At our November general meeting during which seven Club members presented the credentials of the leading seven Democratic contenders for the Presidential nomination the statement was made that Barack Obama was in favor of completing the wall between the U.S. and Mexico for the full length of the border. Where did this information come from? I have spent hours reading all of Obama's statements on this and other topics that have been published on the internet, both by his campaign aides and in some cases by groups that are opposed to his candidacy. Nowhere can I find such a statement. I did find that he voted in favor of the Manager's Amendment offered by Sen. Specter (R) to the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006. This amendment included a provision that requires consultation with the government of Mexico concerning the construction of additional fencing and related security structures on the Mexican border. This would virtually guarantee that the fence along the U.S.-Mexico border would never be completed. This amendment passed by a vote of 56 to 41.
His campaign website states that "he supports additional personnel, infrastructure and technology on the border and at our ports of entry. Obama believes we need additional Customs and Border Protection agents equipped with better technology and real-time intelligence". The word "infrastructure" could possibly mean fencing, but that is an inference, not a fact.
Did hearing this statement about Obama and the border fence influence your vote for the most favorable candidate in the straw poll that ended the program? Obama did win over Clinton, but only by the slightest margin: 29% to 26% of total votes cast. Did you change your mind before voting for Obama and instead vote for one of the other candidates as a result of what you heard then? With the new evidence stated above would you change your vote if you had the chance? Make your voice heard by clicking the Comment below and letting us know what you think.
2 comments:
Darl,
Yesterday I sent you a hard copy of the page I found on Obama's web site where it was written "voted yes on building a fence alone the Mexican border". In the interest of space on the power point presentation I shortened it to "build a fence along mexican border". You will note it also stated..."voted yes on establishing a Guest Worker...and yes on allowing illegal aliens to participate on Social Securityprogram...and other quotes on immigration issues.
I object to calling the foreign born workers among us "illegal aliens" and prefer the less perjorative title "undocumented workers". Most are highly motivated workers who add greatlly to our gross domestic productivity.
Joan
Post a Comment