We Get E-Mail

The opinions expressed in letters/e-mail from readers posted on this site do not necessarily reflect the opinions of American Patrol / VCT. Such items are posted for informational purposes only. This item has not been posted or published anywhere else as far as we know.

Idaho Statesman - (biased) story on Town Hall meeting!AP Internal Use Only

10/31/03 -- They downplayed the fact that our side was very vocal and outnumbered the pro-amnesty folks by at least 2 to 1, if not 3 to 1. This rag of a newspaper - suitable for lining bird cages or house-breaking puppies - will be hit with lots of letters to the editor and phone calls. Several of us local people were there and the article totally downplays the massive anger directed at Senator Crapo and Senator Craig's staffers about their support of amnesty via S.1645 and S.1545.

Next time I'll bring a video camera. -- Read ArticleAP Internal Use Only

Also.......

======================================================
FROM: Roy Beck, http://www.NumbersUSA.com
DATE: 2 p.m. Friday 31oct03
======================================================

Some very exciting and interesting things are happening in Idaho.

/...Snip.../

As you know, the Senate continues to be the biggest roadblock to our getting better immigration policies. While the majority Republicans in the House are very good on immigration, the majority Republicans in the Senate are pretty bad as a bunch. Idaho's two Senators are a big part of the problem.

That is why the efforts of a county commissioner in Idaho to oppose the two U.S. Senators is really delicious. After reading this report, you may want to send a letter to the Idaho newspaper or an email of support to the county commissioner.

======================================================
THE ARTICLE
======================================================

Idaho Statesman
October 30, 2003

Red DotClick here to read Article AP Internal Use Only

To offer story ideas or comments, contact Sandra Forester
sforester@idahostatesman.com or 377-6447
Edition Date: 10-30-2003

=====================================================
WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT
=====================================================

If you look at Craig's immigration report card:
http://grades.betterimmigration.com/testgrades.php3?District=ID&VIPID=248
You will see he used to be good on the issue and has a B- career grade, but has a D+ grade on recent actions.

Craig is especially important because he is on the Senate immigration subcommittee and can block most good immigration legislation by voting with Sen. Kennedy. You can study his Immigration Profile at:
http://profiles.numbersusa.com/improfile.php3?DistSend=ID&VIPID=248
It is good for you to see the good things that Sen. Craig has done so we can call him back to the right side of this issue.

Crapo is a B- career and C recent immigration actions politician.
http://grades.betterimmigration.com/testgrades.php3?District=ID&VIPID=251

Vasquez is being courageous in publicly questioning the Senators' support for illegal immigration. The Idaho Statesman's story doesn't quite match the reports of the meeting we got from some of our Idaho colleagues who attended.
=====================================================
INSTRUCTIONS FOR WRITING AND SENDING YOUR LETTER
=====================================================

Letters to the Idaho Statesman must be 200 words or less. The e-mail address to use is the following:

editorial@idahostatesman.com

Or send it by fax: 208-377-6449

Why don't you also cc your emailed letter or other comments to Commissioner Vasquez at:

rvasquez@canyoncounty.org

======================================================
INFO TO CONSIDER BEFORE YOU WRITE YOUR LETTER
======================================================

Here are some pieces of information that may be helpful to you as you choose your narrow focus for a short letter:

(1) We already have an ag guest worker program and don't need Craig's amnesty version. The H-2A visa category can always be used by farmers to bring in foreign labor if there is really, truly a shortage.

(2) Senator Larry Craig proposed an Ag worker program (S.1645) that allows unlimited numbers of illegal aliens to gain legal work status immediately simply by showing they have a job in agriculture, and then makes them permanent residents eligigible for citizenship soon after. To read lots of details of his and Sen. Kennedy's (D-MA) amnesty bill go to:
http://www.numbersusa.com/interests/amnesties108.html

This analysis of Craig's amnesty was prepared by Rosemary Jenks, magna cum laude graduate of Harvard Law School and our Director of Government Relations. Please use this analysis with anybody in Idaho who ever tries to claim that Craig's bill is not an amnesty or that opponents just don't understand what it does.

3. The DREAM amnesty bill (Senator Orrin Hatch,s (R-UT) S.1545) is supported by Crapo. It provides taxpayer-subsidized, in-state college tuition and amnesty for illegal aliens under the age of 21 who have been physically present in the country for five years and are in 7th grade or above.

4. The report of the meeting from some of you who were there notes that: Our side was, in general, well-mannered, whereas the opposition was loud and unruly. In one case, a well-spoken, young Latino woman rose and stated that she and her family had come to the U.S. legally and were offended that Senators Craig and Crapo would consider granting amnesty to those who broke the laws and didn,t play by the rules. At another point, a retired sheriff for Canyon County got up and stated that they had 60 violent felons who were illegal aliens in their jail, and that other illegal aliens convicted of violent felons who had served their time for previous crimes, by law should have been deported upon completion of their sentences. These illegal aliens were not deported, and subsequently returned to Canyon County to commit additional felonies. On that he questioned the judgment of the two senators in calling for amnesty for illegals at a time when the government can,t even keep control or track of those illegal aliens who are violent felons. At the beginning of the meeting, an aide to Senator Craig was handing out flyers which personally attacked Canyon County Commissioner Robert Vasquez for Vasquez, opposition to amnesties for illegal aliens. These handouts also contained false information alleging that illegals contribute more to the U.S. in taxes than they consume in social services. The reality is quite different: illegal aliens are overwhelmingly a net drain on our economy. The two senators' aides at the end of the meeting appeared to be surprised by the strong opposition to both S.1645 (Larry Craig,s "AgJobs bill) and S.1545 (Senator Orrin Hatch,s "Dream Act).

======================================================
Commissioner Vasquez, press release on his Town Hall meeting
======================================================

10-28-03

Greetings All,

Below is the press release sent out regarding the Town Hall meeting to be held tomorrow, October 29, 2003. I had called and invited both Senator Craig and Crapo to attend (or have a representative there), and this time, they accepted! So, this will be the first direct communication regarding S. 1645, and S 1545 (the AgJobs bill, and the DREAM Act ). The one newspaper was still asking my deputy clerk/secretary if she spent any time preparing the release. The inference being that its a waste of county resources.

We shall see what we shall see.
Contact: Robert Vasquez 454-7507

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 27, 2003

CANYON COUNTY COMMISSIONER ROBERT VASQUEZ

Holds Town Hall Meeting
Canyon County Commissioner Robert Vasquez invites all concerned citizens to a Town Hall meeting to be held October 29, 2003, at the Canyon County Courthouse, 1115 Albany Street, Caldwell Idaho, from 7:00 PM to 9:00PM.

"Recent events effecting Canyon County residents are being encouraged by Senator s Larry Craig and Mike Crapo. Their position is that agriculture needs cheap labor, and apparently, Sen.s Craig and Crapo are willing to elevate illegal aliens above their own constituents to satisfy the demands of 80 national agricultural organizations, Vasquez said.

The hiring of 3,000 Mexican nurses does not help agriculture with low cost labor. The training of 1,000 over-the-road truck drivers by SWIFT trucking will not help agriculture with low cost labor. Granting legal status to illegal aliens graduating from American High Schools, giving them access to scholarships, and in-state tuition, will not help agriculture with low cost labor, Commissioner Vasquez continued.

This amounts to yet another amnesty, because our Senators and Congressmen are unwilling, incapable, or just plain afraid, to stem the invasion of America by illegal aliens across our Southern border. If Agriculture needs low cost labor, where did the previous 6 million illegal aliens go? Could it be that they have taken jobs Americans need? Is it possible that they are no longer working in the fields? And if these efforts are passed, how long before the next group of illegal aliens Demand their Rights, Commissioner Vasquez stated.

I ask all interested persons in Canyon County or elsewhere to join me for this Town Hall discussion, and to express their opinions of whether this movement by our United States Senators to reward illegal aliens in America should continue, Commissioner Vasquez concluded.

|  | |