Posted on 08/23/2006 2:43:28 PM PDT by Shermy
COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho (AP) -- A town hall meeting with Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, dissolved into angry shouts and walkouts when Craig began discussing the controversial issue of immigration.
"I am sick of listening to these lies," one woman said, interrupting Craig as she left the Tuesday meeting, the Coeur d'Alene Press reported.
Stan Hess, candidate for the North Idaho College Board of Trustees, screamed at Craig as others booed. Before leaving, Hess yelled at a woman, his face inches from hers, as several people tried to separate them.
Craig planned eight town hall meetings in three days during a swing through northern Idaho that ends Thursday.
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He's promoting a plan that would allow some of the 12 million illegal immigrants already in the U.S. to apply for citizenship if they meet certain requirements, including having been in the country at least two years and having paid taxes.
"The reality is that there are 2.5 million jobs here that Americans won't do," Craig told the 60 people at the Coeur d'Alene meeting. "For 20 years, immigration laws have failed. We know there's a problem and we're working on it. The first step is securing the border and we're doing that."
Craig asked people to listen to the proposal, but some said they wanted illegal immigrants deported immediately. Others said Craig wasn't doing his job.
The senator is accustomed to spirited town hall meetings, said his spokesman, Sid Smith.
"It's fair to say it was pretty confrontational and at some point looked like it was about to get kind of ugly," Smith told The Associated Press on Wednesday. "But we weren't really thinking about calling the police. I was there and talked to all our staff who were there, and they agreed it was ugly, but not that ugly.
"It certainly isn't the first time it's been a very spirited and emotional town hall meeting," Smith said. "I would say (Craig) wasn't surprised or disappointed in that."
Craig also held town hall meetings in Sandpoint and Bonners Ferry on Tuesday, which Smith said were more subdued.
Craig is an f'ing sellout. He's finished in this state.
This kind of guy is the problem.
I grew up in Idaho in the 50's, great place. Craig is a RINO.
So if we make them Americans, then the problem isn't solved is it?
The good Senator should revel in democracy at work.
Craig should talk to the Texas border sheriffs who see first-hand what kind of scum is entering the country from south of the border.
BS. We have plenty of able-bodied people on welfare, living off street-crime, and in taxpayer-funded worthless educational programs, to do all those jobs. End the hand-outs, and end the tolerance of career criminals. When people have no food to eat, and no shelter, and will be arrested and imprisoned if they commit crimes, nearly all of the will magically become willing to the jobs that they're currently refusing to do. Why does this guy think the Mexicans are willing to do these jobs? Special genes?
And the other part of the equation is ended all the disincentives to employers to hire legal workers. The minimum wages, workers' comp, unemployment, discrimination/harassment suits anytime they try to fire a lousy worker, the health insurance mandates -- all of it. When employers can hire legal workers for what the employer thinks they're worth, and fire them whenever they are no longer wanted or needed, many employers will eagerly do so. Government meddling has made it so expensive to hire legal workers, that some businesses simply can't afford to do it -- they have to use illegals or go out of business.
This clown is a LOSER. He is supposed to represent Veterans interests. WRONG, he has his own agenda. People of Idaho need to wake up!
"Mr. Craig surely mislaid the memo from National, stating that this phrase tested poorly, and is to be replaced with "jobs that Americans aren't doing.""
Craig is using Bush's first version of that meme. another alteration was "jobs Americans aren't willing to do."
My opinion of the businesses who hire illegals are just plain anti-American.
They claim that "Americans just won't pay X dollars for lettuce, their homes or their lawns to be mowed. Why not give it a try - maybe, just maybe, like the price of gas, we will, when it is necessary.
Big business just desires to make more of a profit to please their investors - NOT to please the American People!
My guess is it died with adherence to the Constitution.
"I am sick of listening to these lies," one woman said, interrupting Craig as she left the Tuesday meeting,
Me too, lady.
Term limits for everyone. Remember citizen government? Get off the stage Craig. Youve done enough to..er..for us.
Good.
Everyone that lies and tries to devalue our laws and soveriegnty deserves to hear what Americans think of them.
We aren't stupid Senator.
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