Arizona candidate for the U.S. Senate, Kelli Ward, reaped a major reward this weekend and delivered a blow against her opponent, Senator John McCain, when she received the endorsement of Co-Founder and President of the Minuteman Project, Jim Gilchrist.
The Minuteman Project bills itself as a "citizens' 'Neighborhood Watch' on our border," to bring attention to illegal immigration."
"...We've ... been active on the U.S./Mexican border; running volunteer scout patrols and offering assistance to the great folks who serve in the U.S. Border Patrol ... We run a very aggressive Citizen Activism wing here at The Minuteman Project ... protests, lobbying efforts, grassroots activism ... "
The Project contacts Senators and Representatives on issues relating to immigration, carries out petition drives, takes polls, runs a campaign against illegal immigration through advertising and public service announcements, and runs an internet outlet: http://minutemanproject.com/ .
Gilchrist says:
"...I have long held that the illegal alien population in the United States hovers just above 30 million…about 10% of the nation’s population. The annual cost to subsidize such a huge impoverished population is about $380 BILLION annually. That’s almost 1/2 TRILLION dollars annually! ... Go figure why the USA is $18 TRILLION in debt after so many decades of encouraging the transfer of poor and unskilled masses from Mexico and Central America (and other countries, too) into the United States. US taxpayers are required to pay off this enormous debt with increased tax levies in the future. Not just income tax increases, but increases in sales taxes, real estate taxes, DMV fees, excise taxes on utilities and telephones, and various other increased surtaxes, etc.,…with no end in sight ..."A recent poll shows Ward leading McCain by nine points. Michelle Moons, at Breitbart, reported in mid August that Gravis Marketing surveyed 844 Republican primary voters and 427 Democrats, with results showing Ward as the choice of 45 percent of registered Arizona voters, while McCain was chosen by 37 percent.
Moons quoted Ward, who stated that:
"...Primary voters of all ages and political ideologies who participated in this poll are making it clear that John McCain is not their choice for U.S. Senate. My name recognition is increasing which is very encouraging because we are so early in the election cycle. Arizona voters are looking for a fresh, bold, proven leader with new ideas to move our country in the right direction. Over thirty years of the same old Establishment pragmatism has worn thin and turned many of those currently in D.C. into Democrat-lite lawmakers – people are ready to Shake Up D.C. with me..."Earlier this year Jonathan Easley at "The Hill," wrote that McCain was "ripe for primary challenge." Easley reported that:
"...Sen. John McCain (R-Az.) is unpopular with some conservatives in Arizona and holds only narrow leads over a field of potential challengers in a Republican primary, according to a new poll ... The Democratic firm Public Policy Polling released data on Tuesday that shows McCain, who will seek a sixth term in the Senate in 2016, deep under water in Arizona among voters who identify as 'very conservative.' ... Only 21 percent of those voters approve of the job McCain is doing, compared to 71 percent who disapprove. Overall, 41 percent of Arizonans say they approve of McCain’s job performance, against 50 percent who say they disapprove ..."The Gilchrist endorsement is timely because illegal immigration is currently in the forefront of the news, largely due to the attention brought to it by Republican candidate for President, Donald Trump. A retired Marine, Gilchrist, declares in his statement:
"...Arizona State Senator Dr. Kelli Ward, seeking to replace current U. S. Senator John McCain, appears determined to bring our nation back under the rule of law insofar as U. S. immigration laws are concerned ... This is our last chance to elect conscientious members of both chambers of Congress who will finally take on the task of returning America to its heralded status as a “nation of laws ... For too long incompetent political governors have let the mobs of millions of illegal aliens rule our country ... it is finally time for the 'mob rule' and the political tyranny to stop ... America truly needs brave men and women in government who will have the will and conscience to bring our nation back under the rule of law..."Ward puts it this way:
"...Securing our border is one of the most pressing issues for Arizonans. That should be our first priority, not amnesty for millions of illegal immigrants ... America is a nation of laws. With tens of millions of illegal immigrants in the country and thousands regularly crossing our border, it is simply unrealistic to worry about issues like guest worker programs until we secure the border. We must stop the flow of those entering illegally and ensure that the border is secured..." (Kelli Ward)
