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05-03-2005, 08:15 AM #1
Some See Racism In Candidate's Ads
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Some see racism in candidate's ads
Irving mayoral hopeful drops 'third world' wording after complaint
09:41 PM CDT on Monday, May 2, 2005
By ERIC AASEN / The Dallas Morning News
Irving mayoral candidate Terry Waldrum asked residents in a newspaper advertisement if they were "tired of the neighborhood businesses that look like they belong in a third world country" or "West Dallas."
Some minority leaders say the ads – which Mr. Waldrum reworded after receiving a complaint – are racist.
Reaction to the ads follows recent events that some say have fanned racial tensions in Irving.
Results of a recent city survey included dozens of negative comments about Irving's growing minority population, including: "Quit pandering to illegal immigrants." In addition, black and Hispanic students were involved in a fight this year at Irving High School. And in January, a Hispanic man said he was struck by an Irving police officer who was fired after the incident.
Mr. Waldrum, a former Irving City Council and school board member, said he never intended to run an ad that could be interpreted as racist. Hearing from the community caused him to re-examine the content, said Mr. Waldrum, who said diversity in Irving is "a good thing."
Hispanics make up about 31 percent of Irving's population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2000 data.
"I saw their point, and that's why we changed it," Mr. Waldrum said.
Manny Benavides, president of the Irving chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens, said, "If this is not bigotry, if this is not racism, I don't know what is."
Anthony Bond, past president of the NAACP's Irving chapter, called the ads "veiled racism."
"There's no place for it," he said. "It's a slap in the face to all people who believe in racial equality."
Two versions of Mr. Waldrum's ad ran in the February and March editions of the Irving Rambler, a weekly publication. The ads begin with a question: "Are you tired of your family and friends moving out of Irving?"
The ads also state: "Are you tired of multiple families living in the single-family rental property next door?" and "Are you tired of the trash and numerous vehicles parked in your neighbor's yard?"
Mr. Waldrum, who ran for Congress last year, said he dropped the "third world country" reference in the ad after receiving a phone call from a person concerned about the content.
"I got one complaint, and that's all I needed to make a change," he said.
He replaced "third world country" with "West Dallas." He said he received no complaints after making the change.
The ads were designed to address code enforcement, said Mr. Waldrum, one of seven candidates running for mayor. Code enforcement has been one of the hottest topics in Irving in recent months, with residents complaining about the need for better enforcement and the council studying possible code reforms.
But Mr. Benavides said that the ads shed light on underlying racial tension. Some in Irving are blaming Hispanics for "everything that's wrong in the city," he said. Council member James Dickens, the council's only Hispanic, doesn't consider the ads to be racist. But, he said, the ad "leaves room for interpretation – and not good interpretation."
Herbert Gears, a mayoral candidate and former council member, said he doesn't think Mr. Waldrum intended to offend anyone through his ads. But the ad "unfairly characterizes certain people in a negative way. Looking for blame and wanting to characterize something in a negative fashion is not going to be part of the solution," he said.
Hortensia Lucas can relate. The owner of Arturo's, a Mexican restaurant in Irving, said that some former diners, who are white, have moved from south Irving to the city's north side because of the increasing diversity in their neighborhoods.
The city needs more support for Hispanics, she said.
"We need more Hispanic politicians that will inspire us," she said.
Mr. Waldrum said in a candidate debate last month that city officials must do a better job of interacting with Hispanics to inform them of city services.
"You have to show up where they live, where they work, in their neighborhoods," Mr. Waldrum said at the debate.
Since late March, Mr. Waldrum's ads in the Rambler have taken a different tone. More recent ads tell readers: "I am asking you to take a positive step and make a change in Irving's direction!"
Al DÃÂ*a staff writer Ignacio Laguarda contributed to this report.
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05-03-2005, 08:21 AM #2
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[quote]Results of a recent city survey included dozens of negative comments about Irving's growing minority population, including: "Quit pandering to illegal immigrants." In addition, black and Hispanic students were involved in a fight this year at Irving High School. And in January, a Hispanic man said he was struck by an Irving police officer who was fired after the incident.
{This is RACIST? Speaking the truth about LAW BREAKERS is RACIST?}
Mr. Waldrum, a former Irving City Council and school board member, said he never intended to run an ad that could be interpreted as racist. Hearing from the community caused him to re-examine the content, said Mr. Waldrum, who said diversity in Irving is "a good thing."
{BACKING DOWN from the truth? AFRAID of the RACIST LABEL? Here's part of the problem!! AFRAID TO SPEAK THE TRUTH!!}[/quote]Join our efforts to Secure America's Borders and End Illegal Immigration by Joining ALIPAC's E-Mail Alerts network (CLICK HERE)
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05-03-2005, 08:24 AM #3
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Across the country, it is very apparent that one of their goals is to create a false truth................that ILLEGALS ARE A LEGAL MINORITY. In this way they can play the RACE CARD without being CHALLENGED.
IMO, it's time we CHALLENGED THEM every single time this happens.Join our efforts to Secure America's Borders and End Illegal Immigration by Joining ALIPAC's E-Mail Alerts network (CLICK HERE)
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05-03-2005, 09:02 AM #4
Diesel
Isn't racist and illegal two different words? As long as politicians are cowards and self serving, Americans can forget about solving our illegal
aliens problems. Politicians must be told we will not vote for you as long
as you do not support the agenda of the majority of the people. It is no
secret that illegals can't vote and if they are bold enough to try, let the
justice system do their job.
The answer to rid America of illegals in one month is to fine each employer
three thousand dollars a day for each illegal you hire and the same amount for each day they work. The country's deficit could be paid off
in a few years.
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05-03-2005, 09:07 AM #5
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DIESEL wrote
It is no
secret that illegals can't vote and if they are bold enough to try, let the
justice system do their job.Join our efforts to Secure America's Borders and End Illegal Immigration by Joining ALIPAC's E-Mail Alerts network (CLICK HERE)
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05-03-2005, 09:36 AM #6
So basically this coward sold out because he was afraid of being called a racist. No backbone whatsoever. If it were me I would have stuck with the ad and explained why. We have to stop caring what these extremists think. It seems like whenever a minority group screams racists for whatever reason, most politicans crawl under a rock and hide. Stop being girlie men and start fighting for what's right.
Manny Benavides, president of the Irving chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens, said, "If this is not bigotry, if this is not racism, I don't know what is."
"There's no place for it," he said. "It's a slap in the face to all people who believe in racial equality."
"I got one complaint, and that's all I needed to make a change," he said.Please support our fight against illegal immigration by joining ALIPAC's email alerts here https://eepurl.com/cktGTn
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05-03-2005, 09:46 AM #7
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DMAN, that's my point..........I see it as one part of the battle. Challenging every official that BACKS DOWN to this RACIST label.
Twisting truth is the enemy's tool and they've had 30+ years to perfect it.
It's no different than how Arnold immediately came out and CHANGED HIS VERBIAGE concerning the borders. I saw that as an immediate surrender. Just his action gave them POWER.Join our efforts to Secure America's Borders and End Illegal Immigration by Joining ALIPAC's E-Mail Alerts network (CLICK HERE)
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