Does Jim Oberweis Have Horns?

I attended the Immigrant Justice Convention in Chicago yesterday (read overview here). Based on what they had to say, you'd think Jim Oberweis sprang from the womb with horns, a tail, and a pitchfork.

First of all, he's against illegal immigration, and has the campaign ads to prove it. Then there's the "fact" (and, yes, that's how it was presented at the convention) that he hypocritically hired "undocumented workers" to clean his dairy stores in suburban Chicago.

The ICIRR, who sponsored the convention, even had the "undocumented workers" and the video to prove it. The "undocumented workers" stood up before a cheering crowd, told their story, and were lauded as heroes. The damning video (captured by the Chicago Workers' Coalition) shows Rosa Ramirez and Jorge Ibarra enter and proceed to clean an Oberweis store at night. Which, of course, only proves that they entered and cleaned the store -- illegally, by their own admission -- not that Oberweis bears any culpability for or knowledge of it. (Read my post Making Heroes of Rosa and Jorge here.)

Of course, the Minutemen had to be derided as well. Passing on such an opportunity could easily get you kicked out of the I-Support-Illegal-Immigration club. The Minutemen were booed and jeered for having the nerve to call the proper authorities to suggest that they enforce the law regarding the "undocumented workers" who confessed their illegal status in writing by filing the complaint against Oberweis.

I quietly supported Jim Oberweis before I attended this convention. But that's all changed.

Now, having seen the blatant smear tactics of these organizations against him up close and personal -- with the endorsement of my House representative, Luis Gutierrez, and my governor, Rod Blagojevich -- Jim Oberweis has my loud, vocal and unrelenting support.

Go get 'em!

As seen @
The Immigration Blog

Oberweis
Illegal Immigration
Minutemen