Thread: CA-Santa Clarita councilman calls himself 'proud racist'

Santa Clarita councilman calls himself 'proud racist'
By Susan Abram, Staff Writer
Updated: 01/23/2010 03:08:38 PM PST



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Santa Clarita councilman calls himself 'proud racist'
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Councilman's comments put him in spotlight

In a heated speech at an anti-illegal-immigration rally, a Santa Clarita city councilman called himself a "proud racist" — a comment that has outraged some residents and political opponents.

Bob Kellar, who has served on the Santa Clarita council for 10 years, made the remarks at a Jan. 16 rally in Santa Clarita, attended by anti-illegal immigration groups and posted on YouTube.

Kellar stood by his remarks in an interview, saying they reflected his frustration with illegal immigration, but weren't intended to express animosity against nonwhites.

"It doesn't mean I'm going to saddle up the horses at midnight," he said.

At the rally,

In an image from a YouTube video made on Jan. 16, 2010, Santa Clarita City Councilman Bob Kellar calls himself "a proud racist" at an anti-immigration rally. Kellar first referred to a statement from President Theodore Roosevelt that says the United States only has room for one flag and one language. He said he had quoted it at a past City Council meeting.
"The only thing I heard back from a couple of people was `Bob, you sound like a racist.'

"I said, `That's good. If that's what you think I am because I happen to believe in America, then I'm a proud racist. You're darn right I am."'

Some Democrats seized on Kellar's remarks as symbolic of the Republican Party's attitudes toward immigration in general.

"The Democratic Party will make a point of singling this out in the upcoming campaign season," said Eric Bauman, chairman of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party.

"Even in conservative communities, we don't expect people to talk like that," Bauman said. "I think it's a metaphor for California's Republican Party that is so out of touch with people in this state. Santa Clarita, even though it's a conservative community, is diverse. I think I'm surprised that Republicans have not stood up and spoken."

Carole Luteness, a community organizer and Democratic leader in Santa Clarita, said Kellar's remarks accurately reflect his attitudes.

"Bob has done some good stuff in this Valley, but his attitude is whites-only, and the rest need not apply," Luteness said.

Luteness said she considers those rallies "just above the Aryan Nation."

"I am not for open borders, but I am not for blaming the victims," she said.

The rally, held at the corner of Magic Mountain Parkway and Valencia Boulevard, was attended by members of several groups that are against illegal immigration, including the Santa Clarita Valley Independent Minutemen.

Kellar said he went not as a councilman, but as a resident of Santa Clarita and a concerned American.

In the interview, he said government officials need to stand strong on immigration and good people have been hurt by those who cross the border illegally.

"I'm a conservative," Kellar said. "I have a big problem with illegals. When are we going to stop all this foolishness? I stand by everything I said."

Also speaking at the rally was Jamiel Shaw Sr., an African-American whose 17-year-old son was gunned down two years ago allegedly by a 19-year-old illegal immigrant and gang member.

Shaw said he felt as Kellar does.

His son, Jamiel Shaw Jr., was a football player and honor student on his way to UCLA, when he was slain near his Arlington Heights home in 2008. A member of the 18th Street Gang and convicted felon, allegedly in the country illegally, is awaiting trial for the slaying.

"My son was murdered by an illegal alien that was released from L.A. County jail on a Saturday night and on Sunday night, he had murdered my son," Shaw said during the rally. "No one called (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). No one cared."

"If this makes me a racist, then hey, I'm going to be the best one I can. It's not racist to be pissed off, and I'm a pissed-off dad. I miss my son."

Such rallies against illegal immigration - as well as those on the other side seeking amnesty and immigration reform - are expected to increase in frequency in coming months as a new reform bill is debated in Congress.

A rally supporting national reform that leads to increased citizenship is scheduled for 11 this morning at the Van Nuys Civic Center.

The congressional bill, introduced in December by U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., proposes strengthening border security but also offers to legalize undocumented workers if they undergo a criminal background check and pay a fine for being here illegally.

While both sides of the immigration issue want reform, the tone of such rallies can be offensive to some because defining an American has always been a touchy subject, said Fernando Guerra, director of the Center for the Study of Los Angeles at Loyola Marymount University.

"We've had these battles (throughout history) as people defined what was an American," Guerra said. "There were the non-English-speaking Germans in Pennsylvania and the Catholics, who couldn't be accepted so they had to create their own universities. There was the question of the African-Americans and Native Americans."

Guerra also said the tone of such rallies can instigate hatred because no distinction is made when using the term "illegal."

"Even though I am a U.S.-born citizen with a Ph.D., as I'm walking down the street, they will use that definition against me," he said.

Raymond Herrera, a former spokesman for the Minuteman Project and founder of his own anti-illegal-immigration group, said he opposes amnesty for the undocumented but also discourages racist rhetoric at gatherings and calls groups such as the Ku Klux Klan "reprehensible."

Still Herrera, whose group is called We the People, California's Crusader, agrees with Kellar's views.

"I wish that all city council members would speak to the issue," Herrera said.

Herrera, who said his grandfather came to the United States from Mexico and was a legal citizen, said other Latinos sometimes call him offensive names. He said his goal is to encourage Mexicans to stand strong against their own government and demand a better life, instead of leaving their country to depend on others.

"I'm called a racist and a coconut for saying this," he said, "but we are invaded by illegal aliens that are Hispanic."

Meanwhile, some of Kellar's fellow council members said the community is divided over the issue but that Kellar's remarks do not represent the council's view as a whole.

"This is a very difficult situation," said Santa Clarita Mayor Pro Tem Marsha McLean. "There are people who feel very strongly on each side (of the immigration issue).

"We (the council members) as individuals are responsible for the way we conduct ourselves. (Kellar) does not represent the council."


http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_14254846

What a goofball. A proud racist is a stupid comment, as this country has many races. He should not have reacted like that, rather saying he was a proud American nationalist. I also am concerned that a public official has fallen for the La Raza spiel that Hispanics are a different race. The dude should study the dictionary a bit more closely.

Originally Posted by vortex

What a goofball. A proud racist is a stupid comment, as this country has many races. He should not have reacted like that, rather saying he was a proud American nationalist. I also am concerned that a public official has fallen for the La Raza spiel that Hispanics are a different race. The dude should study the dictionary a bit more closely.

I agree. Many latinos don't know the difference between race and ethnicity. I have seen Cubans and Colombians call themselves a race rather than an ethnic group. In the Miami Herald comments section someone actually wrote you are racist against Cubans. I think if they want to be a race then they should have Hispanic white and Hispanic black catagories on arrests forms and on all crime stats. Then people will see the whole picture.

`Bob, you sound like a racist.'

"I said, `That's good. If that's what you think I am because I happen to believe in America, then I'm a proud racist. You're darn right I am."'

He didn't call himself a racist, he was playing off others that were calling him one. What's he suppose to say? "No I'm not?"

"If this makes me a racist, then hey, I'm going to be the best one I can. It's not racist to be pissed off, and I'm a pissed-off dad. I miss my son."

People in this country are mad and when the money and job goes and they see illegals working, they are p*ssed. They have a right to be. Exactly why do we have laws if we pick and choose the ones we want to enforce?

"I'm called a racist and a coconut for saying this," he said, "but we are invaded by illegal aliens that are Hispanic."

None of these men said anything racist, they speak the truth and Liberals and deranged people don't and won't get it. Thinking wth your heart gets you killed. You need to think with your head.

THEY NEED TO ENFORCE OUR IMMIGRATION LAWS!

The illegal aliens and their supporters have cheapened the word "racist" so much by labeling every American opposed to Obama or opposed to amnesty as a racist, they have now popularized the term.

I've warned them over and over for four years now that each time they abused some person or group by falsely calling them racist they would take away the power of the words.

The have broken down the Classical Conditioning of the American public by over using the unconnected stimulus (bell) of the race card.

Pavlov's racist dogs have stopped drooling and now Americans are standing up and saying "If opposing illegal immigration or Obama makes me racist then I am a proud racist!"

SIGN ME UP ON THE FRONT ROW OF THAT MOVEMENT! Black, Hispanic, and Asian racists are welcome in the proud racist movement as well.

W

Originally Posted by ALIPAC

The illegal aliens and their supporters have cheapened the word "racist" so much by labeling every American opposed to Obama or opposed to amnesty as a racist, they have now popularized the term.

I've warned them over and over for four years now that each time they abused some person or group by falsely calling them racist they would take away the power of the words.

The have broken down the Classical Conditioning of the American public by over using the unconnected stimulus (bell) of the race card.

Pavlov's racist dogs have stopped drooling and now Americans are standing up and saying "If opposing illegal immigration or Obama makes me racist then I am a proud racist!"

SIGN ME UP ON THE FRONT ROW OF THAT MOVEMENT! Black, Hispanic, and Asian racists are welcome in the proud racist movement as well.

W

I agree and feel it's about time we complained about racist names for white or caucasain. It makes me sick when I hear white people called gringos in comment sections of the newspapers but yet if you call them the s word or the w word then you get edited and called racist.

"I said, `That's good. If that's what you think I am because I happen to believe in America, then I'm a proud racist. You're darn right I am."'

I definitely agree he is not saying he is a racist! But ofcourse we know who the real racists are.

The Teaparty, 9/12 and Anti-Illegal groups are identified by the MSM as 'All White", and Brown won Massachu on the White Vote, and they will be calling him a RACIST for supporting illegal alien crackdowns, so he was just trying to use that ammo against them. That is not the way to do it, but you can get very frustrated when dealing with the attacks, and dealing with them head on is sometimes the way to go.

I'm called a racist, bigot and xenophobe when I leave comments in the newspaper concerning Somali. They have not been an asset to our state. They are mostly in 3 cities and the two I know about have been over taken by political correctness. It really fries my *ss.....

Have you noticed that if you know a lot about illegal immigration or Refugees and you try to explain something, you are a racist.

Footbaths and prayer room in schools? WTH????? Yet US itizens can't do anything religous in a school? Are the laws for JUST US???

Kids are in big trouble if they bring any ham into the schools in those cities. The schools don't serve it because it offends Muslims. TOUGH!!!

Since when should we change laws for illegals or people who "we saved their lives" and they are not one bit apprecative of it.

My tolerance is G O N E!! This stupid government allows 35 terrorist training camps within America????? They hate Infadels and Jews and yet we just look away.

At least now with CAIR being a certified (FBI) terrorist organization, maybe we can get a handle on them before the next Jihad.

He probably is NOT a racist at all. Racism denotes a hatred towards another group and it doesnt sound like he hates anyone. He is just angry and frustrated at the tactics that supporters of illegal aliens and the progressives (PROGRESSIVES BEING THE REAL RACISTS) use....

The Progressives on the other hand are INCITING racism towards white people and thats FAR MORE racist than this clown.