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We've just issued the following press release on behalf of Blue America:
PROGRESSIVE BLOG PAC JOINS WITH IMMIGRANT’S RIGHTS GRASSROOTS TO DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY FROM RAHM
Blue America PAC supports Chicago immigrant grassroots in Cong. Emanuel's home district, in a fight for the soul of the Democratic Party on immigration issue
PAC launches ads in Spanish, Polish, and Korean press in Congressman Rahm Emanuel's district
Chicago November 15, 2007 -- The Blue America PAC is joining today with ICIRR (Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights) and Chicago grassroots immigrant groups to demand accountability from Congressman Rahm Emanuel. The PAC is funding ads and robocalls calling on Emanuel to:
“Stop being afraid to fight for immigrants, and start acting like a real leader.”
Speaking for Blue America, Howie Klein said:
A few weeks ago Democratic Party insiders under the aegis of the DCCC held a training session in Chicago for a couple dozen of their favored candidates. Afterwards several of the participants, disgusted, let Blue America know that Rahm Emanuel delivered an ominous message demanding that they "move to the right" on immigration.
And yet Emanuel's own North Side Chicago district is one of the nation's most immigrant-friendly districts. It always has been. And Emanuel never tires of telling the immigrant communities that he is their best friend. They don't believe him because his actions-- and his inactions-- speak far louder than his words.
Starting today, Blue America is teaming up with Illinois' largest immigrants' rights coalition, the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, to help bring a little accountability into the life of Mr. Emanuel.
Blue America PAC is a project of four leading progressive blogs: Firedoglake, Down with Tyranny, Crooks and Liars, and Digby. Formed in August 2006, BlueAmerica raised over half a million dollars for progressive candidates in 2006 and is on track to do even more for 2008, supporting “more and better Democrats.”
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There will be a press conference tomorrow at 11:30 AM Central outside Conressman Rahm Emanuel's office in Chicago (3742 W. Irving Park Ave.) - if you're in town, please come by and show your support. And no matter where you're located, you can join the Accountability for Rahm campaign with a donation at Blue America's Accountability Moment.
Down with Tyranny and The Seminal have more.
J-Ro of The Seminal designed the newspaper ads - An enlarged version in English can be viewed here .
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Zed! hello, Siun!
Siun again!
This is just the English translation of the Spnish language ad placed in Snanish language media.
There are different quotes and graphics for the other communities, representing them each.
Hiya Siun!
Cool! Outstanding! GO BLUE AMERICA!
I’ve had an instinctive distrust for Congressman Emanuel since the first begging letter I received from him. His actions in this case confirm I’ve got pretty good instincts.
Hey Gang!
Pach, Howie and J-Ro have done an awesome job - what a very cool campaign!
And the ICIRR folks are wonderful!
I really like the image on the top of the ad.
I don’t know Rahm–maybe he’s an asshole.
Siun!
Pachacutec @ 3
If that’s English, I definitely need new glasses.
John thinks he may have us murdered
Ah, my bad. Howie has the English here.
The ad in the post above is the Spanish version - the link at the bottom goes to the English translation of the Spanish ad.
The ads for the Polish and Korean communities will have different quotes from members of those communities.
howieklein @ 12
In Chicago, that’s just making a point. Don’t take it personal or nuttin’.
rwcole @ 9
I don’t know Rahm personally either. But I think it is a very safe statement to say that he most definitely IS an a**hole. His actions show it quite tellingly.
Eureka Springs @ 8
J-Ro did that.
The woman in the middle holding her grandkids was deported: that’s Teresa Figueroa.
Rahm, how do you like this thumpin?
Hi Howie and Pach!
Yep - John Amato figures we’re in for it now!
Chi based firepups - it would be wonderful if you could join us at the press conference.
YES!!!!
(and thank you.)
Siun and Blue America! Calling BS when it counts. Good for you, and I’m in!
Pachacutec @ 17
Its a great ad. Hopefully, the hispanic community will recognize those heroes.
Pachacutec @ 17
I don’t understand. Why are they blaming Rahm Emanuel for that?
Oooh! Siun, that’s perfect.
If anything can make Rahm sweat, it’s this.
Now Abrams is whoring for Republicans with Pat PukeCannon on the Spitzer immigration driver license issue. Hillary flipped on licenses too.
Cassie: check out the English version and read the quote from the priest.
I’m more concerned with the poor working class citizens who’ve either lost their job or seen a reduction in wages due the illegal immigrant than I am about the rights of illegal immigrants, so should be the Democratic Party.
Loo Hoo. @ 21
Thanks Loo Hoo! This is gonna be a tough one and we want to keep running ads and robo-calls ’til Rahm cries “uncle.” I already had an e-mail today from the DCCC asking if it was OK for Heath Shuler to call me tomorrow. I’ll invite him over for a chat here when he calls. We have a specially dedicated ActBlue Page for this project.
Pachacutec @ 26
I did.
Do other congressmen help with deportations?
PW - it’s pretty neat, eh? I’m just the PR lady on this … Pach and Howie and J-RO and the ICIRR folk made this happen!
ken melvin @ 27
Keeping a worker underclass hurts all workers. Helping workers means giving the rest of the workers here status and protection.
It’s only Walmart and its ilk who want you to think otherwise. Oh, and the racists.
howieklein @ 28
That’s great ! Give Heath a really bad time, please.
howieklein @ 28
Isn’t it interesting how the DCCC starts paying attention when you make Rahm feel THE FEAR.
Makes me think you should make a habit of it.
What are the facts in the Teresa Figueroa case? Was she in violation of immigration laws? On what basis did her supporters expect Rahm to oppose her deportation?
Don’t get me wrong, I am not anti-immigration and I am not defending Rahm. I would just like to know a few more of the facts.
Howie- I just sent you an email about a related point.
I saw the ad earlier at DWT (in English)
Has the ad already run?
If not, for those of us with older poorer glasses, can the headline part be made somewhat smaller and thus the following text LARGER? p.s. I read the English version.
neurophius @ 34
Right. Then I could understand more of what we are talking about.
VG - the ad is running in the papers, the digital size is not (I think) the same size as the ad buy.
VG: It’s a full page ad, and the text styles should be fine in that setting. Tougher on a computer screen.
The ads begin running tomorrow.
when you click on the picture on the other blog, the picture gets bigger
Siun,
The Blue American PAC is firing on all cylinders with this effort!
This rumble with Rahm is righteous!
Thanks from the peanut gallery!
Valley Girl @ 35
As of now it won’t be running in English, just Spanish, Polish and Korean. If we can collect enough contributions we may do English as well. We’re also trying to do a lot of robo-calls so Rahm’s constituents know where he stands.
What happened to DIGG? bad idea?
What a great effort. Well done, Blues.
SanderO @ 43
Dunno. Glitch.
Mad Dogs (who had an awesome comment at PLs the other day!) … there is no peanut gallery in Blue America … we’re all participants!
Scarecrow @ 44
Its proactive! We’ve got to get Human Rights back on the table. This is powerful stuff.
Pachacutec @ 38
Thanks for the info, Pach.
And, BTW, I already made a contribution when this was first posted at FDL on Saturday.
I kicked in a $5 for myself (plus some extra) and a $5 for Jacquie, who has as ever done awesome work for BA.
Howie loves $5 donations, btw. I already set up my matching challenge last Sat., but if anyone else wants to follow my lead, please do so. (I said I would match $5 donations up to a certain amount.)
OMG! I love Blue America. Brilliance. Rahm is going to have to rethink what POWER means!
Real, representative Democracy at work..This is the way it is supposed to work. Bundling a lot of small contributions can’t be ignored..Heath Schuler calling Howie is a prime example,
“Illegal immigration” is a misnomer. Sneaking across a border is no more illegal than speeding on your way to work. It is usually a civil case if you are caught, although technically the offense is a misdemeanor (like speeding). Once you’ve gotten to where you are going, you think “Whew, no one caught me going 75 in a 60″. Well, it’s the same story for crossing an often imaginary line in the sand called a “border”.
You might like to change that, but please, please, please, stop thinking of them as “illegal”. You’ve done the equivalent yourself (well, maybe not Cassie, she’s too young to drive).
What Rahm and the Clinton gang (I don’t include her in it) are doing to the Democratic Party is devastating and depressing. They are following the model attributed to an old Quebec farmer when faced with the question of whether to vote the government out of power: better fat pigs in power than hungry pigs. Rahm and his ilk are hungry pigs.
They have persuaded themselves (and maybe it’s true, give them credit) that this country is run by and for the rich, and that to stay in power you have to cater to them. The difference between them and Rethugs is that they are ready to buy off the rest of us proles rather than simply suppress us, but the end result is the same, and it is heartbreaking to anyone who lives and breathes the democratic dream.
We are going to have to live with this. In it’s own way it will be as bad as Bush, because we had higher expectations.
Perhaps a spotlight to the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, and other Windy City radio and television outlets might get some additional news attention also.
Gordon M I have been driving for two weeks already!
GordonM @ 51
I prefer ‘Undocumented Aliens’ myself…! 8-)
Steve-AR @ 50
I hope he allows me to tape the call. Jane fixed me up with Skype and this program that records all the Blue America calls. I’m so pissed that I don’t have the hour-long conversation I had last year with Steny Hoyer. It was so classic. But I bet Heath will be funny too.
Can anyone involved with this project respond to my No. 34 above? It was not a rhetorical question. Cassie would like to know, too.
A link would suffice…
Howie-
I know you highlighted an “angel” last weekend, who was willing to match $$ up to a certain amount for this effort.
I gave $$ at that time. What is the status of the “angel offer”?
SnarKassandra @ 54
Learner’s permit or license?
Siun @ 46
Sheesh…you’re making me {{{blush}}}.
Ooops. I guess I’d better pick up my mess of shells on the floor. Don’t want to be littering here at The Lake. LOL!
GordonM @ 59
License!
SnarKassandra @ 54
No fender benders yet? ;-)
neurophius @ 57
Here you go.
SnarKassandra @ 54
Now you tell us? :)
Congratulations.
I just got this in the mail.
SnarKassandra @ 61
Congrats! I missed that. My son is 6 months from getting his.
Scarecrow @ 64
Heh, She’s trumpeted it for some time now…!
First google link on Teresa, a little dated.
Just popped in to say hi, and wondered if the tall foreheads in D.C. or at the local state house can ever think of these people as people with out documents, not comic book villains.
Scarecrow @ 64
My birthday was Novem 1 and I got my license on Nov 2.
CTuttle @ 67
Well, that’s not the first time I’ve been way behind what’s happening with another generation.
OK. I read all about Teresa. But I still don’t understand WHY people expect her congressman to help.
When my mom got arrested, we never told our congressman.
CTuttle @ 55
So that would be ET I presume?
Try “undocumented persons” or “undocumented visitors” as a more accurate description.
My brother used to say I was an alien from planet Female.
I feel kinda bad ‘cuz this is the first time I haven’t left a tip.
SnarKassandra @ 72
Congressmen are asked to help constituents out for all kinds of reasons all the time. They call it “constituent services” and they all do it as part of their job description and to sustain their political viability. Senators, too.
CTuttle @ 55
Aliens sounds like creatures from outer space. Could we please call them undocumented immigrants or undocumented persons?
Thanks for the link, Peterr.
SnarKassandra @ 54
And we’ve been watching from the sidewalk…way, way back on the sidewalk. *g*
So how do you like them gas prices?
My nephew (your age and just got his license) complains he’ll needs his job just to pay for gas to go to his job. And it just ain’t fair.
And I tell him about the “good ol’ days” when 3 bucks would fill a tank and you could drive all day on it.
I prefer ‘Undocumented Aliens’ myself…! 8-)
So that would be ET I presume?
Try “undocumented persons” or “undocumented visitors” as a more accurate description.
Dakine - thanks! my daughter was never happy with the alien title before she became a citizen …
dakine01 @ 73
Heh, as I was typing, I thought of that, yet, alien is the proper legal term…! :P
Pach- do you know anything about the status of the “angel” offer?
It is about time for him to be accountable to all of us. He is another huge problem for the Dems along with the rest of the DLC.They are never on the right issue and they are a bunch of corrupt pols. We have a choice this election and one is to vote for progressives and to throw the rest of the entrenced pols out which includes the Pres candidate that will not be named since she supports everything that is a detriment along with her good pal Rahm etc.
Howie said:
A few weeks ago Democratic Party insiders under the aegis of the DCCC held a training session in Chicago for a couple dozen of their favored candidates. Afterwards several of the participants, disgusted, let Blue America know that Rahm Emanuel delivered an ominous message demanding that they “move to the right” on immigration.
Howie - who were these candidates? Is there a way we can find out? Do you know why these particular candidates were chosen?
Mad Dogs @ 79
Here’s the deal. I have a license but not a car or even use of a car most of the time. So I don’t get to drive anywhere. :( Doesn’t matter what gas costs.
Who’s going to run against Rahm? As nice as this ad is, that’s what’s going to get his attention: real competition in a safe district. As long as the choice is between Rahm and a Republican, everyone will chose Rahm (myself included). That said, currently there’s a Green on the ballot … about whom I know absolutely nothing, including his/her name.
Valley Girl @ 82
In play, as far as I know. Still active.
SnarKassandra @ 72
Members of Congress can introduce what is called a “private bill” that grants a person some kind of legal status and allows them to remain in the country. They are rare and hard to get, but not unheard of. Most often the person has some kind of compelling story but has somehow run afoul of immigration authorities.
What these private bills amount to, of course, is amnesty granted on a case by case basis. According to this WaPo story from July, Carl Levin and Dianne Feinstein lead the Dems in proposing such bills; two of the leading Republicans were Saxby Chambliss and . . . Duncan Hunter? Yep.
But please — don’t ask Duncan to call it amnesty.
SnarKassandra @ 85
Uh-oh, all dolled up and no place to go, eh? ;-)
The other attention thing — other than finding someone NOW to run a serious race against Rahm in 2010 — is for Mark Pera to beat Dan Lipinski in IL 03. Lipinski is real old Chicago machine, just like Rahm … and if Pera wins it will be wind rattling through the bars of the cage (or something like that …). It will make EVERY machine politician in Chicago take notice: esp. Rahm, who knows the netroots don’t like him either.
One point that needs to be made is that if we cannot force comprehensive immigration reform very soon, there will be an overwhelming patchwork of local laws dealing with immigration.
Oklahoma just passed one of the worst anti-immigrant bills out there–HB 1804. It will give the dog-whistle term “States Rights” garlic-soup strength, and pity the judges that overturn these bills.
So much to do…so little time.
Siun @ 7
Very nice to see this outreach — finding common ground with natural allies. Making Rahm sweat makes me smile.
Maybe having to defend himself at home will prevent him from recruiting ex-GOPs and GOP-lites to run against our progressive Blue America candidates.
Rahm, tend to your homefires, please.
I have a friend here in San Diego County who goes to Mexico for serious dental work. (She can’t afford it here.) She tells me that people who walk across the border are not checked for paperwork. Not first hand, but she says that the officers let her through without a glance. She is of Italian heritage, so maybe she “looks” safe, but it still strikes me as bizarre. Whenever I drive across, I have to show paperwork and “speak” so that they know I am a native English speaker.
Oilfieldguy @ 91
I agree, but, look what happened when Hill jumped on that shark…!
It’s not like they are demanding fourty acres and a mule.
I just gave some geld!…This is great thank you all at the lake, this is exciting. I can’t stand Rham and his DINO surrogates!
Siun,
I’m documented. Here and there, that is. The USAF says I’m not documented, but the first question Bill Clinton asked when he got to the White House was “Does ET really exist?”
Careful, or I’ll send my buddies after you.
- ET
Siun @ 46
We are “the people formerly known as the audience” in political and media affairs. We are here. Hear us roar!
Ed*ard Teller @ 97
707! Aloha, ET!
CTuttle @ 94
Heh…yeah. I posted about HB 1804 over at my place and a couple of rightards threw some verbal grenades at me in the comments.
You can check it out if you want. Sometimes these guys are just stupid.
CTuttle @ 81
As is often pointed out (and paraphrased), something may be considered the legal means of expression but that does not make it the correct way of expressing.
Rahm and Shuler will be watching how much we raise for this project. They understand money.
They also understand numbers, so $5 donations are huge too.