Debra Burlingame, Divest terror, Iran

General Electric Is Doing Business With Iran

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I was on The O’Reilly Factor this past Thursday, along with Christopher Holton of the Center for Security Policy. General Electric is one the Pentagon’s top defense contractors, they make Apache attack helicopters and the engines for our F-16 fighter aircraft. You would think the revenue from that would be enough. But no. Let’s go build power plants, electrical systems, oil and gas projects in Iran for the guys driving the fast boats and the country harboring the insurgent training camps.

Here’s the transcript:

BILL O’REILLY, HOST: Now for the top story tonight, reaction to [charges General Electric is doing business with Iran]. Joining us from New Orleans is Christopher Holton, the vice president of the Center for Security Policy. Here in the studio is Debra Burlingame, co-founder of 9/11 Families for a Safe and Strong America. Ms. Burlingame’s brother perished on 9/11. So what say you, madam?

DEBRA BURLINGAME, 9/11 FAMILY MEMBER: Well, I’d say that GE has a problem. And it’s a problem that I’m glad you’re airing here for the country to know.

They say that they’re only fulfilling old contracts. That’s lawyer talk for yes, we’re still doing business in Iran. They’re trying to say that they’re not going to take up any new contracts, but lawyers know how to finesse that. The fact of the matter is they are defying U.S. sanctions by going around with a loophole, doing business with their foreign subsidiaries in countries like Syria and Iran.

O’REILLY: I think the American government knows this though. And you know, the State Department has not condemned them, the Bush administration has not condemned them. Other companies do it as well.

BURLINGAME: Well, there are some 35 companies that are doing it. And the SEC Office of Global Security Risk did inquire of GE in 2006, basically saying what are you doing, what’s your involvement, what’s the extent of your contracts? GE responded, I can summarize it for you by saying none of your business; we’re complying with law; and our focus is ensuring shareholder value. That’s a euphemism for we’re looking after GE’s profits. And on the street, that would be called blood money.

border security, immigration, John McCain

John McCain no sheriff on immigration

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Senator John “The Sheriff” McCain does not talk straight on immigration. Despite his current campaign rhetoric that he heard the American people and implication he will stop trying to grant illegal aliens amnesty, his record shows he has consistently ignored them on the issue.

The Washingon Times gave a brief history of his record, including since he began running for President, this morning:

Supporting mass amnesty. The May 29, 2003, Tucson Citizen quoted Mr. McCain as stating that “Amnesty has to be an important part of” any immigration solution. He was part of the bipartisan coalition that tried to pass amnesty legislation in 2006 and 2007. In 2006 he voted in favor of S. 2611, legislation that would reward between 10 and 11 million illegals with amnesty if they apply for legal status and pay a $2,000 fine.

Supporting in-state tuition for illegal aliens. Mr. McCain was a cosponsor of S. 774, the Dream Act, providing in-state tuition for illegal aliens. The legislation would have enabled illegal aliens who entered the United States before age 16 to obtain a green card and then use their newly acquired status to obtain green cards for the millions of parents who illegally brought their children with them into the United States. Mr. McCain missed a Senate vote on the issue in October. He said that he would have opposed it on the Senate floor had he been there to vote.

Voted to kill border fence. In 2006, Mr. McCain voted for an amendment to S. 2611 offered by Sen. Arlen Specter to require consultation with the Mexican government concerning the construction of fencing along the U.S.-Mexican border. According to Numbers USA, an organization that lobbies against illegal immigration, this amendment would have effectively guaranteed that the border fence was never built.

Voted against permanently barring gang members and terrorists from the United States. Last year, Mr. McCain voted against an amendment (Senate Amendment 1184) introduced by Sen. John Cornyn, Texas Republican, that would have permanently barred gang members, terrorists, sex offenders, alien absconders, aliens convicted of domestic violence and aliens convicted of at least three DUIs from the United States. The Cornyn Amendment was rejected on a 51-46 vote.

Voted in favor of Social Security benefits to illegal aliens who commit identity fraud. In 2006. Mr. McCain joined with Mr. Kennedy in working to defeat an amendment by Sen. John Ensign, Nevada Republican, that would have barred Social Security credits for work being done prior to their receiving amnesty — in other words, while working under a false Social Security number. The Ensign Amendment, (Senate Amendment 3985) was defeated on a 50-49 vote.

So, hypothetically as President, John McCain would give amnesty to a mother who was also a gang member, had been convicted of identity theft, been ordered deported, yet absconded while her son served in Iraq. John McCain would grant her amnesty because of her son’s noble service to our nation. It seems that “The Sheriff” would pick and choose which laws to enforce.

South Carolina primary voters have a chance this Saturday to speak loudly to John McCain and every candidate and say border security first and no amnesty for illegal aliens. They can say that by not voting for John McCain.