News & Features
Cong. Hayworth Stresses Need for Border
Security in CWA Address
By Carol Turoff, Staff Writer
Mega-sized or the new leaner version, when Cong. J.D. Hayworth talks,
people listen. And listen they did as he addressed the border invasion
and other burning topics before a Concerned Women for
America/Arizona Chapter luncheon Wednesday at the Moon Valley Country
Club in Phoenix.
Although the chicken piccata arrived after the congressman strode to the
podium, he managed to have the crowd of nearly 150 eating out of his
hand with his recitation of America's founding history, expressing
support for traditional marriage and taking exception with President
Bush's Temporary Worker Program.
Now
recovered from August abdominal surgery, Cong. Hayworth is tan, vigorous
and close to a hundred pounds lighter. But don't let that slimmed down
version lull you into thinking his style has pared.
When asked about President George W. Bush's recent announcement granting
legal status to an estimated 8-12 million illegal immigrants, Hayworth
spoke bluntly.
"There
is no way to sugarcoat this," Hayworth said. Explaining that
President Ronald Reagan "did so many things well, but turned a blind eye
to the issue of illegal immigration (with his 1986 amnesty decision),"
Hayworth stated that a primary responsibility of the federal government
is to maintain the security and sovereignty of this country by enforcing
our borders. Pointing to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, he
said, "Americans experienced the greatest loss of life on our shores
since the Civil War," as he stressed that the "need for enforcement of
border security is equally true of our shared Canadian border as well as
ports of entry."
Regarding President Bush's vigorous endorsement of normalizing those who
blatantly disregard our laws, Cong. Hayworth quoted former President
Dwight Eisenhower, who rounded up illegals: "Always assume those with
whom you disagree have the best motives."
"Bush
is trying to wrap his arms around a difficult problem," Hayworth
added. Aliens entering the United States create a unique situation in
that "for the first time in our history we have an immigrant population
which makes no effort to assimilate or share in the American tradition,"
he said. "There is an effort to balkanize," he said. "And we run the
risk of creating a permanent underclass."
Hayworth cited statistics given by Phoenix Police Chief Harold Hurtt,
noting that home invasions alone are up 140 percent this past year.
Exhorting the attendees to become active participants in the coming
election, Hayworth, who represents Arizona's fifth congressional
district, reminded them that President George W. Bush carried Arizona by
only 6 percent of the votes cast in the 2000 election. Thanking them for
their public policy involvement, he reminded them that Arizona
experienced a 40-percent increase in population in the last decade.
"People want to be involved in their communities," noted Hayworth. The
opportunity is there to connect though voter drives and campaign
activities. "Don't sell yourselves short; everyone has a sphere of
influence. You'd be surprised at the number of people who will support
candidates you indorse. Your influence can make all the difference. The
message for the day is: The power resides with you."
Asked about the difficulties President Bush is experiencing in trying to
get his federal judicial nominees through committee, Hayworth was asked
about the viability of recess appointments, the congressman said: "I
think it's a bit of a mistake not to make these appointments," he said.
Theodore Roosevelt, when president, held a special session to get this
work done. Bush is a wartime president, as well. "He’s trying to build
consensus, and needs to take bold steps," said Hayworth.
Concerned Women for America, celebrating it's 25th year, drew a number
of elected officials for the Hayworth event, as well as supporters from
Payson, in addition to Maricopa County. Bernice Roberts, Arizona's
National Committeewoman and Nathan Sproul, representing the Republican
National Committee, attended. Although invited, representatives from the
Democratic National Committee did not respond, and Sproul noted it is
unfortunate that Democrats do not support an outstanding organization
like CWA.
