Salon names Republican Jesse Kelly, who hopes to unseat Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in Congressional District 8 next week, one of the “10 Most Terrifying Would Be Congressmen.”
In March, John McCain’s spokesman declared that the Americans for Legal Immigration PAC (ALIPAC) is “backed by white supremacists, neo-Nazis and anti-Semites.” Evidently, that view is not shared by Jesse Kelly, the GOP hopeful who is now running neck and neck with Democrat Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in Arizona’s 8th District. Kelly has embraced ALIPAC’s endorsement and signed the ALIPAC pledge to “use the full power of my office, including impeachment if necessary” to secure the U.S. border.
The Anti-Defamation League agrees with McCain. “White supremacists and racist skinheads have encouraged their followers to engage in activity on behalf of ALIPAC,” the ADL charged last year. The ADL has shown how ALIPAC President William Gheen portrays illegal immigrants as criminals who carry infectious diseases.
In an emailed statement, Kelly responded to the Salon list with this comment: “The most terrifying things right now are the job-killing tax and regulatory increases in the Obamacare scheme that Giffords forced on Arizona.”
The ALIPAC story broke last week, with The Hill reporting on it here and Politico reporting on it here. Brian Rogers, spokesman for the McCain campaign, didn’t comment on his earlier comments about ALIPAC when questioned by the Phoenix New Times, as you can read about here. That’s not much of surprise, given that McCain is now starring in an ad supporting Kelly, even though Kelly called for a “day of reckoning” for Arizona’s senior senator back when Kelly endorsed J.D. Hayworth in the GOP primary.
Kelly himself was questioned about ALIPAC by KGUN-9 News last week. He didn’t seem particularly eager to embrace the organization, as you can see in the clip.
This article appears in Oct 21-27, 2010.
Giffords is starting to look desperate. She is dying to make this race about anything but her record of tax and spend. She subverted the will of the people of her district on Obamacare, and is having trouble defending her far-left votes. I haven’t seen a poll by a respectable outfit showing her with more than 50% of the vote. Her attacks against Kelley ooze of fear mongering about social security, flat tax and abortion. This election is not about abortion or the environment. This election is about defecits, spending, and jobs, Giffords appears to be losing on all of the issues that matter. Its late in the game and Giffords hasn’t moved at all, I think Kelley wins by 6-8 points behind weak Dem turnout.
Sadly, this news doubtless will drive even more heedless malcontents to the polls for Kelly.
I am embarrassed that Jesse Kelly is a candidate in Arizona. He would be a nightmare for all Arizonans – Republicans and Democrats- if he was elected. He seems to think that anger and extreme opinions are some sort of substitute for actual knowledge and the desire and ability to think about the complex issues in our country today. We are in a difficult time right now and I can’t imagine Jesse Kelly’s rhetoric and rage being very helpful while trying to come up with some actual solutions.
Facts people, when it comes to enforcing the law of the land, we get people as the two above, that will only look at their liberal agenda. I am embarrassed that people cant see past the end of their nose…