Bill Lee Mea Culpa
July 24th, 2008 by Bill ColleyI think Bill Lee is an honorable man. At least he was brave enough to raise a contentious issue. This is a Wednesday night statement from the campaign:
A Statement From Bill Lee on Documentation For Illegal Immigrants
“It has become clear to me that it is simply not a good idea”
Rehoboth Beach ~ A statement from Bill Lee on documentation for illegal immigrants:
“As a judge and a Marine, I’ve stood for law and order my whole life. After careful consideration and consultation with many experts whose judgment I respect — and also after listening to people and hearing their ideas and how strongly this issue resonates with them — it has become clear to me that it is simply not a good idea to issue any official legal document to those who are in our nation illegally. As I have consistently stated, I favor strong enforcement of our state’s laws. As Governor, I will make sure Delaware is not a favored destination for illegal immigrants and be an energetic advocate for greater enforcement of Federal laws regarding immigration.”
~ End ~
July 24th, 2008 at 2:15 am
It does take some character to admit when he is wrong, but he didn’t raise this contentious issue. He simply responded and demonstrated his lack of knowledge or interest in the impact the illegal immigration issues have on the average person.
Furthermore, I’m still less than convinced that he understands the magnitude of this issue. Perhaps because of his exalted financial and social status, he has been insulated from the actions and misdeeds of our illegal neighbors from south of the border. That’s not the case down here where I am. In fact, I don’t know too many people down here who haven’t negatively been affected by their presence.
I’m also not seeing any specifics about how he intends to keep Delaware from being a favored destination.
July 24th, 2008 at 10:19 am
I am a tad confused as to how this has gotten where it has.
I have listened to Bill Lee speak about the most important issues facing Delaware. I’ve heard him speak of rampant spending and bloating of the state budget over the past 12 years. I’ve heard him speak of the loss of current business and the lack of new businesses coming to our state. I’ve listened as he spoke of the problems facing our schools and school teachers. I have determined that Bill Lee is an honorable man whose love for the state of Delaware is so great that it overcame his desire to enjoy his retirement. I see a man who has sacrificed time and again because of his desire to make Delaware a great state once again.
Bill Lee has based his candidacy for Governor on 5 major planks:
Government Reform
Education
Jobs
Health Care
Clean Air and Water
These areas are where he has focused his efforts. I would challenge anyone who has considered leaving the Lee Camp based on this Illegal Alien issue to back up, slow down and consider some points.
1. Bill Lee has been called a ‘typical politician’. I know Bill Lee, he is NOTHING RESEMBLING a typical politician. This is one of the prime reasons I chose to examine his platform and support him. He is NOT the same ol’ same ol’. Aren’t we all a little tired of career politicians and a touch cynical about their inaction once in office because they are afraid to spill the apple cart and end their political aspirations? Bill Lee has NO POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS! HE wants to help Delaware and that’s all! A ‘politician’ would take a hot-0button issue like illegal immigration and say whatever was necessary to get elected, even though he would or could do little to nothing to solve the problem. Also, unlike your typical politician, he LISTENED TO YOUR VOICES AND CHANGED HIS OPINION ON THE TOPIC. Ever been to one of those Minner sessions where she ‘listens’ to a boatload of people who are given 15 minutes in her office? Do you think she listened to these people and made changes to her mindset? Did she ever listen to the callers of WGMD and change her opinion on ANYTHING? Bill Lee LISTENED TO YOUR VOICES AND sought council then CHANGED HIS OPINION. As a judge, that is what he did for a living! Examined the evidence and made a judgment. Isn’t this what you DESIRE in a politician?
Bill Lee’s “passion”, which Jared eloquently spoke of, is based on Bill Lee’s experience as a judge, dealing personally with the difficult problems facing America, Delaware and it’s citizens regarding illegals. His opinion and passion is a result of years of dealing with this judicially. The points raised by the callers and by his consulting experts has caused him to re-think the issue from the ground up. Why are we to fault him for this action?
Would you prefer a politician who stands his ground even when he is wrong?
2. “Realist” writes above that Bill Lee has “exalted financial and social status”. Frankly, “Realist” knows NOTHING about Bill Lee if he makes those statements. Bill Lee is far from Delaware’s wealthiest. He is the common man. He is approachable, he is intelligent, he has a great sense of humor and enjoys the pleasures and suffers the tribulations of life the same as you and I. To accuse him of having an elitist attitude is nothing short of uninformed rhetoric.
3. Mike Protak is an intelligent man. He saw a crack, he grabbed a jackhammer and hit it with precision and persistence. The fact is that Mr. Protak lacks the respect and support of both parties in this state. All of his words about what he will do must be viewed in that light. Words are easy.
I tell you what, instead of voting for Protak or Lee, pencil me in and I will put a Mercedes in every garage two Delaware chickens in every pot, free beer on weekends and move the state capital to Dewey Beach. honest, I will do everything in my power to accomplish these tasks! VOTE FOR ME!
July 24th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Mixon,
Granted, most of the issues you listed are important to Delawareans. It appears to be the same list that the Democrats, Independents, etc. are using. Not much new here, especially in the way of any solutions. Furthermore, the absence of the immigration issue on that list proves my point that he may indeed be out of touch with the common man. I understand that he wasn’t in any way prepared, shot from the hip, and missed by a mile. And I appreciate the fact that he reconsidered his stance on illegal immigrants.
“Frankly, “Realist” knows NOTHING about Bill Lee if he makes those statements.”
Actually, John, my knowledge of Bill Lee and his family goes far beyond Trivia Night at the Dewey Beach Club.
July 24th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
We are no longer allowed to vote for write in candidates unless they are declared. Sorry John.
July 24th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Realist -
And how much do you know of my association with the Lee family outside of the DBC? Do you know all?
I said, quite plainly, that the main reason for my attention to Bill Lee was that he was NOT a typical politician. His reasons for not wanting to run for Governor were 99% related to the stress such a campaign places on his family. His love for Delaware has always been strong and he knows he can be a great change to the government in our state, but a statewide campaign is a sun-up to sun-down effort that his family didn’t want him to pursue. It is a personal sacrifice that he weighed and decided to pursue after long and difficult discussion with his family. I am so tired of people labeling him a typical politician with typical aspirations.
My statement stands, Bill Lee is an “everyman”, not an elitist. So it does make no effect that you state your knowledge of Lee goes beyond “trivia night” beyond that it was a backhanded insult to me, personally. If you truly know him, you know this to be true. Since you called him an elitist and defended it, you still do not know this man.
Now lets look at Protack.. as I stated in another BLOG thread, I went over his website with intent to understand the man. One interesting thing I found was that he links a story written about him from a June 2008 News Journal article.
http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080611/NEWS02/806110371
Quoted from this article:
“Protack said if he were elected governor, he would use federal Homeland Security grants to provide handheld computers to state and local police, allowing them to scan more than a dozen national databases and verify the identities and backgrounds of anyone they encounter. Those who don’t check out would be arrested and turned over to immigration officials, he said.
He also would require all residents over 16 years old to carry a state driver’s license, using the card to comply with federal Real ID regulations. If they don’t drive, “No Driving Privileges” would be printed on the license. Protack estimates the cards would cost about $20 million, but said illegal immigration costs Delaware $65 million a year in social services, education and other costs.
“How many illegal immigrants there are in Delaware nobody knows,” he said. “But the No. 1 obligation of the governor is the safety and security of the citizens. Part of that is making sure you know who is in your state and what they are doing.”"
*************************
Now correct me if I’m wrong… But last month, when asked about the illegal immigration issue, Protack said that he wants to have the ability to track “who is in your state”… say what you will, but everyone understood at that time and it is clear to me that his position was to provide some sort of ID card. “verify the identities and backgrounds of anyone they encounter”, the only way to accomplish this is by official tracking and identification.
Like I said, Mike Protack and his supporters saw a crack and attacked.. but while Mike may deny meaning illegals would get an ID card, his own words from this News Journal story speak to the contrary.
July 24th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
John, have you studied Jack Markell’s positions on the issues.
Before making your voting decision, you ought to.
July 25th, 2008 at 5:07 am
As a Republican I feel I am in a real dilemma. There was a giant sucking sound of Republicans fleeing to Mike Protact when Judge Lee made his famous “illegals” statement. After listening to Mike Protact expound on how he wants to charge me for health insurance when I already am paying for an excellent coverage, plus I pay for Medicre, why would I want to vote for him? Now that the news is out that the plan of Massachusettes is costing the state dearly, he still wants to go down this road. Medicare and Medicaid are two programs that strain the budgets of the federal and state governents and yet he wants to impose a third plan that will cause the state’s budget to explode.
So now I have to amble back to Judge Lee knowing it doesn’t make a difference anyway. By the time the votes in New Castle are counted, a democrat will be elected by a landslide and we will all go back to doing and saying the same ole, same ole.
There is no way for a small fish like me to get my voice heard. I had hoped that the local party was the way to send a message up through channels to DC. I was wrong. None are interested in listening to me unless it the sound of my wallet opening up.
July 25th, 2008 at 8:13 am
Wouldn’t it be great if WGMD had a “town hall meeting” with Lee and Protack and had callers asking questions? As long as you made the rule that callers could only ask questions and make no comments it would be a great way to better understand and compare the two candidates.
July 25th, 2008 at 9:06 am
“And how much do you know of my association with the Lee family outside of the DBC? Do you know all?”
I know very little of YOUR association with Bill Lee. MY association goes back several years… from the courtroom, where he was a very respectable judge, to the bar rooms, where I have NO problem whatsoever with what he does for recreation. So, if my comment was taken as a back handed slap at you, I suppose I may consider that a bonus.
“My statement stands, Bill Lee is an “everyman”, not an elitist. So it does make no effect that you state your knowledge of Lee goes beyond “trivia night” beyond that it was a backhanded insult to me, personally. If you truly know him, you know this to be true. Since you called him an elitist and defended it, you still do not know this man.”
Show me exactly where I called him an “elitist”. I suppose that may be your interpretation of what I wrote. I still stand by opinion that he is out of touch with one of the most important issues facing this state, and the entire country. Only when confronted, he pulled this out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eliot_Spitzer_drivers_license_controversy
Again, while I consider his admission of an error in judgment an honorable thing, I still don’t believe he plans to take any significant measures to address it. The ONLY thing that would convince me is if he would add the illegal immigration issue, as well as a definitive plan, to his well-intentioned, yet generic “5 major planks”, (which I believe you took directly from his web site). Furthermore, the next time you go there to visit, show me how to get an e-mail, or ANY message, DIRECTLY to Bill Lee. I don’t believe you’ll find that link, only those of his handlers and surrogates, along with plenty of addresses of where to send contributions. So much for accessibility.
http://www.leedelaware.com/index.cfm?ref=90100
It’s hard to believe he’s not tuned in on the illegal immigration issues as I vaguely recall Lee taking calls on WGMD a few weeks ago, during which the issue was discussed. I even recall one caller asking him if the people that did his yard work were illegals. He said they were Hispanic, but he didn’t know their immigration status, and that he would find out.
I do my own yard work. I believe you’ll find the average “everyman” voter does also.
I sure hope you didn’t go off on the Protack rant just for my edification. If so, thanks. If not, please carry on. He doesn’t have a viable plan either. I’d pencil you in before I’d vote for that tool. In act, my only decision in this election (for Governor) is to vote for Lee, or not at all. Until he shows he has the guts to resolve this issue, the latter looks good.
July 26th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
It is sad when Lee sychophants attack the only guy in the race with ideas. The words these hacks quote came from the News Journal reporter. Take a minute and think if Protack had proposed any thing like Lee did it would have hit the news in the thirty days plus since the article. Also, the anit immigration group would have pounced on it.
Protack’s plan was on WHYY and WGMD this week. It is too bad the Lee folks can’t realize it. First- use E Verify, something Lee know nothing about. Second, use the hand hled devices to verify identity. Three, old businesses respponsible if they hire illegals.
Where is Lee’s plan? Oh wait, we heard it on Tuesday. Licenses for illegals.
July 26th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
“It is sad when Lee sychophants…”
Hi Mike P. Defending yourself anonymously on all Delaware blogs must be quite tiresome.
“First- use E Verify…”
I heard that e verify is going over very well in NJ. I understand there may be grants available. This will make no difference when it becomes political, which is inevitable.
“Second, use the hand hled devices to verify identity.”
So, the police determine they are illegal. Then what, call INS? Good luck with that fantasy. Still not a viable plan. Apparently, you’ve done some vey minor research on law enforcement technology, which is obviousy more than Lee did, but Law enforcement already has the tools to determine immigration status. I’m primarily interested in what happens after that.
“Three, old businesses respponsible if they hire illegals.”
Nothing new to that concept either, which is one that even crosses party lines. Providing details of the implementation is the challenge. So far, no candidte has the yarbles to do that.
July 27th, 2008 at 7:03 am
I am not Rep. or Dem. however isn’t what Bill Lee did what this form of government is supposed to be? Represent the people. He made his feelings known then after hearing the people disagree with him and voiced their feelings he changed to represent their feelings.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:53 am
Realist ~
Thank you for clarifying. (Though I still don’t clearly understand why some people dislike me so much. I’m a nice guy.)
Anyway, I have heard Bill Lee’s stump speech twice and visited his website. I know his planks and agree with them. My father is a retired school teacher who was also a union rep.. I understand the concerns of teachers through my life experiences and many of my current friends and my sister are public school teachers. I fully agree with major reforms in Delaware Government including the paring back of budgets and reducing its size. To me, these are the absolute KEY planks and the rest is dressing.
I was listening to Savage who told of how Illegals were turned away in previous times in the US. They were arrested and deported. In no time at all, illegals left the country before facing a grueling boat ride hundreds of miles south, deep into Mexico. The illegals issue is one that must be handled at the federal level or you’re simply swatting at flies and they just run to the next state over.. this will never solve the problem or lessen its impact on America as a whole. The borders must be defended (by force if necessary) and the illegals must be deported so far into their homeland it would take a year to get to where they started. This is not the role of Governor. I”m just saying that I think this issue should be off the table as a deal-breaker!
As to the “elitist” statement:
[quote=Realist]Perhaps because of his exalted financial and social status, he has been insulated from the actions and misdeeds of our illegal neighbors from south of the border.[/quote]
First, it does sound like you are suggesting elitism in this statement, though, yes, I did choose to encapsulate it in one word whereas you did not. Forgive me if I am mis-reading.
Also, Bill has spoken of the illegal situation from the perspective of a Lawyer and Judge. While he may not deal with the same effects of this plague as you are, he certainly has dealt with it, and apparently frustratingly so, in another way. Obviously, when the people spoke, he listened and the issue took on new meaning based on the voices of the people. He did speak from the hip when that call came in. From my understanding, his staff had not developed a specific strategy because of the desire to get elected on the 5 major planks. Too many planks makes your overall voice a little weaker, your message spreads too thin. From the perspective of campaigning in an uphill battle against two well-known Democrats, I think it is wise to be sharply focused and hammer away until they pry the thing from his hands.
I believe he could win. He did show very well in the last campaign, better than Burris did as I recall, though I may be wrong on this.
[quote=Realist]Furthermore, the next time you go there to visit, show me how to get an e-mail, or ANY message, DIRECTLY to Bill Lee.[/quote]
If I want to get a message to Bill, I call him on my cell phone. I’ve watched as he gave it out freely to a ‘common, lowly citizens’. I don’t know if he does this all the time, I would hope not, as he might have quite a large cell bill, but he is accessible.
He has a rather small and tight-knit staff who do get the people’s voices to him. Another reason I like him is this fact. I just stated on Bill Colley’s show the other day that Biden, in my humble opinion (perhaps based on first-hand knowledge, nudge, nudge) not only doesn’t hear his publics voices directly, he doesn’t even rubber stamp his own letters which he doesn’t even read, let alone write in response to those voices.
I’m certain that was difficult to read, but I stand behind it!
Anyways Realist, I think we probably agree more than we disagree on things and I hate to have this thread tears us from the need to get Bill Lee elected.