Rohrabacher launches reelection drive

Lolita Harper

Powdered doughnuts, muffins and coffee weren’t the only thing on the

table Saturday morning, as supporters of Congressman Dana Rohrabacher

gathered to kick off his reelection campaign and received an

impromptu speech on immigration.

“We can win,” Rohrabacher said. “The American people can win.

Illegal immigration is so bad. It has gotten so out of hand.”

About 50 people crammed into the Republican’s small new office, on

the corner of Gothard Street and Heil Avenue, to rally their support

for Rohrabacher, who is being challenged for his seat by former

Congressman Bob Dornan. After the usual fire-’em-up speech, an

audience member started in the topic of President Bush’s proposal for

immigrant workers.

Rohrabacher said that he was not opposed to immigrants as

individuals but the ill effects caused by their desperation to escape

poverty.

“They are fine, wonderful people, but what I am against is illegal

immigration,” Rohrabacher said.

His comments were meant with cheers and head nods from the

audience.

The congressman said Bush’s plan is being done out of “Christian

charity,” for the immigrants, who are trying to make a better life

for themselves in the United States.

“But just because your heart is in the right place, it doesn’t

mean you are doing the right thing,” Rohrabacher said.

Liberal left-wingers have combined forces to try and exploit the

poor people who come to this country, looking for work and willing to

work for next to nothing, he said. The former have a political agenda

and the latter want to keep their business costs down. Together, the

two groups are “just destroying all the work for our own people,”

Rohrabacher said.

“It is an unholy alliance,” he added.

When the congressman was in school, he worked as a janitor. Dollar

for dollar, Rohrabacher said he made the same wages three decades ago

that janitors are making now. Compensation for that type of work

should have gone up nearly 35% by now but illegal immigrants have

kept the pay rates down by offering their services for next to

nothing.

“A United States citizen could be doing that job and should be

able to support a family,” he said,” maybe even buy a house.”

After the discussion about illegal immigration, his supporters got

to business at hand, gathering yard signs and readying themselves to

walk precincts.

Volunteer coordinator Rachelle Carmony, who is the twin sister of

Rohrabacher’s wife, said their goal was to implement a grass-roots

effort in this campaign.

“I am proud to be a volunteer,” Carmony said. “We have great,

enthusiastic volunteers who are very supportive.”