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Originally published in the September 28, 2003 issue of the Alamance Independent

LAWBREAKERS' CHAMPIONS

A job interview for the position of governor of the State of California, internationally broadcasted on Wednesday, September 24, 2003, gave the world a pretty good insight into the causes that the candidates eager to unseat the incumbent, Gray Davis, were ready to fight for.

Tom McClintock emerged as the only candidate who had enough courage and integrity to take a principled stance based on the law, the Constitution, and the values that come straight from the Declaration of Independence. Arnold Schwartzenegger, although in general accord, or at least not in direct disagreement, with McClintock, signaled that he may be more flexible on some of the issues of law and order, and focused on portraying himself as a popular leader who, like mythological Hercules, would clean the Augeian stable in Sacramento. Arianna Huffington sounded a little confused about what race was she in as she tried to engage in a debate with George W. Bush who, however, was not present to address her pointed criticism.

In contrast with these three, Cruz Bustamante appeared as an outspoken champion of those who consider America's immigration laws and her Southern border a nuisance on the road to improve their lives. Peter Camejo jumped on Bustamante's platform quickly in the middle of the debate, claiming that the very term "illegal immigrants" is misleading and otherwise inappropriate, and, therefore, its use should be abolished. "We don't arrest them" he blared exultingly, "if they were illegals, we would arrest them". From that he concluded that illegal "immigrants" are not illegal and, therefore, should be given all the rights and privileges, like the driving privilege, once reserved to those who came to the U.S. on valid passports and visas.

Camejo's revelations on what's illegal and what's not seem like a pretty novel idea, indeed, that opens new possibilities for "progress" in moral relativism and multicultural nonjudgmentalism. The "Liberals" have insisted, and for quite some time now, that what's legal is moral (except, of course, for things that were deemed "conservatist"). Now, Camejo expands that notion one step further: what's not punished is not illegal as well. So, if someone commits a crime and doesn't get arrested, it's not illegal, using Camejo's logic. Then, according to the currently prevailing legal doctrine, since things that are not illegal are legal, that criminal act becomes legal. Therefore, using the Liberals' relativist argument, it becomes moral, too. Conclusion: it's moral to break the law as long as one doesn't get caught. The lawbreakers must have been delighted with such a verdict.

That Camejo, a Green Party candidate, presented himself as a lawbreakers' champion may be surprising to some, taking into account how much irreparable damage mass illegal "immigration" has done to the environment. But Bustamante's rebellious tendency to bending the rules comes at no surprise at all. At least he is not preaching what he does not practice, that the laws are there for a reason and should be obeyed. So, quite naturally, he refuses to distinguish between legal and illegal immigration since the only difference between a legal immigrant and an illegal alien is that the former follows the rules while the latter does not. And that, I must say, is only fitting for a man who has gladly accepted millions of dollars in illegal political "contributions" and keeps airing his campaign TV ads paid with these illegal money in defiance of the court ruling that ordered him not to. After all, these are just rules so why bother to obey them?

There may be more to Mr. Bustamante's championing the illegal aliens' cause than his natural reluctance to play by the rules. A net rumor has it that his parents were illegal "migrants" from Mexico and there's no record of his birth in the Tulare County Hall of Records, in spite of his claim that he was born in Dinuba, Tulare County, California, as the oldest of six children, of mother Dominga and father Cruz, a barber and, briefly, local City Councilman, who shared the home with his grandparents on both sides of the family, allegedly, also illegal Mexican aliens. If the rumor, verification of which seems like an easy exercise for anyone living in that area, turns out true then the presumption of Mr. Bustamante's U.S. citizenship may be invalidated, and that could tremendously simplify the coming recall election leaving us with one less candidate to worry about.

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