Group's Leader, Not Group Itself, Endorsed Calvey
Kevin Calvey appears to have misspoken himself Friday morning when, despite having dismissed endorsements as unimportant a few days ago after two primary opponents endorsed his runoff opponent, he said on KWTV-Channel 9 that, "I'm endorsed by The Minuteman Project."
It's a claim that Calvey has made repeatedly during his campaign.
A search of the 5th District candidate's news releases does not reflect such a group endorsement, but it does reflect a personal endorsement from the group's founder, Jim Gilchrist (right) and there's a legal world of difference between the two. A group endorsement given its tax status is illegal; a personal endorsement is not. Here's the Calvey news release (not included on his website recap of news releases but provided The McCarville Report Online by consultant Trebor Worthen) of August 11: Founder and President Jim Gilchrist of the Minuteman Project, the nation's leading grassroots activist organization on the issue of immigration reform and border security, announced today that they are endorsing Kevin Calvey for US Congress in Oklahoma. America’s Minuteman cited Calvey’s strong stance on securing our borders, denying illegals any form of amnesty, and cracking down on taxpayer funded benefits that attract illegals to the United States. Polls show that immigration reform and border security remains one of the top issues facing voters of the state of Oklahoma in the upcoming August 17 Republican Primary runoff.
Gilchrist stated, “America needs real leaders like Kevin Calvey to take the fight against illegal immigration to Washington, DC. Kevin Calvey will ensure that Congress actually enforce current immigration laws to protect the jobs of Americans and the dollars of taxpayers. While in the Oklahoma Legislature he authored the bill that would demand that recipients of government aid verify their status as American citizens. That is why I wholeheartedly endorse Oklahoma’s conservative Republican Kevin Calvey to the United States Congress.”
Regarding the August 17 Republican Primary Gilchrist said, “For too long law abiding Americans have grown tired of watching the political establishment lack the will to enforce our nation's laws when it comes to border security and immigration policy. That is why friends of the Minuteman Project like I.R.O.N. and former Oklahoma radio talk show host Chris Medlock have told me that only Kevin Calvey has a record showing he will demand that the Federal Government enforce our laws and secure our borders.”
Jim Gilchrist founded the multi-ethnic Minuteman Project on Oct. 1, 2004, after years of frustrated efforts trying to get a neglectful U.S. government to simply enforce existing immigration laws. Called “the world’s largest neighborhood watch”, their volunteer members aid efforts of the US Border Patrol by watching for illegal activity along the US-Mexican border. The news release gives the impression, without careful reading, that it is the group endorsing Calvey. Research shows that The Minuteman Project itself is a 501c4 organization and thus cannot legally endorse a candidate.
Gilchrist stated, “America needs real leaders like Kevin Calvey to take the fight against illegal immigration to Washington, DC. Kevin Calvey will ensure that Congress actually enforce current immigration laws to protect the jobs of Americans and the dollars of taxpayers. While in the Oklahoma Legislature he authored the bill that would demand that recipients of government aid verify their status as American citizens. That is why I wholeheartedly endorse Oklahoma’s conservative Republican Kevin Calvey to the United States Congress.”
Regarding the August 17 Republican Primary Gilchrist said, “For too long law abiding Americans have grown tired of watching the political establishment lack the will to enforce our nation's laws when it comes to border security and immigration policy. That is why friends of the Minuteman Project like I.R.O.N. and former Oklahoma radio talk show host Chris Medlock have told me that only Kevin Calvey has a record showing he will demand that the Federal Government enforce our laws and secure our borders.”
Jim Gilchrist founded the multi-ethnic Minuteman Project on Oct. 1, 2004, after years of frustrated efforts trying to get a neglectful U.S. government to simply enforce existing immigration laws. Called “the world’s largest neighborhood watch”, their volunteer members aid efforts of the US Border Patrol by watching for illegal activity along the US-Mexican border. The news release gives the impression, without careful reading, that it is the group endorsing Calvey. Research shows that The Minuteman Project itself is a 501c4 organization and thus cannot legally endorse a candidate.
posted by Mike McCarville @ 12:35 AM
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