The Free View - weblog of a presidential candidate

The issue of immigration policy is one that has snuck up on me in terms of my view of its importance. I think it's probably fair to say that as late as maybe 1998 or later, I didn't have a thought-out position on the issues surrounding immigration policy. I guess I just hadn't thought much about it-- and I can't tell you when it was that I started thinking more about it, and forming my views.

It probably just slowly ratcheted up into my consciousness. I think maybe reading some of the firm stances at the Future for Freedom Foundation helped bring it into my view to be thought about. Perhaps moving back out to California helped too, even though I'm up in Northern California (where the so-called "invasion" is not the big issue that it is in SoCal). And, as I ponder it now, I guess it was probably 9/11-- or, more properly, post-9/11 --that pushed the issue into my face enough that I had to decide where I stand, and stand there. I'm sure I'm not alone in that respect.

However, if the "conventional wisdom" is to be believed, my figuring out where I stand does not match with many of the others who have done the same since 9/11. By which I mean that there seems to have been a major upsurge in anti-immigration (and anti-immigrant) sentiment since that sad day two and a half years ago. And my own reflection has led me firmly to the other side of that view.

I'm not going to go on at length about the issue right now, and there's a good chance that I might be pretty quiet about it for the rest of the election season-- in part because I am getting involved with a certain 2004 presidential campaign that I mentioned recently. (More about that coming soon.) As a result I'm going to be less focused on campaigning for my ideas for a while, and more focused on campaigning for his. And his and mine aren't the same when it comes to this issue. Which doesn't mean I'll be promoting things I don't believe, it just (in this case) means that I might not ramp up my depth of effort and support on that issue in the near term. I hadn't been planning on doing so at any set time anyway-- as I said, my strong stance on it has kind of crept up on me over the years.

But between November 3, 2004 and November 4, 2008, there is going to be a serious amount of some seriously impassioned-- nay, vehement --support for open immigration coming from this particular corner of the globe. I can feel it welling up every time I open my mouth about the issue.

Which brings me to what I came here to post. A Leonard Thompson posted a comment recently at E-Actions for Freedom, where I had posted an action item urging folks to oppose the CLEAR Act (an act which effectively deputizes the nation's local police to make them immigration agents). He's for the CLEAR Act, and against the "invasion" of you-know-whats. I wrote him a quick note in response, and I wanted to share the dialogue with you. Here it is.

(If you see his comment as double-posted on the original page, that's the software's fault, not Leonard's.)

From: Leonard G.Thompson

Comments:

I support the Clear Act. I think it is an idea who's time has come.
We are flooded and invaded by illegal immigration. It must be stopped.

I will urge my Representative to SUPPORT it.

My response:

Hi Leonard,

Lance Brown
Freedom Activist

UPDATE: Leonard and I continued our correspondence, and though I'm not going to waste your time by posting the details of that waste of time, I will post the new quote that has been added to the "What people are saying about Lance Brown for President" section. It's by your friend and mine, Leonard Thompson. Here you go:

"I like the USA the way it is. Don't you screw it up! You are doing your best. Have a A for misguided effort. ...
"I think you definitely are anti American and are working to ruin this country. I hope the FBI and CIA are watching you."
-- Len Thompson