Thread: Tom Potterville: The city that works for illegals

Please folks, by all means give David Reinhard a big thank you from across the country, and let him know it is from ALIPAC members, for his support of what we all know is right about this raid!!
THE DEL MONTE RAID

Thursday, June 14, 2007

David Reinhard
The Oregonian

"I am angered by this morning's arrest by federal officers of approximately 150 Portland residents who were working at a local produce company."

Oh, poor Tom Potter. Portland's mayor is angry. Federal law enforcement officials were out doing their jobs -- actually rounding up people who were working here illegally and using Social Security numbers belonging to others, actually arresting people who allegedly helped Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. hire the illegal workers, and otherwise enforcing U.S. immigration laws -- and Mayor Potter is angry.

Too bad.

You might think Potter has enough to do these days on the grand matters within his jurisdiction -- filling Portland potholes, fly-specking the city's diversity-awareness programs or enforcing the jaywalking statutes he's so keen on. But Potter's puffy sanctimony knows no limit. After rushing out a press release announcing his anger, His Honor unbosomed himself on the national immigration issue:

"[To] go after local workers who are here to support their families while filling the demands of local businesses for their labor is bad policy. It also serves as a reminder of the failure of our national leaders to deliver an immigration policy that is both fair and humane to families and acknowledges the economic realities of our country. Our nation would be better served if this kind of energy was focused on creating a comprehensive approach to immigration reform . . . ."

This from a mayor who has a difficult time coming up with voting majorities on the Portland City Council. This from a mayor whose recent bid to change Portland's form of government went down in flames at the polls. Please.

Indeed, it's the prissy views of people like Potter that make "comprehensive" immigration reform so difficult to achieve, and I write this as a supporter of some form of comprehensive reform. Everyone says that beefed-up enforcement -- on the border and at the job site -- must be part of immigration reform, along with some regularization of illegal immigrants who've been here a while. But when the federal government actually goes out and enforces existing immigration laws -- or when there are moves to ensure real enforcement before regularization -- the Potters of the world cry foul. Even when employers and their staffing outfits are hiring illegals in droves. Even when the illegal immigrants and their enablers are hijacking the Social Security of bonafide U.S. citizens, dead and alive.

It makes you wonder if they're really serious about border enforcement or employer sanctions. Or do they only use these catch phrases to leverage the almost-amnesty provisions in their reform packages? Whatever the case, this kind of smarmy chatter doesn't do anything to enhance the already shaky credibility of comprehensive reform champions.

Potter said his "heart goes out to the families dealing with the aftermath" of Tuesday's raids, and that's a noble impulse. This must be frightening and tough, particularly for their children. But tenderheartedness too often leads to mush-headedness on the immigration issue.

For starters, the illegal workers are the ones who've put their families in this tough spot. They're the ones who've broken the law to come and work here. Why blame federal officials for simply enforcing our laws?

The mush-headedness was on gaudy display in Potter's press release when he served up the old "We're a nation of immigrants" boilerplate. "Immigrants provide more than mere labor in our community," he said. "They have long enriched our history, our culture and our city."

All true. The problem, however, isn't with immigrants who've "long enriched our history, our culture and our city." It's with illegal immigrants who've violated our borders, our immigration law and our Social Security numbers. Illegal immigration is the issue. Potter cannot even bring himself to use the term and define the problem properly. Yet he's more than pleased to pop off on what other levels of government should do to fix the problem. Insufferable, no?

Maybe Portland's angry and addled mayor would be more concerned if the illegal immigrants in Tuesday's raid had been picked up for jaywalking.

David Reinhard, associate editor, can be reached at 503-221-8152 or davidreinhard@news.oregonian.com.



©2007 The Oregonian

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Well, he's already heard from me and many fed-up people in this area alone, plus many more, I'm sure!! The Oregonians letters to the editor section was full in yesterdays paper and almost ALL were against Potter and for the raids.

Good AmerianE, these people need evidently to be reminded of the laws and just what their job is.
Why all of a sudden does everyone have a problem with our laws being enforce? Guess they don't mind living i choas and anarchy!!

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"RED ALERT"
We need a flood of 'No compromise" calls and e-mails into these Senate offices fast! Bush is bribing Republican TO PUSH S1348. Come on everyone time is crucial call all the senators not just your own.
LETS ROLL!! you are the new patriots!

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Sosad, they are all for enforcing the laws, they like....those laws which ae convenient for the far lefts agenda and that of the OBLer's.

Originally Posted by AmericanElizabeth

Sosad, they are all for enforcing the laws, they like....those laws which ae convenient for the far lefts agenda and that of the OBLer's.

They enforce all laws for citizens and the very same laws they don't enforce for illegals, talk about favoritism. They are allowed to drink and drive, forge documents, etc

I called and left a message for the lilly-livered pansy-ass.

This mayor is buddy-buddy with this anarchist group that believes in riding bikes everywhere, and the absolute rights of bike riders. This group calls themselves "Critical Mass", or "Rose City Critical Mass".

This group has had members who will "bump" into a motorist who is trying to turn right, and then state that that motorist was not paying attention that they were there, and start, sometimes, a brawl, and have also with public transportation drivers (Tri-Met).

Mayor Tom Potter is not only chummy with this group, he has rode with them in their parades on bikes to prove their point that bikes are the new thing instead of cars, even over public transportation.

Then the radical anti-fur people, who were targeting this one long-time Portland furrier, and were in front of that companies doors verbally harassing, threatening and also spreading feces (who's?) on the sidewalk in front to deter customers. The mayor sat back and simply told the furrier (who had been in the city for over 100 years) to move their business elsewhere!!!!!

This is his attitude and outlook.