blogging in Virgina, and more on Webb vs Allen
blogging in Virgina, and more on Webb vs Allen
Date: Sunday, November 05, 2006 5:22 PM
<<<<< JOB DESTRUCTION NEWSLETTER No. 1582 -- 11/05/2006 >>>>>
In my newsletter "blog counterattack No. 1579 -- 10/30/2006" I noted that
two comments (one written by me and one by Gene Nelson) had been removed
from a Virgina blogsite. It was rather suspicious that our posts, which
favored Jim Webb, were censored because the blog is administered by Fairfax
County Chamber of Commerce who are avid supporters of the Virginia
incumbent for the Senate -- George Allen.
Many of you posted on the blog and yet the two of us were the only ones
removed. After several phone calls to the Fairfax County Chamber of
Commerce and a few emails of complaint, we received an apology from the
administrator of the website.
According to the administrator our comments were removed by accident and it
had nothing to do with the fact we were supportive of James Webb's
positions against H-1B and the Skil Bill.
This is an excerpt I received from the administrator, who I won't name
because I didn't ask if he/she could be quoted:
"Unfortunately, it seems your comments were deleted due to my time expiring
for internet access at a hotel while reviewing your comments. I have tried
to go back online to reinstate these 2 messages; however, I have had little
luck but will continue to try."
***** EPILOGUE *****
Since receiving that message I reposted my comment and there has been no
evidence of censorship.
Use this link to go to the blog:
http://policysoup.blogspot.com/2006/10/in-their-own-words-part-5.html
***** THE LATEST ON WEBB vs. ALLEN *****
Overall the race between Webb and Allen has been a reflection of the
immigration debate throughout the U.S. -- in other words they avoid the
topic like the plague!
When Webb ran in the primary against Harris "the Shiller" Miller, H-1B
wasn't even debated. Considering that Harris Miller is one of the most
infamous lobbyists in the nefarious history of H-1B, that was more than
just odd. It's tough to argue with success though as Webb defeated the
Shiller.
The Virginia Senate race hasn't been much more illuminating than the
primary. The few times Webb or Allen have discussed immigration it has been
on very superficial terms.
I included a Washington Post article in this newsletter, but be sure to
keep in mind that the WP is a newspaper with a definite open-border agenda
so they twist and bend what both candidates say in order to obscure the
immigration debate further.
The article does a good job of describing the lack of immigration debates
in the Virginia campaign, but as a public service I decided to translate
Washington Post newsspeak into common English. Each WP comment is followed
with my expert translation.
WP: The candidates in Virginia's Senate race, meanwhile, have barely
touched it [immigration].
TRANSLATION: The candidates in Virginia's Senate race, meanwhile, have
barely touched it [immigration].
WP: Republican Sen. George Allen and his challenger, Democrat James Webb,
have stark differences on the issue.
TRANSLATION: Allen and Webb have very few differences on the issue, which
is why they rarely discuss it.
WP: While both call for sealing the borders ...
TRANSLATION: oxymoron
WP: Allen brooks no sympathy for illegal immigrants and favors guest-worker
plans.
TRANSLATION: Allen has no sympathy for illegal aliens but feels empathy for
American employers that can't find enough cheap labor. Allen wants to show
sympahty for employers by giving everyone in the world who wants one a
guest-worker visa, including illegal aliens who have already violated our
immigration laws.
WP: Webb supports legalization for some immigrants and opposes broad
programs for temporary foreign labor.
TRANSLATION: The term "broad programs" probably includes bills like the
Skil Bill that Allen co-sponsored (see blog). Since there are no other
specifics, we are led to believe that Webb opposes wide-scale guest worker
visa programs, but that's anyone's guess.
WP: Analysts say the relative absence of immigration in the race reflects
the increasingly tricky proposition of campaigning on polarizing topics,
especially in a traditionally conservative state with a changing political
landscape.
TRANSLATION: Anyone who debates immigration will be called a racist, which
is politically risky.
WP: "Statewide in Virginia, I think it's a lot thornier," said Mark J.
Rozell, a public policy professor at George Mason University. "With the
divide . . . it's really hard to say that someone can play this issue one
way and know that he's going to benefit."
TRANSLATION: In Virginia it's better to sit on the fence than to honestly
discuss immigration.
WP: Studies show that Virginia's illegal immigrant population has swelled
in recent years and that growth has been densest in Northern Virginia.
TRANSLATION: Virginia grows lots of peanuts and tobacco, and farmers import
lots of illegal aliens to pick them. Guess who isn't going to vote for
tighter immigration controls? If you guessed the farmers you would be only
partially correct. Illegals will probably be used to stuff the ballot boxes
(or RAM memory cards!). Fortunately the illegals will be just as confused
as everyone else is, so they won't know who to vote for!
WP: In a recent Washington Post poll, 59 percent of likely Virginia voters
said immigration would be important in their choice for senator -- but only
after issues such as terrorism, Iraq, the economy, ethics in government,
health care and taxes.
TRANSLATION: In Virginia, the immigration issue is not a priority with
voters, which explains why Webb and Allen can get away with ignoring it.
WP: "First and foremost, Virginians want our borders secured," said Dick
Wadhams, Allen's campaign manager. He said Allen considered Congress's
final border fence bill a "good start."
TRANSLATION: Allen is very happy that the 700 mile sieve that Bush
authorized to build on the border won't stop the flood of illegal
immigrants.
WP: To address the question of the nation's estimated 12 million illegal
immigrants, Allen wants stepped-up punishment of their employers, Wadhams
said. Strict enforcement, Allen reasons, will dry up the source of jobs
over time. Allen backs expanded guest-worker programs that supply migrant
labor to farms and skilled employees to tech companies.
TRANSLATION: Allen wants employers to be punished for hiring illegals, but
since he will give everyone a guest worker visa, no employer will ever be
punished. Allen isn't satisfied with just farm workers though, he wants
more H-1B visas so that high-tech companies can replace non-farmworking
Americans with cheaper labor. From peanuts to computers, Allen wants all
employers to get cheap labor.
FURTHER TRANSLATION: A vote for Allen is a vote for H-1B.
WP: "That in some way means sorting out people who have long ties with
their community in the name of fairness and reality," Webb said. But he
added: "I'm not for amnesty. I want to make that clear."
TRANSLATION: Webb wants to make it very clear that he supports amnesty.
WP: On his Web site, he [Webb] calls for the United States to strengthen
border security above all else and to turn next to the questions of illegal
immigrants and a guest-worker plan. In an interview, he did not emphasize
the need for border security as strongly.
TRANSLATION: Webb wants to give everyone in the world who wants one a guest
worker visa -- once the border is secured. By now most of you don't
remember that Allen said the same thing. See how easy it is to confuse
people?
WP :And he [Webb] added a fourth component: pressuring -- and helping --
Mexico to stem migration through economic development.
TRANSLATION: Webb wants to help Mexico to help itself. Hmmmmm. Nice idea,
but he never explained how we are going to start a revolution or to stage a
Coup d'itat!
WP: Webb has been endorsed by a group of Latino leaders called Adelante Con
Webb, which chose Webb in part for his vision of a broad overhaul of
immigration laws
TRANSLATION: Radical Latino activists think Webb will pander to them.
WP: Allen earned the endorsement of the Latino Coalition, a nonpartisan
advocacy group that has often backed GOP proposals and is headed by former
Bush appointee Hector V. Barreto, who resigned as head of the Small
Business Administration in April. Robert de Posada, the Latino Coalition's
president, called Webb's affirmative action position "extremely insulting."
TRANSLATION: Radical Latino activists think Allen will pander to them.
WP: As Virginia governor, de Posada said, Allen "opened doors for
Hispanics" by appointing several Latinos, including former Virginia
Transportation secretary Robert E. Martinez. That prompted the coalition,
which favors legalization for illegal immigrants, to overlook Allen's
immigration views.
TRANSLATION: Allen has a proven track record of pandering to radical
Hispanics. Webb still has to prove himself.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/20/AR2006102001642.html
Allen, Webb Are Not Spotlighting Their Positions on Immigration
They Differ on Guest-Worker Program and Limited Legalization
By Karin Brulliard
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, October 21, 2006; B05
Millions of protesters took to the streets this year to demand amnesty for
unauthorized immigrants. Congress debated immigration bills for months
before approving a 700-mile border fence. In several fiercely contested
political races nationwide, illegal immigration has taken center stage.
The candidates in Virginia's Senate race, meanwhile, have barely touched
it.
Republican Sen. George Allen and his challenger, Democrat James Webb, have
stark differences on the issue. While both call for sealing the borders,
Allen brooks no sympathy for illegal immigrants and favors guest-worker
plans. Webb supports legalization for some immigrants and opposes broad
programs for temporary foreign labor.
Analysts say the relative absence of immigration in the race reflects the
increasingly tricky proposition of campaigning on polarizing topics,
especially in a traditionally conservative state with a changing political
landscape. In recent elections, Northern Virginia voters' allegiance has
shifted toward Democrats.
"Statewide in Virginia, I think it's a lot thornier," said Mark J. Rozell,
a public policy professor at George Mason University. "With the divide . .
. it's really hard to say that someone can play this issue one way and
know that he's going to benefit."
Studies show that Virginia's illegal immigrant population has swelled in
recent years and that growth has been densest in Northern Virginia. Herndon
voters this spring ousted Town Council members who backed a hiring site for
immigrant day laborers, but Republican Jerry W. Kilgore lost the Northern
Virginia suburbs -- and the governor's race -- after a campaign in which he
vowed, among other things, to crack down on illegal immigrants.
In a recent Washington Post poll, 59 percent of likely Virginia voters said
immigration would be important in their choice for senator -- but only
after issues such as terrorism, Iraq, the economy, ethics in government,
health care and taxes.
Nationally, most candidates campaigning on immigration are of the
tough-on-illegal-immigration persuasion, like Allen. But Allen has battled
accusations of insensitivity to minorities since the summer, when he called
an Indian American campaign worker for Webb a "macaca."
"Immigration, like it or not, is an issue that touches on race," said
Steven A. Camarota, research director at the Center for Immigration
Studies, which favors limiting immigration.
Asked about the Herndon day-labor center at a Richmond debate this month,
Allen responded: "We should not be rewarding illegal behavior because all
that will do is encourage more illegal behavior."
Parting ways with President Bush, Allen voted this session against a failed
Senate bill that would have given some illegal immigrants a path to
citizenship. The senator leans toward House Republicans on immigration,
favoring enforcement-only approaches that aim to close the borders.
"First and foremost, Virginians want our borders secured," said Dick
Wadhams, Allen's campaign manager. He said Allen considered Congress's
final border fence bill a "good start."
To address the question of the nation's estimated 12 million illegal
immigrants, Allen wants stepped-up punishment of their employers, Wadhams
said. Strict enforcement, Allen reasons, will dry up the source of jobs
over time. Allen backs expanded guest-worker programs that supply migrant
labor to farms and skilled employees to tech companies.
That position is a key difference between Allen and Webb, who rails against
corporate interests and bemoans the struggle of the middle class. He
criticizes large-scale guest-worker programs, saying more oversight is
needed so jobs do not go to cheaper foreign labor. Unlike Allen, Webb
supports giving a path to legalization to immigrants who have been in the
United States long enough to have planted deep roots.
"That in some way means sorting out people who have long ties with their
community in the name of fairness and reality," Webb said. But he added:
"I'm not for amnesty. I want to make that clear."
Webb said the Herndon day-labor center is an acceptable way to locally
manage the effects of a failed federal immigration system. On his Web site,
he calls for the United States to strengthen border security above all else
and to turn next to the questions of illegal immigrants and a guest-worker
plan. In an interview, he did not emphasize the need for border security as
strongly. And he added a fourth component: pressuring -- and helping --
Mexico to stem migration through economic development.
Webb has been endorsed by a group of Latino leaders called Adelante Con
Webb, which chose Webb in part for his vision of a broad overhaul of
immigration laws, said Arlington County Board member Walter Tejada (D), a
member of the group.
But Tejada said the endorsement came only after Webb met with the group and
justified his views on affirmative action, which he has called
"state-sponsored racism." Now Webb says he supports it for blacks but not
for other ethnic minorities, unless poor whites are included. Webb says the
position is based on fairness and hews to the program's original intent.
"We really understood and realized that this man really is about
opportunity," Tejada said.
Allen earned the endorsement of the Latino Coalition, a nonpartisan
advocacy group that has often backed GOP proposals and is headed by former
Bush appointee Hector V. Barreto, who resigned as head of the Small
Business Administration in April. Robert de Posada, the Latino Coalition's
president, called Webb's affirmative action position "extremely insulting."
As Virginia governor, de Posada said, Allen "opened doors for Hispanics" by
appointing several Latinos, including former Virginia Transportation
secretary Robert E. Martinez. That prompted the coalition, which favors
legalization for illegal immigrants, to overlook Allen's immigration views.
Staff writer Michael D. Shear contributed to this report.
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