Posted on 08/22/2004 10:37:56 PM PDT by NewRomeTacitus
It was not much of a night for supporters of Proposition 200.
Religious leaders were against it. The audience was predominantly against it. And a prominent Tucson homebuilder who admitted his industry relies on undocumented workers was against it.
But Republican congressional candidate Randy Graf stood his ground, telling about 200 people at St. Philip's in the Foothills Episcopal Church on Thursday night of his support for the initiative that would require proof of citizenship to vote and receive certain public services.
Graf was the only one of nine candidates to endorse the "Protect Arizona Now" initiative at a candidate forum sponsored by the Pima County Interfaith Council.
"I am thoroughly informed about what this initiative is, what its intent is, and for that reason I do support it," said Graf, a state representative from Green Valley who once served as a senior adviser to the committee that got the initiative on the ballot.
Graf's comments, which included a call for using the military and local law enforcement agencies to bolster border security, prompted a smattering of applause. Cheers and loud applause accompanied the other candidates' rejection of a measure that some say is sure to face legal challenges.
"It's almost certainly not likely to stand up in court," said Rep. Jim Kolbe, the 10-term lawmaker who faces Graf in the Sept. 7 GOP primary. "This proposition will run afoul of the Voting Rights Act very quickly, and I think it will most likely be overturned" if approved by voters.
Prop. 200 has been certified by the Arizona secretary of state to be on the Nov. 2 ballot, but a union has filed suit to block it. A judge will hear arguments next week.
The Interfaith Council, or PCIC, a nonpartisan, interdenominational civic group, is actively opposing Prop. 200 by urging congregants in member churches to vote against it. A "fact sheet" distributed at the forum noted that current law bars noncitizens from voting and that voter registration officials already cross-check registration forms with other government documents.
Backers of the initiative say the measure is necessary because of the mounting financial toll undocumented immigrants cost Arizona. But the fact sheet cited a study by the Thunderbird School of International Management in Phoenix that found Mexican immigrants in Arizona contributed an estimated $355 million in taxes while costing taxpayers $250 million in services.
Before quizzing the candidates, council "presenters" spoke about the possible impacts of the measure.
John Bremond, president of KB Homes, urged candidates to avoid getting "hung up in the hysteria" of the immigrant debate and said "undocumented" workers are vital for a home-building industry that grapples with persistent labor shortages.
"We rely on that work force," he said. Bremond agreed that "something needs to be done" about the nation's immigration problems, but said it doesn't make sense to pursue "contributing members of society." He said the contributions of undocumented laborers include paying Social Security taxes but never collecting the benefits.
Among the other candidates who declared their opposition to Prop. 200 were Democratic congressional hopefuls Eva Bacal, Jeff Chimene, and Tim Sultan; and Legislature candidates Toni Hellon, Pete Hershberger, Martin Drozdoff and Amanda Simpson.
"He said the contributions of undocumented laborers include paying Social Security taxes but never collecting the benefits."
I guess this guy isn't aware of plans to pay undocumented workers social security over the border. So much for paying and not collecting.
He knows. Kolbe's a bigtime RINO without scruples or ethics, amongst other things. Are you familiar with the term "Log Cabin Republican"?
Log Cabin Republican? Only in its historical context, not a modern one. Abe Lincoln was a Log Cabin Republican, but I heard recently it has come to mean something else but I don't know what exactly.
"The Interfaith Council, or PCIC, a right-wing nativist group with alleged ties to neo-Nazi satanist grave robbers, is actively supporting Prop. 200"
"What's that, you say they're against it? OK, give me a minute..."
"The Interfaith Council, or PCIC, a nonpartisan, interdenominational civic group, is actively opposing Prop. 200"
Anyhoo, one way to do something about this is to post pro-Graf, pro-200 posts in AZ-specific newsgroups and the like.
"Abe Lincoln was a Log Cabin Republican, but I heard recently it has come to mean something else but I don't know what exactly."
I think it has something to do with the insertion of ones metaphorical log into anothers metaphorical cabin.
LOL - Kolbe will bend over forward to meet the needs of Arizona's employers. Speaking of employers, Mr. John Bremond of KB Homes should see how his bragging goes over with a jury of formerly employed carpenters.
First the article talks about the mounting financial toll "undocumented immigrants" are costing Arizona. Then the article talks about how much "Mexican immigrants" are contributing to the Arizona economy. I wonder if the article is talking about the same category of foreigners in both instances.
KB Homes = Kaufman and Broad Homes = Eli Broad = the largest employer of illegals and the second largest contributor to Reconquista organizations next to Jerry Perenchio.
Bremond doesn't have a brain of his own. He's just reciting the company line.
And St. Phillips in the Hills - where my grandmother broke her hip in '64 at a funeral (just thought I'd throw that in) - is another Episcopal church taken over by the queers. Too bad. Once one of the nicest of Episcopal churches.
Marxist speak for illegal aliens, intentionally used to deflect reality that they are here against our will.
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