Wednesday, July 05, 2006

The Ire of Eire: King MIA for Immigration Reform Lobbying

For years, King has been Irelands best friend in the US Congress, so much so that Sen. John McCain once said of King "Indeed, the only ‘Republican’ organization I have ever noticed Mr. King represent is the Irish Republican Army."
During the 80's and 90's, King was involved with the Irish Immigration Reform Movement (IIRM) which among other things concerned itself with helping legalize Irish immigrants. Fast-forward to today and the current incarnation of the IIRM, Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform (ILIR) went to Washington to lobby Congress on the immigration reform bill last week and King who would in the past bend over backward for the Irish was a no-show. According to the Irish Echo, when a large group from the ILIR including prominent Irish politicans went to DC on June 28th, "ILIR chairman, Niall O'Dowd, also criticized Rep. King. Meetings with 87 legislators had been arranged in advance of the morning's lobbying effort, he said. The only one who hadn't turned up, he said, was Congressman King."
King's new take on legalizing the Irish is far from where he was before. King says now "If it's wrong for a Muslim to be living illegally on Atlantic Avenue, you can't make a distinction between that and an Irish person."
In the past, King fully supported and did all he could to help illegal Irish immigrants. But we all know he is willing to throw anyone under the bus to help himself.
Kelly Fincham, director of ILIR tells the Rockland Journal News "There's still room for him to be a friend of the Irish,"
He will be a friend of the Irish again when he needs them politically.

2 comments:

NYC Educator said...

I can't beleive that people in this country can attack freedom of the press and get away with it. Congressman King, who I will most certainly vote against (for all the good it will do) is simply a disgrace.

Anonymous said...

Peter Peter Peter - ever hear of the 1st ammendment? Maybe you have gone off the deep end you moron. Too many interviews on Fox "News"????? Want their "fair and balanced reporting?" so you can hear what you want to hear(if you are from Mars or Venus you might believe that Fox "News" is fair and balanced). Time for you to go. Don't let the door hit you on the way out. Its about time we had a real representative in congress who truly defends our rights, security and interests. ENOUGH!!!!!!! Vote Mejias!