Illegal Immigration a problem for politicians

Campaign ads involving anything about immigration are presenting big problems for candidates this year.

Capturing the immigration debate in political ads this campaign season _ without upsetting Hispanics _ is proving tricky for the parties and candidates.

An ad criticizing Stephen Laffey, who is challenging incumbent Sen. Lincoln Chafee for the Republican nomination in Rhode Island, set off grumbling in the Latino community. The ad criticized Laffey, mayor of Cranston, for allowing city police to accept ID cards issued by the Mexican government as identification.

Chafee's spokesman had no comment about the ad. Laffey's campaign called it an insensitive attack on the mayor's attempt to empathize with "people who struggle and who try to make a better life for themselves."

The National Republican Senatorial Committee said the ad, which it sponsored, raises legitimate questions. "This ad is about our national security, and it speaks to concerns raised by the FBI," spokesman Dan Ronayne said Monday.

Polls have shown Laffey and Chafee running neck-and-neck in a race that has gained national attention.

The winner of the Republican primary will face Democratic former Attorney General Sheldon Whitehouse in the November election.

The immigration debate was left hanging when Congress adjourned for the summer. Rather than negotiate a compromise on the vastly different bills passed by the House and Senate, Republicans and Democrats have traded barbs over immigration at field hearings and in political ads.

"Both parties are crossing the line," said Janet Murguia, president of the National Council of La Raza, which is calling for an end to such ads. "The issue of what to do about immigration is fair game for this election, demonizing an entire community is not."

On Tuesday, the Democratic National Committee's Hispanic Caucus called on national Republicans to stop airing its ad in the Chafee-Laffey race, saying it implies falsely that "Mexican immigrants will carry out acts of terrorism against government buildings and airplanes."

The Chafee-Laffey race is not the only one facing the challenge of using the immigration issue in political ads.

For example:

_In his first campaign ad, Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., boasted of his immigrant heritage, but said some immigrants today have sinister motives for entering and lists how he's tried to beef up border security. The ad was intended to appeal to voters worried about losing their jobs to immigrants. --Washington Post

Others Posting:

Common Sense America, Illegal Immigration: Your Help Needed NOW!!!

I just got off of the phone with Michelle Dallacroce of Mothers Against Illegal Aliens and she is asking for our help. Let the phone blitz begin! Below is the urgent message she sent to me via e-mail:

PRESS RELEASE - PLEASE ATTEND IF YOU CAN

MAIA needs YOU! WE NEED TO SUPPORT THE MAIA MEMBERS IN CHICAGO!!!!

You can be a valuable asset to making this Rally an AMAZING SUCCESS BY DOING ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING: (go read it all and see how YOU can help)

The Uncooperative Blogger, "Cops Comment on Maywood Protest", and "Groups Support Border Patrol Agents Who Shot Smuggler", "Cops comment on Maywood protest"

Common Sense America, Illegal Immigration: Oh What A Tangled Web…

*This was a production of The Coalition Against Illegal Immigration (CAII). If you would like to participate, please go to the above link to learn more. Afterwards, email the coalition and let Brian know at what level you would like to participate.*