Kucinich on Immigration

Have you seen his watch with Our Lady of Guadalupe?

We’re still glowing… Thanks Gov. Fletcher.

I’m still glowing from the recent round 0f elections that let America know- scapegoating immigrants won’t get you votes. period.

We already posted Duke’s commentary on the Virginia elections where democrats re-took the state legislature after republicans tried to use a witch-hunt against immigrants to maintain power. Voters let them know, we care about our schools, we care about our communities, and we care about our state- and that line of thought ain’t gonna cut it.

But you know, Virginia wasn’t the only place this was true- and I wanted to take a moment to point out that Governor Fletcher of Kentucky was unable to maintain his seat of power… and it just tickles me… thanks Governor Fletcher.

Several months ago, after a record of poor governance and public displeasure with his leadership, Fletcher saw the writing on the wall. In a last ditch attempt to save his position, Fletcher launched fear-mongering tactics against communities throughout the state, saying that he was going to push for state police to be trained to hunt immigrants.

Well, the taxpayers let him know, that line of thought ain’t gonna cut it. Saying it once isn’t enough- the recent round of elections really showed that the American public is smarter than anti-immigration folks think they are. The election in 08 need to be about positive change, not blind hate.

More coverage on the election victories…

From NDN blog - Links to more articles.

Immigrant-Bashing Fails in First Round of Elections

The country’s first test of “immigrant bashing” as an electoral strategy, has been soundly deemed completely ineffective. In hotly debated elections in Virginia, the republican party attempted to lambast immigrants rather than discuss real reform and betterment for their communities. And where did it get them? A quarter of a mile outside nowhere.

Get the full scoop from Duke at MigraMatter.

No Hate in the Debate

Last week we posted about the harsh and unworkable immigration plan that Fred Thompson unveiled last week. His pollster had a thing or two to say about the public reaction:

“Immigration is big; it’s the driving issue,” McLaughlin said. “The mainstream media ran down our immigration plan last week, saying it was unrealistic and too tough. Our voters love it. We’ve gotten nothing but positive response.”

Clearly Thompson’s pollster has an interest in spinning this the best way possible, but I think there is truth in his words on several points:

1) Immigration is big in Iowa. In a state with still mildly low levels of immigration in comparison with other states, voters in this state are receiving their information from elected officials and mainstream media…

2) We often heat the same thing: anti-immigrants voice their opinions, those that disagree may voice it to friends, but rarely speak out to campaigns or elected officials - it’s time we change that threat…

3) The fact that Thompsons immigration plan could receive positive support anywhere in the US means that our electoral debates are painfully skewed in the direction of divisive, unworkable policies that have no bearing in the reality of our lived experience in small towns across the country.

It’s time for us to pushback and say “no hate in the debate” scapegoating immigrants can’t be the center of the 2008 elections– we as a country need a hard look at education, the war, heatlhcare, along with workable immigration plans. We can move the electoral debate, if we start speaking out and taking action to tell candidates what we are really thinking.

More Free Speech in Danger - Thanks (again) to Tom Tancredo

In our country, we protect the right to free speech to ensure that anyone on our soil may speak without fear of retribution. Tens of thousands of middle school and high school kids write papers on this very subject each year. Somebody should send a bunch to Tom Tancredo.

Earlier this week, Tancredo issued a statement requesting that ICE raid an event in favor of the DREAM Act, being hosted by none other than Senator Dick Durbin. He purports that undocumented individuals (he uses other more choice words) will be attending and… “If we can’t enforce our laws inside the building where American laws are made, where can we enforce them?”

A cheap stunt by a small man.

If DREAM students, don’t have the right to voice support for the DREAM act in the halls of congress - the center of our democracy - can we really say we have any democracy anywhere else?

Fred Thompson’s plan for immigrants

Check out an outline of Fred Thompson’s plan for immigration.

Rudy Giuliani isn’t pulling any punches in Fred Thompson’s direction.

Drivers Licenses under seige- Clinton to the rescue?

Anti-immigrants continue to rally troops to storm Eliot Spitzer’s castle. Clinton comes to his rescue? Kind of…

By Nicholas Confessore

In a recent sit-down interview with the board of The Nashua Telegraph, a leading New Hampshire newspaper, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton finally was asked what she thinks of Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s policy to allow illegal immigrants to get driver’s licenses.

Her answer? Judge for yourself:

I think it’s important to bring everybody out of the shadows. To do the background checks. To deport those who have outstanding warrants or have committed crimes in the United States, and then to say to those who wish to stay here, you have to pay back taxes, you have to pay a fine, you have to learn English, and you have to wait in line. And I hate to see any state being pushed to try to take this into their own hands, because the federal government has failed.

So I know exactly what Governor Spitzer’s trying to do and it makes a lot of sense, because he’s trying to get people out of the shadows. He’s trying to say, “O.K., come forward and we will give you this license.”

IDs go viral

It’s great when a good idea starts to replicate itself. It looks like we’re gonna start seeing community IDs take hold in other communities. Lexington is the next locale we’ve heard of that is looking into passing these- great news!

SLANNEN@HERALD-LEADER.COM

A Lexington commission studying immigration issues will recommend that city officials issue local identification cards to undocumented immigrants and others.

The group’s report also will recommend that Lexington officials lobby state leaders in Frankfort to allow [undocumented] immigrants to obtain Kentucky driver’s licenses.

Those are two of eight recommendations discussed and voted on by commission members last night at City Hall. The final report could be delivered to Mayor Jim Newberry by the end of the week.

In June, Newberry used an executive order to form a nine-member commission to recommend to him what city officials can or should do relative to the immigration issue.

Mr. Law and Order on Immigration

Check out what Fred Thompson has to say about Immigration