These two are running in the Primaries for Walt Minnick's seat for Idaho. I watched this debate last night, and we better hope Labrador doesn't win. He is an immigration attorney who represents illegal aliens while professing to be representing Idahoans in his district as an Idaho state legislator. He represented an admitted illegal alien human smuggler. After this criminal served his time in an Idaho prison, Labrador represented him in Appeals court, trying to get the judge to stop his deportation, even though Labrador knew this criminal was wanted for murder in his own country. He was willing to fight to allow a murderer to roam free on our streets in Idaho, putting Idahoans at risk. Labrador should never be allowed to hold a seat in the U.S. Congress!

Raul Labrador and Vaughn Ward clash over earmarks, experience, immigration and consistency in debate
BY JESSIE L. BONNER - THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: 05/12/10

Republican U.S. House hopeful Raul Labrador came out swinging at a debate Tuesday at the Statehouse, sharply criticizing opponent Vaughn Ward for his lack of political experience and for wavering on earmarks and other issues.

Ward, a U.S. Marine and former John McCain aide, countered that he had taken steps to correct mistakes on the campaign trail, jabbed at Labrador's stance on immigration reform and stressed the need for more veterans in Congress, not "status quo" politicians.

"I'm not infallible," Ward said. "There are going to be mistakes along the way."

The two are vying in the May 25 GOP primary to decide who will face U.S. Rep. Walt Minnick, D-Idaho, in November for Idaho's 1st District congressional seat.

Ward and Labrador emphasized the need to limit the reach and spending of the federal government. Neither said they would support raising taxes to helpfinance Social Security in the future.

But they differ in plenty of areas.

In the past several weeks, Idaho media have reported that Ward has made inconsistent remarks on earmarks and his stance on the repeal of the 17th Amendment, which shifted the job of electing U.S. senators from state legislatures to voters.

Ward said in a campaign ad in January that he wants to ban earmarks, which direct taxpayer cash from Congress to specific projects in members' states. But he later said at a campaign stop in Homedale that earmarks ensure federal money goes where it has state or local support.

"You have one candidate that's willing to do anything and say anything to get elected and you have one candidate that's willing to stand by his principles," Labrador said.

Ward also found fault with Labrador, accusing him of missing 40 votes in the 2010 Idaho Legislature.

One of those votes came during a committee hearing on an immigration bill that Labrador co-sponsored.

The bill, which would have punished employers found guilty of knowingly hiring illegal aliens, failed in committee.

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2010/05/1 ... imary.html