Senator (Conrad Burns) jokes about house painter

[deadparrot]

WASHINGTON - Republican Sen. Conrad Burns (news, bio, voting record), whose re-election campaign is pressing for tighter immigration controls, referred to his house painter as "a nice little Guatemalan man" and suggested that worker as well as employees of a roofing company he hired might be in the country illegally.

"The other day, the little fella who does our maintenance work around the house, he's from Guatemala, and I said, 'Could I see your green card?'" Burns said at a June meeting recorded by Democrats. "And Hugo says, 'No.' I said, 'Oh gosh.'"

Burns spokesman Jason Klindt said the worker, Hugo Reyes, is legally in the United States, owns a painting company and the senator "never had any doubt" that Reyes is a legal resident.

"He was telling an anecdotal story about a time he took the extra step to make sure a worker was legal," Klindt said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/senator_immigration

[Greeby]

1. First Allen, now Burns

Any other Repukes wanna sink their reelection chances? :)

[FiveGoodMen]

2. They must believe this will HELP their chances(!)

[movonne]

5. You got to remember they are speaking to their base...their base

loves this kind of thing....

[wellst0nev0ter]

11. Dog Whistle Racism

satisfying to the crowd but has plausible deniability. Works every time :eyes:

[fishwax]

13. nice phrase

"dog whistle racism" :thumbsup: Very well put!

[0007]

19. Right on!

[elehhhhna]

8. The New Burns & Allen -- Comedians!

or The Aristocrats

[tsuki]

10. Burns and Allen, they just aren't as funny as the originals. nt

[otohara]

3. Said The Stupid Wrinkled Old White Man

little fella?

[MissB]

4. "little fella"? What the hell?

[GoddessOfGuinness]

25. Guess he didn't want to use the "n" word.

[zreosumgame]

6. so, in other words

this never happened, the Senator is an idiot and who ever is managing his campaign should be fired. SOunds about right for a repuke LOL

[bikesein]

7. Last line of the article:

"In 1999, Burns issued a written apology after referring to Arabs as "rag heads" during a speech while commenting on oil prices."

He goes around asking for green cards?!?

Nice cast of characters in the GOP Senate club.

[Dover]

9. Two large groups could swing things for the Dems

The Women's Vote (ex-Repub. females) that are deserting the party,
and a newly organized Mexican immigrant population who have been awakened by the immigration issue.
Those are two HUGE groups, and no groups of that size are being lost to Dems.

I also feel the need to add that this is based on the illegal e-voting issues NOT being an issue
this time.........that's a BIG if.

[FormerDem06]

12. You are talking LEGAL Mexican Immigrants right?

Something still feels wierd to me about allow non-citizen immigrants to vote.

[silverojo]

17. If they can vote here

Can I vote in Mexico? I'd love to vote that bastard Vicente Fox out of office. :mad:

[FormerDem06]

18. agreed...I'll go with you...n/t

[Biernuts]

28. Are you kidding? Mexico has rigid controls on 'feriners. n/t

[fleabert]

21. what do you you mean 'still' ?

something feels 'wierd' to me about your post. (and the quick 'atta-boy reply)

[FormerDem06]

22. I don't know...

I guess that it's a forgone conclusion that undocumented folks are going to vote. Here in NC they let them do it through the motor voter program. Give them an ID and register them to vote; since there is no burden to proof citizenship only residency, it leaves the door wide open if you ask me.

I always assumed that voting was a privilege of citizenship, not just residency, so it takes a while to get used to the idea I guess. And I can't stand Vicente Fox; I think he's nothing more than a Bush Tool, helping to redefine North America to the detriment of all Americans.

Getting him out of office and the right person in, would do wonders for that country in my opinion. I guess the million dollar question is how likely is it that the right person will win those "elections" they just had down there?

[fleabert]

26. if your state doesn't verify citizenship, that is a problem with your

state governement, not the people wanting to vote. I applaud anyone who wants to get involved with voting.

http://www.sboe.state.nc.us/


To register to vote in this State, a person must sign a voter declaration attesting that:

* I am a U.S. citizen.
* I will have been a resident of North Carolina and this county for 30 days before the election.
* I will be at least 18 years old by the next general election.
* I am not registered nor will I vote in any other county or state.
* If I have been convicted of a felony, my rights of citizenship have been restored.

As for Mexico- I think they are working hard to figure it out...the wealthy love Fox, the poor do not. Sounds familiar.

[Biernuts]

29. Oh, a signed statement - now that IS tough enforcement!! n/t

[fleabert]

30. totally the fault of the government, and elected officials. not the people

wanting to participate.

[6000eliot]

14. What a condescending fuck.

Sounds like a republican to me.

[BR_Parkway]

15. So he admits to the crime of hiring illegal aliens? Where are the indict-

ments? Arrest warrants? The 24/7 til you puke 'news' coverage just like we have now when man admits crime of killing little blonde girl?

[Tracer]

16. What an insulting boob.

"Little fella"?!

As I am typing this, working on my house are 3 painters.

They are Brazilian. (In this area, the majority of immigrants are from Brazil).

Did I ask them for their green card? Absolutely not.

They work hard, they are doing a fine job --- and they are NOT "little fellas".

[The Gunslinger]

20. See those Republic Party members really care for the immigrants.

Either that or the want those "lttle people" here for cheap labor.

[Sabriel]

23. Another one for Franken's "Racist Roundup"

Anyone want to send it in?

The summer heat is really bringing them out of the woodwork.

[classysassy]

24. Conrad the clown

another racist rethug shows his true colors.

[KamaAina]

27. First initial C, last name Burns

could his middle name be "Montgomery", by any chance?