There were a number of things that disappointed me in this article in the Manassas Journal Messenger, including a huge mistake in misquoting  Chief Deane.  But this part disappointed me, puzzled me, and pissed me off.  The writer editorializes that 9500 Liberty,

works to demonize board Chairman Corey Stewart, R-at large, who was running for re-election in 2007 when he and Supervisor John T. Stirrup, R-Gainesville, pushed to pass the resolution.

I’m not sure what the writer was thinking when he added this perspective to what is supposed to be a straight news article.  First of all, there is no call for using such a strong word.  Second of all, the film does not “work” to do anything other than show Chairman Stewart being very good at what he does.  If you like the idea of immigration culture wars dividing your community right before an election, Corey is no demon in this film, he’s a saint.  No one in the film criticizes him.  No one who spoke after the film directly criticized him.  In fact, his name didn’t even come up. I was among a number of audience members who were shocked that certain of the Chairman’s most dastardly deeds were NOT included in the film.  I wasn’t going to respond to the comment other than to say I agreed, but this was posted yesterday by Last Best Hope:

Billed as a film that “makes Corey Stewart look like an idiot” (this was the big quote in a MJM article from someone who got a sneak preview), the film revealed nothing I did not already know about him, while omitting many of the things he did to make himself look, if not idiotic, at least unhinged. There was nothing about Stewart instantaneously forwarding internal BOCS emails to Greg Letiecq so that the Letiecq Internet Frenzy machine could be used to bully the Board into firing Chief Deane. That was Stewart’s lowest moment and a glaring omission from the film. Stewart’s second lowest moment, or most brilliant depending on your agenda, was using county funds to send out a political post card during his “fighting illegal immigration” reelection campaign setting up the circus act BOCS meeting in Oct. 2007. While this is 10 times more predictable, it was also 10 times more infamous and more discussed at the time. I was looking forward to seeing Maureen Caddigan’s brilliant move to hold the Chairman’s feet to the fire when he tried to limit the very people he invited to participate to only one minute at the podium. I believe Stewart lost the vote 6 to 2, and the result was 12 hours of Citizens’ Time to delay a vote that was already decided before they showed up. But this was skipped as well.

Last Best Hope concludes by saying, “Basically Stewart is not in the film other than Board meetings, and I’m not sure this alone makes him look like an idiot.”   I could not agree more.  If anything, the film was soft on Corey Stewart, considering how it should, or could have been made.  Much was left out that could follow Corey politically. 

 

Speaking of soft pedaling, I thought the film went too easy on Mr. Fernandez as well.  Most people I have talked to say that his sign hurt the Hispanic community more than helped it, by handing Greg Letiecq a perfect gift with which to demonize (here is where the word is apt) the Hispanic community.  Greg got more mileage out of that sign.  He signed up more people because of it than he ever would have with his laughably manipulative pictures of men with ski-masks holding machine guns. 

The voice over in the film  criticizes the wording of the third sign, which was over-the-top offensive, but only because the inflammatory language could endanger his kids.  A fair point, but it did more than endanger kids, it pissed a lot of people off, of all races,  who might not otherwise have been that critical of the sign.  Fernandez insulted the very people who were actually trying to help; the coalition of people who were working to fight back the powers of darkness ended up being included in the broad-brush insult.

385 Thoughts to “Demonology: MJM Claims Chairman Stewart “Demonized” in 9500 Liberty”

  1. Witness Too

    Lafayette, by the way, you did a great job in the film explaining your position on illegal immigration, your belief in the democratic process, and your decision to stand up for Chief Deane. That was an act of courage. So, if I am to commend Emma, I should commend you times 10.

  2. Lafayette

    Witness Too, thank you very much! Sometimes I think it takes the waters calming some before people really hear what others are saying(goes for both sides). I began to learn this when I had the courage to attend a Study Circle on immigration. I can assure you, I felt like the “Lone Ranger”, but I survived the day and left much wiser, and with several apologies from those that had spoke ill of me and/or called me a racist.

    I have to tell you, to this very day it makes my blood pressure rise a little when I think back to the nerve, audacity, gall, etc. that make such a rediculous accusation of Chief Deane.

  3. Moon-howler

    @Lafayette I don’t think it will happen either.

  4. Lafayette

    @Moon-howler
    I thought you might agree with me. 🙂

  5. Moon-howler

    Emma, I am glad you have changed your opinion about Chief Deane. I hated seeing someone who had served the county so well used for political gain.

    I am glad to see he stands behind his officers. That is the mark of a leader. (that and how a person treats the wait staff)

  6. Lafayette

    Edit alert to the last sentence of#352

    I have to tell you, to this very day it makes my blood pressure rise a little when I think back to the nerve, audacity, gall, etc. that *SOME HAD TO* make such a rediculous accusation of Chief Deane.

  7. Last Best Hope

    I think Lafayette’s identity was just blown. Not a problem in my book because she represented a centrist perspective in the film and has nothing to be ashamed of other than not being able to spell ridiculous twice. Actually, the first 20 minutes of the film depicts Help Save Manassas’ rise to power in a way that is credible and even inspiring if one was not aware of how it all comes crashing down when the attack turns on Chief Deane. Letiecq sounds like a reasonable man during this stage, and is well supported by “Lafayette” who focuses on his good points, of which we have to admit he has a few.

  8. Moon-howler

    She has never shielded her identity. Not to fear, LBH, but thanks for being sensitive to outtings.

    GL can be very reasonable. Somewhere in there, something is an act. Exactly which part, I have never figured out.

  9. Lafayette

    LBH,
    I thought I read Moon say somewhere just today the “grammar police” were not here. 😉 Spelling is not my strong suit.
    My identity has NOT been blown. My real name has NEVER been a secret. Some jerk in June of 2007 had some choice words to say to me on BVBL. They said out of kindness they would not reveal my identity. Needless, to say I had a thing or two to tell them one of which was my real name.

  10. Moon-howler

    No grammar police here. Did someone put on a badge when I wasn’t looking?

    You just lost me on the identity stuff on bvbl, Lafayette.

  11. Lafayette

    Just some some smart a$$ basically calling a me a bigot of which old Virginia was famous for, and then claimed politeness by not citing my name.

  12. Emma

    Lafayette and Witness, I’d rather not get into the specifics. I’m not trying to be deliberately mysterious–it’s just that the situation would be a little too specific to explain here. But it is nice to know that his officers feel that he’s got their back, and I see more clearly now that that was his primary motivation. That doesn’t change my support for the Resolution, just my understanding of his motives. And no, I do not believe he was guilty of treason.

  13. Moon-howler

    Thanks for letting us know that, Emma. I think it was horrible that he was accused of treason.

  14. Lafayette

    Emma, I said I would understand not wishing to elaborate, and I do. I’m very glad you have a better understanding now. I really think it was just a “handful” in the county that were all fired up about the treason thing. And don’t get me started on the ones that went down to the podium, and spewed their words, and they ultimately made fools of themselves.(imho).I’ve always supported the resolution, and see no need to change that. Again, good for you Emma.

  15. Gainesville Resident

    The whole treason thing was silly. The only way someone could be guilty of treason is if they went to war against the US or sold classified secrets to another country or some such thing like that.

  16. Last Best Hope

    Emma, you should also know, and any police officer with two days of experience will attest to this, that Chief Deane did not want to destroy the trust that he and his force had built with the immigrant community. Trust between police and the residents they are sworn to protect is crucial, particularly in diverse communities such as ours.

    Once certain minority communities decide they cannot trust the police, they will stop reporting crimes, they will not share the basic intel that police need to gather in order to keep our community safe. It’s no coincidence that crime had been going down for a decade or more before the immigration controversy was engineered in 2007, and has been going up since then.

    Trust is crucial. Chief Deane said so from the beginning. Now, despite his efforts, that trust is damaged, and as a result, we are all less safe.

  17. Last Best Hope

    Haha, Lafayette, don’t feel bad. I had to cut and paste to make sure I could spell Lafayette!

  18. Moon-howler

    The county had some serious issues. I do not think the resolution solved any of them. No one has yet pointed out one thing that the resolution did to change things in Prince William County. I keep asking, no one answers. That tells me it did nothing but cause hard feelings in the county. Someone please point out something, just one thing, that proves me wrong. I welcome it.

  19. Pat.Herve

    The Resolution targeted the wrong people – It targeted the person who came here because there was a job available for him. If he leaves, there is another to take his place.

    But, we will not target the real culprit, because he is an upstanding member of our community – Lenny the Landscaper, Bob the Builder, Dave the Developer, Robby the Restaurant owner, etc – they are the ones who are circumventing the law – paying wages in cash, 1099’ing employees, working around the I-9 form, etc – that is the person who is committing the crime. What the illegal immigrant is doing is a petty crime compared to that, but we will not do it because that is where the political donations come to, or the friendships, or the religious affiliations.

  20. Elena

    Lafayette :Emma, I said I would understand not wishing to elaborate, and I do. I’m very glad you have a better understanding now. I really think it was just a “handful” in the county that were all fired up about the treason thing. And don’t get me started on the ones that went down to the podium, and spewed their words, and they ultimately made fools of themselves.(imho).I’ve always supported the resolution, and see no need to change that. Again, good for you Emma.

    I am wondering,which form of the resolution do you support? The first resolution where people would required to turn in others, the second where if there was “probable cause” you could be asked, or the third and final resolution, which is what we have today, post arrest inquiry into status?

  21. Lafayette

    @Elena
    Well, there’s only ONE resolution in effect at a time. I’ll have to leave it at that for now. I’ll put it to you this way…I never went down there and complained about the resolution in any form. I don’t want our officers and the county to be at risk for law suits.
    I’m too busy for a big debate today. I would just end up saying some things that would piss a few off, and I don’t have time, nor energy for it. The resolution is what is.

  22. Moon-howler

    When you throw certain things down, someone is going to pick it up. Count on it.

    And the problem with the resolution is, most people have no idea what it is. Perhaps that should be a new topic. I continue to ask the question, what does the resolution do or not do? Are there any copies of it anywhere?

  23. Gainesville Resident

    Pat.Herve :
    The Resolution targeted the wrong people – It targeted the person who came here because there was a job available for him. If he leaves, there is another to take his place.
    But, we will not target the real culprit, because he is an upstanding member of our community – Lenny the Landscaper, Bob the Builder, Dave the Developer, Robby the Restaurant owner, etc – they are the ones who are circumventing the law – paying wages in cash, 1099′ing employees, working around the I-9 form, etc – that is the person who is committing the crime. What the illegal immigrant is doing is a petty crime compared to that, but we will not do it because that is where the political donations come to, or the friendships, or the religious affiliations.

    Indeed, businesses should be targeted and fined heavily as a disincentive for circumventing labor laws. If there was a large enough disincentive to those businesses, they wouldn’t hire illegal immigrants. Unfortunately, right now there’s not a big enough deterrent due to lack of enforcement. It probably does come down to the businesses contribute a lot of money to the community, so no one wants to go after them.

  24. Gainesville Resident

    There’s also something wrong with a businesses if their profit depends upon paying below market wages. Unfortunately, because so many in certain industries such as construction do this – it makes it very hard or impossible for honest businesses who don’t pay below market wages to illegal immigrants to compete. It is a very big problem, that no one seems to want to address.

  25. Moon-howler

    Go to vpap.org and look at the Smithfield and Luter companies donations to Virginia candidates. Sort of says it all. They are big violators of immigration laws.

    On the other hand, immigration laws to not match our labor needs in this country. I am not surprised that people hire illegal immigrants. It isn’t all to undercut the wages. Some of it is that illegal immigrants are the only people available to do the work.

  26. Elena

    So you were fine witht the first resoltuion no matter how it affected the community? As a middle school counseler I NEVER would have turned in a child or their parents, that is what is called a police state, totally unacceptable. I guess I would have been fired from my job then. I am surprised by your answer I guess.

  27. Elena

    You bring up an excellent example. It isn’t just about wages, it’s about the consumer. People want cheap meat, they want to be able to pay 1.99 a lb for factory farmed meat. You CAN buy other meat, not factory farmed, but it costs more. GR, do you buy factory farmed meat?@Moon-howler

  28. Gainesville Resident

    I would argue if the factory farmed meat is being done by hiring illegal workers – than there’s something wrong with the profit model for the companies. Or yes, they have to raise prices then. If none of those companies could hire illegal workers, than there would be an even playing field. You can blame the consumer all you want – but it starts with the companies. If no companies hired illegal workers, the consumer price wouldn’t be determined by the low wages paid.

    Something is truly wrong if the only way these companies can be profitable or stay in business is to pay substandard wages by hiring workers that don’t have a right to work in the USA.

    The argument that consumers demand low prices so therefore these companies must do that to survive, just doesn’t work.

    And, let’s say immigration reform happens – then everyone is legal and they must pay above minimum wage. What then is going to happen to consumer prices? I’m actually OK with the answer: they will go up. That seems like what will happen. I wonder how many people have thought about that?

  29. Pat.Herve

    I am not sure if cheap labor is just about wages. See here (warning, do not read if you are queasy) – http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/04/health/04meat.html?pagewanted=all – all this just to provide ground beef cheaper. Would you pay $0.20 per pound more for better ground beef patties?

  30. Moon-howler

    Pat, give us a hint about whats on that video please. I get queasy.

  31. Gainesville Resident

    Pat.Herve :
    I am not sure if cheap labor is just about wages. See here (warning, do not read if you are queasy) – http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/04/health/04meat.html?pagewanted=all – all this just to provide ground beef cheaper. Would you pay $0.20 per pound more for better ground beef patties?

    After I read that I think I may have lost my appetite for hamburgers…

  32. Pat.Herve

    It is not a video – it is an article on how some manufacturers (hard to believe food processing is manufacturing) assemble the ingredients to form beef patties.

    A Thumbs up to Costco who tests for EColi *before* assembling their ground beef. A Thumbs down to Tysons who refuse to deal with dealers like Costco who test the beef before assembly, although there was an agreement this week where tysons gave in and might allow the pre test.

    For those of you who do read this, this is just an attempt to increase profits to please wall street. I worked for a private company that IPO’d, it was the worst thing that we did – because we then worked to meet our numbers and we became quarterly driven.

  33. Moon-howler

    I don’t want to destroy hamburger…I will take your word for it.

  34. Elena

    It isn’t just about wages, its about the conditions under which factory farming exists. Its nasty, inhumane, unhealthy, etc etc. You have to be pretty desperate to work on a factory farm and part of that is cheap wages. It isn’t about substandard, it’s about the whole philosphy of a country that consumes more than it needs.

    Try watching a video on factory farming, you will make a concerted effort to buy from small local farms or free range farmers.

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