Civilian patrol founder sees 'revolution' in immigration reform

modbee ^ | 2-7-06

[LouAvul]

LAGUNA WOODS, Calif. (AP) - His deep green eyes sparkling with intensity, Jim Gilchrist speaks nonstop for more than an hour about the nation's porous Mexican border and the flood of illegal immigration that he says will bring America to its knees.

Suddenly, his gaze softens and he talks warmly about his Mexican son-in-law and his half-Mexican "grandbrat."

The distinction is not a complicated one for Gilchrist. His son-in-law is legal. The immigrants he targets with his all-volunteer civilian border patrol, the Minuteman Project, are not.

That distinction is much less clear for Gilchrist's many vocal critics, who say the Minuteman Project and its supporters are shot through with racist ideologues and vigilantes who have polarized the nation with their misguided protests.

Now, nearly a year after he first gained national prominence by leading a 30-day patrol along the Arizona border, Gilchrist, 57, is focusing on reinventing himself as a budding politician, congressional watchdog and lobbyist for immigration reform.

"This is a bloodless revolution. Nobody's getting hurt, but we're changing the way our country thinks and we're changing its immigration policy," said Gilchrist, a Vietnam veteran who plans to lead a protest Wednesday on Capitol Hill against a proposed guest worker program.

"We're changing it back to the way it used to be - the enforcement of the law," he said.

[LouAvul]

Good man.

[DumpsterDiver]

The distinction is not a complicated one for Gilchrist. His son-in-law is legal. The immigrants he targets with his all-volunteer civilian border patrol, the Minuteman Project, are not.

That distinction is much less clear for Gilchrist's many vocal critics...

Those vocal critics damn well do know the distinction between legal and illegal immigration, they just want to pretend that the difference doesn't exist.

[DumpsterDiver]

ping

[starbase]

Gillian Flaccus is the author of this piece. I've never heard of him before but it is surprisingly hard hitting for both sides, extremely unusual for an Associated Press article in my experience. Look for Flaccus to possibly be working elsewhere before too long.

Gratuitous slams against Gilchrist:

1. That distinction is much less clear for Gilchrist's many vocal critics, who say the Minuteman Project and its supporters are shot through with racist ideologues and vigilantes who have polarized the nation with their misguided protests.

2. The Southern Poverty Law Center is concerned that Gilchrist's emphasis on enforcing immigration law is a front for racist activities. (you know, if the witch floats she's using magic, burn her, but if she drowns, well then, she wasn't using magic, bury her!)

3. "I can't tell you that Jim Gilchrist is a racist because I could not prove that," he said. "But what the Gilchrist's of the world do is they take a real problem and they metastasize it into an invasion of people intent on doing ill to the United States - and that's just not true." (this comment reverse-denies a negative, that is, in trying to say Gilchrist is a racist, he says the he can't prove he's not!)

Uncommonly excellent return shots:

1. "We're changing it back to the way it used to be - the enforcement of the law," he said.

2. "For the past 40 years, we've been subjected to something I refer to as politically correct paralysis," he said. "There will be no debate on immigration, there will be no discussion on immigration. Because if you even think about it, I will label you a racist, I will label you a bigot. I will tell everyone you're a Nazi or in the Ku Klux Klan."

3. "If the Senate refuses to move at the request of 240 million Americans, then we will move them out of office - one by one or en masse," he said. "I really don't care if people in Washington don't like Jim Gilchrist. It's not about me - it's about our country."

This article is really surprising for AP as it actually looks like some form of debate, granted the slams against Gilchrist are cheap, but the fact that his answering positions appear in an AP article is something rather new. I guess they're getting scared of bankruptcy after all.

[caver]

Thanks for the ping. Yes, definitely a different kind of an article. The author does slam the guy but lets him gets his shots in too. I wonder if the author was directed to write the article a certain way but also decided to be sympathetic? Of course, the only way that could happen if the editor missed it or let it go through.

[starbase]

Of course, the only way that could happen if the editor missed it or let it go through.

If that's the case, then which one would you guess happened, if you had to make a guess?

[mtbopfuyn]

Minutemen are racist!!! Gilchrist is racist!!! Anyone against immigration is racist!!!




But, but. Ooops, never mind.

[Gritty]

[Reaganwuzthebest]

Civilian patrol founder sees 'revolution' in immigration reform

Apparently in Bush's new budget millions are being requested for an amnesty/guest worker program that hasn't even been approved yet. There is also far less for enforcement, as was to be expected in any bait and switch scheme.

I'd like to think Gilchrist is right and we're turning the tide on this massive invasion but it looks like our own government is determined to go in the opposite direction.

[caver]

If that's the case, then which one would you guess happened, if you had to make a guess?

I don't know, either the editor was symphathetic to the story or the editor was incompetent and didn't catch it in the article.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

...That distinction is much less clear for Gilchrist's many vocal critics,...

Like Jorge, who recently brought Jackboot John Magaw out of mothballs, to help out in Homeland Insecurity. Perhaps to clean out the Vigilantees.

Mr Gilchrist had better watch his back.

[WatchingInAmazement]

Everybody wants a piece of Bush's amnesty. I don't care where illegals are from, they need to go HOME or come in the right way.


http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/story.asp?j=171949124&p=y7y94983x

Plea over undocumented Irish in US
07/02/2006 - 11:49:31

Councils in the Republic were today urged to join an all-island campaign to prevent 25,000 undocumented Irish immigrants in the United States becoming the victim of tough new laws.

SDLP Assembly member PJ Bradley has written to every county and city council manager in the Republic urging them to debate the impact on illegal Irish immigrants of anti-terrorism plans by US President George W Bush.

The South Down MLA said: “Many people have yet to realise the determination of the US Government to introduce stringent anti-terrorism measures.

“There are currently over 50 proposals in the form of Draft Bills up for debate and many of these are being openly supported by Democrats and Republicans alike.

“It will require a significant degree of lobbying to influence the thinking of both Congress and the Senate, but lobby we must.

“I have been in touch with every county and city council manager in the south of Ireland requesting them to table the issue for discussion in their council chambers and to lend their support to our undocumented in America.

“The SDLP has already commenced the process by introducing Notices of Motion for discussion in all 26 councils in the North.”

In November President Bush began lobbying for stronger immigration controls.

His plans include tighter security along the Mexican frontier but also moves to permit migrants with a job offer to stay in the US temporarily for three years with the possibility of a three-year extension if they return to their home countries for a year to apply for a new work permit.

Alternative proposals have also been tabled by Republican Senators John Kyl and John Cornyn and Democratic Senator Edward Kennedy and Republican John McCain.

There are estimated to be around 11 million undocumented workers in the United States, amongst them 25,000 Irish.

Last month SDLP deputy leader Dr Alasdair McDonnell met the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform in New York, which involves prominent Irish American businessmen such as Irish Voice publisher Niall O’Dowd and former Congressman Bruce Morrison.

The group was formed to ensure Irish immigrants do not get left behind in any deal on the US legislation.

Mr Bradley said today the SDLP and the immigration lobby group supported the Kennedy/McCain Bill because it would at least give the undocumented an opportunity to obtain a green card.

“It would allow those that were residing in America on 12th May 2005 the opportunity to register by paying a $1000 registration fee and submitting their names for a background check,” he said.

“But at least when all checks are found to be satisfactory a green card should be forthcoming. “

The Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform has staged a number of rallies in New York and Philadelphia, with others planned for Boston on Thursday, in Queen’s in New York, San Francisco and Washington.

Their inaugural meeting in Yonkers in New York saw over 1,000 people sign up to the campaign.

Mr Bradley said: “People living here with relatives working in the US should advise them of the pending meetings and of the information they can obtain by attending.”

[gc4nra]

Far be it for me to brag, but Jim came to my Christmas Party.

[Dr.Zoidberg]

"For the past 40 years, we've been subjected to something I refer to as politically correct paralysis," he said. "There will be no debate on immigration, there will be no discussion on immigration. Because if you even think about it, I will label you a racist, I will label you a bigot. I will tell everyone you're a Nazi or in the Ku Klux Klan."

A variation of that "argument" was used in a thread here last night. Once the person using that argument was caught out and slapped around with his logical fallacy, he/she/it(?) backed up quick and tried to deny that was what had been said.

[LouAvul]

A variation of that "argument" was used in a thread here last night. Once the person using that argument was caught out and slapped around with his logical fallacy, he/she/it(?) backed up quick and tried to deny that was what had been said.

They are all over the place around here. Open borders advocates, illegal immigration apologists, makes one wonder why they continue to troll here. Some of them (no names) have been doing it for years. They're disgusting.

[Dr.Zoidberg]

Yep. The no borders traitors are a very vocal minority here.

Makes you wonder if they aren't on someones payroll given their dedication to stopping any rational immigration controls.

[starbase]

Apparently in Bush's new budget millions are being requested for an amnesty/guest worker program that hasn't even been approved yet. There is also far less for enforcement, as was to be expected in any bait and switch scheme.

Hmm, maybe that explains it. Give us some news articles with a little red meat in them (very little, as it's still leavened with the unfair attacks listed above) and maybe we won't be paying attention to the deceitful budget Bush is sneaking in behind our backs. Hmm.

I just read in the Drudge Report where that pastor at King's funeral very rudely took the opportunity to bash Bush at a funeral to the tune of a two minute standing ovation. Talk about low class! But then I read about Bush's budget subterfuge. Then I was glad Bush got bashed, even for something unfair. It made me wish I had him sitting there in a church full of listeners.

[gubamyster]

ping

[Reaganwuzthebest]

Look for diverting headlines when the Senate starts "debating" immigration. I wouldn't put it past them to try and sneak in their amnesties at two in the morning, they know full well nobody's buying the snake oil they're selling.