Comments on: WashPo: The New Vast Right Wing Conspiracy

By: NoVA Scout

NoVA Scout — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 01:49:43 +0000

George: I fully agree that local government can do a great deal to address the complaints that I frequently encounter on this site: Local governments only have to enforce local ordinances fairly, equally, and without regard to immigration status. Rape is rape, DWI is DWI, chickens in the front yard is chickens in the front yard, ID theft is ID theft, no matter who does it. That’s the Fairfax approach that I submit is far superior than everyone running around like a chicken with its head cut off trying to be junior G-Men. State governments can do virtually nothing so cats like FitzSimmonds who are trying to boost their careers with this are either consciously scamming you or are too ignorant to be qualified for office. If you fall for this, you’ll fall for anything.

By: Dave in PWC

Dave in PWC — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 17:43:40 +0000

In regard to Connolly’s “do nothing” approach, I just had lunch with three friends who all live in Centreville and over the weekend were called by one of Connolly’s people asking them to vote for him. Each of them asked about the “do nothing” approach and when they didn’t get the answer they wanted politely told the person on the other end of the phone that they were voting for someone who will “do something”. Maybe his days are numbered. Time will tell.

By: George

George — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 13:06:14 +0000

I would propose that any candidate that backed off this issue because it may “wreck” whatever party affiliation they may have does not deserve to be a candidate. This is an issue that needs to be addressed at ALL levels of gov’t. And any candidate, worth his salt, should stand up for his beliefs and those of his constituents. The fear of any backlash in the “long haul” should not hinder a candidate with integrity, virtue and a will to do that which is right. and.. in all deference to your high school civics studies; I believe that there is a part that can be played to fix this problem from local, state and federal govt’s

By: NoVA Scout

NoVA Scout — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 10:06:57 +0000

George: I studied high school civics. Once you master that, my Constitutional point is clear. My other concern, of course, was stated in the article: a lot of Republicans fear that this issue will wreck the Party. The issue is crack-cocaine for mediocre candidates. It makes them feel really good for a little bit, but it can kill them over the long haul.

By: George

George — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 02:35:29 +0000

NoVA
What are your credintials as a constitutional scholar? I do not profess to know it all but I do believe that local and state gov’t can have an impact on these issues.

By: NoVA Scout

NoVA Scout — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 01:03:10 +0000

If you guys don’t realize that a lot of these pols are just trying to push your buttons to get a few quick votes, you’re deceiving yourselves. There are two types of local and state politicians working this issue. Both are pols that would have trouble getting elected without an emotional rallying point like this (note FitzSimmonds’ history of previous electoral failure). The first group knows that there is virtually nothing that local and state officials can do other than to enforce existing law to address the real and perceived issues raised by illegal immigration, but who are willing to play the game and tell you folks what you want to hear in return for your votes. The second is a peculiarly ignorant crowd who actually thinks they can substantively influence this issue at the local level. Neither is qualified to hold public office. The dilemma in dealing with these people is deciding whether one should focus on the moral reprehensibility of the first group, its disregard for the federal system, and its flinty willingness to flim-flam the voters, or the second group, who are so uninformed that they don’t understand anything about their country and its Constitution.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 21:38:01 +0000

The article was more balanced than that. The reader can make up their own mind whether the politicians are drumming up the issue, or responding to public anger and concern.

By: Not4Nothing

Not4Nothing — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 21:17:11 +0000

From a recent FAIR posting:

Lastly, on Thursday, September 20, Representative Dave Weldon (R-FL) introduced legislation authorizing state and local governments to impose additional employment verification requirements on employers and to provide state penalties for hiring illegal aliens. The bill is aimed at undoing the recent federal court decision striking down the efforts of the city of Hazelton, Pennsylvania to punish businesses which employ illegal aliens by revoking their business licenses. The legislation clearly reasserts the authority of states and municipalities to sanction employers through state and local power to issue business licenses. In addition, it allows state and local governments to impose more demanding standards of employment verification than those imposed by federal law. According to Rep. Weldon, “The federal government has passed immigration laws but refuses to enforce them. My bill will ensure that communities, which are forced to pay for tens of billions of dollars in services to illegal immigrants, are able to address local problems caused by the influx of illegal immigrants.” (TCPalm.com, September 21, 2007).

By: LSM

LSM — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 20:52:04 +0000

Greg, you need to go back and read the story again. Although Del. Seslaw’s quote about the abusive drivers’ fees issue was in there, the story really tried to get opinions from both Democrats and Republicans as to how the illegal immigration issue would affect the races this fall. Some said they thought the issue would hurt the Republican Party, others did not.

The story was by no means an editorial. If anything, I think it bent over backwards to quote Republicans, and it was very well sourced.

By: Patty

Patty — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 20:28:50 +0000

Bob Fitzsimmonds and Jackson Miller need our support.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 18:34:02 +0000

You see, under federal law (8 USC §1324a(h)(2)) local criminal or civil sanctions against employers are not permissible. Here’s how it reads:

The provisions of this section preempt any State or local law imposing civil or criminal sanctions (other than through licensing and similar laws) upon those who employ, or recruit or refer for a fee for employment, unauthorized aliens.

And this is where your friendly republican congress critter has thrown all of us under the bus.

They are aware of and refuse to address this code. They have had the majority while this situation go out of hand.

Every time you read of a crime committed by an illegal, see the ghettos sprouting, read of an illegal who kills a cop or an innocent in a traffic accident, see wages for Americans artificially depressed…

Call your congressman and thank them.

By: Advocator

Advocator — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 17:34:52 +0000

Liberals like the journalists in the W/P just can’t handle the fact that the general population raised this issue. That concept would be anathema to their dogma that the population needs to be controlled and manipulated because it just doesn’t know what’s good for it.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 17:13:49 +0000

Saying Virginia Republicans invented the illegal immigration issue is like saying FDR invented the Great Depression issue. Good job Greg for calling out the pro-illegal bias.

The issue likely wouldn’t have been talked about as much if the public didn’t care, but FitzSimmonds has been working on this issue for a few years now. FitzSimmonds was Senator Ken Cuccinelli’s legislative director in 2005 when Ken first authored citizen voter legislation and also worked on the 2006 bill that became law (despite Colgan’s vote against it).