Hayworth creates stir in House with coments on immigrants

The Arizona Republic ^ | February 15, 2002 | Sergio Bustos and Susan Roth

[dittomom]

WASHINGTON - Arizona Rep. J.D. Hayworth caused a political uproar on the House floor late Wednesday, during debate over campaign finance reform, when he argued in favor of an amendment to prohibit legal immigrants from making campaign contributions.

The amendment failed, but Democratic lawmakers, especially those who are Hispanic, immediately denounced Hayworth for saying legal immigrants are "enemies of the state."

Joe Eule, Hayworth's chief of staff, said Democrats mangled the congressman's remarks for partisan gain. He said Hayworth uttered the phrase "enemies of this state" in reference to the foreign nationals from China who made controversial contributions to the Clinton-Gore re-election campaign in 1996.

"He talks about it all the time whenever the subject is campaign finance reform," Eule said. "How it could have been misconstrued is beyond me."

Hayworth was unavailable for comment Thursday because he was on a flight to Arizona.

Criticism was not limited to Democrats.

Arizona Sen. John McCain, a fellow Republican and a friend of Hayworth, said the comment was "inappropriate."

"I don't think that helps anybody," McCain said. "It certainly doesn't help Republicans with Hispanics."

Immigrant advocate groups also criticized Hayworth.

"It represents a new low in our current political debate," said Judith Golub, a spokeswoman for the American Immigration Lawyers Association. "His comment besmirches our history and our traditions, and should be neither accepted nor condoned."

Hayworth made his remarks, which were broadcast live on the cable network C-SPAN, shortly before midnight Wednesday.

An official transcript of the remarks from the House will be available today, but staff members in Hayworth's office provided Gannett News Service with a transcript they had compiled from a tape-recorded video of the proceedings.

Here's a portion of those remarks:

"Well now, my friends, here is your chance to change the system. To say lawful citizens can contribute. No more financiers of Red Pagoda communist Chinese cigarettes; no more daughters of the head of the Chinese equivalent of the CIA who showed up in the Oval Office; no more sham corporations, Chinese shell corporations operated by the Red Army of China, doing their dirty work through soft money to a Clinton-Gore re-election campaign.

"If you're serious about reform, stand up for national security, stand up for this perfecting amendment. But I know the Orwellian phrase will be, somehow this is a poison pill.

"Yes, I guess it is poisonous to disallow enemies of this state access to our political system.

"That is so bizarre. Shame on those who advocate this. Support this amendment. Stand up for America. Improve the system."

That prompted the angry response from Democratic lawmakers in the House chamber.

"Obviously, xenophobia is alive and well in this chamber," said Rep. Robert Menendez, a Democrat from New Jersey, the son of Cuban immigrants. "This is not about foreign influence in politics. There are 20,000 members of the armed forces who are legal residents. If they can die for this country, sir, they certainly have a right to participate in the process."

"Who are you talking about?" asked Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas, the son of Mexican immigrants. "These people are in this country by choice, while others are simply here by accident of birth."

On Thursday, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, a fund-raising arm of House Democrats, dashed off a lengthy news release, accusing Hayworth of attacking Hispanic legal immigrants, even though the congressman never mentioned the word "Hispanic" in his remarks.

Eule said the Democrats' motive was strictly political.

"This is all about partisanship," he said. "The congressman stands by his remarks."

Arizona Republic Washington correspondent Jerry Kammer contributed to this article.

[Sgt_Schultze]

Griff, The inappropriate complaint is meant to attract favor of the sucker-mom crowd. Today's teachers are forever complaining about inappropriate remarks or touching or actions or sounds or laughter or stares or clothing or behavior. The moms know the phrase always refers to something bad. It's just more directed spin.

[jabonz]

Term Limits.

[c-b 1]

I heard J.D. speak live, and in person Monday evening, he was a bit more outspoken on CFR that night. It is sad that those of us in "RED" Ed Pastor's district have to depend on J.D., and Jeff Flake for representation.