Martha Roby: The Federal Government Has Failed Us on Illegal Immigration; We Need New Leadership

(MONTGOMERY, AL) –   Martha Roby said today that new leadership is needed in Congress to address the illegal immigration crisis that is wreaking havoc along our borders.  The Republican nominee said the Democrat majority and incumbent Democrat Bobby Bright have failed to secure the border and stop those that cross into the United States illegally.

Roby is running for Congress in Alabama’s 2nd District against incumbent Democrat Bobby Bright.  Recent polls show Roby leading Bright.

“America was promised that this Congress would stop the illegal immigration crisis that is plaguing our country, but all we’ve gotten is a bunch of hot air coming out of Washington,” said Roby.  “Now the Obama Administration is suing the State of Arizona because the federal government failed to do its job.  Democrat Bobby Bright said Arizona’s law was unconstitutional.  I believe Arizona and each and every state for that matter has the right to protect its citizens when the federal government refuses to do its duty.”

Earlier this year, Bright told the Washington Post that the tough Arizona law “attacks our Constitution” because it encourages racial profiling.

On the Montgomery City Council, Roby chaired a committee on immigration that led the city of Montgomery to adopt an ordinance to comply with federal law and prohibit businesses from harboring illegal aliens.  This strong ordinance has never received a legal challenge.

“There is nothing more important than the security of the American people and this Congress and this administration have failed us,” said Roby.  “It is time to elect leaders with a backbone who will stand up to the status quo and fight for us, not a politician who sticks his finger in the air to see which way the political winds are blowing.  Bobby Bright’s position is wrong for America and wrong for Alabama, and Tuesday voters have a clear choice when it comes to electing a Representative who will fight to take our country back.”

With the campaign in the final weekend before Election Day, momentum is clearly on Roby’s side.  She is crisscrossing the district on a get out the vote tour, and continues to out-raise Bright in all the final finance reports.

Respected political pundit Charlie Cook moved the 2nd District contest from “Leans Democrat” to “Toss-Up” and the Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza yesterday moved the race up to 27 from 43 on his weekly list of the 50 House races most likely to switch parties in November.

The Roby campaign has county chairs operating in all 16 counties in the district, the largest online presence of either candidate with active Facebook pages with over 5,500 fans, and an engaged volunteer organization that will be active throughout the district in the final days of the campaign.

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Background

Bobby Bright voiced his opposition to the Arizona immigration law in the Washington Post, saying the bill “attacks the Constitution:”

“Yet that doesn't completely capture the congressman's profile. Bright said Arizona’s new immigration law ‘attacks our Constitution’ because, he says, it could encourage racial profiling.” (Amy Gardner, “Ala. congressman avoids perils of anti-government backlash,” The Washington Post, 7/13/10)

Just hours later, Bright’s office sent out “An Update From Washington by Bobby Bright” about “cracking down on illegal immigration:”

“No one -- especially the federal government -- should fault a state for attempting to alleviate a serious problem within its own borders, which is the intent of the Arizona law.” http://stephencrewsnews.com/?p=2109

Perhaps realizing he needed to further clarify his stance, a later version of the campaign update added the words “and I support it” to the above sentence:

“No one -- especially the federal government -- should fault a state for attempting to alleviate a serious problem within its own borders, which is the intent of the Arizona law, and I support it.” (Email Newsletter from Congressman Bobby Bright, received Wednesday July 14)

After a letter to the editor critical of his position, Bright wrote a response saying that his “sole concern” about the law had been addressed and he now fully supported the bill:

“My sole concern with the Arizona law was about the possibility that it would lead to racial profiling.  Nobody believes racial profiling is the solution to our illegal immigration crisis. Even the Arizona state legislature agreed and amended the bill to clarify that citizenship status should be checked only when an individual is stopped by police for legitimate, probable causes…The amendment took care of my Constitutional concerns about profiling and, therefore, I support the Arizona law.” (“Letter: U.S. Rep. Bobby Bright responds,” The Dothan Eagle, 7/22/10)

The amendments Bright references were passed on April 30, 73 days prior to him voicing his concern in the Washington Post:

“Gov. Jan Brewer on Friday signed a bill modifying Arizona's controversial new immigration law, saying it will ‘make it crystal clear and undeniable that racial profiling is illegal.’” (“Arizona governor signs bill revising new immigration law,” by Casey Newton and Ginger Rough, The Arizona Republic, 5/1/10)

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