June 03, 2006
CA-50 Dem Candidate Busby: "You Don't Need Papers For Voting"

Photographer Byron Dazey documented voter registration efforts at the big May 1 Seattle rally for the "rights" of illegal immigrants, an ethically dubious initiative considering the lax safeguards against related vote fraud. Today, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports that Francine Busby, the Democratic candidate in next Tuesday's special election to replace convicted Republican Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham in California's 50th District, Thursday night told an Escondido crowd including many Spanish speakers that, "You don't need papers for voting."

Busby, a Cardiff school board member, is in a tight race with Republican Brian Bilbray, a congressman-turned-lobbyist, who has based his campaign on a tough anti-illegal-immigration stance. Busby has focused her campaign on ethics reform....Busby said she was invited to the forum at the Jocelyn Senior Center in Escondido by the leader of a local soccer league. Many of the 50 or so people there were Spanish speakers. Toward the end, a man in the audience asked in Spanish: “I want to help, but I don't have papers.” It was translated and Busby replied: “Everybody can help, yeah, absolutely, you can all help. You don't need papers for voting, you don't need to be a registered voter to help.”

Bilbray said at worst, Busby was encouraging someone to vote illegally. At best, she was encouraging someone who is illegally in the country to work on her campaign. “She's soliciting illegal aliens to campaign for her and it's on tape – this isn't exactly what you call the pinnacle of ethical campaign strategy,” Bilbray said. “I don't know how she shows her face.”

The comments were tape recorded and have been aired on a radio show already. Busby claims she misspoke, and the second statement was meant to clarify the first. Feh. What slipped out is a core Democratic value. Bilbray is being charitable. "You don't need papers for voting" is pretty clear. It's a real stretch to think a local elected official and Congressional candidate such as Busby could possibly confuse the act of voting with working on a campaign.

Hat tip: SP readers Thomas H. Slater, and Joseph Cantu.

Posted by Matt Rosenberg at June 03, 2006 12:18 PM | Email This
Comments
1. Encouraging illegal behavior is great as long as you are a democrat and the illegal behavior is related to illegal aliens (there is no such thing as a illegal human being)

It is all a bunch of crap.
I would like to see some actual law enforcement, but I know that isn't going to happen.

Posted by: Jason Woodruff on June 3, 2006 12:37 PM
2. You're wrong.

All Busby said is that you don't have to have "papers for voting" in order to volunteer. That is absolutely clear in context:

"Everybody can help, yeah, absolutely, you can all help. You don't need papers for voting, you don't need to be a registered voter to help."

http://www.exposetheleft.com/2006/06/02/busby has an audio file which might offer some clarity.

There's nothing in her statement to indicate that she thought she was speaking to an illegal alien (legal resident aliens also do not have "papers for voting").

There is even less reason to believe that she meant that non-citizens could or should vote.

Personally, I'm sick of this politicking-by-alleged-scandal, even when it's perpetrated by Republicans.

In fact, if what the guy meant by "I don't have papers" is that he's an illegal, it's a Bush/Republican scandal; the guy was so willing to share his illegal status with the world because he knows the GOP-run executive branch has no intention of enforcing the law.

Posted by: ScottM on June 3, 2006 02:10 PM
3. Yep--this is why Democrats won't permit proof of citizenship at registration, and why they won't even permit someone to be ASKED if they are a citizen when registering to vote. Because then illegal aliens couldn't register and vote for Democrats.

Simple.

Posted by: Misty on June 3, 2006 02:20 PM
4. ScottM: "I don't have papers" is widely recognized as meaning "I'm here illegally."

Posted by: Misty on June 3, 2006 02:22 PM
5. Misty, that may well be true, but there is no reason to think that Busby took it that way, since she specifically referred to "papers for voting."

As I say, if the guy was announcing that he's an illegal, isn't it Bush you should be angry at? He's the one who should be sending agents to arrest this guy and kick his butt back to Mexico.

Posted by: ScottM on June 3, 2006 02:32 PM
6. Ahh the desperate straw grabbing of a camping in trouble. Bibray should be winning this one hands down. This is not San Francisco or Seattle. This is a very conservative district in California. Instead Bilbray is a best even with Busby. That’s what an unpopular president and a congress more concerned with scary gays then substantive policy gets you.

The key part is the comma after voting. It indicates that ‘papers for voting’ is a singular concept. Like ‘drivers license’
Of ‘cookie sheet’. It is not a sentence or idea unto it self. Busby was saying that you don’t need ‘papers for voting’, be registers, in order to help. Which is perfectly true.

I guess when your looking toward loss taking quotes out of context is the best you can do.

Posted by: Giffy on June 3, 2006 02:49 PM
7. Giffy, I actually agree with you on the substance of Busby's statement, but don't be silly.

The original statement was spoken. The punctuation in an unofficially-transcribed version of the statement is evidence of nothing.

Posted by: ScottM on June 3, 2006 02:52 PM
8. If the special election doesn't go well for Francine Busby on Tuesday, she's got a great fallback option.

I'm sure Ron Sims and Dean Logan could use a gal like Francine up here in WA to aid in GOTV efforts to register as many illegals as possbile in the 8th CD to help out Darcy Burner this fall, etc.

Remember the Dem slogan: Count every vote. Legal or not.

Posted by: Jeff B. on June 3, 2006 02:53 PM
9. So, Scoot and Giff's "logic" is, if you oppose Bush on illegal immigration and open borders, you should punish him by supporting a democrat who supports illegal immigration, open borders, and letting illegals vote?

Posted by: V the K on June 3, 2006 06:22 PM
10. Oh, and as for the lamewad "explanation" of her remarks, I am reminded of a couple of Simpson's episodes. One in which Sideshow Bob insists that his "Die Bart Die" tattoo is actually just German for "The Bart The." And the other in which Lionel Hutz takes back his "Works on Commission No Money Down," ad and punctuates it to read "Works on Commission? No! Money Down!"

Busby's (and her shills') frantic CYA is just about as laughable.

Posted by: V the K on June 3, 2006 06:26 PM
11. Yet more evidence of the dems going after the illegal alien vote. Maybe they'll come out on their state platform this time, and at least have the honor to come right out and admit what we all know: they oppose proving citizenship as a requirement to vote because they benefit from illegal alien fraud.

Fat chance.

Posted by: Hinton on June 3, 2006 06:48 PM
12. ScottM: The statement is the same as "pass the bottle around." No one is being told to drink but the implication is that everyone is free to drink.

What we need to clean up this mess is a bunch of illegal conservatives. The Dems would suddenly enforce the law and our borders would finally be shut down. Can we possibly arrange for a bunch of Australians to invade?

Posted by: Elaine on June 3, 2006 09:44 PM
13. Lets see what the core values of the electorate are when the final vote is counted. The Dem - who advocates illegal aliens flocking in or the Repub, who is running for the seat vacated by the corrupt Republican. The Republican has better send a loud and clear message about borders, language and culture if they are to have a prayer of winning.

Posted by: KS on June 3, 2006 10:16 PM
14. ScottM, I'm fed up with ALL politicians who for years have winked at all the illegal aliens walking around, while doing nothing about them pouring through the border. I blame THEM. they could have stopped it at any time. But chose not to. They better rethink all that now.

Posted by: Misty on June 3, 2006 11:15 PM
15. The sad fact is that Ms. Busby is right. In California, by judicial fiat, you cannot be asked for any papers to vote. It is illegal to even ask a voter for any identification. My best guess is that there are about a million persons registered in California who are not eligible. The Democrats who control Los Angeles County and the San Francisco Bay area multi-county electoral machinery have no interest in enforcing the law. San Diego is not so bad, but any attempt to insure honest voting in California is doomed by the state judiciary.

Do not be confused. Ms. Busby knew exactly what she was saying. The cost in bad publicity is more than offset by the thousands of illegal votes that will be cast for her. Honest Democrat is a contridition in terms.

Posted by: Ken Hahn on June 4, 2006 03:08 AM
16. Misty--right--I like business, but remember--all those employers--(our friends and neighbors perhaps)--who hire illegals are really pushing THEIR employment costs on YOU, the local taxpayer; they are not paying for medical and schools and a host of other costs; so, your taxes inch up every year; politicians are terrified to stop this free gravy to aliens; so, are those employers really your good neighbor or someone who is shirking their responsibilities; pay me now or later as they say;

Posted by: Jimmie-howya-doin on June 4, 2006 09:16 AM
17. Busby's statement was lost translation. What she really said was "You don't need no stinking papers."

It was later reported that what she meant to say, was "You don't need no rolling papers...because I have a pipe."

Posted by: Busbyspincontrol on June 4, 2006 09:35 AM
18. It's an interesting story/conversation but not very relevant to this blog unless San Diego was recently relocated to our fair shores.

Posted by: PickleJuice on June 4, 2006 12:20 PM
19. On rare occasions the "Democrat Doublespeak" that liberals are so good at using, fails them and we hear them speak in words that really explain their core principles.

This was only a mistake in the sense that their specifically defined phrases like; "we need to count every vote" and "don't pass laws that intimidate voters"; wasn't used and we heard her thoughts framed in a way that we all could understand.

Couple this with the "big lie" repeated constantly that "republicans conspired to steal the 2000 & 2004 elections" and you can piece together the democrat strategy.

Break down our system of voting through intimidation and corruption in order to regain their power.

In some countries this would be viewed as criminal. It's too bad most americans are asleep at the wheel on this.

Posted by: jaybo on June 4, 2006 02:22 PM
20. ScotM

You're wrong. The woman said what she said. She knew EXACTLY what she was saying. The thing you liberals are mad about is that she got caught. She was caught, just like Chad Statton, a democrat campaing worker was caught registering fraudulent voters in 2004 in OHIO.

http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050219/NEWS02/502190352/-1/NEWS

Posted by: pbj on June 4, 2006 04:20 PM
21. The thing you liberals are mad about is that she got caught.

Ah, it never fails. Disagree with the Blogohive on anything at all and you're a "liberal."

I'm only surprised it took so long for one of the drones to say it.

Posted by: ScottM on June 4, 2006 08:02 PM
22. Actuallt I didn't think it was legal for non-citizens to be involved in our politics either by donating time or money. Or did that get changed after Clinton got caught at accepting money from foriegners?

Posted by: Fred on June 5, 2006 09:08 AM
23. Actually, it appears that permanent resident aliens are permitted even to make monetary contributions (which I must admit, I didn't think was the case).

2 USC CHAPTER 14 - FEDERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGNS

-HEAD-
Sec. 441e. Contributions and donations by foreign nationals
-STATUTE-
(a) Prohibition
It shall be unlawful for -

(1) a foreign national, directly or indirectly, to make -
(A) a contribution or donation of money or other thing of
value, or to make an express or implied promise to make a
contribution or donation, in connection with a Federal, State,
or local election;
(B) a contribution or donation to a committee of a political
party; or
(C) an expenditure, independent expenditure, or disbursement
for an electioneering communication (within the meaning of
section 434(f)(3) of this title); or

(2) a person to solicit, accept, or receive a contribution or
donation described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1)
from a foreign national.

(b) "Foreign national" defined
As used in this section, the term "foreign national" means -

(1) a foreign principal, as such term is defined by section
611(b) of title 22
,* except that the term "foreign national" shall
not include any individual who is a citizen of the United States;
or

(2) an individual who is not a citizen of the United States or
a national of the United States (as defined in section
1101(a)(22) of title 8) and who is not lawfully admitted for
permanent residence, as defined by section 1101(a)(20) of title
8
.
** [Emphasis added.]

-----

* (b) The term "foreign principal" includes -
(1) a government of a foreign country and a foreign political
party;
(2) a person outside of the United States, unless it is
established that such person is an individual and a citizen of
and domiciled within the United States, or that such person is
not an individual and is organized under or created by the laws
of the United States or of any State or other place subject to
the jurisdiction of the United States and has its principal place
of business within the United States; and
(3) a partnership, association, corporation, organization, or
other combination of persons organized under the laws of or
having its principal place of business in a foreign country.

** (20) The term "lawfully admitted for permanent residence" means
the status of having been lawfully accorded the privilege of
residing permanently in the United States as an immigrant in
accordance with the immigration laws, such status not having
changed.

Posted by: ScottM on June 5, 2006 03:29 PM
24. That why many politics special democrat and who running be president they really support illegals to get vote special with amnesty.
This is CRIMINAL illegal ruin everything..they obey law but politics love it,they will destroy this country and they just care about their self.

And most TRAITOR never support this :

1 -- Secure our borders. As first priority, America must stop the flow of illegal immigration by investing all necessary resources in securing our borders. Also, existing immigration laws must be enforced as an essential component of our Homeland Security.


#2 -- No Amnesty. I oppose any form of amnesty for illegal aliens, including the “temporary worker” proposal or any proposals that grant legal residency status or citizenship to illegal aliens.


(Check each issue that you support)
Aggressive deportation. Immediate investment in aggressive effort to deport the 12 million illegal immigrants currently within our borders – if you’re caught, you are sent back.


No benefits. Erect a wall of separation between illegal aliens (and their children) and tax-dollar paid benefits reserved for U.S. citizens and legal aliens. I support H.R. 418 that prohibits illegal aliens from being issued drivers licenses and prevents terrorists from abusing the asylum laws of the United States.


No work. Stricter punishment of U.S. businesses that knowingly employ illegal aliens. Establish national database of legal immigrants to assist both public and private sectors in this effort.


English first. Legislation that establishes English as the required and preeminent language throughout the United States. Public and private sectors cannot be required to provide services in alternative languages.


No Birthright Citizenship. Illegals flood to the U.S. simply to have babies—which are then granted citizenship. Changing the current law is certain to curtail the illegal traffic.


Smoke and mirrors hiding the real issues of the day, they talking gay married because they just give 20 million amnesty .

Watch Rep. Steve King explain the contribution of illegal aliens to the US economy, why you pay the cost of illegal families, and the difference between contributing to the economy and being a net loss to the economy.


Watch Rep. Steve King explain the contribution of illegal aliens to the US economy, why you pay the cost of illegal families, and the difference between contributing to the economy and being a net loss to the economy.

I have been trying to enlighten the masses about this for a few years.

Food stamps, rent assistance, health care, and a HUGE federal tax return using the earned income credit cost other taxpayers 2 to 3 time's an illegal aliens annual income.

In the U.S. Senate turds-for-tacos bill, they REQUIRE illegals to "pay all back taxes" which means the compilation and filing of tax returns. The Senate SPECIFIES that the Earned Income Credit (EIC) can be used. This will give EVERY illegal who files back returns thousands of dollars in refunds!!!

What the criminals in the Senate have done with this single scheme is to find a way to provide all of the illegals with the funds to pay the "fines and fees" for guest worker-amnesty-citizenship cha cha cha!

The Washington criminal elite are determined to get 100 years-plus of cheap slave labor and have figured every angle on how to get it. They must be crushed into the ground like the roaches that they are.


The National Research Council reports that an immigrant to the U.S. without a high-school diploma — whether legal or illegal — consumes $89,000 more in governmental services than he pays in taxes during his lifetime. An immigrant with only a high-school diploma is a net cost of $31,000. Eighty percent of illegal immigrants have no more than a high-school degree, and 60% have less than a high-school degree.

Now lets do the math. 12 million Illegals X Net Cost of $31,000=$31,000,000,000

This of course does not take into account all the family and relatives that will stream into this country with the Amnesty which is closer to 20-50 million in real numbers.

This will result in huge tax increases to the American working family.The Heritage foundation determined taxes in the out years would have to increase by 78% to cover immigration Amnesty.

What a deal, huh?

Posted by: sil on June 6, 2006 08:37 PM
25. sil,

The idea that you have been trying to "enlighten the masses about this information you provde here for a few years" is plain silly.

You have some points but mostly you are full of hype.
The situation is already bad enough without lying about it stupid.
Wise up or risk being ranked with John McDonald.

Posted by: Amused by liberals on June 6, 2006 11:18 PM
26.
CANDIDATE AGAINS ILLEGAL FOR FREE BENEFITS AND SUPORT BORDER SECURITY AND ENFORCEMENT IMMIGRATION LAW:

http://www.betterimmigration.com/candidates/2006/wa.html

http://www.berenforcongress.com/
http://www.berenforcongress.com/issues.htm

Posted by: tin on June 8, 2006 08:24 PM
27. CANDIDATE AGAINS ILLEGAL FOR FREE BENEFITS AND SUPORT BORDER SECURITY AND ENFORCEMENT IMMIGRATION LAW:

http://www.betterimmigration.com/candidates/2006/wa.html

http://www.berenforcongress.com/
http://www.berenforcongress.com/issues.htm

Posted by: tin on June 8, 2006 08:24 PM
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