DNC: Dean Sends Mehlman Letter on RNC Funded Discriminatory and Un-America

[Omaha Steve]

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=72238

DNC: Dean Sends Mehlman Letter on RNC Funded Discriminatory and Un-American Campaign Activities

9/12/2006 5:29:00 PM

To: National Desk

Contact: Stacie Paxton or Luis Miranda, 202-863-8148, both of the DNC Press Office

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 /U.S. Newswire/ -- 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:

-- RNC Hired Intern is Planning "Catch an Illegal Immigrant" and "Fun With Guns" Events. "Morgan Wilkins, the intern hired by the Republican National Committee to win the hearts and minds of Michigan 20-somethings, is planning events that some may find odd. To others, they may be offensive. One such idea is 'Catch an Illegal Immigrant Day,' in which a volunteer would play the part of an illegal immigrant and hide somewhere on campus while others try to find him. The winner would receive a prize. Her other ideas include an event called 'Fun with Guns,' in which young Republicans would use a BB gun or paintball gun to shoot cardboard cut-outs of Democratic leaders such as Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.)" (The Michigan Daily, 9/12/06)

-- College Republicans at Penn State Proposed Playing "Catch an Illegal Immigrant" As Segue Into Immigration Discussion. The College Republicans at Penn State University wanted to enter the debate about the nation's borders by playing a "Catch an Illegal Immigrant Game."People would be invited to "catch" group members wearing orange shirts symbolizing illegal aliens. Amid the student outcry that ensued, they softened their plan to an illegal immigration awareness day in which leafleting and speech- making would let both sides air their views on immigration policies. (Scripps News Service, 4/14/06)

FULL story at link above.

[Syrinx]

1. racist, violent hide-and-seek for adults

How very Republican.

[damntexdem]

15. They pulled this crap (catch-an-immigrant) on my campus last year.

Led to student protests against such racism. But I'm sure it pulled in a few of the weak-minded, which is probably all they expect to do.

[countmyvote4real]

2. I guess only "Jesus Camp Movie" can help us now.

Well as long as their money left on dresser is good, DU is no less a whore than MSM. I'm just saying I'm sick of the constant Jesus Camp barrage.

[Syrinx]

3. what's wrong with "Jesus Camp?"

I'm under the impression that the movie ridicules evangelical wackos. And I hear "Ring Of Fire" host Mike Papantonio narrates.

[countmyvote4real]

4. I'm just sick of the images.

If they are going to make this kind investment in a media buy/barrage, you'd think that they would mix it up a little.

It might ultimately be a message that I support, but I'm getting turned off before I ever choose to see it.

[Syrinx]

5. fair enough

I rarely notice the ads. Maybe I need to get my peripheral vision checked. :)

[countmyvote4real]

6. I've been good at that, too, since the Google ads appeared.

OMG, there it is again at the bottom of the screen. If it were a cockroach, I would be slamming my shoe onto it (not very Zen, sorry.) Yet, it's my monitor. (I'm not going to slam that.)

[I_Make_Mistakes]

7. If you donate, then you can block the ads. It's not like you have

to donate a million, otherwise, it's really a small price to pay for a free site.

[Syrinx]

8. now, I think the google ads ARE annoying

They just ugly up the screen. But you can get rid of those if you donate. I think a buck will do it. Don't quote me on that though. ;)

[iverglas]

9. the web of deceit, the trail of money

Right-wing money is working hard to eliminate all decency from university campuses in the US.

I followed the trail a bit in this post in the gun dungeon:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=118&topic_id=126351&mesg_id=126382

(about a raffle of firearms on a university campus, by a supposed student publication which, it turns out, surprise surprise, is part of the Collegiate Network, which is part of the Intercollegiate Studies Institute ... which is funded by Coors, Scaife, Bechtel, Dow ...)

Bizarrely (ha ha), setting up gun clubs on campus is one of the campus Republican organizing tools.

http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0D1FFB3B5A0C768EDDAC0894DB404482
(just the abstract if not subscribed)

John Colapinto article on young conservative Republicans who have organized for assault against university establishment, triggering surge of conservative campus activism reflecting renewed shift to right on many defining issues after several years of students gravitating toward more liberal policies; movement is fueled by array of conservative interest groups spending money to advance right-wing agenda; origins of movement lie with William F Buckley, who helped creative Intercollegiate Studies Institute, one of several groups behind conservative movement of 1980's, which gave rise to Ann Coulter and Ralph Reed among others; ...

http://hiramhover.typepad.com/hiramhover/campus_life/index.html
(an excerpt from a recent Washington Times article)

"We go to the gun range because it's fun and educational," said Michaela LeBlanc, a senior at Smith College in Northampton, Mass. Miss LeBlanc travels to the nearby Smith & Wesson Shooting Sports Center with friends from the Smith College Republicans. This fall, they will seek recognition from the college as an official club.

...

The conservative Leadership Institute, based in Arlington, is among the outside organizations helping students start campus gun clubs.

The institute formed its Campus Leadership Program in 1997 "to assist conservative students in the forming of independent groups on their own campuses," said Morton Blackwell, founder and president of the institute.

and other articles on point, including this:

In a moment of unusual sanity, the NRA last week repudiated the kids at SUNY New Paltz who want to organize an armed campus militia. Now, the national College Republicans have followed suit:

... the 200,000-member national organization behind the New Paltz chapter of the College Republicans has bailed on Peters for supporting the militia idea.

The College Republican National Committee has issued a statement distancing itself from the local group, saying it "lacks sensible action."

Looks like maybe the Michiganers didn't get the message. Michigan, militia ... what could go better together?

http://wmugop.blogspot.com/2006_06_18_wmugop_archive.html

The Western Right
Welcome to the blog by and for the Western Michigan University College Republicans! ...

Campus gun club

Gun Owners of America and the Leadership Institute are working together to create gun clubs on campus. GOA provides the details:

"Do you know someone who is pro-gun, who likes working with college age kids, and who is in need of a full-time job in the fall?

Well if so, former Rep. Steve Stockman (R) has a deal for him.

Stockman is the Director of the Campus Leadership Program (CLP) in northern Virginia. The CLP is a project of the Leadership Institute, which trains conservative activists and places them in key level positions around the country -- both in government and the media.

The CLP project focuses specifically on college campuses, helping conservative students start independent groups that are fighting to reclaim the campus from decades of leftist abuses. The CLP has started 722 conservative clubs in schools in all 50 states.

But they have very few gun clubs, which is something they would like to change.

If'n you don't know Gun Owners of America, you want to google Larry Pratt, but not on a full stomach.

Funny how the Republicans seem to see guns as a right-wing thing.

[Demit]

10. Shooting cardboard cut-outs of Democratic leaders?

Promoted on campus by the RNC? That's pretty bad. That's disgusting.

[Tellurian]

12. Could be the inspiration for the new movie

The Assassination of the president.. and a creative out for the DNC.

[lumberjack_jeff]

13. The funny thing is, the thread I read before this one..

... was about the movie depicting the assassination of Bush.

RNC campaign events that use the opportunity to shoot Democrats to draw participants, dilute my concern about the movie.

Gun makers rejoice. You've set up the conditions where you sell arms to both sides. :(

[warrens]

18. Hmm, sounds like a natural for Cheney et al

After all, those fucks actually do kill people. I'd pay a buck or two...

[KoKo]

11. I thought this was a joke when I read the first few lines....but it's not.

How sick is this?

[denverbill]

14. If only Republicans were in power, they'd fix this immigrant problem.

Yeah, that's the ticket. What a fucking bunch of stupid college kids.

[maxrandb]

16. Part of me wants to say

"screw asking them to stop, let's start playing as dirty as they are".

I've become increasing less tolerant since the * regime came to power.

[Chi-Town Exile]

17. I hope KO will do a report about this on Countdown. eom

[karynnj]

19. Imagine how quick the Secret Service would be there

if Democrats did this with Bush and Cheney. (Question Bill Clinton has SS as an ex-president, does Hillary?)

"Her other ideas include an event called 'Fun with Guns,' in which young Republicans would use a BB gun or paintball gun to shoot cardboard cut-outs of Democratic leaders such as Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.)" (The Michigan Daily, 9/12/06)"

This is sick.