Posted on 07/19/2006 4:56:58 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
That's the assessment of Jim Gilchrist on why his controversial Minuteman Project continues to make headlines across the country.
Gilchrist was in town today to speak to the Sacramento Press Club, and partly to hawk his new book on the volunteer citizens border patrol group launched almost two years ago. He announced a new effort to draw attention to the issue of illegal immigration, and he didn't pull any punches about his feelings on just about every elected official.
On September 11, the 5th anniversary of the NYC and DC terrorist attacks, Gilchrist plans to travel to Laredo, TX to launch what he's calling 'Operation U.S. Sovereignty'-- a new deployment of citizens along the US-Mexico border. He says he expects some 2,000 volunteers to show up and that the mission will run through election day, calling it "the world's largest neighborhood watch."
In a somewhat rambling but nonetheless feisty Q&A with reporters afterward, the southern Californian former Marine/newspaper reporter/certified public accountant took aim at just about everyone involved in the illegal immigration issue, including the pending deployment of National Guard troops to the border.
He said the real need is not for some 6,000 temporary soldiers as requested by President George W. Bush, but rather an additional 35,000 permanent agents of the U.S. Border Patrol. Governor Schwarzenegger has approved for some 1000 members of the California National Guard to participate.
On the Guard's deployment: "I think it's a token illusion of security. President Bush nor the governor has any intention of securing our borders."
On solving the illegal immigration issue: "I think the President and the [U.S.] Senate will never have an intention of sealing those borders unless they are replaced in office. And that's my suggestion what the taxpayers do on November 7."
Gilchrist was challenged by several audience questions on why his group doesn't spend more time focusing on businesses that hire undocumented immigrants. He admitted that his group's efforts on the issue have been low-key, and he explained that (somewhat confusingly) by talking about threats of violence for any disruption of the economy. But Gilchrist also admitted that the business community shares some responsibility in the issue, and he went so far as to call illegal workers the "21st century slave trade."
And will he run again for office, after losing an Orange County congressional special election? "I'm not ready," said Gilchrist.
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Gilchrist (and Simcox) are not perfect. Perhaps even a bit nutty (but you'd have to be a bit nutty to think you could stand up to the New World Order). But they have made a real difference. They are patriots in the truest sense of the word.
They risk all. ;-)
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