College Republicans Plan "Catch An Illegal Immigrant Day"
Tue Sep 12, 2006 at 03:51:00 PM PDT
"Be veeewwwy quiet! We'ew hunting iwweego immigwants!"
That line might be funny if it weren't so sadly close to the truth, as reported by student Andrew Grossman in U of Michigan's Michigan Daily:
It's still early in the election season, but the College Republicans and College Democrats have already launched campaigns to seduce your vote in November.
...Morgan Wilkins, the intern hired by the Republican National Committee to win the hearts and minds of Michigan 20-somethings, is planning events that some may find odd. To others, they may be offensive.
One such idea is "Catch an Illegal Immigrant Day," in which a volunteer would play the part of an illegal immigrant and hide somewhere on campus while others try to find him. The winner would receive a prize.
Not content only to stage competitive pseudo-stalking of migrant workers among the leafy environs of Michigan's campus, the RNC's hired intern Wilkins is also mulling
another festive sport to draw the allegiance of young campus voters:
Her other ideas include an event called "Fun with Guns," in which young Republicans would use a BB gun or paintball gun to shoot cardboard cut-outs of Democratic leaders such as Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.)
Obviously schooled in the ways of the GOP's 'Big Tent' strategy, Wilkins apparently hopes to appeal to nascent NRA types in the student demographic, as well as potential Republican voters from the Future Assassins of America. Alarmed liberals can perhaps take comfort in the fact that, so far, gun barrels will only be aimed at hollow, two-dimensional figures--although in a cruel twist of irony, that might make Joe Lieberman a target.
As excitingly innovative as these base-boosting tactics may be, U-M's College Republicans unfortunately can't take credit for launching them. In fact, the "Catch an Illegal Immigrant Day" brand was test-marketed on a number of college campuses last spring, including Pennsylvania State University:
On March 16, 2006 at approximately 11:00am members of the PSU Latino Caucus stumbled across flyers publicizing a program--"Catch an Illegal Immigrant Day", which was supposed to be put on later that day by the PSU College Republicans.
After confronting the PSU College Republicans, members of the PSU Latino Caucus were successful at postponing the program, until its' purpose could be clarified. In conversations between the two organizations, it was made clear that the premise of this game was to "capture" individuals wearing orange t-shirts reading "illegal immigrant". The reward for capturing the "illegal immigrant" was a candy bar. It was then that the PSU Latino Caucus demanded that the College Republicans did not continue on with their event. The PSU College Republicans refused. The event is still scheduled to take place during the week of the 18 th in April--now, with superficial changes.
Even so, Pennsylvania's College Republicans shouldn't claim first rights to the concept; an earlier demonstration of the right wing's courageous 'free speech' movement took place on a campus in, of all places, Texas:
Some University of North Texas students called for an end to racism and hate speech at a rally Wednesday, and condemned the campus' Young Conservatives of Texas chapter for last week's "Catch an Illegal Immigrant Day."...
Last Wednesday, members of the Young Conservatives held a demonstration on campus in which some members wore orange shirts that read "Illegal Immigrant" on the front and "Catch me if U can" on the back. Passers-by could check in at the group's table, receive a badge and go find the "illegal immigrants." Captures were rewarded with 100 Grand candy bars. The Young Conservatives also handed out literature it says accurately outlines problems with illegal immigration, though many Latino students said it was false and "misinformation."
Young Conservatives President Chris Brown said his organization's political demonstration was neither racist nor hateful and was only meant to educate students about illegal immigration.
"I wouldn't change anything about what happened that day," Brown said. "I think it worked out well."
Will it also "work out well" for U-M's College Republicans? Let's keep an eye on that front and find out. The state of Michigan already boasts a hugely popular autumn hunting season. Let's hope this 'sport' doesn't gain more advocates.
UPDATE:Raw Story has just reported that Howard Dean has slammed the RNC-funded "Fun with Guns" event at U-M, in a withering letter sent to RNC chairman Ken Mehlman:
Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean wrote Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman today "calling on him to stop RNC-funded campaign activities that promote discrimination and endorse violence against political opponents," according to a DNC press release received by RAW STORY.
Dean's letter was written in response to an article published in the Michigan Daily about an "intern hired by the Republican National Committee to win the hearts and minds of Michigan 20-somethings" at the University of Michigan.
From Dean's letter:
Ken Mehlman, Chairman Republican National Committee 310 First Street, SE Washington, D.C. 20003
September 12, 2006
Dear Ken,
A troubling article today reported that a Republican National Committee-hired intern is planning events that can only be described as divisive, potentially dangerous, and discriminatory to promote the Republican Party's agenda at the University of Michigan.
Promoting "Catch an Illegal Immigrant Day," which has been used by the Republican Party in other states including Pennsylvania and Texas, is not only offensive, it promotes discrimination for political gain. And an event titled "Fun with Guns" that encourages young Republicans to shoot cardboard cut-outs of Democratic leaders further promotes intolerance and violence. These un-American activities cannot go unchallenged.
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