Posted on 08/17/2006 1:18:46 AM PDT by Anti-Bubba182
PHOENIX (Reuters) - More than a year after their first stakeouts on the U.S.-Mexico border, Minuteman civilian patrol volunteers are divided and questions are being raised about whether their movement's influence is on the wane.
The Minutemen leaped into the media spotlight in April 2005 when its force of housewives, office workers and veterans camped out in lawn chairs in southern Arizona to spot illegal immigrants crossing from Mexico.
Sixteen months later, the founders of the movement have split acrimoniously, and questions swirl over how a breakaway group spent a reported $1.6 million in donations.
Dubbed vigilantes by President Bush and migrant hunters by Mexico, the activists seek to highlight what they say is the federal government's failure to provide security along the 2,000-mile (3,200-km) border and end illegal immigration.
The founder of the original Minuteman Project, Jim Gilchrist, 57, a retired accountant from California, is no longer speaking to his former ally Chris Simcox, with whom he planned the first patrols in Arizona.
Meanwhile, Simcox, an ex-teacher and newspaper publisher who leads the separate, Arizona-based Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, faces calls from some former members for a full audit of all donations made to his group.
They complained last month that the corps, a private corporation, had not published financial statements setting out how donations intended to buy equipment were spent, although Simcox vigorously denied any impropriety.
"These are just disgruntled individuals who are no longer with our organization who for some personal reason would like to tarnish our image," Simcox, 45, told Reuters in a telephone interview.
"We have hired accountants and auditors ... to handle all the money, and we're in fine shape," he said.
Simcox added that all questions about the use of donations would be settled in November, when the group posts its tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service.
IS MESSAGE WEARING THIN?
The movement has never counted more than a few thousand volunteers, but analysts say it has proved influential in setting a national agenda on border security and immigration enforcement.
Since the patrols began, Bush has sent 6,200 National Guard troops to help secure the border, and Congress has approved funds to recruit thousands more Border Patrol agents.
But in recent weeks, media attention has focused more on the group's woes than on the pro-enforcement message it seeks to push.
In July the Washington Times questioned their financial accounts. Then last week the Arizona Republic newspaper weighed in, publishing details of their feud and declaring that the "honeymoon is over for the Minutemen."
While the two leaders are pushing on with separate activities -- Simcox is building a border wall on private ranchland in Arizona, and Gilchrist plans a stakeout near Laredo, Texas, starting next month -- critics warn that their trusted formula for grabbing headlines may be wearing thin.
"They have been very good at maintaining the media's attention, but I think things are starting to turn for them," said Ray Borane, the mayor of Douglas, Arizona, near where they held their first patrols. "They are running out of tricks in their bag."
I think they said the donations weren't going to be tax-deductible because they intend to do some lobbying on behalf of political candidates or issues.
Not to mention the fact that the MCDC can't get its act together and have NOT managed to send in the paper work to make them a nonprofit. But they were, until recently, claiming that donations to them, WERE tax deductible.
And YOU can rest assured that you haven't won a thing on FR, in real life, but thanks for bumping this thread again. The more people who get to see what a scammer Simcox is, the better.
"..and we're beginning to build very soon. There'll be a big announcement on Friday via the Associated Press, then a press release on Monday..."
Can you explain?
I see you are very good at name-calling.
So far, you open borders invaders have lost every single round here on FR, including Tom Tacredo coming out tops in the FR poll for president for 2008 amongst Freepers. You can be rest assured of the same losing record for the foreseeable future.
How do you think you are "winning" the debate here?
You haven't made a single factual assertion in support of the MCDC, all you have done is insult those who are questioning the lack of transparency and accountability in that organization.
If "Flame War" rather than "Debate" is your game, you are winning, but only because you are the only one playing.
what's to explain... i would think it obvious but, to reiterate, were this whole matter to errupt in a spate of negative publicity, it gives the left one more thing to talk about with which to tar all conservatives using a broad brush.
I disagree - any time there is a scandal, and the one you site is an excellent example, it gives everybody hard lumps. I never said anything about a "Democrat attack" -- it makes us look bad and we have to spend time explaning away and making excvuses for what happened rather than stay on offense. And he is very much on, if you read ther most recent Nation magazine, the left's radar.
My father works side by side with Chris Simcox. He says Chris is a truly honest and honorable man.
If you have any proof of wrongdoing, please share it with us. But as for now, all you're doing is spewing back rhetoric you've seen in the pro-immigrant media.
You post a link from MONTHS ago!?!? (the fence was only $150 a foot then, it has risen to $250 per foot now according to Simcox AND the second fence was starting July 6-15..check your calendar).
This update was by Peter Kunz, a supposed attorney/fence project manager. Could you do me a favor and ask your daddy to ask Peter Kunz where he went to law school and where he practices law?
An Update from the Minuteman Fence Project Manager Chris Simcox has kept his promise and volunteers have begun building the Minuteman Border Fence. Chris has asked me (Peter Kunz) to give you a quick update on the activities and planning for the current fence project and our next site that starts in July.
(snip)
June 27 - Second site layout to be finished.
July 6-15 – Security Fence at second location starts.
(snip)
Crews of four to ten volunteers under the guidance of professional fence installers can install as much as 3 miles of fence in a week.
It is now almost September. Surely you have a picture or two of the project in progess?
Hi stranger!
Hey, nobody's stranger than you!
The Arizona Republic is The New York Times Lite.
Yeah, that's what I've been told. lol
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