their being some kind of a power struggle in their organization a year ago or so. I'm not an insider.
I have never been impressed with Kathy McKee, I once saw her go into a screaming rant over nothing. She is not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
Sounds like someone got something past the grassroots leaders
The only separatism we advocate is separating Virginia Abernethy and Kathy McKee from this effort before they do any more damage.
Amen! I just cannot believe it! How stupid can you get? ONE supremacist and the entire operation loses all credibility. What on earth was she thinking?
Sounds to me like these Lefties need to practice what they preach!
This whole initiative is a problem. All it is, is a way to require the Arizona state government to enforce federal immigration statutes which will lead to LOTS of violations of individual rights. Up to and including (you guessed it) racial profiling. One thing that PAN has is that there is a requirement in it where if a state welfare worker encounters an applicant they suspect as being an 'illegal' immigrant, that worker must report them to U.S. immigration authorities. I won't go into the onerous new requirements under this to register voters or the fact that people would have to show photo I.D. to poll workers when they go to vote.
I confronted a spokeman for F.A.I.R. and the 'Yes on 200' chairman, Randy Pullen, about the possibility of our immigration laws contributing to the large amounts of undocumented/illegal immigrants here yesterday on the Charles Goyette Show on KFNX radio. The F.A.I.R. spokesman wouldn't answer my question or specifically address my point. He instead decided to answer what he wanted to answer by re-wording my question and not my original point.
That shows me that the proponents of stuff like this really aren't serious about truly arguing the merits of their cause.
Does anyone know the organization of PAN? I know there are a lot of volunteers but the website seems to be a one-woman shop.
The p*ssing contest McKee got into with FAIR was really discouraging. The news releases seemed really immature, basically, "This is my game and you have to kiss my butt to play."
I sent some money to PAN and will contribute more if I can be sure it won't be used to pay lawyers for internal fights.
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