Snagged in hypocrisy
Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan is no stranger to headlines. He's an aggressive politician who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for governor in 2005. But this time, the limelight might be a tad uncomfortable as the stories expose his private actions clashing with his public statements.
The public Lonegan wants to see stricter policies on illegal immigration. But that didn't stop the private Lonegan from picking up two Guatemalan men at a muster zone along Route 46 last week and taking them to a residence to assemble campaign signs, for $80 each. The men said Lonegan never asked for documentation or even questioned them about their legal status in the U.S. Turns out, they aren't here legally.
Lonegan brushed off the embarrassment, reported in The Record of Bergen County: "I will hire anybody I want. And if they don't prove to be proper, they don't get paid.'' That doesn't quite square with being a public figure calling for tougher immigration policies. He'd be hard-pressed to deny that he's contributing to the problem, whether he pays them or not.
The public Lonegan wants to see stricter policies on illegal immigration. But that didn't stop the private Lonegan from picking up two Guatemalan men at a muster zone along Route 46 last week and taking them to a residence to assemble campaign signs, for $80 each. The men said Lonegan never asked for documentation or even questioned them about their legal status in the U.S. Turns out, they aren't here legally.
Lonegan brushed off the embarrassment, reported in The Record of Bergen County: "I will hire anybody I want. And if they don't prove to be proper, they don't get paid.'' That doesn't quite square with being a public figure calling for tougher immigration policies. He'd be hard-pressed to deny that he's contributing to the problem, whether he pays them or not.
posted by Larry Benjamin at 3:07 PM
3 Comments:
He couln't take the time to hire some college students to do the work?The crum should stop his commercials on the radio.
Agreed. This is really disappointing to hear. He'll very likely lose a lot of support.
Larry, shouldn't the private sector also be held accountable as well? Look around your office at closing time and see the people who clean your office. Look outside and see who cuts your lawn and does your landscaping. Your company and many others turn a blind eye to undocumented workers for the sake of their profit. Ohh that’s right, their not your workers. They’re contractors. Hypocrisy of the public official bad, but your company is running the same way. What does that make you?
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