by Fran Eaton
I simply must express my fascination with the wild and baseless accusations towards me coming from the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.
In a recent posting on their multi-language website www.icirr.org, they made several false accusations against me in a statement made last week here. In response to their August 19 press conference about the disagreement, I told my story to IR contributor Cal Skinner here.
In their August 24 posting, they continue to spread false information and call my concerns about voter registration "silly." I hope this response ends this ridiculous ongoing dispute.
First, I did not begin an "investigation" as ICIRR accused. Because I have been directing a local voter registration project for the past couple of months, I became concerned as to how an election commission could validate whether a person was a legal U.S. citizen. I asked questions and reported my findings on Illinois Review on August 14 here.
I did not misrepresent myself or the project I am directing to anyone. I never sought to infiltrate the New Democracy Project. Indeed, they asked me to assist them with their efforts. The ICIRR held a press conference and accused me of attempted entrapment and felonious behavior.
Now they say I'm "silly" for asking questions about registering voters. I'll admit, it won't be the first time my sanity has been questioned.
Call it what you will, but I don't think it's "silly" to do everything we can to make sure those who cast votes on November 7 are U.S. legal citizens.
The New Democracy Project insists they are as concerned about the legality of those they register as I am. That's good news. I can do nothing but believe their assertions.
Now will they please believe mine? Or is that "silly," too?