Raul Garcia presented a question to the House’s No. 2 Republican, Kevin McCarthy that has profound implications for the progressive movement and immigration reform in America, “While we are waiting for you on immigration reform, who should be harvesting America’s food?”
That question is the foundation of Garcia’s long-shot challenge to McCarthy who’s rise to power was triggered by default when another leader though to be unsinkable, Eric Cantor, fell to a unknown in a primary.
Garcia, who is an actual farm worker in California, got on the ballot as a write-in candidate. He has backing from labor unions as is anxious to call the GOP to task on immigration reform.
Garcia works alongside of thousands of farm workers, many of them illegal, in California’s Central Valley. They labor long hours in the fields harvesting grapes, almonds, lettuce and other crops. Like Gandi. Garcia understands that Labor is a Political Currency that can be used as well.
The Republicans have long given only passing lip service to immigration reform’ passing bills in the Senate only to let them die in the House. These pony shows were only to gleam the Hispanic votes from those who were gullible enough to believe that the GOP would get around to immigration reform if they were supported.
Garcia hope to highlight to congress that in spite of their inaction they are dependent as ever on the labor of the farm workers to keep food on America’s tables. He is a Mexican who entered the United States illegally as a 17 year old looking for work. He since became a naturalized citizen under the amnesty signed by Republican President Ronald Reagan in 1986 and has spent a quart-century picking crops.
Garcia seems to be an unlikely Champion for immigration reform when pitted against one of the most powerful republicans in Washington and Dark money, but he does have the backing of California’s historic United Farm Workers Union.
Garcia, like Mahatma Gandhi, who brought the British Empire to its knees and established an independent India, also appears to understand the bargaining value of labor . Labor may soon prove to be the only workable tool left to immigrates, working poor and middle class of America to defend ourselves from the assault of the American Oligarchy.
To say the least this race will be of interest and one to keep an eye on. Our heart and support goes out to California District 23 Democrat Raul Garcia.