Government

Maine City Considers Giving Non-U.S. Citizens Voting Rights

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Like his neighbors, Claude Rwaganje pays taxes on his income and taxes on his cars. His children have gone to Portland’s public schools. He‘s interested in the workings of Maine’s largest city, which he has called home for 13 years.

There’s one vital difference, though: Rwaganje isn’t a U.S. citizen and isn’t allowed to vote on those taxes or on school issues. That may soon change.

Portland residents will vote Nov. 2 on a proposal to give legal residents who are not U.S. citizens the right to vote in local elections, joining places like San Francisco and Chicago that have already loosened the rules or are considering it.

Noncitizens hold down jobs, pay taxes, own businesses, volunteer in the community and serve in the military, and it’s only fair they be allowed to vote, Rwaganje said.

“We have immigrants who are playing key roles in different issues of this country, but they don’t get the right to vote,” said Rwaganje, 40, who moved to the U.S. because of political strife in his native Congo and runs a nonprofit that offers financial advice to immigrants.

Opponents of the measure say immigrants already have an avenue to cast ballots — by becoming citizens. Allowing noncitizens to vote dilutes the meaning of citizenship, they say, adding that it could lead to fraud and unfairly sway elections.

“My primary objection is I don’t think it is right, I don’t think it is just, I don’t think it is fair,” Portland resident Barbara Campbell Harvey said.

In San Francisco, a ballot question Nov. 2 will ask voters whether they want to allow noncitizens to vote in school board elections if they are the parents, legal guardians or caregivers of children in the school system.

Noncitizens are allowed to vote in school board elections in Chicago and in municipal elections in half a dozen towns in Maryland, said Ron Hayduk, a professor at the City University of New York and author of “Democracy for All: Restoring Immigrant Voting Rights in the United States.”

New York City allowed noncitizens to vote in community school board elections until 2003, when the school board system was reorganized, and several municipalities in Massachusetts have approved allowing it but don’t yet have the required approval from the Legislature, he said.

The Maine ballot questions asks whether legal immigrants who are city residents but not U.S. citizens should be allowed to vote in municipal elections. If the measure passes, noncitizens would be able to cast ballots in school board, city council and school budget elections, as well as other local issues, but not on federal or statewide matters.

The Maine League of Young Voters, which spearheaded the drive to force the question on the ballot, estimates there are 5,000 to 7,500 immigrants in Portland, roughly half of whom are not U.S. citizens. They come from more than 100 countries, with the two largest groups from Somalia and Latin America.

On a recent day in a small lunchroom at the Al-Amin Halal Market, a group of Somali men ate lunch and talked in their native language. A sign advertised the day’s offerings, including hilib ari (goat), bariis (rice) and baasto (spaghetti).

Abdirizak Daud, 40, moved to Minneapolis 18 years ago before coming to Portland in 2006. He hasn’t been able to find a job. Some of his nine children have attended Portland schools, and he‘d like to have a say in who’s looking over the school system and the city, he said.

But between his limited English and the financial demands, Daud hasn’t been able to become a citizen.

“I like the Democrats. I want to vote for Democrats, but I don’t have citizenship,” he said.

To become a citizen, immigrants must be a lawful permanent resident for at least five years, pass tests on English and U.S. history and government, and swear allegiance to the United States.

Supporters of Portland’s ballot measure say the process is cumbersome, time-consuming and costly. The filing fee and fingerprinting costs alone are $675, and many immigrants spend hundreds of dollars more on English and civics classes and for a lawyer to help them through the process.

Allowing noncitizens to vote fits with basic democratic principles, Hayduk said.

Historically, 40 states allowed noncitizens to vote going back to 1776, but an anti-immigrant backlash in the late 1800s and early 1900s resulted in laws that eliminated their voting rights by 1926, Hayduk said.

“We look back in history and we say that was a bad thing that we didn’t allow African-Americans to vote, or we didn’t allow half the population, women, to vote, or we didn’t allow younger people to vote,” he said. “We’ve modified our election laws to become more inclusive to incorporate more members of society.”

The Federation for American Immigration Reform, a Washington, D.C., group that advocates tougher immigration enforcement, says voting is a privilege and should be limited to citizens.

“People who are legal immigrants to the United States after a five-year waiting period can become citizens and become enfranchised,” spokesman Ira Mehlman said. “But until then, being here as a legal immigrant is a conditional agreement, sort of like a trial period. You have to demonstrate you are the type of person we would want to have as a citizen, then you can become a citizen and vote.”

Comments (229)

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  • Iamtheoracle
    Posted on October 23, 2010 at 2:15pm

    very bad idea … simply NOT right

    Report Post »  
  • leftylemn
    Posted on October 23, 2010 at 2:14pm

    Let me get this right.Obama is running around the country complaining about foreign money getting involved in U.S. politics with the Republicans. Isn’t this foreign involvement in U.S. politics?

    Report Post »  
    • Race
      Posted on October 24, 2010 at 12:27am

      Of course it is. Just like taking input from the Mexican gov’t, the U.N., World Court, etc. etc. ad nauseum. I say NO MORE!

      Report Post » Race  
    • puekaw10
      Posted on October 24, 2010 at 1:45am

      I agree with both of you triple standard

      Report Post »  
  • nono524
    Posted on October 23, 2010 at 2:12pm

    Does that mean that we have to send ballots to Mexico?

    Report Post » nono524  
    • White Devil
      Posted on October 23, 2010 at 2:27pm

      They are. They decided to send the absentee ballots that were not sent to our military to mexico so they can vote…it’s only fair.

      Report Post » White Devil  
  • bellydancingconservative
    Posted on October 23, 2010 at 2:11pm

    Consider not!!!!! .I voted against non-citz on my absentee, hope all “Maniacs” do the same!!

    Report Post » bellydancingconservative  
  • TNgirly
    Posted on October 23, 2010 at 2:09pm

    Hey, while we’re at it, why don’t we just let the whole stinking world vote in our country. Geesh. Insanity on steroids.

    Report Post »  
  • 4q2obama
    Posted on October 23, 2010 at 2:09pm

    Wtf??????

    Report Post »  
  • C. Schwehr
    Posted on October 23, 2010 at 2:09pm

    Several thoughts come to mind…In limited elections…local school board where the children attend, it’s only fair to let involved parents vote since they are a part of the community.

    But at ANY level above the local city elections it MUST be forbidden since allowing resident aliens to vote in any election above that level does not dilute the rights of citizens…it ELIMINATES those rights as not being necessary at all!

    The story also brings to mind a few questions:
    1. Does Mr. Rwaganje EVER intend on becoming a citizen or is he just using this as a way to avoid the requirement while gaining un earned priviledges?

    2. Is the request for voting priviledges based on his POLITICAL LEANINGS?????

    3. If voting priviledges are granted, will there now be a special ballot for NON-citizens in Maine or will these people be given the same ballot as all others, thus allowing them to vote for offices for which they are inelligible to do so?

    Report Post »  
  • Mike Liberation
    Posted on October 23, 2010 at 2:09pm

    I’m speechless. What is going on with this country? We have completely lost our way. WHO are these people who blatantly ignore the Constitution, the rule of law, and what our founders intended? What other successful country in the world lets non-citizens participate in their government to this proposed extent? Maine, you are a disgrace if this passes.

    As Roberja quoted above, life isn’t fair. Some people are born here. Some aren’t. Some people take the time and effort to become a legal citizen. Some don’t. Maybe they can’t for a legal reason. SO WHAT?!?! They have NO RIGHT to VOTE. PERIOD.

    http://liberationapparel.com

    Report Post » Mike Liberation  
    • White Devil
      Posted on October 23, 2010 at 2:22pm

      Mike, It’s not that they are ignorant. They know full well it’s contrary to the constitution. They just don’t agree with the constitution so they will re-interpret it to fit their agenda.

      Report Post » White Devil  
    • HillBillySam1
      Posted on October 23, 2010 at 3:12pm

      They are “social engineering” the election process. Progressives have figured out that by pandering to minorities and illegal immigrants, the fear that is produced in these people will cause them to want to vote for Democrats. The next logical step, of course, is to allow those who “pay taxes or have a stake in their children’s education” to vote locally. Then they will push for voting rights for these people on the state and federal level. “It’s only fair” will be the argument. The Progressives could not possibly care less for these people. They are cattle to herded and used. They are simply a means to an end. Power is all that Progressives care about. They despise America. They always have. If you can stand to listen to anybody on MSNBC or Air America for just a minute or two, then you would know how they feel about anyone who is not lock-n-step with them.

      We MUST stand against this shredding of our Constitution, our Country, our values, our beliefs, and our families. Vote. Vote. Vote. Stay vigilent and do not hate as the Progressives do. Hatred is all that they have. We have truth.

      Report Post »  
  • CraigColvin
    Posted on October 23, 2010 at 2:08pm

    This truly is an OMG moment. Not just Portland but all of the cities that have decided to allow this practice. The next logical creep is that since the Feds supply money to the state for education- let the non-citizen vote in State and Fed elections.. Nibble, nudge, nudge…push..

    Report Post » Craig  
  • Acemeister79
    Posted on October 23, 2010 at 2:08pm

    Infreakingsane. Typical that the fool who would like to vote democrat has been in the U.S. for 18 years and still has “limited English”. The country hardly needs more uneducated welfare-mentality democrats to guide it into the future.

    Report Post »  
  • DonnaA
    Posted on October 23, 2010 at 2:08pm

    Get in line and wait your turn! Everyone want to be American!

    Report Post »  
  • jacquecustard
    Posted on October 23, 2010 at 2:07pm

    Yup, let’s also make Swahili the national tongue and have folk use postal votes from the EU in our Amerikan Elections.

    When is this crap going to stop ?

    I

    Report Post »  
  • BoilitDown
    Posted on October 23, 2010 at 2:07pm

    What is it that is making these people lose their minds in such large numbers. Is it drugs, food additives, household chemicals? Yeah….that’s what we need, another boneheaded move to bypass laws and drive reasoning people crazy as well. It seems like people are going out of their way to purposely tear America apart for every individual’s self righteous special interest. Don’t they ever think that there are 300+ million other folks in this country they need to get along with? It’s always me, me, me, I, I, I, change the law for me cause I need it that way.

    Report Post »  
  • moelarrycurly
    Posted on October 23, 2010 at 2:02pm

    Oh the slippery slope…Our politicians local state and national really are whores. Anything they can do to guarantee their job for another term or two…

    TERM LIMITS NOW!!!

    Report Post »  
  • missbosslady
    Posted on October 23, 2010 at 2:00pm

    Speechless.

    Report Post »  
    • missmarie
      Posted on October 23, 2010 at 2:40pm

      Speechless, too.

      Report Post » missmarie  
    • bornfree79
      Posted on October 23, 2010 at 4:12pm

      Speechless here can’t believe whats happening to OUR HOME, everyone should really smarten up get the libs out and put America the way it should be.

      Report Post »  
    • Masamune
      Posted on October 23, 2010 at 4:26pm

      Speechless also.

      Report Post »  
  • BreeZee
    Posted on October 23, 2010 at 2:00pm

    Here we go again, lets change the language by the left. NON U.S. CITIZEN? Either they are legally just visiting (vista) or they’re flippin ILLEGAL!!!! Either way THEY DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE IN THE USA.

    Report Post »  
    • mcmeador
      Posted on October 23, 2010 at 2:38pm

      That’s not true. One of my best friends is a non-citizen, but he lives here in the United States legally as a permanent resident with a green card. He moved here from South Africa with his parents when he was a child. His parents were actually just recently sworn in as citizens. There’s a clear difference between someone here illegally and a non-citizen who lives and works here legally.

      I agree that you should have to obtain citizenship before you are able to vote. You should not be able to just roll over here as a legal non-citizen and then vote and decide to go back to your home country. I just wanted to point out that there is a difference.

      Report Post »  
    • Itchee Dryback
      Posted on October 23, 2010 at 10:43pm

      Breezee..you are right imo.
      A propagandist once said “If you want to control a society, the first thing to do is to seize the language…and then change the meaning of the words”

      Report Post »  
  • Ozzie
    Posted on October 23, 2010 at 2:00pm

    Hey Maine, why not let people in North Korea and China vote in your election? Are you kidding me? This freaking country is falling apart thanks to the massive stupidity of these Liberals.

    Report Post » Ozzie  
    • merks
      Posted on October 23, 2010 at 9:56pm

      don’t be giving any ideas to obama!

      Report Post »  
    • USAFVet
      Posted on October 25, 2010 at 7:28pm

      Agreed don’t give any ideas to ODUMBO, after all China practically owns us!

      Report Post »  
  • Juniemoon
    Posted on October 23, 2010 at 2:00pm

    I’m assuming voting rights are federal law, but yet a state like Arizona can‘t defend it’s borders because of federal law. Did I miss something? Of course I did, the dimwits are losing their base and need to pander for votes.

    Report Post » Juniemoon  
    • snowleopard3200
      Posted on October 23, 2010 at 2:06pm

      Exactly, they complain at my home state of AZ on the border issues, and then accuse the states that sue over the Obama care that its not a mandate it is a tax when they said otherwise.

      Desperate times indeed for all if we are not careful; stay strong and ready America, for by truth we will know them for what they are.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • drbage
      Posted on October 23, 2010 at 10:17pm

      Snowleopard, we just misunderstood or was it that we misinterpreted what Pope Pelosi said when she answered, with vibrant wit, a reporter by saying that it was NOT a tax increase, it was the elimination of a tax decrease. So, Nancy, is the glass half-full or half-empty?

      Report Post »  
  • just the facts
    Posted on October 23, 2010 at 1:59pm

    See, the progressives/dems, how they have a total disregard and respect for the law. They only want the power of the vote.

    Has anyone taken time to think what would happen when enough becomes ENOUGH?? Maybe a full fledged form of civil uprising.

    Report Post »  
    • puekaw10
      Posted on October 24, 2010 at 1:38am

      I am sure the Oboma and the left have they are all communists and socialist. No worries I am sure they have a plan to deal with a few hundred thousand of us. In Russia they killed 50 million. In China only God knows how many they have killed. You need to be readie. I hate to think this is where we are but it seem to be. They are looking to impeach justice Roberts, attacking fox and speech, sueing AZ for two or three different thing related to illegal immagration and now this ( i may have messed some stuff to)

      Report Post »  
  • conservativejazzman
    Posted on October 23, 2010 at 1:58pm

    Then become an American citizen and vote. Simple

    Report Post » conservativejazzman  
    • just the facts
      Posted on October 23, 2010 at 2:22pm

      I agree. All they need to do is go through the process. It is simple, but timely.

      Report Post »  
    • cheezwhiz
      Posted on October 23, 2010 at 2:25pm

      Abdirizak Daud, 40, moved to Minneapolis 18 years ago before coming to Portland in 2006. He hasn’t been able to find a job. Some of his nine children have attended Portland schools, and he‘d like to have a say in who’s looking over the school system and the city, he said.

      ——————————
      So he is a parasite for 18 years.
      No wonder he wants his right to vote for democrats without even making any effort to be eligible for citizenship. He wants to decide how he mooches off the taxpayers.

      Report Post » cheezwhiz  
  • macadoo
    Posted on October 23, 2010 at 1:57pm

    another way for dems to get the illegal votes . look out for amnesty coming soon to your theaters.

    Report Post » macadoo  
    • Sooty3250
      Posted on October 24, 2010 at 10:40am

      I am a American Citizen, for over 45 years, Born and Bred in the USA. I am a tax payer, and a Employer. Yet because of a gross error in judgement, and taking personal responsibility for it, I became a convicted felon. No longer, for the past 10 years, nor in the future, unless laws change, am I, allowed to vote. Nor in the foreseeable future, am I, a convicted felon, whom has done his sentance, paid his restitution, and returned to society as a responsible citizen, will be afforded the opportunity to vote. Yet daily, I see NON-citizens being afforded the rights as a citizen, even the right to vote, wheras I, a citizen, no longer possess. There is something wrong with that.

      Report Post »  
  • USAVET
    Posted on October 23, 2010 at 1:57pm

    How special, another example of intimidation. What happened to the rules? If these people want to vote legally in the USA, why dont they become US citizens? If they love America so much, why dont they become citizens? Why is it easier to give these people a free ride? My Uncle was at Tarawa and Iwo Jima and other areas of the Pacific risking his life for America as most of my family and friends, yet these non-citizens want the right to vote without as much as serving this country nor believe in even becoming citizens. Maybe you people in Maine are pretending to be politically correct because you refuse to enforce the standards of this country.

    Report Post »  
    • USAFVet
      Posted on October 25, 2010 at 7:19pm

      Well Said! It’s time to take off the gloves and show these bleeding hearts what American excepionalism really means.

      Report Post »  
  • roberja
    Posted on October 23, 2010 at 1:55pm

    Portland, have you lost your mind? Aren’t you still part of the United States? Read the Constitution! If these people want to vote, tell them to become citizens! John F. Kennedy once said, “Life is not fair”.

    Report Post »  
    • BreeZee
      Posted on October 23, 2010 at 2:03pm

      They did read the Constitution, you know. the one that has that pesky little “separation of church and state” thingy in it.

      Report Post »  
    • C. Schwehr
      Posted on October 23, 2010 at 2:11pm

      Note: Portland (and in reality ALL of Oregon) is VERY Progressive in it’s thinking…somewhat like Washington State.

      So yes, they’ve lost their minds. But they lost their “collective” minds a long time ago!

      Report Post »  
    • snowleopard3200
      Posted on October 23, 2010 at 2:21pm

      I got to wondering a moment ago; if the state of Oregon gets too far out of hand, do any of them there remember that there is a mountain – MT Hood – that is a dormant volcano? Think if God gets fed up enough he might send a few rumbles that way to remind them who is in charge of the Cosmos?

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • TEAmerica
      Posted on October 23, 2010 at 3:05pm

      Reponders to ROBERJA…

      Portland, Maine…not Oregon.

      Report Post » TEAmerica  
    • Bytor
      Posted on October 23, 2010 at 3:30pm

      Breezee, NO WHERE in ANY of our founding documents, INCLUDING the Constitution of The United States of America, is the term “separation of church and state” written. NO WHERE! .. if you are referring to the 1st amendment, that tells the government that THEY cannot interfere in religion, period, AND, does NOT confine religion from entering government.

      Please go read the Constitution before trying to quote from it.

      Report Post » Bytor  
    • drbage
      Posted on October 23, 2010 at 4:18pm

      Whether it be Portland, Oregon or Portland, Maine the agenda is the same. Look at the voting records of Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins! In New England, with the exception of opening socialist Vermont, a Democrat is a Progressive and a Republican is a Democrat as they were in the 50‘ and 60’s. Once again the hypocrisy of O administration comes to the forefront. Sue Arizona because they decide to enforce the laws that the feds will not enforce, yet let all the “sanctuary cities” get a pass because they choose to not enforce the same federal laws. My question is what rights do we as Americans still have? Our freedom of speech is limited to bashing anything not Progressive and if we dare say anything or wear anything that might be perceived as being anti-minority du jour, watch out the PC police will be at your door. We have a Bernie Madoff in prison for running a Ponzi scheme, yet our govt for many administrations have been running the largest Ponzi scheme in world history with SS benefits in an untouced lockbox–untouched by the taxayers, but rifled without consequence by the politicians. We have Roger Clemens being tried for…….lying to Congress, yet for YEARS Congress has lied to us without consequence. (A current example would be dancing queen, Bawney Fwank, who promised the people and his fellow members of Congress that there was not one iota, scintilla, or hint of problems with Fannie and Freddie, but now he says he missed the signs–just like he missed the marijuana his boyfriend was growing.) This, hopefully, large wave on November 2nd will be step one of reclaiming America. We all will need to remain vigilant to be sure that those elected stick to their promises. All these incumbents talking about compromise and working across the aisle worry me greatly. As I have already said to my Senator not up for re-election and for candidates for (re-)elections, stop and remember how many times Reid and Pelosi allowed them into meetings about pieces of legislation or even to put legislation on the floor for debate. November 2nd is just a skirmish and then the battle begins.

      Report Post »  
    • Jezreel
      Posted on October 23, 2010 at 6:02pm

      We left Oregon years ago because we could not stand the politics. My husband is a building official and that requires honesty. He lost one job a while back for not going corrupt. He has a better one because I had faith that God would honor his integrity and honesty. Oregon is a very corrupt state and it does very stupid things especially when bearaucracy is two fold catch 22 stupidity.

      Report Post »  
  • overlumber
    Posted on October 23, 2010 at 1:55pm

    Are you kidding me? Sorry, folks. Just like in other countries who have voting, you MUST be a CITIZEN of that country in order to vote. Don’t want to be a citizen? Fine. Live here, pay your taxes and don’t vote. That makes sense. NOT! Not if you love the country and WANT to be part of it. There is a price to be paid, a cost, if you will of being a citizen and not simply a resident. Either become a citizen and vote, or be a resident only and not vote. Easy. Or, go home and vote there. We lived overseas almost 20 years and voted absentee here in the States, but NEVER in our country of residence. That’s a good rule of thumb. Non-citizens should NEVER have a say in a country’s government. Thank you for listening (I hope).

    Report Post »  
    • untameable-kate
      Posted on October 23, 2010 at 4:05pm

      Constitution shmonstitution. You don’t think this silly little document actually means anything anymore do you? ’cause if it did then anyone who wanted to vote would choose to become a citizen. Of course then they have the progressives changing laws to appease thier base so why bother becoming a citizen. Bottom line, if you are here legally and you want to vote apply for citizenship and stop asking us to change the law to appease you.

      Report Post » Untameable-kate  
  • TruthTalker
    Posted on October 23, 2010 at 1:47pm

    Unreal.

    Report Post »  
    • snowleopard3200
      Posted on October 23, 2010 at 2:03pm

      And now we see Pres Obamas back doorway to amnesty being made a reality; for the argument by the immigrant policy dingbats will be something like this “If only citizens are able to vote, then they must already be citizens because they have cast their votes in the local elections/voting…”

      Something like this will be the basis for their arguments, and Mr Obama then can walk straight in and grant a blanket amnesty over some kind of civil rights and civil liberties violations. And once again we will see the Progressive agenda jammed down the throats of all of America.

      http://www.artinphoenix.com/galley/grimm

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • chazman
      Posted on October 23, 2010 at 2:04pm

      Yeah, just look at the places where non-citizens are allowed to vote. San Fran, L.A. Chicago, New York! All Liberal Marxist bastions of our great country. This kind of thinking is cancerous. “How to Destroy a Country,” brought to you by MARXISM!!

      Lock and Load, Patriot’s!

      Report Post »  
    • tower7femacamp
      Posted on October 23, 2010 at 2:13pm

      why is it unreal ? I’ll show you unreal
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhwhMXOxHTg

      Report Post » tower7femacamp  
    • cheezwhiz
      Posted on October 23, 2010 at 2:15pm

      To become a citizen, immigrants must be a lawful permanent resident for at least five years, pass tests on English and U.S. history and government, and swear allegiance to the United States.

      ————–

      …………..and have been always employed , have not been on public dole, have a crime-free record, have infectious disease-free certification, and be an actual “ immigrant”, NOT AN ILLEGAL
      But who cares for such minor details

      Report Post » cheezwhiz  
    • White Devil
      Posted on October 23, 2010 at 2:16pm

      This is how they start. They pass it on a small local level and move up from school issues to city council, to state races and then national elections. Incrementalism. Don’t fall for it people. Someone needs to tell this law breaking illegal alien that life is not fair. Just as I know it’s not fair that illegal aliens are draining our local and national resources. I know it’s not fair that I have to pay the way for those who give the middle finger to our heritage and laws that I follow every day.

      Report Post » White Devil  
    • snowleopard3200
      Posted on October 23, 2010 at 2:19pm

      @tower7femacamp

      Unreal indeed, the NAFTA treaty and anything Al Gore are linked with is beyond unreal.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • akamaikamaaina
      Posted on October 23, 2010 at 2:22pm

      The inmates are running the asylum.

      Report Post »  
    • tower7femacamp
      Posted on October 23, 2010 at 2:59pm

      snow did you see the pics Ross had of Mexicans living in cardboard boxes ?
      that is our future. Ross was showing us the future.
      funny how both parties always support the NWO agenda’s

      Report Post » tower7femacamp  
    • PatriotDaze
      Posted on October 23, 2010 at 3:02pm

      WHITE DEVIL, The article did not say this man was illegal. That you automatically jumped to that conclusion and went on a rant based upon that premise is curious, but not germane.

      Report Post » PatriotDaze  
    • 5
      Posted on October 23, 2010 at 3:11pm

      Become a citizen or leave. Get the Hell out of here. We don’t need your stinking bones.

      Report Post »  
    • Daragon29
      Posted on October 23, 2010 at 3:43pm

      Hey Patriotdaze! You know how we were talking in the Broden Thread, that while we have a FREE VOTING system that isn’t corrupt it is illegal for the people to rise against the government? This is just another example of us not having a free voting system. Thank you.

      Report Post »  
    • wildjoker5
      Posted on October 23, 2010 at 4:03pm

      I can’t wait for Germany, China, and Iran voting for our president.

      Report Post »  
    • Polwatcher
      Posted on October 23, 2010 at 4:35pm

      How about we give my Chihuahua a vote.

       
    • Beckofile
      Posted on October 23, 2010 at 4:40pm

      But if Arizona has no authority to deal with immigration then why are’nt the democratic socialist crying foul about Maine stepping into the Federal area???? Would it not be consistant to sue Maine for writting it’s own immigration laws?

      Report Post » Beckofile  
    • Rogue
      Posted on October 23, 2010 at 5:01pm

      Dear Canada: Willing to sell oceanfront property at well below market value. If you make a decent offer for Maine, we may be willing to throw in several other Northeastern states for free. Anything North of Maryland is all yours as long as you fence it off from the remaining US states, please.

      Report Post » Rogue  
    • notsodumblond
      Posted on October 23, 2010 at 5:53pm

      Seems as if Democrats are pushing this out of desperation for votes, as for the anger it causes Americans? You don’t poke someone , ignore their request to stop , and keep poking …sooner or later you will have a very angry person !

      Report Post »  
    • watchmany2k
      Posted on October 23, 2010 at 9:47pm

      I live in Maine and have been watching this.
      The Maine League of Young Voters, or what I call them “the Obama-Boiler-Room-Laptop Kids”
      are the useful idiots of the ACLU and other fomenting Socialists here.

      If I remember correctly, their first tact was for both illegal and legal immigrants,
      which morphed to just legal immigrants, and now their premise and propaganda is on how much
      it “unfairly” costs to become a citizen.

      Riddle me this: a person who cannot understand english, voting on rules, candidates etc whom
      they cannot effectively READ about or get info from news sources, WHO I ask
      Is providing this person the info so they can make their own informed choice ?

      BAD policy if you ask me, too bad I am not a citizen of portland.

      I would have more respect for the Obama-Boiler-Room-Laptop Kids, if they had car washes
      and bake sales, and ran english and history classes to help the legal immigrant BECOME
      a citizen. Instead they take the tactic of deception and propaganda to garner more votes
      to the liberal progressive block. It’s right up there with allowing felons in prison to vote.

      Report Post » watchmany2k  
    • watchmany2k
      Posted on October 23, 2010 at 10:05pm

      Oh, and if you want to get an inkling of how the
      Obama-Boiler-Room-Laptop Kids operate
      Just go to craigslist R & R for Maine.

      During the last election, they played both sides of the fence in their postings.
      I recognized a pattern, when they were losing the argument, the next several
      posts were THE most racist BS you ever saw.

      I finally figured out who they were as the local TV did a ditty on how the local dem party
      put on a pizza party so they could watch the elections in style.
      there they were all sitting with their laptops in a “boiler-room”
      I called the posting pattern and racisim out in the open and for a while at least
      the BS stopped, but hey it’s criagslist…

      We may be THE whitest state in the US, but nowhere near the vitriol that was posted.
      Not anyway near racists either, most Mainers don’t mix with folks “from away”
      AKA just over the Maine border,
      You are “judged” by your license plate, not any other criteria…LOL

      any of their modus operandi sound familiar to you ?

      Report Post » watchmany2k  
    • CYCLONE
      Posted on October 23, 2010 at 11:26pm

      Maine with Snowe and Collins… PPPppffffffttt…I‘m surprised that the illegal alien votes don’t count at a 4 to 1 ratio…

      RINO ‘s does’nt even to begin to describe those two Communists…

      Report Post »  
    • shellmen
      Posted on October 24, 2010 at 7:13am

      You are right. The man had 13 years to become a citizen .

      Report Post »  
    • jbl8199
      Posted on October 24, 2010 at 6:13pm

      You want to see UNREAL? Obama is all for open borders and won’t do a damn thing about it because one of his own relatives is an illegal and nothing is being done about it. Here’s your unreal

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBzjLnO-e3o

      Report Post » jbl8199  
    • ozz
      Posted on October 24, 2010 at 7:16pm

      Disgusting. Just disgusting.

      Report Post » ozz  
    • coochman
      Posted on October 25, 2010 at 3:54pm

      Here is the real problem..you have a man named Abdirizak Daud who is not a US citizen, with 9 children, has been in this country for 18 years before moving to Portland in ‘03 and has not had a job since. He has been living off our government and this is the man that Ron Hayduk chooses to write about? This is only a small sample of the non-citizens that don’t wish to take the necessary steps to become a citizen but think it should just be handed to them.

      How can a vote such as this even take place in this country? The Maine League of Young Voters are NOT looking out for this country except for the democratic votes that it may produce.

      Report Post »  
    • Blazergirl
      Posted on October 25, 2010 at 10:08pm

      This really makes me very angry. I am a naturalized AMERICAN. I’ve paid my taxes. I’ve never been on any goverment program. I’ve always been grateful to live here even if I was only a legal alien. I finally got my citizenship in 2000 because I wanted to vote.
      Why and how can they get away with that!!!! ?? Part of being an AMERICAN Citizen is the privilage to vote. That seems to be the only thing left and they are taking that away. So what if you pay taxes. Get your citizenship and then you’ll have the right to speak up (If you can actually speak OUR language!) And if you don’t like it then go back to your own country. I get so sick and tired of people just thinking and doing what ever they damn well please without any respect for our laws. What’s even more dishearting is that they are getting away with it. I seem to be the only chump trying to do the right thing simply because it’s the right thing do without any expectations of being rewarded. I‘m so angry I’m about to implode!!!!! I WANT MY AMERICA BACK!!!!!

      Report Post »  
    • Blazergirl
      Posted on October 25, 2010 at 10:26pm

      Oh hell, why don’t we just have another social program so that they can get their citizenship for FREE!!!! While we’re at it, let’s just all stop speaking english. Oh and how about getting rid of our fast food and outlaw Coke or Pepsi. Lets all stop wearing jeans! Does the Constitution still mean anything? I tried to take a time-out and Yeah I’m still mad!

      Report Post »  
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