Caller to Clear Channel Radio San Diego said "illegals" were taking donated supplies from QualCom

[itsrobert]

She was in tears saying Mexicans were loading up their cars and trucks with items that were donated for the victims/evactuees of the fire. She said the cops were sweeping it under the rug. I don't know what to think of it. Other than she sounds like a racist bigot.

[NMDemDist2]

1. I think she's an idiot

your mileage may vary

[Justitia]

2. Geez....Brown is the new Black? We have so many crazy bigots, don't we? -eom

[Richard Steele]

52. Yup. The "Illegal Immigration" issue has made it OK to be racist in public again. nm

[provis99]

3. let's not forget she called from the very red San Diego area

those people hate Mexicans, and probably blame them for the fires, too.

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. Ok time to clarify

the power structure is red... but what scares the power structure is that the city is becoming QUITE BLUE... and has been for a while

But the power strucutre is... they will play this to a hilt though

[AnotherMother4Peace]

34. exactly - I'd bet that caller stirs up crap on a regular basis

What might be happening is:
1) Qualcomm, at this time, has a surplus of donated goods
2) Some evac sites have a need for goods
3) People with brown skin (we are in San Diego) might be transferring goods from one site to another
4) This woman saw this and called in to one of the many right wing stations in the city, with a story they salivate over
5) She is a hero for reporting

[begin_within]

50. The city of San Diego is pretty much blue now. The county of San Diego is still red.

[tjwash]

73. You know what...you assholes can knock that fucking shit off OK?

There is more blue in San Diego than in most of the rest of the country so take a hike you divisive jerk.

I don't know why I am even wasting my time responding to you with your disabled profile...

[Robbien]

4. Anything to distract attention away from how Fed mismanagement

could be responsible for the wildfires being this massive and this uncontrollable.

[NYVet]

27. Why drop this on the federal government?

Isn't it a state responsibility to ask for assistance with a disaster and to bring up a protest if there is a federal regulation that they have a problem with?

If anything, Arnold and the State Legislature are the first target for blame.

[rocktivity]

5. The Mexican illegals are to the wildfires as the black looters were to Katrina

Hands up who DIDN'T see this coming...

:hi:
rocknation

[Justitia]

6. Yup. Exactly what I meant upthread (Brown is the new Black). Great minds & all.... -eom

[rocktivity]

37. Actually, Brown is the new ex-FEMA consultant

'Brownie' available to talk about wildfire response

Former FEMA director Michael Brown, who mismanaged the Bush administration’s response to Hurricane Katrina, released a press release yesterday stating he is “available for interviews” on the wildfires and even drew a parallel between the current situation and Katrina:

Mr. Brown can speak to the turmoil being caused by the California wildfires as well as to some of the new processes in disaster relief efforts that will help to restore California communities. He can offer advice to residents and businesses on proper relief and recovery efforts and provide suggestions for future disaster preparedness...

If it weren't on Think Progress, I'd swear it was a joke.

:puke:
rocknation

[Justitia]

40. OMG, I can't believe that's not an "onion" story - it's 4 reals!!! -eom

[SoCalDem]

58. HeckofaJob Brownie.. Sounds like a Betty Crocker Bake-Off winner to me

Thin flaky top..full of chopped nuts & a gooey half-baked center

[SammyWinstonJack]

11. I didn't. Really. It never even crossed my mind.

Anyway, if the supplies are being given to them, then they aren't looting anything.

[EFerrari]

29. Exactly. And, anyway, it's not like there are American citizens

of Latino extraction in SoCal. :eyes:

[reinhardt]

7. QualCom will do anything for a tax haven

[MADem]

8. Oh yeah...like they've left the stuff laying about for "illegals" to "steal"

Turn that shit OFF.

Perhaps those "Mexicans" (amazing how the caller could TELL their nationality by looking--couldn't possibly be George Lopez, Richie Valens or Freddy Fender, eh?) are working for the aid agencies.

But noooo...that possibility doesn't fuel any xenophobia, does it?

[CountAllVotes]

9. the next thing you know

they'll be saying the "illegals" are raping babies. :grr:

I absolutely loathe bigots!!

:kick:

[AlCzervik]

10. did she witness this or is she taking 8th hand information? oh yeah, Lou Dobbs has his lead tonight.

[itsrobert]

15. Said she witness it

She flagged down law enforcement and she said they were just sweeping underneath the rug. She also said the Gov. Arnold needs to defend the "fricken" boarder to stop these "illegals" coming in.

[AlCzervik]

17. i don't believe her.

[nadinbrzezinski]

20. I don't either but the politics of this disaster

have entered a new phase.

The very liberal and progressive hispanics are in for a hell of a time getting any help

Never mind they are busting their backs to get help to even some of these idiots

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. I know what to make of it

racism is deep

Them unclean Mexicans may be taking them supplies to other centers

People are working to get these rresources all over, including people working at Chicano Park

But what you also saw was the leading edges of the politics

Oh and Californios... get ready... this is gonna be as bad as Katrina in a quite different method

Welcome to disaster capitalism

[Marrah_G]

22. I would bet you are exactly right

They were probably taking excess supplies to other shelters. This woman is probably just so convinced that all Mexican/Mexican-Americans are thieves that she can't think of any legitimate reason they might be moving supplies.

[endarkenment]

13. Here we go: the bad looter meme is back.

Expect more of the same.

[asjr]

14. Do illegals look different from

legals? I wonder if she asked to see their green cards. And you know, it just might be they were fleeing from the fire like the rest of the residents. I believe half the country is racist and bigoted.

[bigscott]

21. more than half

it is just a different group of targets in different places

although, they may have all been wearing Mexican flag T-shirts or something. Not that these bigots would know the difference between a flag from Mexico and a flag from Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Belize, Panama, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua etc

[ret5hd]

18. You are in the area, right? Go check it out for us.

Let us know as soon as you get back!

:rofl:

[Bitwit1234]

19. OH another republican that is a psychic and can tell who is illegal

and who is not....If you see two Mexicans, Italians, Russians Chinese could you tell which one was illegal. Damn put her on the border.

[flyarm]

23. AND SHE KNEW THEY WERE ILLEGALS HOW?? did she ask for their id?

perhaps...they were citizens ..and ....just perhaps they lost their homes too...

god i hate bigots!

We lost our home in Calif Northridge earthquake..and my husband is hispanic and calif native American...so would that bitch have said my husband was an illegal when we needed food and water and aide and were not able to go into our home?

I despise ignorant SOB's!

What happened to us America??????????

fly

[AlCzervik]

28. She just knows you know? She sees brown skin and makes the leap, of course they aren't

here legally, she just knows, she's a knower.

[flyarm]

43. well..

American Indians have brownish skin as well..even Calif American Indians!!

in my hubby's family the hispanic side was light haired and light skinned..it was the Indian side that had the dark hair and darker skin!

fly

[AlCzervik]

53. my neighbor is Samoan, my other neighbor asked "What part of mexico are they from"

"the samoan part"

[judaspriestess]

24. and so the wonderful lil red herring is surfacing again.

This is going to turn to an immigration issue to divert from the real disaster taking place and so many people losing their homes. I am just blown away on how people cannot stick to the topic/real issue.

[AspenRose]

47. It's disgusting

I had my fill of this with Katrina and I dread having to stomach this crap again. x(

[unpossibles]

25. apparently, no people of latin descent are legal Americans

and no white people are illegal. Sure is convenient.

On one hand, I am sure that some looting has gone on - it generally does in any disaster. I would also bet it's safe to assume that some of it may be done by migrant workers (not all of whom are illegal). But I'd also bet that this woman is probably a xenophobic asshat.

[EFerrari]

36. Better turn me in immediately!

It's sort of ugly the way the dialogue about immigration quickly starts sounding exactly like that -- as if there are no Latino American citizens in this joint. Check it out the next time it comes up on just about any corporate outlet, beginning with Washington Journal.

[unpossibles]

39. I know - it's disgusting

anyone of Latin heritage is immediately "illegal" and anyone of Middle Eastern heritage is instantly labeled as a "Muslim" (or worse, a "terrorist"). Frankly, I am a mutt and pretty white, but it still pisses me off because it is nothing more than acceptable bigotry.

[flyarm]

45. amazing isn't it??????? There are probably many many Hispanics who have lost their homes

and everything in SoCal..in fact a short while ago i saw a top fire chief who was hispanic on my TV talking about their fire operations..


amazed here..

fly

[EFerrari]

46. When I lived in Santa Monica and passed for white, lol

my neighbors got very suspicious of me when I spoke Spanish to my gardener. It was just uncanny.

Well, the Republicans have been fanning racism and xenophobia for all these years. It'll be a while before we get back to 1968.

[judaspriestess]

49. thank you for pointing that out unpossibles

This is so true and such bullshit, and to call ALL Latinos "Mexican" is obviously a racial slur. That is what it has become.

on edit:
Based on the post I've read further down the diversion has begun in San Diego to make this a race issue.

[Elspeth]

26. Is is possible these people were evacuees? Just maybe?

Or even volunteers?

[itsrobert]

31. Very Possible

But Clear Channel host said to contact Roger Hedgecock (right wing host) and he will get to the bottom of it and this is the type of information he wants to know about.

[LeftyMom]

32. You mean bad things happen to brown people too?

Who knew? :wow:

[Elspeth]

42. Not in freeperland...

Cripes.

[LeftyMom]

30. Did she ask for their papers, or make a fucked up racist assumption?

Let me guess. :eyes:

[NorthernSpy]

33. Remember: white supremacists INVENTED some of the Katrina slanders...

Propaganda doesn't just happen. People deliberately craft it and spread it.

Don't take the bait!

[Maestro]

35. Did she check for IDs, green cards, residency cards?

Or is she just looking at skin color? Without proof, what a racist thing to say. Besides, are Mexicans or Americans of Mexican descent not affected by the fires?

[haele]

38. What an f***ing idiot -

Excuse me, but there are a lot of other evacuation centers in the area and many of the aid workers are "hispanic looking", heck - most of the small business delivery drivers are hispanic, citizens, legal, and maybe even illegal. Heck, a good number of registered vehicles in San Diego belonging to American Citizens is registered in Mexico - just like a good number of American Citizens working in San Diego live in Mexico because of the cost of living. Just because someone was loading supplies into a van with Baja plates doesn't mean the driver is undocumented and will be "stealing" supplies for the supposedly deserving (white, in her world most likely) evacuees.
Where do you think they get the volunteer delivery folks that take the overflow of supplies to the other evacuation centers? Small businesses - landscaping and construction - who aren't working,perhaps?
Not to mention that Mexico is also seeing parts of the fire, and there's a handshake deal between San Diego and Tijuana in cases of emergency, so some of the extra supplies are probably being sent south of the border as good will; apparently, Tijuana has sent some firefighters up here to help.
If the cops cleared the drivers to pick up supplies, I'm very much inclined to believe that except for a very few, most of those drivers were legitimate volunteers with the Red Cross or Salvation army - some of the over 1500 volunteers that have already signed up to help.

Racist Beotch, you shame me as an almost-native San Diegan. Shut your mouth unless you actually "checked I.D.'s" - like the aid distributors did before they let the supplies go.

Haele

[Xipe Totec]

41. This shit bugs the hell out of me nt

[cascadiance]

44. Hmm... Just a few minutes ago they reported the INS is at Qualcomm now...

Reporter was going off on how nice the Qualcomm set up was with everyone getting along, etc. and adequately staffed.

But then one of them noted that there was some discomfort though with reports that the INS was now going into Qualcomm. Sounds like the wingnut radio folks prompted that move!

[Hell Hath No Fury]

48. The INS is going to use the fire to nab "illegals?!?!?

Jesus fucking christ, tell me this isn't true. :mad: I hope this is just a stupid rumor gone bad. INS has no business sticking their noses in this.

[w8liftinglady]

51. how nice."Mexican-looking people-over there"

[cascadiance]

54. And it makes you wonder how many legitimate American citizens might not have their papers either...

... and get totally screwed if the INS carted them off someplace without allowing for the fact that they simply didn't have time to get their documents before they were forced to leave their house too.

I really hope that this isn't a big operation and it was just a nasty rumor, but with Bushco and others of his ilk in charge around here, it wouldn't surprise me.

I also recall a politician, when noting they were going to help all people that came to these evac centers, started singling out that illegal immigrants would be coming too, kind of hinting that they would be also "kind" to support them too, though by singling them out seeming to be saying that they wouldn't normally deserve such treatment.

[AspenRose]

55. We've already seen instances (in Texas) of American citizens being

arrested, accused of being illegal when they were citizens.

Crap. This is going to get very, very ugly.

I can't stand this fracturing of our country. We're supposed to be at our best when disaster comes.

[rocktivity]

56. How does she know there were illegals?

And how does she know the supplies aren't being taken to ANOTHER evacuation center?

:headbang:
rockantion

[Da Forp]

57. Looks like you are incorrect

Illegal immigrants suspected of stealing supplies
Six illegal immigrants who were suspected of stealing relief supplies from Qualcomm Stadium were arrested by Border Patrol agents after San Diego police stopped them Wednesday morning.

A woman who had been evacuated to the stadium told officers she saw the group load up two pickup trucks and a car with cots and other supplies, leave and then return, said police Sgt. Jesse Cesen~a.

When officers stopped them, a member of the group said they were being paid to take things of value from the stadium.

“They were stealing a lot of stuff,” Cesen~a said. “We took the stuff back and we escorted them out. They were stealing from the people in need.”

Because some members of the group spoke Spanish, officers called Border Patrol agents at the stadium for relief efforts. They determined the people were in the country illegally and arrested them.

The Border Patrol agents are among 100 that the federal agency has been providing for relief efforts, said agency spokesman Matthew Johnson. He said the agents are not looking for illegal immigrants among people seeking refuge at the stadium.

“We’re not out there doing immigration stuff in the middle of a disaster,” he said. “However, we still enforce the laws.”

Looks like you are wrong, they really were illegals, and they really were stealing from people in need.

You people should be ashamed of yourselves, I'm serious. Knee jerk hysteria like this. Bigoted? Racist? This woman was trying to make sure that much needed supplies weren't stolen, and you just assume she's a racist? Why? Because she sounded white? That's racist in itself!
And while you get ready to flame me and accuse me of being a troll, etc,,this is my first and last post here, I'm a Democrat, voted for Clinton both times, for Gore and Kerry, I was told about this site by a friend, and since seeing the ugliness and vile here, I decided that perhaps this isn't the place for me. In fact, it's not, good riddance.

[girl gone mad]

59. I wonder who..

was paying them to steal.

I heard a story on CNN earlier about an illegal immigrant who stayed behind in the fires because some homeowners had paid him to stay and watch their home. The mentality of some people is absolutely sick, that they would take advantage of desperate people, asking them to put their lives and freedom in jeopardy for a couple of bucks because they know they will get away with it.

[Steerpike]

60. I assume there is a link to this story?

I guess you've already left...or been tombstoned...

[Dr. Strange]

66. Here's a link (maybe)

I suspect our post-and-run friend won't have time to inform us. But, from Googling, I found this:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20071025-9999-1m25looting.html
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20071024-1931-bn24fires1.html

Very little info though.

[dysfunctional press]

62. do you have a link to the story...?

i realize it's your first post- but you need to post a link if you want to post an excerpt.

[blondeatlast]

63. First post since May 10th of this year--and this is the thread he/she chimes in on.

And they are still here, btw.

[blondeatlast]

64. "You people"? No citation? Only post since May 10, 2007?

Interesting, at minimum...

[NorthernSpy]

65. the post contains a misspelling that gives you a clue to how info spreads on the right...

The officer's name is not Jesse "Cesen". It's Jesse Ceseña, with a tilde mark over the n. At some point, someone attempted to type this name by adding the tilde from the upper left corner of the keyboard -- not realizing that this will only reproduce the mark itself, and that the enye is actually a whole 'nother character.


http://sosdfireblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/illegal-immigrants-arrested-for.html ("13 hours ago")


At the moment, google finds the incorrect "jesse-cesen" at the following sites:


http://www.immigrationwatchdog.com/

http://amerpundit.com/

http://michellemalkin.com/2007/10/24/report-illegal-aliens-caught-stealing-wildfire-relief-supplies/ ("10 hours ago")

http://michellemalkin.com/2007/10/24/report-illegal-aliens-caught-stealing-wildfire-relief-supplies ("9 hours ago")

http://www.narbosa.com/

http://rightvoices.com/

http://immigration.freakinpolitics.com/

http://seventhsonblog.blogspot.com/

http://www.alipac.us/ftopicp-509117.html

[NorthernSpy]

68. secondly, if true, that's an ORGANIZED THEFT RING at work, not simply "illegals" or "Mexicans"...

All groups -- including YOURS -- have criminals.

I am for strict enforcement of immigration policy, and I think that allowing illegal workers to cross the border freely has depressed wages for the poorest Americans.

But what you are attempting here is as opportunistic and offensive as that organized theft ring allegedly stealing cots and supplies from the relief line.

[tjwash]

74. Go to hell you smarmy little shithead.

Just because they are "illegal" they are not entitled to eat or take relief from a fire storm like human beings are?

Good riddance...

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

61. And what do you think the chances are that she's a "good Christian"? eom

[pnutbutr]

67. Article that mentions the illegals stealing supplies

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20071025-9999-1m25looting.html

However, six people were caught stealing relief supplies yesterday from Qualcomm Stadium. An evacuee reported seeing them load two pickups and a car with cots and other items, leave and then return.

One in the group said they were being paid to take items of value, police Sgt. Jesse Ceseña said. The six, suspected of being illegal immigrants, were turned over to U.S. Border Patrol agents who were at the stadium to assist with relief efforts.

[NorthernSpy]

69. Article that mentions white man wanted for arson

Thousands of Southern Californians helplessly watch their homes and hillsides devoured by flames and ask, ``Who could do this?''

The answer: Mostly careless hunters, campers, smokers, trashburners. But also angry, bored kids. Drunks. Ghostly psychopaths who vanish into the smoke. Too often - and most disturbingly - firefighters themselves.

If history is any guide, it may take years to arrest those believed largely responsible for a week of fire that has killed at least 20 people and destroyed 3,300 homes in what could be California's most expensive catastrophe. And they may never be caught. The typical rate of solving wildfire arsons is less than 10 percent a year.

Authorities in California are circulating a composite sketch of a young, long-haired, Leno-jawed white man driving a light-colored van. He is suspected of igniting at least one, if not more, of the 13 blazes that have burned in a hellish corridor extending from the mountains north and east of Los Angeles to San Diego and across the Mexican border.

http://cms.firehouse.com/web/online/Arson-and-Investigation/Wildfire-Arsonists-Sought-in-California/2$21131

[NorthernSpy]

70. here's one who's been arrested: John Alfred Rund

http://www.bestsyndication.com/?q=102407_arson_suspect_caught.htm

[NorthernSpy]

71. another San Bernardino arson arrest: Anthony Joseph Riperti

http://www.marinij.com/ci_7273517

He was arrested Tuesday, after someone reported seeing him trying to get a blaze going in a local park.

[tjwash]

72. The "illegals" must be fireproof, and not affected at all by this disaster.

:puke:

[Da Forp]

75. Yeah, I 'm still here

I've been poking through this site now for a bit
more,,,decided that if the Mods will have me, then I'll give
it a chance too. Nice to see I'm vindicated though,,,and yes,
I did copy and paste that excerpt without providing a link,
and for that I apologize. A relative of mine sent it to me,
and I am a lazy man, lol. When I first saw this story, I got
very emotional about it, and once I saw the article with the
police report, I got even more upset. I still stand by my
feeling about people knee jerking and calling names, this is
one of the reasons we all get so pissed off about the right,
so I guess I knee jerked too.