Republicans rally for troops

Paul Clinton

A rally in Costa Mesa held to bolster support for U.S. troops

heading to the Middle East went off with a bang on Saturday. So much

so that the organizers, the Orange County Young Republicans, plan to

hold a second rally this Saturday.

The rallies, near South Coast Plaza, are held to show support for

“the Bush administration, as well as the brave men and women who

protect our freedoms,” said Jennifer Kerns, the group’s executive

vice president.

Saturday’s rally, which drew about 50 people, was well attended.

It was staged as a response to a series of antiwar rallies that have

been held on Friday evenings for the past several months at the same

intersection.

Lee Lowrey, the president of the group, said the antiwar rallies

have “taken on an anti-American tone.”

On Saturday, Young Republicans marched and shouted support at the

corner of Bristol Street and Anton Boulevard. It began at noon and

ran until 2 p.m.

Organizers said the rally would have drawn more attendees if it

were not for the tragic explosion of the Columbia space shuttle.

ROHRABACHER AND FELLOW GOPERS OPPOSE IDS

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher and 11 other House Republicans want to

eliminate a controversial ID card issued to illegal immigrants by the

Mexican consulate.

Rohrabacher co-sponsored legislation, introduced Jan. 29, that

would require certain restrictions on identification cards used to

obtain federal or other public benefits and services.

The Mexican government issues a card known as a “matricula

consular” to Mexican nationals living in this country. Rohrabacher

and the other members of the so-called Immigration Reform Caucus

don’t want local, state or federal agencies to accept the cards as

valid ID for healthcare or other benefits.

Caucus members signed a Jan. 10 letter to Secretary of State Colin

Powell protesting efforts by Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala and

Honduras to issue such cards.

“While all governments have a responsibility to look after their

citizens residing abroad,” the members said in the letter,” they have

no right to actively pursue policies that seek to undermine local

laws, nor should they use their consular officials as lobbyists for

such an agenda.”

In late January, the federal General Services Administration

suspended a pilot program at a federal building in San Francisco that

accepted a “matricula consular” for entry and access to services.

The cards also allow foreign nationals to open bank accounts and

to use as identification when confronted by law enforcement

officials.

Other members who signed the letter were Reps. Todd Akin (R-Mo.),

Jo Ann Davis (R-Va.), Nathan Deal (R-Ga.), John Doolittle (R-Calif.),

Virgil Goode (R-Va.), Sam Johnson (R-Texas), Walter Jones (R-N.C.),

Charlie Norwood (R-Ga.), Lamar Smith (R-Texas), John Sullivan

(R-Okla.) and Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.).

MADDOX CRACKS DOWN ON ILLEGAL MEDICINE SHOPS

Costa Mesa’s assemblyman, Ken Maddox, has introduced legislation

to increase penalties for the illegal peddling of medicines.

Maddox, who represents Costa Mesa in the 68th District, introduced

Assembly Bill 261 on Wednesday. The bill would allow prosecutors to

seek felony convictions against dealers who offer medicines out of

residential garages, storefronts or other locations.

Santa Ana Police officials approached Maddox about the bill after

noticing a growing pattern of illegal, makeshift pharmacies selling

medicines smuggled across the border from Mexico.

Many of these drugs have been outlawed by the Food and Drug

Administration. Operators of the pharmacies have also been known to

give improper doses of the medicines.

“Illegal pharmacies bring big profits to their owners without the

threat of big jail time,” Maddox said.

Maddox is a reserve police officer in Tustin.

CAMPBELL REIGNS IN MORE SUPPORT FOR SENATE BID

Assemblyman John Campbell has been collecting more endorsements in

his 2004 run for the state Senate’s 35th District, to represent

Newport-Mesa.

Campbell, who represents Newport Beach in the Assembly’s 70th

District, announced Tuesday that he had pinned down support from

Sens. Bill Morrow, Jeff Denham and Pete Knight.

Campbell has also been endorsed by Senate Majority Leader Jim

Brulte and current 35th District representative Ross Johnson.

Assemblyman Maddox has also announced he will seek the Senate

seat.