Posted on 08/21/2004 9:04:20 PM PDT by ETERNAL WARMING
(08-21) 15:55 PDT MEXICO CITY (AP) --
President Bush's nephew, campaigning for overseas votes in Mexico on Saturday, called the federal policy of arming U.S. Border Patrol agents with plastic pellet guns "reprehensible."
Speaking in a mix of English and sometimes-halting Spanish, George P. Bush said his uncle was not to blame for the gun policy, which has angered Mexicans. He instead blamed it on "some local INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service) guy who's trying to be tough, act macho."
"If there has been American approval for this policy, that is reprehensible," Bush said of the guns, essentially paintball projectiles filled with chile powder. "It's kind of barbarous."
The pellet guns, which were approved at the federal level, have been used on a trial basis since 2001 in California and Arizona. The U.S. Border Patrol fired the pepper-balls in 81 instances in 2002-03 and reported no deaths or severe injuries.
President Bush's Hispanic nephew -- he's the grandson of migrant worker Jose Maria Garnica -- is in Mexico on a week-long visit to drum up support for his uncle among the estimated 1 million Americans living there.
The younger Bush, whose father is Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and mother, Columba, is originally from Mexico, acknowledged at a news conference that the war in Iraq is not popular in Mexico but defended the military action, saying "we're almost done with it."
He also acknowledged that "there are some people in our (Republican) party who don't see the benefits of immigration," but promised that President Bush was a proponent of immigration reform.
He called Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez "a dictator" and cast doubt on his victory last week in a recall referendum, saying Chavez had "a long history of fraud." Outside observers, including former President Jimmy Carter, have endorsed the Venezuelan vote counts.
Christopher Fussner, global chairman of Republicans Abroad, which funded Bush's trip, called Mexico "the most important country" for getting overseas votes.
Fussner said Republicans are advertising in overseas English-language newspapers around the world in hopes of capturing expatriate votes.
Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry's campaign also has enlisted family members to woo voters in Mexico. His sister, Diana Kerry, chairwoman of Americans Overseas for Kerry, visited Mexico City in July.
Kerry supporters also held a voter-registration and ballot-request drive in Guadalajara on Thursday.
Why does no one seem to wonder about these campaigns for votes OUTSIDE our borders?
Does anybody care anymore?
You Bush basher you. :-0
President Bush's nephew, campaigning for overseas votes in Mexico on Saturday, called the federal policy of arming U.S. Border Patrol agents with plastic pellet guns "reprehensible."
It is reprehensible! Who ever heard of giving LEOs plastic pellet guns? What are they supposed to do with them? Give them to their kids for a Christmas present?
Actually, he was earlier campaigning among the THOUSANDS of American RETIREES who live in places like Puerto Vallerta or San Miguel. He should go down to Costa Rica as well.
Team bush,
Putting Americans First?
Is there anyone besides SCARRY helping the President win???
If someone cares so little about the country that they do not want to live there, then they can forget about voting.
IMHO
When I was in Costa Rica a few years back, the local chapter of the VFW was hosting a thanksgiving dinner.
His Spanish is good--his mother's first language.
Oh well. I can't control my family either.
Try reading the article.
I call not protecting our borders really STUPID!!!!!
I have to agree, using plastic pellet guns against illegals is truly stupid. They should be using .45s, "the most powerful handgun in the world," and rifles with telescopic sights.
I call measures that do nothing to stem the flow of illegal immigration and only piss off Americans open to voting for you and the thousands of conservative measures you represent even stupider.
"Are these "plastic" pellet guns? Are they "plastic pellet" guns?..."
"Just issue the oft feared 12 or 10 guage rock salt loads."
The "pellet guns" are paintballs with paintballs loaded with pepper spray type stuff made out of habanero pepper. It's like hitting somebody right in the face at point blank with pepper spray. Wonderful stuff!
I've fired rock salt loaded shotgun shells. They are only effective at absolute point-blank range. The energy dissipates almost immediately. Not useful for law enforcement at all.
I wince when ignorant scions try to make substantive policy points. Ouch!
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