Thread: Conservatives Begin New Campaign Targeting Illegal Immigrati

http://www.wral.com/news/9463982/detail.html

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Declaring a partial victory in their battle against the state's gas tax, a coalition of North Carolina conservatives shifted their message Monday, beginning a new radio campaign focused on the state's growing population of illegal immigrants.

Bill Graham, chairman of North Carolina Conservatives United, said illegal immigration is burdening taxpayers and jeopardizing the integrity of the state's elections.

"I want everyone to be educated and aware of these issues," Graham said. "Illegal immigration is something that every voter needs to understand."

North Carolina ranks seventh in the nation with almost 400,000 illegal immigrants, according to the Washington-based Pew Hispanic Center, a nonpartisan research organization.

In his group's latest advertisement, Graham attacks illegal immigrants for abusing the state's education and health care programs. He also questions the state's electoral process, which he suggests may be ripe for fraud.

"Now we need to pass a law that prevents illegal immigrants from getting a driver's license and requires a photo ID to vote, because a nation of immigrants must also be a nation of laws," Graham says in the ad.

Graham, a Salisbury attorney, previously appeared in ads attacking the state's gas tax, which at nearly 30 cents per gallon is one of the highest in the Southeast. But while Graham called for a partial repeal of the tax, lawmakers didn't oblige.

In a budget compromise reached Friday, House and Senate lawmakers agreed to cap the gas tax at its current level, which Graham called a tepid success.

"We're going to continue to work on the gas tax issue," Graham said. "But right now we think illegal immigration is the issue North Carolina voters need to be aware of."

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, only six states require a photo ID before voting. To cast a ballot in North Carolina, voters only provide their name and an address. Republicans have filed a number of bills to strengthen laws for voter identification and registration, but none have made it out of committee in the Democratic-controlled General Assembly.

"We're a haven for illegal immigrants, but the Democrats won't do anything about it," said Senate Minority Leader Phil Berger.

To register as a voter, state residents must supply a drivers' license number. Berger said that in many cases, a taxpayer identification number, easily acquired over the Internet, serves as the form of ID needed to obtain that drivers' license.

George Tatum, the commissioner of the state's Department of Motor Vehicles, said he expects legislation to pass before the end of the current session that would end the use of taxpayer ID numbers as a form of identity verification.

"The General Assembly understands what needs to be done to protect people from fraud," Tatum said.

Conservatives Begin New Campaign Targeting Illegal Immigration

In his group's latest advertisement, Graham attacks illegal immigrants for abusing the state's education and health care programs.

Graham, a Salisbury attorney, previously appeared in ads attacking the state's gas tax,

Is this 'report' supposed to be positive, negative, or just reporting the news? The obvious negative code is there. I would say to the author of the piece "eat my shorts!"

But then you would be Targeting and Attacking him!

I haven't seen the tv ad yet but they were talking about it on radio this AM and were speculating whether or not Jim Graham might run for office.

Against gas tax hike and giving illegals licenses. If he does decide to run, I hope it's for governor.