Thread: letter from Howard Dean to the Republicans.

Title: Will Republicans Stop Funding Discriminatory Events?
Source: Democrats.org
URL Source: 1. http://www.democrats.org/a/2006/09/dean_sends_mehl.php
Published: Sep 12, 2006
Author: Howard Dean
Post Date: 2006-09-12 19:42:21 by out damned spot
4 Comments
Will Republicans Stop Funding Discriminatory Events?
September 12, 2006
Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean sent a letter to Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman today calling on him to stop RNC-funded campaign activities that promote discrimination and endorse violence against political opponents. The letter was sent after a Michigan newspaper revealed that an RNC-funded organizer in Michigan is coordinating "Catch an Illegal Immigrant" and "Fun With Guns" events at the University of Michigan, similar to Republican events in other states like Pennsylvania and Texas. In the first event participants would win prizes for catching others posing as illegal immigrants and in the latter, "young Republicans would shoot cardboard cut-outs of Democratic leaders such as Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.)." The report of these RNC-funded activities also comes just two days after the Washington Post reported that "in a pivotal year, [the] GOP plans to get personal." [The Michigan Daily, 9/12/06; Washington Post, 9/10/2006] Additionally, the RNC and College Republicans have a track record of inappropriate and discriminatory campaign tactics:

Ken Mehlman, Chairman Republican National Committee 310 First Street, SE Washington, D.C. 20003
September 12, 2006
Dear Ken,
A troubling article today reported that a Republican National Committee-hired intern is planning events that can only be described as

divisive, potentially dangerous, and discriminatory
(Isn’t this the way you feel about a visitor the comes to you home, uninvited, lives off you, and refuses to leave.)


to promote the Republican Party's agenda at the University of Michigan.
Promoting "Catch an Illegal Immigrant Day," which has been used by the Republican Party in other states including Pennsylvania and Texas, is not only

offensive, it promotes discrimination for political gain.
( you are not talking about the politicians treatment toward the people that has vote them into office and pays their salary. Are they not being offensive, discriminatory against Americans for political gains?)


And an event titled "Fun with Guns" that encourages young Republicans to shoot cardboard cut-outs of Democratic leaders further

promotes intolerance and violence.
( You want to protect illegal immigrants, but do not do the same to protect Americans citizens. We need to be protected from the intolerance of have to live daily and compete daily with illegals for jobs and other services and experience the violence daily.)



These un-American activities cannot go unchallenged.
We'd read that the RNC would use its funds to engage in negative campaigning in a desperate attempt to hold on to power and mobilize Republican voters in November, but these un-American attacks and violent, inflammatory campaign tactics are beyond the pale. As Chairmen of America's two major political parties, we have a responsibility to elevate the political discourse in America. Whether this is directly an RNC funded activity or not, I ask that you not only order such events ceased but also denounce these types of campaign tactics that

breed only hatred, division and fear.
( the fear is of the criminal attack by illegal immigrant on american citizens and the destruction to the land that is on our borders and the destruction to our enviornment by illegal presence. Americans are not the one that are doing the hatred, the division and the fear.)


You said yourself to a gathering of
Hispanic elected officials that America is a "nation of immigrants.a nation united by ideas, not race, creed or place of origin."( there is a difference between illegal immigrant that now flood this country and the nation of immigrants that built this country.)

That same day you also acknowledged that

"we are all held to account by a common rule of law,"
(We would not have this problem if Democrats and Republicans enforced the laws we have on illegal immigration. The National Immigration and Nationality Laws and the real intent of the !4th Amendment. Which was never intended to give citizenship to babies of illegal immigrant.

and that

"respect for this basic concept is critical to an America where we are all treated the same."
( Those right belong to Americans first. You are asking too much for Americans to accept to be treated the same as illegal immigrants who have broken all of our immigration laws. They are criminals just as if they have robbed a bank. The have robed the American people.)

To demonstrate your commitment to these words and ideals you must immediately act to have these desperate, inappropriate attacks stopped. America's democracy can only continue to work if we respect each other, and uphold the values that have made our country great. I hope to hear back from you on this important matter promptly.
Best regards,
Howard Dean, Chairman Democratic National Committee

(We have had enough and you will hear from us in November and in 2008.)

The letter was sent after a Michigan newspaper revealed that an RNC-funded organizer in Michigan is coordinating "Catch an Illegal Immigrant" and "Fun With Guns" events at the University of Michigan, similar to Republican events in other states like Pennsylvania and Texas. In the first event participants would win prizes for catching others posing as illegal immigrants and in the latter, "young Republicans would shoot cardboard cut-outs of Democratic leaders such as Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.).

Leave it to Dean to go national on an issue that is barely worthy of local notice.