Austin Mayoral Candidates Pander to Illegal Immigrants

Every single thing about this story from News 8 Austin pisses me off:

Non-voting immigrants weigh in on city elections

Normally, they hide from politicians and TV cameras. But, on this day, they’re making their voices heard.

Antonio Melo admits he can’t vote. But, he’s lived in Austin for 16 years and said that makes the city as much his as anyone else’s.

“I believe the mayor should take us into account because we’re living here,” Melo said. “We’re part of the city of Austin.”

This article doesn’t specify Mr. Melo’s immigration status…but I’m willing to bet it’s “illegal”, otherwise this cry-me-a-river article would have specified it. In which case, Mr. Melo, I don’t care if you’ve been here in my country and city illegally for one day or for 16 years — it’s NOT yours as much as anyone else’s.

According to the 2006-2007 Travis County Immigrant Assessment, only 26 percent of the county’s foreign-born population is naturalized citizens.

Marcelo Tafoya of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) said the remaining non-voting immigrant community still cares about local politics.

And what percentage of them are in our country illegally, Mr. Tafoya?

“A lot of the things that occur in the city and even the county directly affects them — wages, opportunities to work, the fear of INS, although it’s supposed to be a protected city, how we deal with the police,” Tafoya said. “Although they may have no input on the decisions being made, but they do have input on asking why, and that opens the doors for others to come back and say, ‘Wait a minute, they’re right.’

No…our city leaders are supposed to protect the city by enforcing the law.

And, no. They are wrong. As an illegal immigrant in our country and our city, they don’t have a right to any part of our democratic process. None.

Howard Hawhee is one voter who said he does care about documented and undocumented immigrants.

“They are part of the community, whether or not they can vote, and some day they will vote or their children will be voting,” he said.

The candidates at Sunday’s forum seemed to realize that, too.

How sweet — News 8 Austin found a “representative” citizen to support their agenda. But he’s right about one thing…Democrats are hoping for and trying to ensure that illegals are part of the voting process. Well, at least as long as illegals continue to vote Democrat as they have historically.

“We need a strong, steady hand in the mayor’s office to make sure we stay focused on the fundamentals which include creating and saving good jobs with benefits for everyone in Austin,” mayoral candidate Lee Leffingwell said.

Mayoral candidate Brewster McCracken spoke about inclusion.

“I believe it is the City of Austin’s job to provide protection and opportunity and inclusion for everybody in Austin,” he said.

I still haven’t made up my mind about who I’m voting for in the May 9th election for Austin Mayor. I do know who I am not voting for. Thank you  much Mr. Leffingwell and McCracken.

Because, again, it is not the city’s job or role to provide “opportunity and inclusion” for those who are in our country illegally.