Paul Clinton
A rally in Costa Mesa held to bolster support for U.S. troops
heading to the Middle East went off with a bang on Saturday. So much
so that the organizers, the Orange County Young Republicans, plan to
hold a second rally this Saturday.
The rallies, near South Coast Plaza, are held to show support for
"the Bush administration, as well as the brave men and women who
protect our freedoms," said Jennifer Kerns, the group's executive
vice president.
Saturday's rally, which drew about 50 people, was well attended.
It was staged as a response to a series of antiwar rallies that have
been held on Friday evenings for the past several months at the same
intersection.
Lee Lowrey, the president of the group, said the antiwar rallies
have "taken on an anti-American tone."
On Saturday, Young Republicans marched and shouted support at the
corner of Bristol Street and Anton Boulevard. It began at noon and
ran until 2 p.m.
Organizers said the rally would have drawn more attendees if it
were not for the tragic explosion of the Columbia space shuttle.
ROHRABACHER AND FELLOW GOPERS OPPOSE IDS
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher and 11 other House Republicans want to
eliminate a controversial ID card issued to illegal immigrants by the
Mexican consulate.
Rohrabacher co-sponsored legislation, introduced Jan. 29, that
would require certain restrictions on identification cards used to
obtain federal or other public benefits and services.
The Mexican government issues a card known as a "matricula
consular" to Mexican nationals living in this country. Rohrabacher
and the other members of the so-called Immigration Reform Caucus
don't want local, state or federal agencies to accept the cards as
valid ID for healthcare or other benefits.
Caucus members signed a Jan. 10 letter to Secretary of State Colin
Powell protesting efforts by Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala and
Honduras to issue such cards.
"While all governments have a responsibility to look after their
citizens residing abroad," the members said in the letter," they have
no right to actively pursue policies that seek to undermine local
laws, nor should they use their consular officials as lobbyists for
such an agenda."
In late January, the federal General Services Administration
suspended a pilot program at a federal building in San Francisco that
accepted a "matricula consular" for entry and access to services.
The cards also allow foreign nationals to open bank accounts and
to use as identification when confronted by law enforcement
officials.
