Questions about the journalists on Mitt Romney’s lawn
Well, this is fascinating. Two Boston Globe reporters hung out on Mitt Romney’s lawn last week and other Globe staffers have been scoping out the lawn over the last two months:
Standing on stage at a Republican debate on the Gulf Coast of Florida last week, Mitt Romney repeatedly lashed out at rival Rudy Giuliani for providing sanctuary to illegal immigrants in New York City.
Yet, the very next morning, on Thursday, at least two illegal immigrants stepped out of a hulking maroon pickup truck in the driveway of Romney’s Belmont house, then proceeded to spend several hours raking leaves, clearing debris from Romney’s tennis court, and loading the refuse back on to the truck.
In fact, their work was part of a regular pattern. Despite a Globe story in Dec. 2006 that highlighted Romney’s use of illegal immigrants to tend to his lawn, Romney continued to employ the same landscaping company – until today. The landscaping company, in turn, continued to employ illegal immigrants.
Two of the workers confirmed in separate interviews with Globe reporters last week that they were in the country without documents. One said he had paid $7,000 to a smuggler to escort him across the desert into Arizona; the other said he had come to the country with a student visa that was now expired. Both were seen on the lawn by either Globe reporters or photographers over the last two months.
The Globe piece published this evening on the paper’s website is accompanied by a massive photo, snapped through a fence, showing the lawn company owner mowing Romney’s lawn.
Questions abound:
Will Geraldo Rivera and his open-borders companions accuse the reporters of Nazi-like tactics for “harassing” the illegal immigrants?
Will the Globe reporters be accused of, ahem, “stalking” the poor illegals and invading privacy? Note that they didn’t just drive by the house once. They hung out on the lawn over the last two months.
And when is it permissible to ask an illegal alien his citizenship status?
Now, the answers are loud and clear:
It isn’t “harassment” when liberal MSM journalists spy on illegal aliens…if it will embarrass a Republican presidential candidate.
It isn’t “stalking” when liberal MSM journalists snap photos of your lawn and conduct two-month-long recoinnasance missions…if it will embarrass a Republican presidential candidate.
And while it’s bad for police to ask suspected criminal aliens their citizenship status, it’s fine and dandy for journalists to ask lawn workers whether they’re here illegally…if it will embarrass a Republican presidential candidate.
For the record, Romney should have cut ties with the company a long time ago. Dumb decision. He should be embarrassed.
But not as embarrassed as open-borders zealots and Dems should be. Watch as they exploit this report and then turn around and attack everyone other than liberal MSM journalists who advocates the repeal of sanctuary gag orders or uses the same basic investigative techniques to report a story. (Here’s a thought experiment: Imagine a Fox reporter hanging out at the Virginia DMV where the 9/11 hijackers bought fraudulent ID for two months, asking the day laborers if they’re here legally, snapping photos and shooting video of the parking lot transactions, and then reporting the results to DHS for comment on air. The spit would fly, I guarantee it.)
Anyway, I wonder if the Globe reporters used Google?
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Its only a matter of time before they loot mitt’s house, right MM?
Bullseye!
2 for 2
And BTW, Did MM get fired or something? Shes never on Bill’O anymore.
You need to keep up.
#3 MM did not get fired, she just has way to much class for O’hackass….
Hey everybody, its Bud “Travis” Abbott!
Who’s on first Bud?
What’s on second Travis?
I don’t knows on third?
Everyone say hi to Travis…
Heyyyy Abboooottttt!!!!
Just so everybody knows, Travis is the dude who’s multi-positions on all things Malkin make Hillary Clinton’s core beliefs look like solid rock. Look at his musings on the Columbia University entry, if you care. Some call him a troll, but I know he’s Lou Costello’s better half.
Carry on Abbott…
We try to be kind to our trolls…
My bad.
Bbbbbbbbbut…
We need “comprehensive” immigration reform, don’t we? Isn’t that what Hillary said?
Such hypocrisy. I’m sure (extreme sarcasm here) that NONE of the Democrats have ever, and I mean EVER had any work done in their homes as landscapers, contractors, etc., by illegals, right?
The pure and perfect Democrat party. They would never break any rules.
More importantly, should Romney expect to feel the rather of mustache filter Rivera saliva?… or at least threats of such action being taken?
Oddly, the Boston Globe was involved in that story too, no?
I think independently. Woe is me.
Agreed, You can catch more flies with sugar than with vinegar, or something like that.
Good for you!
They are just mowing the lawn that Americans won’t or can’t mow.
But seriously… I had a friend that was looking into going into the landscaping business and gave up on it because he discovered that it is impossible to make any money anymore. An honest company has to compete with companies that hire illegals, pay them less than minimum and don’t pay taxes on them. It’s really a shame.
emphasis on the word, TRY.
TF.
Yeah, you can also catch more with honey then with vinegar.
Surely I was focusing on the flies…and don’t call me honey.
Of logic?
You can catch more Clinton’s with Monica’s.
#14 - not to mention workers compensation premiums that legitamate business owners have to pay to legal employees.
Something that tends to get side steps with small little landscape and construction businesses hiring illegal workers. But dare I go there again….
Don’t you mean YOU gave up on it, just like you always do, right?
oh here we go again…
Anyhoo…if anyone cares, I keep a sailboat on the Jersey side of Manhattan. Quite often, Geraldo-Man “slips” in when he passes through on his way up the river Hudson. (He has a gigundo, double-masted sailboat-good for him.) Anyway, on the two times I have seen him docked, marina staff told me that, “Geraldo doesn’t like to be approached.”
I always wondered if that includes within “spitting” distance?
There are actually three questions of fact that the Boston Globe and other media outlets need to answer before any intelligent judgment can be made about this situation.
1) Are all three employees actually here illegally?
2) Did they present fraudulent documents or engage in identity theft to get these jobs?
3) Did the employer know that these workers were illegal?
We may actually have two — or more — victims here.
I heard this story quite a number of times in my 5 years living in the south. Haven’t so much up here in VERY northern New England, however in the last year or two, you do see “Hispanics” on construction sites. Now, we all know that all Hispanics are NOT illegal, but come on. This is the whitest, least diverse parts of the country… and suddenly, non-English speaking Hispanics are increasingly walking around here with hard hats? You do the math. Oh, and my brother is an electrician and is increasingly seeing them with the crews for the other construction companies on job sites.
It’ll be sad to see if that’s the way landscaping jobs go. That used to be a decent summer job for high school/college kids up here. You get to work outside in the few months it’s nice, get a tan, get in shape, etc. But as you mentioned, you can’t make money if the other guys all hire illegals, because they can undercut you so easily.
Goodbye, travis.
A Travis pearl, eh? Did he coin that himself?
I am almost impressed. What ruins it for me is that honey is a regurtitated product of bees.
Bee vomit. Yummy, eh Travis?
lmao. Sound like you’ve confused MM.com with your garden variety white power website. GIT ER DUN!
yup, so much so that they actually hire foreman to translate safety and quality control techniques, that many work comp claims come in - checks are sent straight to Mexico, or they are working with others to clock each other in on different job sites under different names and social securtity numbers to collect up to three different paychecks concurrently and maybe even a work comp claim-then send the money down to relatives in Mexico.
I know this all too well….loopholes, loopholes, and more loopholes.
Hey Travis, let’s agree on something before I go to sleep. Nice, lush green lawns - goood… illegal immigrants and Geraldo’s manners - baaaad. Right?
This MSM vs Bloggers isn’t a liberal/conservative issue. The Dinosaur Media, no matter what side they lean towards, are terrified of bloggers. Bloggers aren’t doing it for the paycheck. They do it because they’re passionate and that passion makes them dangerous in the eyes of the MSM because they’re still operating under the idea that they’re impartial.
And it’s not just in politics. It’s becoming a huge issue in the sports media. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith made some of the dumbest comments I’ve ever read in relation to bloggers.
The history of the US is replete with examples of cheap foreign labor wrecking the wages of the established working classes.
Out here in California, dry walling crews were put out of work by dry walling Mexican illegals doing the same work for 8 bucks an hour and sleeping in the unfinished model homes in crews (packs?) of 10 and 12. The larger contractors were subbing to these packs and driving others out of business because they couldn’t compete against the leaner “margin” players with off the books payrolls.
Sad sad stuff. Greed kills economies. And then the Moon Loons say the losers in this corrupt scheme are just “xenophobic”.
Romney is an elitist blue blood who doesn’t know whether the holes in his putting green are drilled or bored.
Out. Of. Touch. With. US.
See ya, Mitt.
(I am not comparing Mitt to any of the other hoo-haws running for the Pubbies.
So I don’t welcome any discussion of “who’s better on immigration”. They are all riding the same gravy train of cheap foreign labor.)
Is anybody else watching “rudolf” tonite?
Also— to all my Jewish compadres and comadres out there, Happy Hannuka!
Go Israel!
Right.
Wasn’t talking about myself, happily self-employed, thanks.
Not looking stupid in two easy steps:
1. Read post
2. Comment
On December 4th, 2007 at 11:10 pm, California Unclaimed Money said:
And I’m sure they are licenced and went through all the crap that your brother had to go through to get licensed.
Try doing that at Old House Lane in Chappaqua, NY…and you’ll get yourself a good ol’ fashioned Clinton-Secret Service smack down. Ahh guarantee!
#31: That wrinkling sound? It’s the sound of the shredder making hamster cage fill out of Pinchy’s New York Times.
They may not blip out of sight altogether in small towns, but the metropolis will never be dominated by them again.
The problem isn’t that newspapers have ignored the Internet.
The newspapers don’t grasp that readers are demanding greater interactivity with their chosen publications.
The target is controlling the arrow.
The SF Chronicle doesn’t even come close to grasping the concept.
On the local news channels here, the Chronicle tries to drive the viewer to the newspaper itself.
“Here’s what you’ll find in tomorrow’s Chronicle.”
Gee, I can hardly wait to go out in the cold and buy that liberal rag. Sorry, Mr Bronstein. That kimodo dragon wound you got a few years back must have let some venom into your noggin.
Say it slowly and way out loud: REEE-TAR- DO!
The horse has left the barn, fellas.
I think we should sick Al Gore’s Carbon Footprint buffalos onto the yard workers around Berkeley.
These guys use leaf blowers to clear away the most minor lawn trimmings and leaves.
And they are loud. Those of us who sweep up our own stuff wait til these jamokes leave the neighborhood so we don’t go deaf.
Leaf blowers are the biggest waste of brain power as a tool. And they are a smelly and noise polluting contrivance in a neighborhood.
The sound of a broom or rake vs. the chain saw sound of a leaf blower.
You decide. And the Mexicans love em.
10,000,000 more cars on the road in the USA because of these assclowns too.
It all adds up to a bad deal for Americans.
Hello?!?!?!? Mitt, are you trackin’? Or has all that hairspray leached through your scalp.
Do you suffer from lacquer brain?
Say it aint so. The Mexican’s use “Tres Flores” for a more natural hold to their “-do”. Hey, when in Rome, ese!
bear1909-
ROTFLOL
Sounds like you’ve confused me with someone who doesn’t see through your transparent race card playing, which really reveals that you have nothing of substance to add.
Well, in fairness, I’m pretty sure he’s talking about guys doing the grunt work of building the houses/carpentry type stuff. Also, you can do electrical work without being licensed (that’s how you get to be licensed actually, if that’s your goal.. you have to work for like 4 years while you take classes for Journeyman’s license, then another 2 for Master’s). So even my brother, and all other licensed electricians have to work “unlicensed” or they’d never get licensed. Generally if you’re working for one of these companies (up here) you’re working towards becoming licensed… but I had a roommate in Nashville who was working on some crews where he was one of the few who spoke English and none of them were there to be electricians… they were there because the owner wanted cheap labor.
bear,,lmao….
So, Mitt Romney’s lawn care company hires illegals. Yawn…..Here in Tucson its almost impossible to find a landscaping crew that speaks English.
I don’t think any politician in AZ could pass the same anal exam the Boston Golbe gave Romney. Of course now that most of our congressional delegation are Dem’s, it won’t be a badge of dishonor to their loony constituency anyway.
It takes time to see through the smoke and mirrors and understand any candidate. I’m suddenly struck by Romney’s absolute common sense cluelessness. He attacks Giuliani for presiding over a sanctuary city (nothing new fo NYC). Rudy then takes a semi-low road by pointing out that Romney kept a sanctuary mansion (and I’m big on Rudy but while intellectually honest, as a PR piece that assertion, true or not, sounded a bit thin and petty). So what, then, does Romney do? He gives form and substance to a rather weak accusation by maintaining the same illegal immigrant lawn service and proves the allegation to be true!!!!!
Unbelievable!
I’ve always said not to put too much emphasis on what the candidates say, but rather compare what the different candidates have manifestly accomplished - to tangible things you can point to as proof of effective, intelligent leadership that yields results (which is why I’m for Rudy). So what does Romney do, manifestly, that we can point to since he began his campaign? He proves himself to be unbelieveably clueless with what’s going on under his nose after Giuliani calls him on it.
As far as the MSM’s double standard, what else is new? But if we’re not prepared to try to do anything about it, why gripe? This board, any board, could start a movement making it impossible for the country to ignore the Democrat candidates’ cowardice by not debating on Fox News - something even the most common, politically disinterested voter can understand. But so far little noise from any corner, and I find that all at once amazing, disappointing and bewildering. A perfect set-up that the Dems created for themselves to box themselves into a lose/lose scenario, and no one wants to take it to the street to (truthfully) exploit it. That’s almost as clueless as what Romney just did.
Once again, we need smart, detailed thinking and tangible results from the next occupant at the White House, and this cluelessness on Romney’s part is no evidence of that. Not even remotely.
The Boston Globe has been a worthless use of oxygen-producing trees since the Barnicle debacle, & whether one liked him or not,his not-left snark kept a lot of real-working people still putting up w/ the ‘Glob’s’ uber-left sermons of indoctrination.
When our roofer came to repair the roof this fall, all of the workers in the yard next door did not speak English. He informed us that he was being put out of business by contractors hiring illegals.
Maybe the Globe should do a Sunday series on this….then again,who would be reading it who would care. We have all split for the Blogosphere.
Re: this post
Any sentence in MM’s analysis that ends with “…if it will embarass a Reoublican presidential candidate” = dead-on perfect assessment of the situation. Well put.
Travis:
1. You hardly think “independently.” That would mean your thoughts, insults, and comments were original. They are not. We’ve seen and read them all before.
2. Banning is such sweet sorrow, but alas! The penalty for insulting the host, other commenters, and most egregiously, the collective intelligence of this community is termination of privileges.
Begone, Troll!
Where does a poverty-stricken dweeb who supposedly only makes $4.00 a day in his own country, find $7,000.00 to take a vacation into this country? I think someone is lying about the stats.
Something like this could hurt Romney, and I’m not so sure I really care at this point. Although he started on the top of my list - I give a rat’s patoot what religion he is - the fact that he didn’t lose the company at the outset grates on my senses.
Good one!
What…are you covering for Mitt’s utilization of Illegal Immigrant labor now, MM?
After all that you have dishonestly have suggested about Mike Huckabee’s “open-borders” stance?
There’s a dark pattern emerging among bloggers on the right…it ain’t pretty from this hillbilly’s perspective!
I noticed that Hot Air’s coverage of this story didn’t even include Romney’s name in the title…one had to click the story to even know what it’s about.
On the other hand, every dishonest slam against Huckabee is posted in bold, Red-letter editions.
I’m losing faith in my “Main-stream” blogger heroes.
“Do as I say, not as I do”? Why should the MSM change now? That has been their M.O. for years.
Little late. Had an early night last night.
Anyway, I owned a lawn and landscaping service in Fl for serveral yearss. Competing against illegal aliens finally drove me out.
Little tough to complete and make money when you had to beat $50 per month and you cut all year long. That works out to about $15 per cut. When you take out expenses like taxes and worker comp, you end up working for about $7 per hour or even less.
Travis Forgotten
Journalism school. “What did you this summer?” “Yawn, I watched the grass grow” What a resume. I can not be hard on the Mitt as he did talk to the contractor and was assurred that he would not use illegals on his lawn. He did the right thing. Not everyone is a Bill Clinton, the contractor happened to be one. It also shows how pervasive this wrong idea of cheating has become.
Geesh reading this thread sounds like the message got lost. I don’t want to be like the Dems who shudder and cry foul when things about them are uncovered and they shoot the messenger…Michelle has been their messenger target quite a few times. They use this tactic to ignore the stupidity of their actions and divert from the message. So the Globe is not unbiased.
Thats a given. But Romney will not get a pass on this from me. The message is that he was aware of the illegality of the workers for at least a year now. HE is running for president using an anti-illegal immigrant platform. If he wants us to believe his effectiveness on this issue, he has a long way to go. If he cannot be aware of what is happening on his own front lawn….how can I give him my confidence globally. His firing of the contractor has iffy timing. One…he was confronted on this issue as a rebuttal to his attack on Guilliani’s sanctuary city just last week. Two …the Globe called for a remark and he knew this piece was going to come out. The very next day he releases the letter he sent cutting ties with the contractor.
Funny that for a year he did nothing…now that it would shed light on his policy stand, he reacts suddenly.
If this were an isolated incidence instead of part of a pattern of behavior, I might be able to shrug it off. But its one more thing on the list.
Kinda makes me go hmmmmmmmm.
look, i live in california, i couldn’t find a landscaper that is not illegal period. i have tried. i have hunted like you would not believe.
for romney to not have found a new landscaper is just dumb. he should have known that after the debate someone would be hunting to see what the status of his landscaper.
One of the main reason wages have not kept up with costs the last few decades is due to illegal invaders willing to work for less than minimum wage. trinitytim thanks for sharing your personal experience with trying to compete in an unfair market. It amazes me that Romney thinks he could be tough on illegal invaders when he has them working on his own lawn. The reason most conservatives are not impressed with the media darlings of Romney, Huckabee, and Giuliani is their record speaks volumes for their real stance on illegal invasion. McCain threw himself on his sword over Amnesty leaving Thompson, Hunter, and Tancredo the only candidate’s one can trust in responsibly dealing with this issue.
Michelle I guess if a conservative journalist drives by a residence to get the lay of the land you are a stalker, but if a liberal journalist camps out on your lawn for a couple of months it is just doing investigative reporting.
Question: Did Mitt KNOW that they wwere illegal? If so, he deserves the smackdown. But if not, is it his job to go out & check the green card of everyone working on his property? Shouldn’t that be the job of the contractor that he hired? Not trolling, (don’t pound on me), just wondering.
Modern Media=Pathetic Exploiters and news creators
R.I.P. Tango Foxtrot.
Buh Bye!!!!
#56, that’s exactly what Mitt said in response to Rudy’s challenge at CNN’s, er, “mass debate” …
I don’t think it was his responsibility to check immigration status, but seems common sense to fire the company once it was pointed out… duh…
I’m curious to know if the MSM had any “plants” in Billary’s backyard up in westchester… oh right, musn’t embarrass the dems…
they love the smell of jemken in the morning…
Oh for Pete’s sake people, he didn’t know they were illegal any more than you would know if someone at the gas station who looks Hispanic is illegal.
I challenge you all, fire your local illegal immigrant…if you can find them.
This will hurt Mitt, but probably not fatally.
Most people (myself included) would have liked to have seen Mitt fire the landscaping company back in 2006 when the story first broke, but my guess is Mitt decided to give the guy a second chance to play by the rules as he did not need the distraction of having to hire a new landscaper while he is busy running for President.
To bad the stink over them ENTERING the USA isnt as big!
it gets little play from the open border dems.
I stopped watching The O’Reilly report when Michelle Malkin left the program. Watching the O’Reilly report without Michelle is like watching a Dave Matthews Band concert when Dave Matthews doesn’t show up for the concert.
I hear Geraldo is now full time on the Britney Spears beat. That is the perfect place for Geraldo.
#61
Heartland…
My local gas station is not running for president..at least I know I would not vote for them. And I hate to burst your bubble but Mitt did know that the workers on his lawn were illegal. He has known at least for a year.
Any one KNOWINGLY hiring illegals should be held accountable. The solution to the illegal immigration problem has to be a comprehensive one. Secure the border, supply the ability to check for status upon employment, and to be held accountable if you knowingly have illegal immigrants employed. Just because its Mitt does not excuse him.
Lets not be like the Dems who pick and choose when they will hold someone accountable. Accountability IS NOT and should not be a partisan issue. If we make it one then we are no better.
This is ridiculous.
I have yard service, and to be perfectly honest, I’ve never even SEEN the folks that actually do the work. For all I know, they could be illegals too. I may stand against the open borders crowd, but I couldn’t care less who mows my damn lawn. Trained monkeys from Mars can do it, for all I care. . .and that’s going to be the reaction to this silly little news bit from most rational people. I doubt this will get much traction except with those already devoted to stomping their feet at any mention of an illegal immigrant in this country.
This is probably like, 3 items above the bottom on Mitt’s list of priorities.
If he had asked them their immigration status, the Globe would have been calling him a racist for profiling them.
Romney’s landscaper assured Romney that he would no longer higher illegals. i guess his landscaper lied; and now romney has fired the landscaper.
typcial in business: you speak to the vendor asking them to correct certain practices as you will not tolerate them and you will no longer use this vendor if they continue. the vendor agress and advises you they will change their practices. down the road, you find they lied. you stop using the vendor.
that is now the case with Romney and his landscaper, they have parted company.
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
I too, used to have a building and grounds maintenance business. I had to close the business when immigrants (don’t know if they were legal or not) bid the same contracts for less than what I was spending for materials.
OT, can someone furnish a link to the Smith reference?
Begone, Troll!
’bout flippin time!
How much does he pay you?
How much are you paid to come here and be an annoying little toad?
There probably isn’t a landscape company anywhere that doesn’t hire illegal immigrants. Does anybody know of one? This might be news if Mitt went down to the local “shape-up site” and hired them himself. Just follow these journalists to lunch and see who;’s bussing their table or cooking their food.
I know here in Texas I couldn’t go a day without patronizing some business… somewhere that hires illegals.
Which dishonest slams would those be? The fact is that he’s as big an open-borders guy as Giuliani and McCain.
Classy. Fact filled. Substantive. A Rudy rooter?
I was a hatchet weilding roofer and had a profitable business for many years but I had closed that business due to a serious back injury before this influx of illegal’s. My friend’s alway’s want me to come and look at their roof’s if they think their having a problem, one friend hired a roofing company and wanted me to come over and see if they were installing it properly, so I did.
A van full of Hispanic’s show’s up with the boss in his pickemup truck and tell’s his guy’s to get started until I say “Hey wait a minute I’d like to see your bussiness license, roofing permit and proof of your liabillity and work comp insurance, he rolled his eyes and went and fumbled around in his truck, came back and said “I don’t have that stuff with me right now but I can bring it back later.” I told him he should get it and I needed to see it before they started to work, “who the hell are you anyway? an inspector or something?” I told him no I was a friend that was charged with the task of making sure that the roof was put on properley that I was a former roofer. He and his guys’s packed their stuff and left never to return again. My buddy was pissed “I just wanted my damn roof done” he said, so I explained to him and if you don’t know this you need to listen up when you are having anything done at your house, foundation, lawn care, painting, windows, gutter’s, roof literally anything you hire some one to do at your house, you should make sure that they are licensed, insured and have all the permits required by your city. Make them show you current up to date document’s. Why all the hubub? Because it could literally cost you your house.
First off if the business is not licensed it’s a fly by night most of the time,
Second if the business is not liability insured then any damages that occur are basically your responsibility to fix,
Third if the businesss does’nt have workman’s comp insurance, any worker’s that are hurt on your property can sue the property for medical and other damages.
If your not checking these things before some one comes in and does work on your house your putting your self in some serious financial risk.
On a personal note I won’t let anyone bring a foriegn worker on my property until It is proven that the worker is legal.
There are plenty of other websites that want your participation. Please, don’t let them down.
Hulking? Somebody perceives Governor Romney as a threat to their favorite candidate.
Or maybe they just have RDS (Republican Derangement Syndrome).
It look to me as if this site needs my participation more. But I’m sure you’d be much happier at some non-conservative web-site. Redstate, for instance.
Nothing new under the sun. With the Dem MSM it’s ‘do as I say not as I do’. They think they are ‘great Americans’ if they help the Demcrats win. They can’t contemplate anyone actually preferring the conservative and Republican.
It’s sort of like living in NC and telling a Carolina fan you don’t like UNC-CH. Without fail, their first comment is ‘. . .but it’s your home state’. They can’t grasp that the extra press and media attention that they take away from other local schools might turn some people away from cheering for them - and cheer for the underdog that goes un-noticed by bandwagoners for Carolina.
But I digress. Good job again MM pointing out the hypocrisy of the MSM.
Here is a useful link for all to read.
I quoted Giuliani in his own words renouncing conservatism and the Republican party. And for doing so, was was called a “tapeworm” by a Giuliani supporter.
I can’t help noticing that the Rudy backers display the exact same debating style as liberal Democrats. They respond to facts with abusive name-calling.
Go to Michelles’s piece on S-Chip and read JimM’s
comment on Illegal Immigration. It’s worth your time.
In our city, we have four retired firemen that have
set up a lawn and landscaping service. They are
legal and I am helping them live on their pensions.
My first exposure to this whole mess was after I moved to Dallas in 1994ish. I recall looking through the class list at the local community college and saw a class entitled “Spanish for Landscapers” or “Spanish for Landscape Owners.” I wonder what they call the course these days?
Illegals who are involved in landscaping and construction activities is a HUGE deal. And only part of our immigration problem. Since the main contenders in FAVOR of Illegals constantly argue that they are here to do jobs CITIZENS ARE NOT WILLING TO DO…
I would have to say that construction and landscaping services have historically never been jobs citizens were unwilling to do….and now, hard working small businesses are being put out on their arses by others not required to play by the same rules. Partially, it is the fault of the government for not enforcing our borders….but then, it is OUR responsibility not to become a bunch of hypocrites and take personal responsibility by asking our landscapers and contractors for their appropriate documents (e.g. proof of citizenship, insurance, state licenses, etc.) Guaranteed if someone gives you a blank stare after you ask for these documents…don’t hire them – there I-LLE-GAL..
Personal responsibility folks!!!!…Rommney is no better than anyone else. He should be practicing what he preaches. This is an important issue he had a chance to fix and didn’t.
No sympathy for the man on this end (but that probably started when he strapped his dog in a crate to the top of his car for a family road trip…urgh!) tsk tsk, I no likey.
BTW - to add to the above…
I am hearing a lot of echoing in here about if Romney did or did not know if these guys were illegal and how do you know, and it’s not anyone’s fault because everyone looks the same! REALLY?
Folks, it comes down once again to personal responsibility with Mitt and others here on this thread hiring landscapers and contractors and gardeners or anyone for that matter.. Isn’t that what we always talk about on this site? He should know who he is hiring. If he doesn’t have the time to find out then he should hire someone to be sure THEY find out for him.
I wonder - if someone hung out at night at the Boston Globe, who’s cleaning the place…. Just a thought.
And dumb Romney, can we cross him off the list now? What’s Hunter up to these days?
The trick that most companies use to hire illegals is to do it indirectly, at least on paper. The landscape owner might hire several legal workers at a “high” pay rate. In turn these employees “hire” the illegal employees in cash. The same applies to other businesses as well, particularly in construction on non-union sites/jobs.
Personally I do my own mowing and landscaping on my spacious 1 acre estate. Well it’s not really an estate, but the sign says it is.
I agree with the question about who’s cleaning the Boston Globe, and we should ask who’s taking care of things for the reporters while they are busy staking out lawns.
But has anyone asked whether the reporters paid for their interviews with said “illegals”? (I know perfectly legal Hispanics in my town who won’t talk to you at all if you ask them questions, and then will tell you whatever they think you want to hear if you offer to pay them. To them it’s a great big joke! So I have to wonder why the “illegals” gave interviews to reporters who presumably could identify them.)
…police in Boston tonight are searching for the self-hating driver of a Subaru who apparently drove past the Boston Globe. “It was the worst case of stalking I’ve ever seen” said one reporter who asked not to be identified…”Right there on a public street, a driver in a car looked at me. I was terrified - maybe it was because I’d just spent two months peering through Romney’s fence, but I know, I know she was a Conservative.”
#87 - not saying this doesn’t happen.
just saying, if we want to sit here and gripe about the governement not doing their jobs…then we should be doing some due dilligence on our end.
Mitt knew about it…had time to correct it…and didn’t.
I hope I won’t get anybody upset with this but in June, I was returning with a friend from a Saturday afternoon in Tijuana (TJ)going back to San Diego. Just a few miles over the US side of the border, the car broke down and my cell phone was not charged and my friend did not bring his. So we stood by the side of the road watching a huge traffic flow go by. Finally two guys stopped and offered to help. One of them said he worked in a garage for 3 years. And they did get our car started. We offered each of them some cash as a way of saying thanks. They both said “no, they would not accept any money” and when we asked where they were from, it turned out they were from Mexico and “undocumented” ( re: illegals).
But we were grateful that somebody was willing to stop and help start a car that seemed hopeless. And we were amazed that they refused to accept any cash whatsoever for spending 35 minutes getting our car started and using their own tools. And although the incident does not change my mind about illegal immigration, I was glad for the help and so was my bud. Just thought I would share this.
I know the guy that treats our lawn actually goes through the proper channels to bring his Mexican workers into the country every season. He has had the same guys working for him through the growing season and they return home to Mexico in the winter. He has been asked by more than one of his customers using his service (to include my wife and I).
The local guys that do lawn service are all non-Hispanic Americans, but I still do my own lawn and it’s something to see 5 white guys do my neighbors yard in 10 minutes and go on to the next job. These little outfits are second jobs these guys band together on to help make ends meet. Idaho is a slave wage state with wages depressed thanks to the illegal invaders working the local agricultural sector. Doing the job most Americans won’t do indeed. The only reason I do my own lawn is I like the exercise until I get too old and then I’ll give one of these outfits some additional income.
FLENSER, our worthless, tollish friend! Back to your hit-and-run tactics, eh?
It’s going on 4 weeks since you gave your word on this thread. Anyone wanting to see how a hit-and-run troll, obviously out to discredit Republican frontrunners, works, should read this thread, especially the lower half. Don’t delay - do it now!
http://michellemalkin.com/2007/11/08/the-kerik-indictment-giuliani-and-the-gop/
as some of the reports are stating, mitt spoke with the landscaping business, they agreed to ‘not hire illegals to work on his property’. he has now fired them because they lied to him.
but, can you imagine the lawsuit the illegals would place against romney (who is not at the mansion cause he is campaigning these last thee months) had he gone out and demanded to see their papers? i am sure some immigration attorney would jump all over that lawsuit..
please, let’s just think about the circumstances. globe was there watching for the past three months, where has romney been? not at home cause he has been out campaigning in various other states. hmmmm maybe he just wasn’t at home when the landscaper showed up to work on his lawn.
please folks i know there are some strong opinions on romney but even just a little logic would conclude that he really hasn’t been watching his yard as much as the boston globe has been in the last three months.
All I can say (me personally) is maybe I need to pick a candidate willing to do the responsible hiring other candidates won’t do….
Mr_Conservative_Cat,
Unlike many of the commenters on this site, Flenser actually substantiates the majority of his/her claims.
Just because Flenser’s not a rabid Giuliani supporter doesn’t mean he/she is a “troll.” It’s funny how supposed “conservatives” like yourself would rather engage in name-calling instead of examining the evidence at hand.
I seem to remember a comment a while back regarding Speaker Pelosi’s ownership of a vineyard & restaurant - and allegations of hirings of illegals there.
Do we see any media-types parked in front of those business?
Nope - never will.
#97 - she’s got Code Pinkos with the monopoly there right now….
but we may be able to squeeze some time in for them after the 1st of the year…
Funny. Explain why then he flatly refused to so it here after offering an agreement that he would. Trolls like him need to be exposed for reasonable political discourse continue. Read the second half of this thread before responding:
http://michellemalkin.com/2007/11/08/the-kerik-indictment-giuliani-and-the-gop/
“Rabid”, not enthusiastic. We see where you’re coming from. You and Flenser will be very happy together. Unless you haven’t seen, Flenser has been at odds with just about everyone on this board.
Flenser strikes first on name calling and then runs away. Maybe you relate to that approach. I’d hope not.
Uhangtight
No question. However, if you were in his position, and accused of having illegals working on you property, what would you do? I’d either have it in writing from the company that no such thing would happen again with severe penalties agreed to in the contract or get another contractor. For someone running for President to be quite this loose disturbs me a little, at least considering Romney’s very detailed style.
Ultimately this is small thing, of course. But ask yourself if you would allow such a thing to happen when your yard crew is under the microscope.
So let me get this straight, some journalists saw some men who appeared to be of Hispanic descent working on a person’s lawn and they assumed the men must not have been born here (would that be because anyone born here would never ever do a job that would get dirt under their fingernails). Then the “journalists” “approached” (accosted) these men to find out if they had documentation.
Let it be known that it was liberals seeking to undermine a Republican who made stereotypical observations about a group of people based on the job they were doing and the color of their skin.
Who’s the real hypocrite?