Norwood letter blasting immigrants may break House rules

Brian Beutler
Published: Friday September 22, 2006

In what may have been a violation of ethics rules, Congressman Charlie Norwood (R-GA) issued a press release yesterday slamming pro-immigrant groups and their supporters in Congress, RAW STORY has learned.

In a letter dated yesterday and on official House of Representatives letterhead, Norwood went so far as to call on voters to elect out of office any member of congress who failed to support a bill that would empower different law enforcement groups to work in concert to arrest and deport illegal immigrants.

But House Administration rules prohibit congressmen and senators from using their legislative offices to conduct electioneering activities.

Members of the House Administration committee did not immediately respond to an email and call for comment.

The National Council of La Raza, (NCLR) the main group targeted by Norwood, issued a rejoinder demanding an apology and requesting that he reimburse the U.S. Treasury for any misused funds.

In yet another response today, Norwood issued a conditional apology, contingent upon a series of demands to NCLR--including renouncing any claims that any current U.S. territory rightfully belongs to Mexico.

Norwood's two letters on the matter are reprinted below:

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U.S. Representative Charlie Norwood, Ninth District, Georgia For immediate release: September 20, 2006 La Raza Mounts Drive to Suppress US Law Enforcement Key Reformer Calls for American Voters to Fight Blitzkrieg by Radical Group

(Washington, DC) - The ability of state and local police to fight criminal illegal aliens will be undermined by legal intimidation if a mass lobbying campaign by the radical National Council of La Raza (NCLR) succeeds in blocking passage of a critical House immigration reform bill this week, according to U.S. Rep. Charlie Norwood (R-GA), the leading proponent of supporting local officers in the fight against criminal aliens.

The House is scheduled to vote on HR 6089 containing key elements of Norwood's CLEAR Act, which would provide funding, training, and resources for state and local law enforcement agencies who voluntarily assist federal officers in apprehension and detention of criminal illegal aliens while in the course of their routine duties such as traffic stops and drug arrests.

NCLR, a pro-illegal immigration lobbying organization that supports racist groups calling for the secession of the western United States as a Hispanic-only homeland, has mounted an all-out campaign to prevent state and local police from voluntarily aiding critically undermanned federal authorities. Norwood says the bill does not target the majority of the 12-20 million illegal immigrants in America, but only serious felons.

"There are the equivalent of 3,000 federal agents trying to arrest 500,000 criminal illegal aliens, of whom 80,000 are violent felons," says Norwood. "That's impossible, and that's why we keep seeing convicted child molesters, rapists, and murderers turned back on our streets instead of being deported. HR 6089 simply reinforces the inherent authority of our 700,000 state and local police to help in this fight, and that's why this anti-American group is mounting a blitzkrieg against it - it evens the odds against these scumbags for the first time in decades."

Norwood called for all law-abiding American citizens to call their House member and demand a yes vote for the bill. "For those who haven't figured it out yet, the entire illegal immigration crisis we suffer is due 100% from our failure to enforce existing law. The other side - La Raza, MEChA, Aztlan - knows this very well, and knows that the continued suppression of US law enforcement efforts is essential to permanently destroying our borders."

"If Americans don't wake up now, they'll wake up one day soon to find their nation has been stolen by La Raza and pals," says Norwood. "Call your House member today to vote YES on HR 6089 - or throw them out of office November 7."

U.S. Rep. Charlie 2452 Rayburn Building, Washington, DC 20515 On the Web: http://www.house.gov/norwood Phone (202) 225-4101; Fax (202) 226-0776
Contact: John Stone; John.Stone@mail.house.gov

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NEWS RELEASE

U.S. Representative Charlie Norwood, Ninth District, Georgia

For immediate release: September 20, 2006

Norwood Offers Conditioned Apology to La Raza

(Washington, DC) - U.S. Rep. Charlie Norwood today offered to issue an apology to the National Council of La Raza for statements made in an earlier news release which accused the organization of association with and support of anti-American and racist groups, on the condition NCLR would agree in writing to the following seven points, and publish the seven points with unequivocal NCLR endorsement of the same prominently on their website:

1. Denounce and sever all ties with MEChA and any other organizations with which they are now or have ever been associated or funded which held to the racist doctrines published by MEChA.

2. Denounce the statement "For La Raza to do. Fuera de La Raza nada," as repugnant, racist, and totally incompatible with American society or citizenship.

3. Repudiate all claims that any current American territory rightfully belongs to Mexico.

4. Acknowledge the right of all Americans to live wherever they choose in the United States, and that no section or region of this country should be segregated by race or ethnic heritage.

5. Commit to sponsorship of nationwide educational programs to combat racism and anti-Semitism in the Hispanic community.

6. Seek neutral, third party supervision to ensure that all community and individual assistance programs offered by La Raza and groups supported by La Raza are accessible to all Americans, regardless of race or ethnicity, and that participation in those programs is fully compliant with Equal Opportunity laws.

7. Acknowledge the internationally recognized borders of the United States, the right of the citizens of the United States to determine immigration policy through the democratic process, and the right of the United States to undertake any and all necessary steps including military action to effectively enforce immigration law and defend its borders against unauthorized entry.

Norwood further requested that NCLR immediately release records of how much of the organization's funds are being used to lobby Congress for specific legislative initiatives. NCLR mounted a nationwide lobbying drive this week in a failed attempt to block immigration reform in the House of Representatives. The organization is registered with the IRS as a 501c3 non-profit charity, which is strictly limited by IRS rules in their ability to lobby Congress or other legislative bodies, or conduct get-out-the-vote campaigns.