John McCain Using IAF To Push Amnesty

From AZCentral.com

"He (McCain) also discussed immigration in separate sessions with the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, a group of clergy and evangelical leaders from the Arizona Interfaith Network/Valley Interfaith Project and a group of Valley Hispanic civic leaders, his office said."

The Arizona Interfaith Network/Valley Interfaith Project is an affiliate of the Saul Alinsky Industrial Areas Foundation.

McCain certainly isn't the first Arizona politician to work closely with the IAF.

Governor Brewer

Jeff Flake

Former State Senator Amanda Aguirre

Former State Senator Jerry Lewis

And, of course, the IAF has infiltrated our schools, "for the children."

President Obama's 2008 campaign team talks Alinsky IAF strategy.  They said, 

"Obama comes from a very particular organizing tradition.  And it was founded by this guy, Saul Alinsky, in the 1940s.  He founded an organization called the Industrial Areas Foundation that then spun off a number of different groups including a network called Gamaliel....

There's a couple of key principles in the way that the IAF organizes.  First is that you don't organize around an issue, you organize for POWER."

From the Alinsky's Rules for Radicals playbook:

5.  Ridicule is man's most potent weapon.

8.  Keep the pressure on.  Never let up.

10. The major premise for tactics is the development of operations that will maintain a constant pressure upon the opposition.

11.  If you push a negative hard enough, it will push through and become a positive.

13.  Pick the target.  Freeze it.  Personalize it.  Polarize it.

Hate To Say We Told You So

But, We Told You So.

The sequel to the 2003   2005    2007 attempt at Comprehensive Immigration Reform starring John McCain and now

SENATOR Jeff Flake.

 

You can brush up on our previous Jeff Flake posts about his amnesty stance here, here, here, and here.

Jeff Flake's remarks at an Immigration Law and Policy Conference at Georgetown University 2005
 

Flake discussed 3 key elements to ensure action on Comprehensive Immigration Reform:

1. President's active involvement
2. including businesses, labor and immigration advocates
3. Movement on the Senate side, particularly because the House is more polarized on this issue.

Border Legislative Conference

The Border Legislative Conference began in 2002 and is comprised of legislative representatives from states along the US/Mexico border.  Members meet regularly to discuss issues relating to the border.

In 2003, the BLC declared:

Whereas, the goal of the Border Legislative Conference is to empower border state legislators to engage in the binational agenda and provide input and direction in the development of policy between both countries;

 

On the subject of  IMMIGRATION:  (pay attention to the number of immigration buzz words)

The members of the Border Legislative Conference conducted an open and passionate discussion on the topic of immigration. Participating legislators strongly reaffirmed their call on the federal governments of the United States and Mexico to work towards the implementation of a comprehensive immigration accord that addresses the United States’ demand for workers and the border security needs of both countries.

Some of the concepts which were adopted at the conference included:

• Limited state resources should not be diverted to support policies and initiatives that tolerate or result in racial profiling in border communities;


• It is the United States government’s obligation to fund and oversee a well-trained Border Patrol acting consciously of basic human rights of immigrants;


• Legislation, or any acts that violate the human rights of immigrants, documented or undocumented, should be condemned. Law enforcement agencies, both federal and state, must treat all immigrants with respect and dignity and adhere to the legal rights they are entitled under state, federal or international treaties, especially the rights of minors through the utilization of procedures and programs that protect them;


• Legislation that focuses solely on enforcement will be ineffective. Border legislators support fair and comprehensive immigration legislation that balances border security concerns with recognition of the U.S. demand for workers in the numerous sectors of the U.S. labor force, including agriculture, construction, and the service economy;


• Border legislators support laws that offer a path to citizenship, under clearly defined guidelines, to immigrants who have demonstrated citizenship, paid taxes, and birthed children and grandchildren;


• A temporary worker program that allows employers to sponsor low-skilled immigrant workers to obtain residence status should be supported. Undocumented students under the age of 21 should be able to satisfy the requirements under such a program by attending an institution of higher education or a secondary school full-time;


• Border legislators support legislation that provides a larger number of employment and family-based residency cards to promote family unification and reduce backlogs in application processing;


• The ongoing implementation of the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America between the U.S., Canada and Mexico, aimed at establishing a common security strategy, competitiveness, quality of life, and to promote economic growth by streamlining the secure movement of low-risk traffic across our shared borders, should be supported;


• Border legislators support legislation that authorizes additional federal funds to states and local governments for reimbursement of the indirect costs relation to the incarceration of undocumented immigrants should be supported; as well as for the health and educational needs of immigrant populations;

Discourage state legislation aimed at taxing immigrants' remittances; and border legislators recognize and respect signed international immigration agreements between United States and Mexico.

Remember 2003?  Jeff Flake, John McCain and Jim Kolbe were trying to push through their idea of "Comprehensive Immigration Reform".  It was so much to the liking of immigration activist, Frank Sherry, that his response was,

THIS IS HUGE!

Fast Forward to 2008:

Legislators from the State of Sonora presented members of the Border Legislative Conference a resolution expressing strong concerns regarding the adoption and implementation of an employer sanctions law in the State of Arizona. The law imposes penalties on employers that knowingly or intentionally hire undocumented immigrants in Arizona. The resolution was unanimously supported by Mexico members of the Border Legislative Conference. Mexico members requested the Chair and Vice Chair of the Border Legislative Conference that the document be included in the meeting minutes to ensure the expressions and concerns of the Mexico delegation regarding this law are recorded.

So, we are not allowed to pass laws and create policy unless they are first approved by other nations?  Sounds like one of the excuses the US attorney used when he argued recently in front of the Supreme Court over portions of SB1070.  What happened to sovereignty?  What are we even doing agreeing to resolutions with other countries that are not in our nation's best interest?

The Mexican BLC representatives were upset by the E-Verify bill which passed the Arizona legislature in 2007.  The same bill which sparked a lawsuit against the state of Arizona and which one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit was  Maricopa County Board of Supervisors candidate, Steve Chucri.

(Chucri, President of the Arizona Restaurant Association, is seen standing on the far right, next to Jason LeVecke, Carl's Jr. franchise owner, and Mac Magruder who owns several McDonalds franchises in the valley.  Businesses that depend on cheap labor).

There was another BLC conference held in San Diego around the same week in April 2008.  According to the minutes, they also discussed immigration:

The members of the Border Legislative Conference unanimously adopted Resolution 2005-

01 urging the federal governments of the United States and Mexico to accelerate discussions

on the topic of immigration. The resolution also expresses concerns over the current impasse

in the United States Congress on immigration reform, as well as a lack of progress on

practical and comprehensive legislative solutions to address this important matter.

They also appointed then Representative, Amanda Aguirre to the BLC Health Committee.  She certainly knows all about how to take advantage of   utilize healthcare resources at the border.

Jeff Flake was again trying to push through comprehensive immigration reform around the same time.



In 2011, the BLC claimed they supported immigration policy that included:

• ...fair and comprehensive immigration legislation that balances border security concerns with recognition of the U.S. need for workers in certain sectors, and that does not preclude them from consideration from eventual citizenship;

• A comprehensive, bipartisan immigration approach that is endorsed by immigrant advocates, and other important stakeholders such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Service Employees International Union, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and the Western Growers Association, as well as their counterparts in Mexico. Additionally, the Utah Compact, which was recently adopted, should be seriously considered by the U.S. Western States.

• ...supports a more humane and appropriate family-friendly system aimed at the legal residency of young people who were involuntarily taken to the U.S. when they were children, who attended school, and who are currently attending an institution of higher education in the U.S.;

• Increase the quotas of employment and increase family based green cards to promote family unification and reduce waiting times for the consideration of their application;

US Chamber of Commerce? 

(Director of US Chamber of Commerce in 2007 giving Flake an award at the Arizona Employers for Immigration Reform conference)

SEIU? 

(Eliseo Medina is a representative of the SEIU seen here at the Supreme Court Hearing on Arizona's immigration bill)

US Conference of Catholic Bishops?  The same group who has ties to radical organizations such as the Center for Community Change who promotes abortion and gay marriage?  (Jerry Lewis should be familiar with CCC.  They donated at least $9000 of "in kind" donations to Promise Arizona during the recall election and who then canvassed on Lewis' behalf. They also were represented at the Supreme Court hearing.)

Western Growers Association?
The same group who signed off on the Arizona Accord along with groups like Chicanos por la Causa, IAF affiliated organizations, and Jerry Lewis?  The group that bemoans any kind of enforcement legislation to combat illegal immigration?

Did we mention that Rep Russ Jones is one of the members of the BLC appointed to represent Arizona?
Stay tuned for more connections....

Hypocrisy. How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count The Ways.

Benjamin Franklin once said,

Half the truth is often a great lie.

#1
For someone who criticizes his opponent every chance he gets for being a lobbyist, Kirk Adams seems to readily surround HIMSELF with plenty of them.  There are at least seven members of his own Campaign Finance Committee who are currently registered as lobbyists in Arizona.  People like

Kevin DeMenna, Joseph Abate, Jim Norton, Wendy Briggs, John Mangum, Don Isaacson, and John Kaites.

We hope they don't have plans to ever run for political office.  Or, at least not against Mr. Adams. 


#2

According to Kirk Adams' legislature bio, he was Chairman of the Arizona Leadership Council for the lobbying organization called the National Federation of Independent Business.  Yes, he was a lobbyist himself.

His bio also states that he served as the small business representative on the Governor’s Task Force for the Health Care System from 2002-2004.  This might explain all of the lobbyist and health care special interest group donations he received for his legislative campaigns.  Unfortunately for Mr. Adams, the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association has chosen this time to enthusiastically endorse his opponent, Matt Salmon.

In a University of Phoenix  article from October 2011 it says,

Adams, who studied business administration at the University, began to interact with the government in his advocacy role, occasionally meeting with the Arizona State Legislature and testifying on bills that would affect small businesses. “I quickly realized that I knew a lot more about small business than most of the legislature.”

#3

A couple of weeks ago, Jon Kyl organized a fundraiser for Kirk Adams at the #3 location in Washington DC for lobbyists with special guest, John "I-don't-know-if-he-supports-me-or-not" McCain. 

What's even MORE interesting about this event is the letter that accompanied the invitation.   

- 53% of voters polled said they wouldn't vote for a former lobbyist?  So, why would they vote for Adams?

- 76% had a favorable opinion of Senator Kyl?  The same Senator Kyl who was a lobbyist with Jennings Strouss prior to his political career?

#4

As if the last fundraiser wasn't duplicitous enough, Mr. Adams is holding yet ANOTHER fundraiser this Friday, March 30th, sponsored by Veridus.  A LOBBYING GROUP.  Who works for Veridus?  Wendy Briggs, one of Kirk Adams' Finance Committee members.  Ms. Briggs isn't just ANY lobbyist...she is Arizona's top female lobbyist!

 Since Mr. Adams seems to be SO averse to lobbyists, we would like to inform him of his options.

1.  He can stop recruiting them to be a part of his campaign.

2.  He can stop holding fundraisers with them.

3.  He can give back the 20% plus in donations they have made to his campaign.

4.  He can stop being a hypocrite.

At some point, one would have to ask themselves, if Mr. Adams is so quick to have us believe that his words have merit while his actions and associations tell a different story,
what will he be like if thrown in with the sharks in Washington DC?

Does he have so little to stand on that he has to resort to these kinds of deflection tactics?

Adlai Stevenson once said,

A hypocrite is the kind of politician who would 
cut down a redwood tree,
then mount the stump and make a speech for conservation.

Mr. Adams...get off your stump.

Kirk Adams... And His Little Friend, Too

We've already exposed the fact that Kirk Adams:

1.  Donated to a PAC which then made donations to liberal Democrats throughout the Country.

2.  Has members on his Campaign Finance Committee who donated to liberal Democrats.

We know he obviously has the blessing of Jon Kyl.

But, what about people like Jeff Flake or John McCain?  They seem to be awfully silent with an endorsement.  Why?

After all, Jeff Flake's former staffer, Chad Heywood, is Kirk Adams' Campaign Manager.  Even a novice in politics can recognize that doesn't just "happen".  Discussions take place in advance of these political shifts.  Especially when it has to do with who would be a good "replacement".   Adams donated $500 to Jeff Flake's US Senate campaign in October 2011.

(Adams also donated $500 to Ben Quayle's campaign in September 2011 and who, in turn, glowingly endorsed Adams for Congress.  You know, the weasel  guy we said we would remind you about because he has decided to run for Congress against Rep. Schweikert in a district of which he doesn't even reside?  Well, we're taking the opportunity to remind you again.....)

And McCain?  At the very least, one would think he might have an interest in who he would be working closely with in Washington.  John McCain was happy to receive Kirk Adams' endorsement for reelection in 2010.  McCain even put Mr. Adams' glowing endorsement on his Facebook page in March 2010:

 U.S. Senator John McCain’s re-election campaign today announced that 35 current and former Arizona state legislators, including House Speaker Kirk Adams, have endorsed Senator John McCain for re-election to the United States Senate.

“There is no greater champion for Arizona than Senator John McCain,” said House Speaker Kirk Adams. “No one is working harder than Senator McCain to fight the liberal agenda in Washington, and to promote low-tax, pro-growth policies that will get Arizona’s economy back on track. Arizona needs John McCain in the U.S. Senate so he can continue his strong advocacy for our great state, and fight for the conservative principles to which he has devoted his entire career.”

“I am pleased and honored to have the support of Speaker Adams and so many fine Republican leaders,” said Senator John McCain.

Two months later, Adams donated $700 to the FRIENDS OF JOHN MCCAIN PAC.


Is Adams trying to distance himself from McFlake?  Surely he knows that those names tend to leave a bad taste in people's mouths and can't afford to risk losing their potential votes.  He also must be aware of the need to distance himself from the appearance of collusion.

However, it appears that while McCain hasn't FORMALLY endorsed Adams, he has been a financial supporter of Adams since at least the end of last year.

Gilbert Watch uncovered a video which exposes an interesting timeline of events.

It points out that on December 28, 2011, McCain's COUNTRY FIRST PAC donated $5000 to Kirk Adams for Congress. 

The COUNTRY FIRST PAC recruits big name and big money donors such as Jason LeVecke who contributed upwards of $15,000 in 2009.  Remember LeVecke?  He is the Carl's Jr Franchiser.  He also spoke at an Employers for Immigration Reform breakfast with Flake in 2007 as well as was part of the lawsuit against AZ over E-verify along with Maricopa County Board of Supervisors candidate, Steve Chucri, President of the Arizona Restaurant Association.  The LeVecke family also donated $20,000 to the FRIENDS OF JOHN MCCAIN PAC in the 2010 election cycle.  The same year Adams made his $700 donation.

Two weeks after the $5000 campaign infusion from the COUNTRY FIRST PAC, Adams spoke at a Red Mountain Tea Party event and was asked if John McCain endorsed him.

Adams' scripted response?  "John McCain has not endorsed my candidacy."

Recognizing the need to be more to the point, the question was changed to ask, "Is John McCain SUPPORTING you?

His response?

"You know what?  I don't know.  I hope he is."

And then, very politically savvy Adams, bridged the response to say, "I want the support of EVERYBODY in the state and in my district."


Is Adams receiving so many $5000 checks that he overlooked the contribution that came from McCain's PAC?

On March 15th, Kirk Adams held a $1000 per plate fundraiser at the Bistro Bis in the Hotel George in Washington DC with "special guest"... John McCain.

A little tidbit about Bistro Bis...It is the #3 Washington restaurant for politicians and lobbyists (wait, LOBBYISTS?).  

Now, one would THINK that a big money fundraiser with a special guest like John McCain would be something the Adams campaign would want to brag about.  He has pictures of himself with Jon Kyl on his campaign sites.  One would also think that Mr. Adams would have already sent out an email blast along with a new campaign video and pictures touting the event and his big money  name supporters.  After all, his campaign sends out emails every other time some no-name person who we're supposed to know and care about, endorses Adams.

Oh, wait.  We aren't supposed to KNOW about this fundraiser.  Because, Adams doesn't KNOW if McCain "supports" him or not.  He just HOPES he does...

Of course, McCain's COUNTRY FIRST PAC also donated $5000 to Jeff Flake in June 2011.  Shortly after he announced his run for US Senate.

You do the math.

Kirk Adams And His Finance Committee Members

Kirk Adams announced his intentions to run for Congress on April 28, 2011.  Miraculously, he managed to put together a list of deep pocket heavy hitters in less than 11 days.  Amazing!  Goes to show what a Kyl/McCain/Flake donor list can do for someone. 

Finance Committee Members:
Joe Abate, Hon. Stan Barnes, Dr. Craig Barrett, Michael Bidwill, Wendy Briggs, Drew Brown, Jim Click, Jr., Jerry Colangelo, Jerry Coleman, Beth & Chad Coons, Majority Leader Steve Court, Nan & Webb Crockett, Eric Crown, Hon. Bob Fannin & Dr. Lisa Fannin, Anita & Ross Farnsworth, Sr., Michael Preston Green, Amy & Derrick Hall, Scott K. Henderson, Paul Hickman, Karen & Bob Hobbs, Sr., C.A. Howlett, Mike Ingram, Don Isaacson, Ivan D. Johnson, Hon. John Kaites, Randy & Ken Kendrick, John K. Mangum, Norman McClelland, Kelly & Jim Norton, Dr. Eric Novack, Suzy & Scott Perkinson, D. Michael Rappoport, Jordan Rose, Heather & Dr. Paul Sandstrom, Hon. Fife Symington, Arizona Speaker Andy Tobin, Steve Twist, Dan Withers

Let's see what kind of donors are on this Finance Committee. 
Red - Flake
Blue - Kyl
Black - McCain
White - Adams
Green - Jerry Lewis
Purple - Misc. Democrats


Joseph Abate -  3/25/11  250   '06 250, '05 1000     '08 1000, '09 500, '10 500   Giffords '06 500, '08 250,  Arizona Democrat Executive Committee '06 300, '07 600, '08 300, '09 300, '10 300   Pastor '05 1000  Kirkpatrick  '07 250, '08 250
Jerry Coleman - '10 500
Beth and Chad Coons - '07 2300, 3/25/11 1000        '05 2000, '06 950    '08 390, 6/14/11 2500   848
Ross and Anita Farnsworth - '05 2000, '07 3600, '09 1000, '10 2000, 6/14/11 2400     '06  5000     6/11  5000   848
Scott Perkinson - '05 1000, '07 500, '10 500, 6/26/11 500   05 500   5/16/11 1000, 6/30/11 2500   424
Jim Norton - '08 390   Kirkpatrick (D) '08 500, '09 500
Kelly Norton - '05 500, '06 750, '06 1900 Giffords '05 2000, '06 1000 Pastor '10 2400
Stan Barnes - '06 3300    '08 2200, '09 2300     '08 390   Giffords  '05 1000, '07 500, '09 500, Kirkpatrick '08 500, '07 500, '09 500, '10 500,  Democrat Executive Committee 3000
Kevin Demenna - '04 2500, '05 1000, '07 1000, 6/11 2500   '05 2000    '08 390  
Webb Crockett - '08 300
Jim Click - '05 2000, '07 2300, 2/25/11 5000  5/23/11  3000
Wendy Briggs -  '05 1000, '07 1000   '05 1000, '06 2250   '09 740, 6/28/11  250   Kirkpatrick '09 250, '10 500   Mitchell  '10 500   Giffords '10 250
Michael Bidwell - '09 200
Craig Barrett - '07 4600, '09 3600, '10 1200, 4/4/11 5000   6/14/11 2500
Eric Crown -  '05 4100, '07 4600, '09 5000, 3/28/11 5000   '06 6700    5/16/11 5000
Bob and Dr. Lisa Fannin - '10 2000 (upwards of $75k to the Republican Party since 2003)
Michael Green - 3/14/11 2500   '09 410, 6/21/11 2500
Derrick Hall -  '07 2300, '10 4800    6/16/11 2500 
Karen and Bob Hobbs -   '07 1800, '08 1000, '10 2000    '06 10,500     '08 2300   (upwards of $20k to the Republican Party since 2004)
C.A. Howlett -  '05 500
Mike Ingram - '05 100   '09 410
Don Isaacson - '07 250   '06 4000   '07 2300, '09 500    '09 300,  5/27/11  1000    Giffords '06 250, '08 250, '09 500  Pastor '06 250
Ivan Johnson -  '07 300   '05 250   '07 2000, '10 500
John Kaites -  '06 3000   '07 2300, '08 1000, '10 4800    '09 390
Randy Kendrick - '05 4000, '07 4600, 3/7/11 2500   '05 3000, '06 10,500   '07 2300, '08 32,000, '09 4600    '09 390, 6/23/11 5000
Ken Kendrick -   6/23/11 2500
John Mangum -  '06 2500    '09 1000
Norman McClelland - '05 3000, '07 4600, '10 4800, 2/25/11 5000    '05 2000, '06 10,500    '07 4600, '10 5000    5/23/11 2500
Eric Novack - 6/29/11 1000    '10 500    6/29/11  1000
Michael Rappoport - Giffords '06 250, '07 250, '08 500   Udall Colorado (D) 500
Jordan Rose - '06 3000   '08 31,000   6/10/11 2500   Giffords '10 1000
Heather Sandstrom -  '06 1500
Paul Sandstrom - '05 700, '06 200, '07 300, '08 250   '06 500   '10 1000
Fife Symington -  3/31/11  1000    '06 1000
Steve Twist - 6/29/11 2500   '04 2000, '05 2100    '05 2100,  '09 390, 6/29/11 2500
Dan Withers -  6/28/11 5000

The list looks an awful lot like this list for a fundraising dinner for John McCain in March 2010.

Honorary co chairs included Jon Kyl and Jeff Flake.  Event co chairs were Vicki and Jim Click and
Anita and Ross Farnsworth.  The host committee included Joe Abate, Wendy Briggs, Dr. Lisa and Bob Fannin, Ken Kendrick, Mike Rappoport.

In 2005, Pres. Bush stumped for Jon Kyl.  Dr Fannin along with US Airways Exec C.A. Howlett were ones who greeted the president when he arrived and attended the $1000 per plate dinner.

Paul Hickman was McCain's policy director in 2010.  Previous to that position, he was McCain's Arizona Chief of Staff.

Bob and Karen Hobbs purchased Barry Goldwater's home in 2000. 


Are we reading the donations correctly? Adams is receiving support from people who have made significant donations to Democrats?

Someday, people will realize that when these names appear as endorsements for a candidate, it is a sure sign to vote for the "other guy".