Democratic Party candidate Steve Young recently joined Jim Gilchrist in blaming undocumented immigrants for our state's problems and said we should "take our hats off" to him. For ongoing coverage an analysis of the Minuteman campaign and the special election to replace Christopher Cox in the 48th congressional district. I have attempted to upload a video file of Steve Young praising Jim Gilchrist. If you can not see it here, please go to www.ocorganizer.com

John Earl

Orange County Organizer

Great. At least this racist has been exposed so we can add him to the list. If anything positive can be said about Gilchrist, it's that he's dragged the scum out of hiding so the people of California can see them for what they stood for in secret.

What's the likelihood this guy will ever get a vote from the group he's attacking? Nil. At best, the undocumented immigrant will gain citizenship to vote in 8 years. More likely, it'll be much longer before they can vote.

Politicians are always quick to insult minorities when it suits them, then turn around and take the community money and support when it suits them. It's no surprise that Gilchirst has joined their ranks. What a snake.

Gee, I thought this country had at least two political parties. When did the PRI, I mean the republicrats, take over?

Same shit, different smell. Liberals need to get a clue, but this is when you discover how many of them are just as racist as the conservative scum they loath.

> just as racist as the conservative scum ^

Dear Indy media reader,

On behalf of the Human Rights Coalition of California I must request that you retract the following article: http://la.indymedia.org/news/2005/10/137031.php and related inforation from your website.We are a non-profit organization who has done legal observation on the U.S. border and have fought for the human rights of undocumented immigrants and the hispanic community. The link contained leads to a inaccurate article which states that Democratic candidate Steve Young supports Gilchrist's efforts. What was truly said is hats off to Gilchrist for bringing attention to the border issue. We too had seen this article and video and were in disbelief and disappointment. Our coalition investigated further and spoke personally with Orange County novice Democratic candidate, Steve Young. After speaking with a member of his staff, Young personally contacted us and clarified his statements. It would appear that he supports Gilchrist, but the truth is he does not. He has promised us that he repudiates the methodology of the Minuteman Project, but encourages attention of the issue of undocumented immigration. To learn more about us you may visit www.CaliforniaHumanRights.tk We do not want the Hispanic/Latino community to disperse and allow Gilchrist a win for Congress on Dec 6. Thank you for your time and remember to investigate before you invest! Have a great day.

Yours in service,

Ed Herrera

President,

Human Rights Coalition of California

EH:PN

Nice try, but it won't work. It seems that Steve Young is as much in denial about his views on immigration as Gilchrist has been on his. When young said "hats off" oh the kfi radio show (you can see and hear it at www.ocorganizer.com ...and I will NOT take it off line) he was playing to the pro Gilcrhrist anti-immigrant crowd in the audience. Same way he played to other groups with his right-wing pro-war rhetoric. This is a pathetic attempt to cover up for yet another democrat who wants to take the left for granted while playing to the radical right. Mr. Young new what he was saying. He said it and if he has regrets about it, then let him do the explaining on his own instead of having others make excuses for him. I hope that Indymedia will not fall for this despicable attempt to manipulate the newsmedia and the voters.

John Earl

Publisher

Orange County Organizer

Mr. Herrera conveniently forgot to tell you that he is on the California Democratic Party Central Committee. No wonder he is shilling for Steve Young.

Also, although his human rights group condemns the Minuteman patrol, it offers little if any understanding of the underlying cause of "illegal" immigration (neo-liberal, neo-con economics that the democrats and republicans love so much) and calls for greater enforcement and a continuation of exploitative bracero programs rather than real solutions.

The organization's website also seems to place more value in Mexican immigrants as cheap labor than in supporting the right of workers, Mexican or not, to be treated as total human beings, not mere fodder for corporations who want cheap labor and Americans who want to buy cheap goods and services to the harm of others--the Wal-Mart justification, etc.

"The Human Rights Coalition of California is a non-profit, non-violent, organization founded by California State Democratic Central Committee member Ed Herrera of the 78th Democratic Assembly District, on April 2, 2005. The Human Rights Coalition of California was formed in response to the establishment of the Minuteman Project and its presence in the State of California.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Rights_Coalition_of_California"

"Many other organizations stress open borders, we do not believe this is a rational solution and it is not the solution. We advocate on behalf of human rights and understand that there are laws that must be respected in order to secure a society free of anarchy, thus compromise is necessary in this situation. We believe that law enforcing must be left to law enforcement but we will protect people against abuse of power. http://www.californiahumanrights.tk/ "

"Undocumented immigration has always been an issue in the U.S. for years. You have heard about people wanting to do something about the borders. The majority of Americans haven't really thought of the benefits that the immigrants bring to our country. Without the help of these immigrants, legal and not, most of our country’s agriculture wouldn't be possible. If you took a survey of the American public, how many do you think would say that they would be willing to work long hours in the hot sweltering sun picking berries for little pay? I doubt you would find very many. Who wants to pay a pound for different types of produce? I for one know that I wouldn't and doubt that many others would."

I don't doubt that Mr. Herrera has some genuine concerns about human rights, but they seem to be severely limited and self-serving when it comes to his support for a kinder and gentler form of immigrant exploitation and his support for hypocrite/opportunist and pro-war candidate Steve Young.

John Earl

Even though they removed the official seal of California from the headliner, it still looks like some fraudulent intent with the design now.

He's free to repudiate it here.

Other Democrats have gone on that immigrant-hating show and said similar things when they're up against a Republican who is neutral on immigration. That's because most immigrants do not vote, and, immigrant-bashing works to get the votes of some single-issue voters.

What makes Young a fool is that he was complimenting someone running in the AIP, which is a pretty fascist party.

Dear Mr. Earl,

I am taking time to personaly speak out on this issue aside from the committee. Firstly, I simply chair our executive board and have no vote . Our board runs under strict by-laws to manage procedure. I am in the state central committee and although I am aligned politically with a political party does not mean that I am ignorant of the truth much as anyone is aligned politically with a particular political ideology (i.e. liberal, progressive, conservative etc.)

I know and you know that the issues which are responsible for the inhumane treatment of undocumented immigrants (i.e. international economies, outsourcing etc.) I completely believe they should have a pathway to naturalization. The bottom line is we have so many nay sayers and ignorant people in this country that it is virtually impossible to pass legislation without some compromise so that we may protect undocumented immgrants from abuse. I have spoken to hundreds and men and women who themselves were naturalized after a period of time while they were undocumented. Now they are protected as a citizen which sadly, is the only way for many people inthis country to see these people as people. I do not understand what you mean by self serving because I and many other people have placed our lives on the line day and night at the border, establishing a presence and ensuring protection for undocumented people from any vigilance from pro-border ideological groups.( i.e Minutemen FOBP, etc.) I have personally recieved death threats from Minutemen members and its supporters. In spite of this, I will continue to do what I believe is right and that is shed light to the adverse sociological effects of the presence of such groups. As you have stated, there are many underlying factors which contribute to mistreatment of undocumented immigrants, but we focus primarily on those sociological effects and how ithe presence of such groups perpetuates negative stereotypes and attitudes about the Latino/Hispanic people.

That is our goal, to send a message that there are even greater internal matters such as coflicting ethics with the American society on this issue. What i do not understand is if the American society is based on "Christian values" why does it not live up to them and provide equall oppertunity for use of resources? Although, you, others, and I may know human nature through the writings of Thomas Hobbes, John Stuart Mill, and other philosphers, many people do not.This is a question I want dissenters to ask themselves. I am a Christian, but I am not ignorant of issues of equality and treatment. I do not support this war by far. The American publc was decieved by the White House.

I do need to say that we asked for a retraction because we were just as concerned as you are and we investigated. I personally was appauled to read your headline and I called his office demanding to know why this was said.

We are asking for a retraction because this video cuts off the remaining segment in which Young states, " ...for bringing attention to the issue of immigration." We contacted an OC latino-based organization in which Young spoke recently to and they reported that he condemned the method by which Gilchrist was using to address immigration. We, on the board are not all democrats, I might add. It was the board which is asking that you retract your article based on faulty reporting--not reporting and recording everything after the statement which was taken out of context.

I know during our struggles for human rights, we have had statements taken out of context in possible media efforts to distort ligitimate concerns; We do not like this happening to us nor other people. We hold everyone to the same standard, regardless. Wr are not making excuses for anyone and it was only until yesterday that we ever contacted his office. I suggest you do the same if you have concerns so that you may report both your interpretation of the out of context statement and what he claims to have said.

Certainly, as you have stated, people can judge for themselves but, even I was fooled initially, and if we are to succeed over ignorance we must work together if it is in your interest protect the people who pay a higher price to be here (in the U.S.)than those who are here by birth such as you and I.

Care to comment on the misuse of the official seal of state of California previously, and the the stunning likeness that the headliner still bears to most official california sites

Nobody cares about the logo. Don't mess up this thread -- it's the only sane one IMC's had in a while.

Dear Mr. Herrera:

I think you should retract your call for a retraction, on the basis that you have inaccurately stated that I took Steve Young out of context. In fact, had I included all of his remarks, it would have been even more obvious that he's an opportunist who scapegoats immigrants for his personal/political gain.

Your reference to the truncated qoute: " ...for bringing attention to the issue of immigration" basically reiterates what the video segment already revealed. In that segment, Young states: "You've got everyone running in this race, everybody is saying the same thing, except you've got Jim Gilchrist who's out in front and he HAS MADE IT AN ISSUE (emphasis added). I think we need to take our hats off to him."

And just how did Mr. Gilchrist bring attention to the issue of "illegal immigration" (as Young refers to it)? By launching a vigilante campaign against immigrants. But did Young condemn Gilchrist for that? President Bush has, but I don't recall Young doing so. If I missed that part, please provide the quote.

Later, in a segment not uploaded, Young states: "Jim Gilchrist has brought attention to it, but that's what he's done. People were dealing with the immigration problem for a long time. Every hospital president in this state has been dealing with the problem of illegal immigration."

Young is scapegoating immigrants, even though studies show that immigrants are NOT the cause of hospital financial problems and, in fact, cause LESS financial strain than non-immigrants (who are not insured) because they are much less likely to use medical services, despite the fact that their taxes help pay for public health services. He gutlessly ignores the real problems behind hospital closures: lack of patients, high costs from the medical industrial complex, lack of health insurance, etc.

Young also praises democrat Nunez for asking Arnold to declare a state of emergency (an irriesponsible act of opportunism that even Arnold wouldn't do) and other democratic party governors in Arizona and New Mexico who already have done so.

Young repeatedly calls for stricter enforcement of immigration laws, especially going after employers, but also in customs, and criticizes the Bush administration for being too lax in enforement. He says that Democrats "are just as concerned about illegal immigration" as the Republicans, adding that the Democrats will be even tougher in stopping illegal immigration, which he says is bankrupting our hospitals and "social system," which is why he opposes amnesty.

No mention by Young of the underlying causes of immigration (except that they want jobs--Do'h!), nor any credit to "illegal" immigrants for their contributions to our country--not even in the patronizing form in which your human rights group does (paraphrasing: we're so lucky to have cheap, exploitable labor!).

If that's the best that democrats can do, who needs them?

Retraction? You have to be joking!

Sincerely,

John Earl

Yes, I cared enough to ask. When someone commandeers an official logo to bolster thier case or cause, It reveals a sinister underhanded, and sneaky nature? So let Mr Herrera defend it.

Dear Mr. Earl,

I would not disagree on many of the points you made. Scapegoating is not the answer and we have worked with actual congressmen and women who understand the truth behind those who do. Congressman Bob Filner, California's "Border Congressman," has been helpful and creating public awareness--that many politicians scapegoat undocumented immigrants, specifically during trying times for the nation, to direct public attention to other disasterous and politically-damaging events occuring. We do not agree with Young's interpretation of immigration issues, nor his "solutions." We simply ask that you show the full tape or at the very least, allow visitors to view the entire script of the event. This, we believe would be fair and that is what we ask. Thus far you have revealed some additional quotes, but I believe people would like to have access to the whole video or script to judge accurately, for themselves. I know I would greatly appreciate such an effort. Thank you for your responses.

Yours in service,

Ed Herrera

Can you two stop bickering. you made your point and Mr. Earl made his point. it's done. Mr. Ed, Mr. Earl dont want to kiss and make up. you two are fighting like a couple. this is going nowhere now.

One more time:

the misuse of the seal of california to lend credibility that you obviously felt you did not have at the time. Please comment or apologize

And you AyatollahGondola is being a neglected girlfriend of Mr. Ed. he has the right to not answer your question. OK? DONE!

Why does it bother you that I press for an answer from someone else. No...never mind, I will just say if you are unhappy with my quest, it is duly noted

And again mr Herrera, please comment on what I asked

"by johnk Thursday, Nov. 10, 2005 at 6:52 AM

Nobody cares about the logo. Don't mess up this thread -- it's the only sane one IMC's had in a while."

funny how this happens with these pati cake slap fights, over and over and over as if a reader couldn't read for themselves and not just view the lastest bestest reply as being the winner Or was that whiner?.

Dear Mr. Herrera:

I am happy to see that you also disagree with Mr. Young's comments regarding "illegal" immigrants. I have summarized everything that was on my video tape. I guess I could put the entire footage that I have of Mr. Young's appearance, but that may take several days. I went there primarily to tape Gilchrist and Campbell, so I did not tape every second of Young's apprearance, but did get almost all of it. As I said, not once did he condemn Gilchrist's tactics. He did say he was against a state border police because the Feds should play that role instead, in his view. He did NOT, nor did Campbell or any other candidate on the show, condemn Gilchrist's views at all.

I think that we should work together on this. Why don't we start by asking Mr. Young to retract his statements, made that night?

Sincerely,

John Earl