Posted on 06/27/2005 12:09:40 AM PDT by Victoria_R
Canyon County Commissioner Robert Vasquez entered the race for Congress this month in characteristically provocative fashion, making the announcement at a Mexican restaurant that shares a building with the Idaho Migrant Council -- one of his more vocal opponents.
''My people -- as I'm often accused of turning my back on them -- my people are American. I've got an American flag hanging in my office, not the Mexican chicken-and-worm or whatever it is,'' Vasquez said in a swipe at the eagle-and-snake emblem on the Mexican flag.
(Excerpt) Read more at suntimes.com ...
ditto!
WOW! I'm impressed!!!
WOW !
BOISE, Idaho -- He is a grandson of Mexican immigrants who has been called a traitor to his people for building his political career on attacks against illegal immigration.
Canyon County Commissioner Robert Vasquez entered the race for Congress this month in characteristically provocative fashion, making the announcement at a Mexican restaurant that shares a building with the Idaho Migrant Council -- one of his more vocal opponents.
''My people -- as I'm often accused of turning my back on them -- my people are American. I've got an American flag hanging in my office, not the Mexican chicken-and-worm or whatever it is,'' Vasquez said in a swipe at the eagle-and-snake emblem on the Mexican flag.
The 55-year-old Republican is one of the best-known candidates in the 2006 race for the House seat being vacated by GOP Rep. C.L. ''Butch'' Otter, who is expected to run for governor.
Vasquez has said he has gotten little financial support from the local Republican Party establishment. And little wonder: He has accused Idaho's congressional delegation -- all Republicans, including conservative Sen. Larry Craig -- of "collaborating with the unarmed enemy invading America."
Bills Mexican government
Hispanics are Idaho's fastest-growing population, according to the Census Bureau. In Canyon County, a sugar beet-growing area just outside Boise, the Hispanic population has reached about 19 percent. Many come to pick crops.
Vasquez was elected to the three-member board of commissioners of Idaho's fastest-growing county in 2002.
Since then, he has billed the Mexican government $2 million for reimbursement of jail and medical treatment costs he claimed the county provided to Mexican citizens. That effort failed, as did his attempt to get Republican Gov. Dirk Kempthorne to declare the county a disaster area over an ''imminent invasion'' of illegal immigrants.
''We're being invaded by Mexicans -- they are the enemy, as far as I'm concerned,'' Vasquez said.
Most recently, he successfully pushed to hire an attorney to consider using a federal racketeering law that was designed to target mobsters to sue local businesses that hire illegal immigrants.
Tapping into resentment
Vasquez's charged rhetoric and political tactics have galvanized opposition, including a political action committee organized by angry county residents.
''He's caused a lot of divisiveness in our community,'' said Corrine Tafoya-Fisher, a committee organizer. ''We know that we have to work at making some solid decisions on how the immigration situation is going to be addressed but can't do it by targeting people of one color.''
Experts say Vasquez is trying to tap into anti-immigrant resentment rooted in the social costs of immigration and working-class fear of low-wage competition for jobs.
''The people enthusiastic about the Vasquez candidacy are working-class people concerned about their employment future who end up scapegoating Mexicans,'' said Richard Baker, a professor in Mexican-American Studies at Boise State University.
Vasquez said that in his bid to use the racketeering laws against businesses that employ illegal immigrants, he is simply trying to protect U.S. borders as well as illegal immigrants. Unscrupulous employers know they can keep such employees in line and even withhold their pay by threatening to call immigration authorities.
Vasquez said he is not betraying his heritage. Yes, he said, his grandfather came to this country from Mexico. But ''it was legal immigration, and it was years ago, when there was actually some control over the borders,'' he said, ''not an invasion of hundreds of thousands of aliens every year that demand a separate culture and language just for themselves.''
BUMP!
I think Mr. Vasquez may have got the Mexican flag emblem mixed up with that classic Cheech & Chong album cover.
That said, the quote "chicken and worm thing" is definitely a keeper.
Got to admit that this guy hmust have some cajones for taking such a strong stance on illegal immigration. Now, if we could just get 200 or so more congresscritters to grow some, we might be able to do something about the problem.
Thanks, I needed this!
We spent the day out yesterday. We are planning to move from Alexandria, VA in a couple of weeks so we are doing some last chance tourist stops. We had breakfast in Crystal City (a suburb of Washington DC). It occurred to me that except for customers, there was probably not one legal person in the restaurant.
Driving around we were struck by signs for apartments in Spanish (not English). There are laundry mats here with instructions all in Spanish and the televisions all turned on the Spanish channels. I know of two of them near where we live now.
Later we did happen to get pictures of illegal immigrant day workers in front of a 7-11. They started coming towards us when we pulled in the parking lot (we were there for a bag of ice).
This morning I am going early to get pictures of an apartment complex that is full of them. This apartment building is 5 miles from the White House. The laundry mats I mentioned above is within 6 miles of the White House.
These places are all within 15 miles of the White House. I believe a 15 mile radius is what brings the fighter Jets out, the no-fly zone of the Presidential residence. There is a no tolerance policy about breaking the law in that air space..but not on the ground. Well, we can sleep well knowing so many illegal immigrants are safe from attacks.
You're in Idaho - any idea how we can send this guy some $$? That chicken-and-worm comment's worth $10 to me. I googled him but he doesn't seem to have a website.
This guy ROCKS!
Riiight.
OK then, let's target Mexicans of all colors.
So9
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