Report on Jesse Kelly's ALIPAC endorsement riles some viewers

No story stirred viewer passions this week this quite like KGUN9 News' report on Friday in the District 8 Congressional race. The story pointed out that Jesse Kelly had sought, and received, an endorsement from ALIPAC, a political action committee that Kelly's Republican colleague, Sen. John McCain, had previously attacked as having ties to racist groups.

The viewer comments in reaction to that mainly fall along two lines: (1) the complaints of racism are an attempt by border activists to keep the focus away from the real issue, which is illegal immigration; or (2) it's not true that ALIPAC is tied to racists. Mixed in with those were one or two comments supporting the incumbent Democrat, Gabrielle Giffords, in her contest with Kelly.

"Tim" writes: "Again without factual information KGUN9 News is very quick to make these absurd allegations to support people like Grijalva, who thru his organization of set up schemes, places anyone who does not agree with his outrageous political views, a white supremacist! He has done nothing positive to help American citizens, other than use them as a cover up for his mass of illegal corruption. Giffords possibly started out with good ideas, but has since been controlled by Mexican interests including Grijalva.
McCain's comments are again his usual attempt to cover all the bases, without caring about political affiliation. He must go, for our citizens living in any state that is along our southern border. "

"ScottRN" writes: "Hey Giffords, you TWIT, why can't you run your campaign of the facts rather than making up racism where there is none? Shame on you, you race baiter, why won't you represent the people who elected you and abide by our wishes?"

"cayla99" writes: "In my opinion, racism is when you take an entire group of people, place them above the law, and give them special privileges that no other group is given. By giving amnesty to illegals, that is precisely what you are doing. You are spitting on the one million LEGAL immigrants who come to this country each year by rewarding those who did not follow the laws of our land while continuing to burden LEGAL immigrants with the agreed upon restrictions. One thing I love about the open border people is that when the facts are not on their side, they ALWAYS scream racism."

Correction for "ScottRN" and "cayla99": The Giffords campaign, although it is clearly capitalizing on Kelly's discomfort, did not "make up" the allegations of racism. Nor was it the "open border" types who lead the way in objecting to ALIPAC endorsing a Republican candidate. That distinction belongs to Republican Senator John McCain -- which is what makes the story so fascinating.

More comments:

"o2b12x2" writes: "Crybaby finger pointing...."

"Registered Independent" writes: "Kelly is just another BAD candidate, and Giffords has already proven herself under serious fire. "

"arizona jim" writes: "All illegals Go home we do not want you here. God bless America and anyone that wants to save us from the invasion of illegals from all over the globe. Jesse Kelly has my support and I am not a racist like Grijalva, Romero and the rest of the southern Arizona left wing open borders morons."

"AE1993" writes: "So when will the ADL come forward and actually prove what they are saying? We live with laws that say anyone (or group) is innocent till PROVEN guilty. This means the accuser must have evidence, so the burden of proof is upon the ADL. Come on ADL, let's see the proof ALIPAC is what you say. Don't lie to the public because the cause you are supporting is unpopular and losing, so calling names and making lame accusations is your only way to feel you can pull yourself and your candidates ahead. I also hope the public will start investigating the trash the ADL puts out there to find out what is really true."

"topsec10" writes: "There are so many outright lies being told about ALIPAC I do not know where to begin. Show me any direct links to any racist groups besides just blind accusations without any substance. Any group or person that opposes ILLEGAL Immigration Is labeled as racists by the left wing liberal nutjobs that are desperate to further their political agenda that favors Illegals over American citizens. The democrats will say or do anything to keep amnesty on the table to give them a ready made voting block after any amnesty Is passed. "

"April342" writes: "OH Please! Here the progressives go with the desperation, lies and BS. Alipac bans people regularly from their site who are racist in any way and William Gheen does not tolerate white supremacist in any way, so the ADL and their group of hacks need to find another tune to sing, this one is getting old and stinks to high heaven of desperation."

"ratbstard" writes: "I'm a member of Alipac who happens to live in NYC. I'm a Union construction worker who has friends and associates of every nationality on earth. To be called a racist because I advocate enforcement of immigration law is absurd.
Illegal Aliens are working my trade for wages that are so substandard I couldn't support my family if I accepted that wage. They are willing to live three families or twenty adults in a two bedroom apartment so they can accept the cheap wage and still survive....
I'm not racist, I'm Pissed Off. Can you understand THAT Claire?"

"Rat" is entitled to his opinion, but his swipe at KGUN9 reporter Claire Doan entirely misses the point. Doan did not and has not accused anyone of having ties to racists. Those accusations came from the Anti-Defamation League and from Senator John McCain's campaign. The role of KGUN9 News was to report the accusations, to put them into the context of the Kelly campaign, and to give all concerned a chance to explain and/or defend their views and statements. Our story did that.

Viewers will now have to make up their own minds about where they stand.

KGUN9 News welcomes more viewer feedback on this or any other story we cover. Viewers can post their comments at the end of most of our web postings, including this one; post on our Facebook page; or send e-mails to comments@kgun9.com.

Forrest Carr
KGUN9 News Director
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