Posted on 12/04/2007 7:28:31 PM PST by DogByte6RER
Lawn work at Romney's home still done by illegal immigrants
Ricardo Saenz, owner of the company that employed illegal immigrants, worked on Romney's lawn recently.
By Maria Cramer and Maria Sacchetti, Globe Staff; and Connie Paige, Globe Correspondent
Standing on stage at a Republican debate on the Gulf Coast of Florida last week, Mitt Romney repeatedly lashed out at rival Rudy Giuliani for providing sanctuary to illegal immigrants in New York City.
Yet, the very next morning, on Thursday, at least two illegal immigrants stepped out of a hulking maroon pickup truck in the driveway of Romney's Belmont house, then proceeded to spend several hours raking leaves, clearing debris from Romney's tennis court, and loading the refuse back on to the truck.
In fact, their work was part of a regular pattern. Despite a Globe story in Dec. 2006 that highlighted Romney's use of illegal immigrants to tend to his lawn, Romney continued to employ the same landscaping company until today. The landscaping company, in turn, continued to employ illegal immigrants.
Two of the workers confirmed in separate interviews with Globe reporters last week that they were in the country without documents. One said he had paid $7,000 to a smuggler to escort him across the desert into Arizona; the other said he had come to the country with a student visa that was now expired. Both were seen on the lawn by either Globe reporters or photographers over the last two months.
Questioned this afternoon during two campaign stops in New Hampshire about the use of illegal immigrants on his property, Romney declined to answer. An aide said he would issue a statement, and Romney, emerging from a Concord restaurant, said, "Did you hear him? Well give you a statement."
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
I know, but he’s not just any regular homeowner. He’s running for President, he knows the Boston Globe is after him and he should have been more careful.
LOL!
LOL, and a spiny, bony cactus at that.
“The Made in America sells products and I would expect labels that say Made by American Citizens or Planted, Grown and Picked by American Citizens would sell as well.”
If we can keep the momentum going, then I think that soon we may find some very soft, very gentle, very subtle, kind of brand identification showing up.
Among us contractors a few of us have been doing it for years, with subtle messages about all of our work being done by real American craftsman, licensed and bonded individuals etc, or whatever is appropriate for that market.
I went from being a fan of Tyson foods for instance, to avoiding their products now. If a competitor can somehow convey that they have the integrity that Tyson doesn’t, then it would attract people like me.
I imagine that the fig leaf would be an appeal to cleanliness and quality with some code language mixed in.
“Unless I know the circumstances, I find it really hard to fault someone for giving a second chance.”
Last week it was a different argument, this week is a new revelation but nothing changes to the Romney people.
I have already looked at threads from the other day on Mitt’s illegals, in light of him doing it again, it makes many Romney defender’s arguments seem even weaker on second reading than they did then.
Let me just say that I like generally like Mitt, he was my governor. I was happy to vote for him, and I wish he was still the governor. I’d give him a pass the first time too, but I would never give the lawn care company a pass - too much at stake.
Sanctioned/fined? This dip-stick has no respect for the rule of law and is as shallow as Ted Kennedy’s patriotism. Romney has no business running for the nations highest office. His obvious lust to attain it is reason enough to cross him out because the best people only seek it reluctantly or have the quest fobbed upon them through pressure, circumstance or a sense of obligation.
Yeah, I agree.
The argument hasn't really changed. He was a customer. He was in no position to verify the legal status of the firm's employees. They promised him they would stop using illegals. He believed them and gave them a second chance.
In retrospect, he was wrong to trust them, and it's very easy to say that as a Monday morning quaterback.
“The argument hasn’t really changed. He was a customer. He was in no position to verify the legal status of the firm’s employees. They promised him they would stop using illegals. “
Yet it would not have happened to me , I would not have kept them, and they could not have deceived me a second time.
The owner denies Romney’s claims about his claims of promises, and it still took the press to get Romney to stop doing this.
Romney should have insisted on ID from every worker that works about his home, especially these guys.
Would you mind linking to a story about the owner's denial of promises?
Romney should have insisted on ID from every worker that works about his home, especially these guys.
As a customer, that's not something he's in a position to do. He could get sued, with the ACLU taking a the case pro-bono.
“As a customer, that’s not something he’s in a position to do. He could get sued, with the ACLU taking a the case pro-bono.”
You keep spreading that nonsense, it is foolish for someone to allow strange men at their home.
As a contractor I am fine with a customer telling me that if I win the bid, to tell my workers to bring their billfolds to the job because they will be required to win the home-owner’s approval before he allows them on his property.
1. Ask for a copy of the insurance by email BEFORE you book service. Only schedule AFTER you receive it.
2. Get a set price in writing.
2. Tell the company that you will be home for the service (even if you wont) and that you wish to speak to every member of the crew, to make sure each person understands exactly what you want in regards to service and what your concerns are in regards to your home. If there is any difficulty in this communication, or any member of the crew does not appear to be fully knowledgeable and trained, you will turn away service.
3. Ask for the names of every person who will be at your home, and verify the names when they arrive. It is your right to ask for identification of an person performing service on your property.
As much as I hope you're seriously wrong, I strongly suspect you're quite right. But which disappeared first, the initiative of young people to work for a buck, or the jobs to the illegals?
You could also have an option to buy a new house that was built by some illegal labor or built by American Citizens?
Which would you buy?
In post 36 I related my dilemma
I'll recap :
There are two one million dollar houses, separated only by a house between them. The first house was built primarily with American labor. That one can be bought for a million dollars. The second house, built almost entirely by illegals is also a million dollar house, and can be bought for $800,000.
I have two questions for you, or anyone else who care to chime in:
Assuming you were in the market for such a house, which house would you buy?
Furthermore, if you were forced to compete with that builder, who hires illegals as much as possible, and you know that he will again build a house of similar market value as yours, and sell it for $100,000 to $250,000 less than you can, what would YOU do on your next spec house?
Assuming the quality were similar I would have to buy the cheaper house.
“Assuming the quality were similar I would have to buy the cheaper house.”
That’s just what happened, his is gone, I still own mine.
That’s 180 degrees from you post #24. I was willing to put my money on the line, why aren’t you?
When the rubber hits the road, there’s a real disconnect from rhetoric and people actions.
It’s a real dilemma for me, as this same situation occurs over and over. This illegal builds two house for every one of mine because his sell right out of the gate, while mine wait for a buyer.
He makes as much money on each house as I do, and while his ‘subs’ earn way less than my subs do (My sub-contractor framers (Americans all) cost me $40 per hour, his illegals cost him $10). No problem with insurances, income taxes, and a whole lot of other things.
I am vehement about the need to illegals going home, but in the meantime what am I going to do? Let my family go hungry?
I have great empathy for Mitt.
Care to take up my challange in post 55?
I have great empathy for you Balding_Eagle. I would like to think I would buy American if I knew. $200,000 is alot of money but I would think American is made better but how can we tell anymore?
I have a SIL that builds pontoon’s and we were talking about this the other day. I have been trying to study up on HDTV’s to purchase one. I found a Pioneer that claims it is made in the USA and yes it is considerably more money. Being the age I am, I am used to purchasing items such as this looking for long-term use, however, my less than 10 year old stove and refrig have had $500 and $300 in service calls contrary to my 33 year old (same company) previous ones. Is everything built with throw-away in mind today because if it is then quality no longer matters and we truly are a ‘cheap’ society? Do you know the answer and if not how does one find out? I would still like to buy quality but I expect the long-term use without service calls or rare service calls.
I forgot to add I always used to believe you get what you pay for and I would base your house on your builder’s reputation vs the other builder. And I do my homework when I make any purchase but no longer know if you really do get what you pay for. That has not been my experience with appliances.
I do wish you luck. Our country is in a big mess and these illegals just need to go home and the business that were built because of them need to go under.
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