Fox's image on 'card' protested - U.S. congressman opposes Mexico's identification system (Tancredo)

The Dallas Morning News ^ | May 24, 2003 | By ALFREDO CORCHADO / The Dallas Morning News

[MeekOneGOP]

Fox's image on 'card' protested

U.S. congressman opposes Mexico's identification system

05/24/2003

By ALFREDO CORCHADO / The Dallas Morning News

MEXICO CITY – Officials and ordinary Mexicans were sharply critical Friday of a U.S. congressman who used President Vicente Fox's image as part of a campaign against Mexico's practice of issuing identification cards for its citizens abroad.

Opponents of the cards – known as matriculas – say they contribute to illegal immigration.

On Thursday in Washington, Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., chairman of the Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus, denounced the U.S. Treasury Department's recent decision to allow the use of matriculas by U.S. banks.

"Since only illegal aliens would need to carry such cards for identification purposes, or need them to open bank accounts, the regulations indicate that the Treasury Department is out of step with the American people and AWOL in the battle to stem the epidemic of illegal immigration," he said at a news conference.

Mr. Tancredo hoisted a giant mock identification card with Mr. Fox's photo and name, spelling it "Vincente" instead of Vicente and also listing an incorrect birth date. The card said, "Office for the Issuance of Illegal Alien ID."

Mr. Fox was visiting Peru on Friday and unavailable for comment, but a spokesman at the Mexican Embassy in Washington called Mr. Tancredo's comments "regrettable and reprehensible."

"If public organizations and financial institutions accept the matricula as valid identification, it is because they share our opinion that this is a secure document," the spokesman said.

Over the last year, the Mexican government, through its 47 consulates in the United States, has issued about 1 million cards. They are recognized by more than 800 law enforcement agencies, including Dallas police, along with banks and schools.

Some jurisdictions reject the ID card, though. Colorado lawmakers recently barred state and local agencies from recognizing it, and it is not recognized by New York state and city.

A spokeswoman for Mr. Tancredo, Lara Kennedy, said the congressman had used the same photo and dummy card before, at a news conference in January, and was surprised at the outcry this time.

She said the prop was intended only to illustrate the problems Mr. Tancredo sees in the use of the matriculas, not to offend anyone.

"It was in no way meant to be anti-Hispanic and in no way meant to bring up any disregard or lack of respect to the president," she said.

Rep. Rubén Hinojosa, D-Mercedes, who has authored a bill that would allow banks nationwide to accept the cards for identification, criticized Mr. Tancredo's use of the poster.

"Tom was lacking statesmanship in taking the highest elected official in the nation of Mexico and trying to use him the way that he did on that poster," Mr. Hinojosa said. "He didn't apologize. Of course, he's a congressman and he can say whatever he wants to say, but that doesn't change my mind about the lack of respect."

In Mexico City, Mr. Tancredo's news conference was front-page news in Reforma, with the headline "Vincente Residente."

Victor Navarete Olivas, 27, a record vendor at a Mexico City mall, laughed at the headline and said of Mr. Tancredo's use of the poster: "It's beyond insulting and humiliating. It's hilarious and disrespectful at the same time."

Said German Contreras Reyes, 29, a cab driver: "Arrogance among Americans has no limits. ... But in the end reality is reality. The United States needs our workers so they can maintain their own standards of living, and we need them to put food on the table."

Staff writer Todd J. Gillman in Washington contributed to this report.

E-mail acorchado@dallasnews.com

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Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dallas/world/stories/052403dnintcards.621d0.html

[MeekOneGOP]

ping

[LibertyLight]

Gotta Get tough....why is it that illegals get so mad...badda BIng - thanks for the post...

[Fixit]

You don't think?

I first drew this last July!

[NormsRevenge]

Go Tom Go!!!

[Fixit]

(Link to original posting of this image on my pitiful blog.)

And for equal time, I did this one too.

Oh, and this one.

[AgThorn]

".... The United States needs our workers so they can maintain their own standards of living, and we need them to put food on the table."

Repeat a lie long enough and people start to believe it ...

[Fixit]

I found two articles (In Spanish) at the Mexico City Newspaper "Reforma". Links:

• Yesterday: 'Vincente' Residente
• Today: Enoja a Mexico legislador de EU

[MeekOneGOP]

hehe! Could be!

[FITZ]

Victor Navarete Olivas, 27, a record vendor at a Mexico City mall, laughed at the headline and said of Mr. Tancredo's use of the poster: "It's beyond insulting and humiliating. It's hilarious and disrespectful at the same time."

At least this guy is cool.

[Fixit]

It is! Woo Hoo!

Checked the linked Mexican articles. They have a picture of my graphic!

Score another one for FR!

[FITZ]

Check out this one ----very very funny:

http://www.diario.com.mx/servicios/hemeroteca/nota.asp?notaid=44832

[Amerigomag]

The United States needs our workers so they can maintain their own standards of living, and we need them to put food on the table.

This cab driver fails to realize that Mexico's poor are bankrupting state economies along the border.

California is a prime example. Both Davis and Bush have promoted illegal immigration and now Davis can't hide the problem any longer and Bush refuses to enter into a dialog about the causes.

Over 40% of California's bloated budget is directed toward public education and over 40% of the students within that system are a consequence of illegal immigration. That's almost $16B annully to educate the children and grandchildren of illegal immigrants. Add in the cost of the public health net and the legal system and you're approaching nearly 40% of California's annual budget. To top it off most of the expenses are directed to children and they don't pay a dime in taxes.

[FITZ]

That is so funny. Where did you have that image posted?

[FITZ]

It appears that the Mexicans are reading FR and Newsmax.com. They actually bothered to translate that Newsmax "Deck of Weasels" ----it was on the front pages of the Mexican papers here.

[Fixit]

The one that Congressman Tancredo used was my first generation.

I posted it on my blog (links above) and also all over FR.

I think it was also used by another freeper in an Aztlan image.

[MeekOneGOP]

Alright ! Way to go !

[FITZ]

I wonder how they got it ---maybe they're spying on us here. Fox isn't going to be very happy with you know ---most likely he's seen the picture you did.

[MeekOneGOP]

Well, folks. I'll be heading out for the day here shortly. Enjoy your weekend !

[Blue Leader]

MeeknMing said......
"This cab driver fails to realize that Mexico's poor are bankrupting state economies along the border."

Well, I live on the border, right on the border, and in the District where Mexicans are represented (I don't think I am) by Representative Ruben Hinojosa, who was quoted in the article.

MeeknMing is entirely correct and I could write a book about it but there isn't the time nor space for it here. I will tell you this and this is but one example.

Yesterday, one of our clients came in. He has a small paint contracting business and tends to stay quite busy. He says he's laid off ALL of his people and is attempting to reposition himself as a one-man home-renovations-painter. He attributes this to the fact that ALL of his competition is hiring ONLY illegals and he can't compete with his legal labor costs.

Just remember that companies employing illegals don't worry about OSHA, workers compensation, hours of work and overtime or benefits. You can work them hard, pay them below the minimum and make them work long hours without overtime. If they don't like it, they get dumped and the next one standing on the street corner gets waved into the back of the truck.

Gotta thank good ol' Ruben for so conscientiously representing the downtrodden masses. Hey, Ruben! Don't worry about us, Primo, we're only American.