Thursday, November 29, 2007
A Colorado town says, "Enough is enough!"
The Wall Street Journal never tires of telling its readers that politicians who propose measures to crack down on illegal immigration either won't get elected or will be turned out of office. Reckon what the folks at the WSJ think 'bout this:
"GREELEY, COLO. -- Tom Selders is still baffled at how quickly the city he served for years turned on him.
"The two-term mayor of this conservative farm town had been a political fixture for nearly two decades. A businessman who prided himself on bringing efficiency to city government, Selders infuriated his constituents after jumping into the national debate over illegal immigration. In May he spoke at an open forum in Washington about the effects of last year's immigration raid on a meatpacking plant here, which led to the detention of 262 undocumented workers.
"'Many families and children were devastated by parents being arrested and detained,' Selders said. "Children -- citizens of the United States -- were left without parents.'
"The reaction in Greeley, whose Latino population has nearly tripled since 1980, was swift and furious. Selders, who was seeking a third term as mayor, was overwhelmed with angry calls. He became a regular target on local talk radio. A mailer linking him to illegal immigrant gang members flooded mailboxes.
"Earlier this month Selders was ousted from the nonpartisan post, losing to a retired police officer by a 3-2 margin."
"GREELEY, COLO. -- Tom Selders is still baffled at how quickly the city he served for years turned on him.
"The two-term mayor of this conservative farm town had been a political fixture for nearly two decades. A businessman who prided himself on bringing efficiency to city government, Selders infuriated his constituents after jumping into the national debate over illegal immigration. In May he spoke at an open forum in Washington about the effects of last year's immigration raid on a meatpacking plant here, which led to the detention of 262 undocumented workers.
"'Many families and children were devastated by parents being arrested and detained,' Selders said. "Children -- citizens of the United States -- were left without parents.'
"The reaction in Greeley, whose Latino population has nearly tripled since 1980, was swift and furious. Selders, who was seeking a third term as mayor, was overwhelmed with angry calls. He became a regular target on local talk radio. A mailer linking him to illegal immigrant gang members flooded mailboxes.
"Earlier this month Selders was ousted from the nonpartisan post, losing to a retired police officer by a 3-2 margin."
# posted by Joltin' Django @ Thursday, November 29, 2007 
