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Title: Campaign theme is integrity (and immigration Duke Cunningham)
Source:
Signs on San Diego
URL Source: http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060203/news_7m3forum.html
Published: Feb 4, 2006
Author: Dani Dodge
Post Date: 2006-02-04 22:52:38 by Zipporah
Keywords: immigration, Cunningham), integrity
Views: 88
Comments: 3
.content>.content> ESCONDIDO – Integrity. Integrity. Integrity. And immigration. When the 12 candidates vying to replace disgraced former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham got together yesterday for their first forum, nearly all of them touted their integrity as a selling point. They also laid out their plans to stop illegal immigration. But audience member Charley Wolk noted with a wry smile afterward, you can't really prove integrity with words. Only deeds. And as for issues, the avocado farmer said, he “couldn't tell the Democrats from the Republicans.” The forum, sponsored by the San Diego County Farm Bureau, was held at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido. The candidates are running for the 50th Congressional District seat, empty since November when Cunningham resigned after pleading guilty to taking $2.4 million in bribes. The 50th District roughly stretches from Escondido to Clairemont Mesa and La Jolla and back up to Carlsbad. Although some of the candidates are seasoned politicians such as former Rep. Brian Bilbray, state Sen. Bill Morrow and former state Assemblyman Howard Kaloogian, others are political newcomers. And three new candidates showed up at yesterday's forum: Republicans Victor Ramirez and Milton Gale, and Libertarian Paul King. The candidates sat at a folding table that stretched across the large room in the Conference Center. The forum started with all introducing themselves. They also attempted to answer agriculture-related questions including one about how to balance the illegal immigration problem with the need for more farmworkers. Democrat Francine Busby, a Cardiff school board member who challenged Cunningham in 2004, said she is running to “restore honesty and integrity to the representation of this district and Congress” and promoted her ethics reform policy. “No gifts, no travel, no secret meetings and no outside financial relationships,“ she said. “And no exceptions.” She said the country needs a “smart fence” with radar technology to deter illegal crossing and she supports a guest worker program that allows employers to hire the workers they need. Republican Bilbray, a lobbyist from Carlsbad, reminded the farmers about his years as an Imperial Beach councilman and mayor and as a county supervisor and congressman. “The question to you is who can you trust to go to Washington and represent you. I've done that,” he said. “I don't come with a lot of money in my pocket, but I come with commitment and experience money can't buy.” He said guest workers should be allowed only if applications are made from outside the country, a portion of their salary should be held until they return home, and their children should not become U.S. citizens just because they are born here. Republican Kaloogian, a San Marcos lawyer, reminded the audience that he was a state assemblyman from 1994 to 2000 and had worked to recall Gov. Gray Davis. He said many of the candidates want to make national security a priority and see agriculture succeed. “But who has the leadership qualities to get that done?” he asked. “I think I can.” Kaloogian said “we don't have to shut the borders down . . . we ought to treat the borders as a point of entry just as was we do the airports, so there is a free-flow of people and goods . . . but it's always inspected and we know who they are.” State Sen. Morrow, R-Carlsbad, said he is running to fight illegal immigration and government corruption and to eliminate wasteful spending. Morrow said there's no reason an employer shouldn't be able to call an office at the border and get as many workers as he needs during harvest as long as he guarantees housing, medical benefits and a legal wage. He said the government should hold a portion of the workers' wages until they return to Mexico. Republican Richard Earnest, a businessman and former mayor of Del Mar, said other candidates have business, military and local government experience, but he has all three. He said he intends to set a higher ethical standard by listing every campaign donation on his Web site as he receives it. “I cannot be bossed,” he said. “I cannot be bought.” Earnest said the the county must elevate the protection of its borders to a war-time security level and stop allowing illegal immigrants' children to be citizens because they are born in the United States. Republican Alan Uke, a business owner from Del Mar, said he would help small businesses prosper by dealing with the issues of taxation, litigation and regulation. He said the business community needs a program in which workers can come across the border if they prove they have health insurance and a return ticket to their country. Republican Victor Ramirez, a retired judge from Carlsbad, said: “Integrity does matter. It matters to you. It matters to our country.” He said he plans to prove his integrity by refusing campaign donations while running for the 50th District and by refusing gifts after he's elected. He said a smart border policy would allow a guest worker program that is not just seasonal. Republican Milton Gale, a retired quality assurance specialist from San Diego, said eliminating government corruption will be the issue of the election. “We need to get rid of the earmarking of bills which favors certain companies because they have supported the candidate's campaign,” he said. He called for increased enforcement of laws prohibiting employers from hiring illegal workers and tamper-proof identification cards for guest workers. Libertarian Paul King, a Carlsbad business owner, said America should be a place where people tell the government what they want done, instead of government telling people what should be done. He called the Mexican government a socialist oligarchy and said the United States should support Mexicans trying to overthrow their government. Republican Scott Turner, a former Chargers defensive back from Encinitas, said integrity needs to be restored to Congress and said that as a football player he learned to stand up for what is right. He said he believes in a strong border and a guest worker program. Democrat Chris Young, an Oceanside law student, said law school “made me fall completely in love with our Constitution.” Although she has no political experience, she said she believes she's a “qualified” candidate who would do well in Congress. She said she supports a fence at the border and subsidizing farmers to help pay for guest worker housing and health care. Republican Jeff Newsome, a California Highway Patrol sergeant from Big Bear, said people can rely on a “cop” to get the “con out of Congress.” Newsome said the tide of illegal immigrants must be controlled before a guest worker program is considered. 
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#1. To: Zipporah (#0)
At least he has a plan.
Mr Rumsfeld said the emergence of populist leaders through elections in Latin American was "worrisome".
Sounds like it's way better than what's been proposed!
Goes to the root of the problem. I'll bet Venezuelans and now Bolivians won't be heading for the U.S. anymore.
Mr Rumsfeld said the emergence of populist leaders through elections in Latin American was "worrisome".
Libertarian Paul King, a Carlsbad business owner, said America should be a place where people tell the government what they want done, instead of government telling people what should be done. He called the Mexican government a socialist oligarchy and said the United States should support Mexicans trying to overthrow their government.
#2. To: robin (#1)
#3. To: Zipporah (#2)
Sounds like it's way better than what's been proposed!
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