Joe Guzzardi
September 6, 2003

Here’s more not so savory stuff about Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante.

We already know that in February 2001, while addressing a group of African American trade union leaders, Bustamante referred to Blacks as “niggers.” Right after the event, Bustamante scurried up and down California pleading his case that his slur was merely a slip of the tongue.

And incredibly, well-placed Blacks like Los Angeles Congressman Maxine Waters let him off the hook.

We also know that Bustamante was a member of MEChA during his college days at Fresno State.

Briefly stated, MEChA supports “la reconquista” of Aztlan, known to you as the American Southwest. In other words, MEChA wants Mexico to “reclaim” California, Arizona, Texas and other southwestern states.

Here, from the Preamble to its Constitution, is what MEChA is about:

“Chicano and Chicana students of Aztlan must take upon themselves the responsibilities to promote Chicanismo within the community, politicizing our Raza with an emphasis on indigenous consciousness to continue the struggle for the self-determination of the Chicano people for the purpose of liberating Aztlan.”

Don’t fall for the old line that MEChA is just an innocent bunch of college kids washing cars and holding bake sales to raise money for the prom.

MEChA’s symbol is an eagle with its wings spread, bearing in one claw a dynamite stick in the other with the lighted fuse in its beak.

Incredibly, Bustamante has repeatedly refused to distance himself from MEChA or its ideals.

In the minds of most reasonable voters, Bustamante’s use of racial slurs and his association with a racist, separatist group like MEChA should be enough to disqualify him as a viable candidate for Governor.

But if you have lingering doubts, then know that Bustamante is one of the endorsers of something called the “Immigrant Worker’s Freedom Ride.” (www.immigrantworkersfreedomride.com) that is scheduled to begin in late September.

A reminder: in a recent CalNews.com column titled “I voted for Prop 187” I advised you that people who do not come to the US with proper paperwork and do not enter thorough a port of entry are “illegal aliens” and not “immigrants.”

The so-called “Freedom Ride” is a fascinating event. We’re told that thousands of illegal aliens will be piling into buses from all over the nation and converging on Washington, DC and New York to demand their “rights.”

This is confusing because we have been told ad nauseum that these aliens only come to do jobs Americans won’t do. Yet apparently they will have two weeks off to travel across the country to make demands? Who I wonder is paying for the trip---not their employers, I’m sure.

Or maybe they are not working, after all? Maybe they are just “coming out of the shadows” for a couple of weeks to enjoy the fall colors on the east coast.

Before we get too misty-eyed about the “Freedom Ride,” let’s put a few things in focus:

• Entering the US illegally is a crime
• Purchasing fake documents is a crime
• Using fake documents to gain employment is a crime
• Hiring people who are known to possess fake documents is a crime

In fairness to Bustamante, I’ll point out that he has lots of company from other endorsers.

Dozens of Latino Caucus members also lend their support.

Businesses, disregarding the fact that employers can be fined and/or sanctioned for hiring illegal aliens, have added their names.

The aforementioned Maxine Waters—apparently forgetting the true and original meaning of the “Freedom Ride” and forsaking her black constituents---signed on also.

For the complete list of people and organizations hard at work at subverting American values, see: (http://www.immigrantworkersfreedomride.com/endorsement.asp)

As a candidate myself in the recall election (http://ww.Guzzardi4Governor.com) I am promoting an honest and open discussion about the consequences of illegal immigration into California.

In my mind, Bustamante should be as concerned as I am about the unabated flow of illegal aliens into California. In what way does anyone currently employed benefit from more people arriving everyday who might be willing to perform that job for less money?

All of the people who cross into California illegally need one of two things: a job or social services. Sometimes they will get both.

And that is a pity because right now, we don’t have the jobs (unless you lose yours) and we can’t afford the social services.

But the so-called front-running candidates would prefer not to talk about that.