Thread: Massachusetts seems to have lost its way

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Groups push Bay State boycott: Right-wingers decry Kennedy-McCain plan for immigrant amnesty
By Jay Fitzgerald
Boston Herald General Economics Reporter

Sunday, June 25, 2006

Outraged conservative groups opposed to giving illegal immigrants amnesty in the United States are calling for a nationwide tourism boycott of Massachusetts to protest Sen. Edward M. Kennedy’s stance on the hot-button political issue.

“Massachusetts seems to have lost its way,” said Barry Weinstein, a writer for the influential right-wing Human Events magazine, in which Weinstein recently urged hundreds of thousands of like-minded activists to boycott the Bay State when going on vacations or short visits.

“It’s the only thing they understand - getting hit in the pocketbook,” said John Clark, congressional liaison for the American Immigration Control Foundation, which has about 230,000 members.

The various groups banding together are fuming over Kennedy’s co-authoring with Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain a Senate amendment that would allow many illegal immigrants to stay in the country if they agree to a number of strict stipulations.

Kennedy, a Democrat, and McCain, a Republican and a possible presidential candidate, would allow immigrants to stay in the country if they agree to pay back taxes and a $2,000 fine, as well as work six years on a special green card and then wait five years to gain the right to apply for citizenship.

Kennedy’s office defended the plan, arguing it does not amount to an amnesty - and noting that if illegal immigrants fail to abide by the rules, they would be forced to leave the country.

The Senate measure is now before the House. Arizona also is the target of a similar boycott effort due to McCain’s views.

A Kennedy spokeswoman said the Senate’s liberal lion is “proud to stand with” McCain in finding a fair compromise.

“He understands how emotional and divisive an issue like immigration is for people,” said spokeswoman Melissa Wagoner.

But critics say the Kennedy-McCain amendment is amnesty by another name - and Massachusetts and Arizona must pay for electing the two senators.

“They seem to keep re-electing traitors,” said Barbara Coe, president of the California Coalition for Immigration Reform and co-author of that state’s 1994 Proposition 187 that tried to strip immigrants of public welfare benefits.

There were mixed signals about the boycott from members of the Minuteman Project, a group of volunteer citizens that has gained widespread media attention for voluntarily patrolling the nation’s borders in recent months.

A spokesman for the California-based Minuteman Project said “boycotts don’t work,” and the group isn’t planning to partake in the action. But he did note the group plans to take out an anti-Kennedy billboard ad in downtown Boston to highlight his stand on immigration.

A Minuteman rally also is planned for next month in Boston, said spokesman Tim Bueler.

But Weinstein and Clark, both members of the Minuteman Project, said they believe the group will back the boycott.

Nevertheless, Pat Moscaritolo, president of the Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau, said he doubts the boycott will have much impact on the city’s booming tourism business.

Ironically, some of the groups bashing Massachusetts boast logos that feature famous patriotic symbols from the Bay State - such as the Minuteman statue in Concord and Paul Revere and his famous lantern.

Weinstein said he’s aware of the irony but wanted to send a message to Massachusetts voters: “You’ve lost your way.”





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Jay Fitzgerald

Jay Fitzgerald has been a journalist and blogger for years. He's now the general economics reporter for the Boston Herald.
» Herald EconoBlog




Sen. Edward M. Kennedy supports amnesty for illegal immigrants. (File)


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bh.heraldinteractive.com: 0.03762:Sun, 25 Jun 2006 02:37:45 GMT

Massachusetts seems to have lost its way

I think Massachusetts lost it's way 50 some years ago when they elected that scumbag Kennedy the first time.

This article has already been posted, I posted it myself. Let them boycott the state we can blame old teddie boy for that. Let those businesses that will lose money go after him for it. Serves him right. And no we have not all voted for teddie boy, he has bought his seat for years. His campaign contributions for this years election are already up to 19 million, gee does it not make you think who is bankrolling old teddie here? Certainly not us the MA taxpayers that's for sure.