Posted on 04/13/2005 8:22:55 AM PDT by areafiftyone
The lead organizer for the border patrol group the Minutemen said Tuesday that he wants to invite New York Sen. Hillary Clinton to come to the Arizona-Mexico border this month to review their operation, which has so far netted the arrests of more than 300 illegal immigrants.
"We're thinking of inviting Hillary Clinton," Minuteman founder James Gilchrist told ABC Radio host Sean Hannity, adding that he'd already looked into flight arrangements to Arizona for the former first lady and could provide appropriate security.
Gilchrist's decision to invite Clinton was likely prompted by her tough comments on border security - remarks that place her sharply to the right of the Bush administration on the issue.
"I am, you know, adamantly against illegal immigrants," she announced in Feb. 2003 radio interview, adding that "people have to stop employing illegal immigrants."
"I mean, come up to Westchester, go to Suffolk and Nassau counties," Clinton railed. "Stand on the street corners in Brooklyn or the Bronx; you're going to see loads of people waiting to get picked up to go do yard work and construction work and domestic work."
"Clearly, we have to make some tough decisions as a country," the top Democrat urged.
In comments last November, the likely 2008 presidential nominee blasted the Bush administration for turning a blind eye to the problems at the border.
"I don't think that we have protected our borders or our ports or provided our first responders with the resources they need, so we can do more and we can do better," Clinton told the Fox News Channel.
"There's technology now available," she noted. "There are some advanced radar systems. There are biometric and other kinds of identification systems that we've been very slow to deploy and unwilling to spend money on."
Gilchrist said his patrol operation is open to Clinton and anyone else who wants to review its progress, explaining, "When I first launched this in October I insisted that we have open season for all law enforcement to come in and do whatever they want - and the same with the media."
And he pointed out the obvious political benefit for any politician who wants to lend support, noting, "For every [Minuteman] down here we've probably got a hundred thousand supporters across the country."
Gilchrist said the Minutemen have already helped round up scores of illegals.
"About 300," he told Hannity. "And about 40 of those were from an aerial observer who was up six hours yesterday in his aircraft."
It would get much needed attention and might rattle a few republican cages.
This may be a smart move!
Not the most difficult trick.
Could they be trying to embarrass Hitlery?
American Patriots do NOT appreciate being called "vigilantes."
Bush and the Repubs better get their head out of their posteriors on this NOW
Don't think they are trying to embarass Hillary at all. Apparently she has made an impact on them. She's a smart cookie! If we don't watch out this woman will win the White House!
I think it's a case where each group wants to use the other.
Ballsy move.....good for them...maybe W will pay attention now
I think it's a clever way to "call" that closet socialist hypocrite on her border control verbiage. She'll NEVER show up there...bet me.
--my instant thought also--
Don't think it will much matter what W wants to do. This is going to impact who will win the White House in 2008. The ones who want to run in 2008 better get on the ball!
Newt Gingrich warned about this a few weeks ago. He said Hillary would try to peel off those angry about illegal immigration/border issues in order to get into power.
If she is interested in running for the White House she will show up there. This might just be exactly what she is looking for.
Im all for it - I am a true conservative which Bush is not and we need to raise this issue - If Clinton wants to fix the border then Im for it.
"Not the most difficult trick."
Ironically so, ain't it?
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