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."
The Minutemen, the Swift Vets of 08?
Newt is right and those people will vote for her in 2008. We are going to have MAJOR problems winning the White House in 2008 if she runs.
Don't do it Jim!!!! "Lie down with Dogs, get up with fleas!" Hitlery is about as much of a "dog" as you can get. She's as much for regaining control of the border as John Kerry was for hunting deer with a shotgun while crawling on his stomach.
Guess again.
So you don't mind more gun control laws, higher taxes, and god knows what else just as long she "promises" to fix the border.. Ok...
I hear ya!!
Clinton is not interested in fixing the border - she is interested in winning the White House. And that is all. We are stupid to think that she really cares one way or another. She is after the White House and with Bubba's help will win it.
In the days leading to the election I said that I didn't like the president's stance on the border but I would support him but after the election I would hammer him on border control.
Image doesn't matter now.
"We are stupid to think that she really cares one way or another."
I'm not.
I keep telling people that it is going to be up to us to stop her. If we don't get involved big time, she will be the unthinkable commander in chief. She will rewrite the record books with executive orders. Who would stop her? She would do anything she wanted to do, including committing thousands of U.S. troops to be permanently based under the U.N. What, would anyone be able to impeach her and convict in the Senate?
Indeed, Vicente Fox is to the right of Bush on immigration issues. The guys crossing the border as we speak are to the right of Bush on immigration issues. My left testicle is to the right of Bush on immigration issues.
I mean, who isn't?
It might also make some spineless Pubs less fearful of being called racist and xenophobic. It could also just be Hillary taking one for the party.
Whoever has the courage to fight to protect our borders will win the presidency in 2008.
If Hillary the hawk seems tough enough, her road to the White House will be paved with Republicans holding their noses but pulling the Dem lever in 2008.
I wish those who criticize the Minutemen would just explain, in specific and logical terms, how the invasion of our country can be stopped when the government not only fails to enforce the laws but actually encourages the illegal aliens with special perks, such as reduced college tuition and free medical care, not available to our citizens.
I wouldn't be so sure. She'll go and play it for all its worth to her. If she offers support it will be a bombshell.
It won't happen. Now if NARAL was holding a vigil at the border demanding free abortions for illegal immigrants, Shrillary Rodham-Stalin would crawl through broken glass to get there.
She ain't going to touch them with a 10 foot pole.
Agreed. The press will hang their hats on this one.
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