CODE NAME:
MERCURIA
Dispatches from the activist front line.
BORDER DISORDER
California Coalition for Immigration Reform meeting
Special Guest Speaker: Michelle Malkin
Garden Grove, California
November 27, 2002
I'm not given a good reason very often for braving the dubious charm and non-existent relaxation of the L.A.cious freeway system unless absolutely necessary.
I'm even less inclined to indulge in the Rush To Road Rage the night before Thanksgiving, America's Biggest Getaway Day. Usually I'm giving praise to the Lord in advance for sparing me the necessity of enduring yet another ride through congestion worse than that of a three-pack-a-day tobacco addict.
But when one of California's leading (and most controversial, being outspokenly politically incorrect) immigration reform organizations calls a meeting with a feastful of special guests - with the main course being a speech by columnist and best-selling author Michelle Malkin - the unappetizing experience of a stew of cars didn't seem quite so unpalatable. (Certainly not as unpalatable as the metaphors and wordplay I've forced the reader to digest thus far.)
Since September 11, 2001, the issue of immigration reform has been brought to the spotlight as one of the Hottest Topics of Y2K+2, despite the kicking, screaming struggles of those in the Great American Game of Politics who so desperately attempt to insinuate that concepts such as immigration reform and sovereignty are "code words" for racism and hatred. (Plenty of chutzpah from the Gameplaying Corner which defines buying votes with taxpayer-funded ethnic favoritism as "compassion" and turning a blind eye towards lawbreaking in exchange for cheap labor as "tolerance".)
And one of the hottest commodities in the border disorder debate is Michelle Malkin. I mean, you can scarcely turn on any news junkie network without seeing her being raked over the coals by Republicans and Democrats alike. They have to do it...but how to do it without seeming to hoist themselves on the "diversity" petards of their own making as they do battle with an Oberlin propaganda survivor who is the daughter of Filipino immigrants...and the author of Invasion?
What's more, I happen to really enjoy with perverse glee the irony that the Compassion Fascists For A Small World who attempt to bend Ms. Malkin's will to their Diverse Dominance on the Screaming Face Shows are usually - uhhhh - white male spinmeisters. (But maybe that's just me. "Perverse", not "white male spinmeister".)
When SixString and I arrived at the Women's Civic Center in Garden Grove, it was still fifteen minutes before Ms. Malkin was officially scheduled to begin signing copies of her book. I got a buoyant "hail-fellow-well-met" from Barbara Coe, Big Chair of California Coalition for Immigration Reform, one of the dynamos of the anti-border disorder movement in California. She seemed very pleased at the already-crowding center, and as she led the way in, Six and I noticed some choice empty seats were still available, and some of my friends from Free Republic were sitting right next to them. We received a warm welcome from RonDog and gubamyster, and despite the seats being snapped up right and left, we were able to reserve a couple for ALOHA RONNIE and Lady Jenn. RonDog introduced me to seenenuf, which just goes to show you, there's always a new FReeper to meet somewhere. (Always glad to. I may have my differences with the website, but some of my very best friends are FReepers.)
Ms. Malkin arrived very shortly after Six and me, and almost promptly sat down to sign the books of the rapidly-swelling crush of the audience. I just as promptly jumped into the queue. I had my book already - I wasn't about to be told that they were out of stock and so sorry. (Typical that I'd be this prepared when I could've bought my copy there for five bucks less. O me of little faith and dwindling pocketbook change!)
I introduced myself as the co-host of Unspun with AnnaZ. Ms. Malkin had graciously accepted earlier in the week to act as "carrot on a stick" for our next show, and she exchanged kind greetings with me, signing my book and cordially agreeing to a photograph for my scrapbook. She had no lack of energy, patience, or charm the entire evening, smiling as she autographed books, giving encouraging words to those who wished to have a few moments of chat with her, and more than amiable about having her picture taken umpteen times by anyone who wanted a picture (and many of us did).
Michelle Malkin and Mercuria
Photo Credit: S. Brents, 2002©
Reprinting by permission only.
She only pulled away when it was time to start the presentation (with assurances she would continue after her speech), and during that few minutes of down time, it pleased me to no end to meet and greet several people who were special guests showing up in support of Ms. Malkin and CCIR. Terry Anderson, "The Prisoner of South Central", was there with his good-natured wife, and Ezola Foster and Reed Heustis - the Chair and Vice-Chair of the American Independent Party (California) - are always a sight for sore eyes! (And of course, the gal I know as RadioCarol, the Lady With A Hundred Hats.)
And by the time Barbara Coe hit the stage, the chamber was at standing room only to give them and the special guests some pretty rousing ovations!
Barbara Coe, beginning the presentation, thanked Terry and Ezola plus other special guests who were in attendance - Ron Prince, Founder of Save Our State (Proposition 187), and immigration reform activists Lupe Moreno, Art Jacques, Harald Martin, and Stacy Polk (who also is part of Ranch Rescue in California).
Time to get a whistle-wetter and indent your eyes...here comes the transcript...
more