McMahon Finds Fans In Fair Haven

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by Melissa Bailey | Sep 23, 2010 6:19 pm

(14) Comments | Commenting has been closed | E-mail the Author

Posted to: Politics, Fair Haven

Linda McMahon had never heard of New Haven’s immigrant-friendly ID or the federal Dream Act, but she did meet some new friends on Grand Avenue Thursday, as she took her campaign into the heart of the city’s Latino community.

The Republican Senate candidate, who founded the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) empire with her husband Vince, spent an hour Thursday afternoon touring Grand Avenue with reporters and campaign workers in tow.

In an interview, she claimed ignorance of two issues of top concern for Latino advocates, especially in a city that has thousands of illegal immigrants: She said she is not familiar with the federal Dream Act, a federal bill that would have allowed “alien children” a path to citizenship. She also said she had not heard about the New Haven’s municipal ID, which made national headlines when Mayor John DeStefano created it in 2007 for all residents, regardless of immigration status.

Those knowledge gaps did not stop her from winning support from business owners and passersby in the Democratic stronghold of Fair Haven on Thursday. She won those friends in part with her professional wrestling bona fides.

Outside the Grand Beauty Supply store at 267 Grand Ave., she met a 21-year-old Colombian-American hair stylist named Aaron Vignola who was wearing fingerless, skull-and-crossbones gloves.

“Did you really kick that guy right in the balls?” asked Vignola.

(Click on the play arrow above to watch their exchange.)

He was referring to this video, in which McMahon stars in a WWE skit where she “fires” radio announcer Jim Ross and kicks him in the crotch.

McMahon laughed at the unexpected question.

“You know, WWE is scripted entertainment,” she replied.

“Oh, OK. It looked like you really knocked him down,” Vignola responded.

“Some things you’ve got to make, you know, look good,” McMahon said.

Vignola walked away with two campaign T-shirts, one in white and one in blue. A Hamden resident, he said he’s a Democrat—and a big WWE fan since he was 15 years old.

“I usually vote Democrat, but for one time, for Linda, I’m voting for her,” he said. Vignola said he believes McMahon would “get jobs for the people.”

Of McMahon’s Democratic opponent, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, the hair stylist gave a tonsorial critique.

“He seems like a real phony to me,” Vignola said. “He looks like he’s wearing a toupee.”

(Blumenthal never wears a toupee, campaign spokeswoman Maura Downes later clarified.)

Dreams

McMahon spent the rest of the time in Fair Haven popping into small businesses along a short stretch of Grand Avenue between Blatchley and Poplar.

She said she arranged the visit “because I think it’s important to understand the issues that are facing everyone,” including the state’s fast-growing Latino population. She has already run a campaign radio ad in which she speaks in Spanish.

“I’m absolutely trying to reach into the Hispanic market,” she said in a conversation inside La Marqueta, a small Latino supermarket.

The businesses she visited serve many Latinos who immigrated to the U.S. illegally.

McMahon was asked what she thinks of the federal DREAM Act, which stands for the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act. The act would grant undocumented immigrant youth a six-year path to citizenship, with the condition that they complete college or serve two years in the U.S. military. The act was one amendment tacked onto a major defense bill that died in the Senate this week.

“How would you vote on the Dream Act?” the Independent asked.

“I don’t think I know what the Dream Act is,” McMahon replied. After a brief explanation, she said: “I don’t know the aspects of that bill, so I wouldn’t want to comment on it until I’ve reviewed it.”

Blumenthal does support the Dream Act, according to spokeswoman Downes.

McMahon was asked about Mayor John DeStefano’s Elm City ID, a municipal identification card made available to all residents of New Haven, regardless of immigration status.

“I’m not sure I know what that is,” McMahon said.

Given a description, she gave a skeptical response.

“I think being able to have forms of ID is great,” she said. “But if you are here legally, you’re going to have the right forms of ID.”

On the ID card, Blumenthal’s campaign said in an emailed statement: “Dick believes there must be comprehensive national immigration
reform that includes stronger enforcement both at our borders and inside the United States. He is sympathetic to attempts by state and local governments to address this issue, but they will not ultimately solve the challenge we face as a nation.”

In general, McMahon said she supports immigration reform, and that people who have been living in the U.S. under a Green Card or working permit should be put ahead of the line compared to those who entered the country illegally.

“It doesn’t seem fair to me that you would give the same consideration to those who are not obeying the same laws of the land as those who are.”

Those issues didn’t come up as McMahon made her way down Grand Avenue, chatting to business owners and snapping photos with WWE fans. Her campaign gave out 13 T-shirts, and collected 13 signatures for the campaign email list, volunteer staffers said.

Melissa Bailey Photo McMahon’s tour guide was Frank Alvarado (at right in photo), director of the Spanish-American Merchants Association’s (SAMA) New Haven and Willimantic offices. Alvarado said SAMA does not endorse candidates. Alvarado personally is a staunch Democrat. He said the campaign called, and he agreed to show McMahon around both cities.

“We are happy to show anyone what we do and who we help,” Alvarado said. “Anyone who shows interest in small businesses is a good thing for small business.”

As McMahon stopped into the El Jibaro barber shop, owner Severiano Burgos met her with a firm handshake. At ease with the strangers, McMahon jokingly offered to give a man in a barber’s chair a hair cut.

When she said, Burgos said he would “absolutely” vote for her. “I don’t have an exclusive party,” he said. He said he believes McMahon supports immigrants and would help bring jobs and businesses to the neighborhood.

“I have faith that she will,” he said in Spanish.

Orlando Rivera, who was working behind the counter at Italy’s Best Pizza, gave McMahon an earful about tax assessment problems when she came into his store. Rivera said his business was overbilled for its equipment. She said she didn’t know if she could help him with that as a senator.

Rivera didn’t commit his vote, but he did grab a T-shirt and a sticker.

“She’s new blood,” he said. “I see determination about her. Best of luck to her.”

Comments

posted by: Oh god on September 23, 2010 6:51pm

Just when I thought I couldn’t find her any more incompetent….a Senate candidate from a state with a large immigrant population hasn’t heard of the DREAM act?? At the very least, I’d think it would be on her radar as something she’d oppose in order to pander to the Tea Party vote.

posted by: Francis on September 23, 2010 7:08pm

Not only would the approval of the Dream Act have given millions of children of illegal aliens get a free pass to our education system, but it wouldn’t there would have no restrictions like the House version does? If the Dream Act had only been for the selected few, instead of millions who just qualify by getting a high school diploma up to the age of 35. Senator Reid advanced his political agenda, by placing the Dream Act in the Defense spending bill and was co sponsored by Richard Durbin (D-IL), Dick Lugar (D-IN).

Involved in this matter and endeavored to pass the Dream Act was mostly Democrats that include incumbents that can be relieved of their Senate seat in the midterm election. Blanche Lincoln (D-R) Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Micheal Bennet (D-CO), Chris Dodd (D-CT), Ted Kaufman (D-DE), Daniel Inouye (D-HI), Roland Burris(D-IL), Evan Bayh (D-IN), Harry Reid(D-NV), Arlen Spector (D-PA), Patty Murray (D-WA) and Russ Feingold D-WI). OH! We mustn’t forget Speaker Nancy pelosi? We can send a demanding message that all these incumbents will see the streets in November and other pro-amnesty panderers will join them shortly. We need all Tea Partiers, moderate conservatives and dissatisfied Democrats to join in this revolution for change. We must cement our votes for—ALL—new candidates against each of these incumbents.

If the controversial DREAM ACT had not been introduced, but “DADT had been admitted, the defense bill may have united both sides—including gays in the military. Personally in my comments, I see nothing wrong with the DADT being deleted, as I have a cousin who is a gay attorney and a nephew who would like to go in the military. However, I am adamantly against the Dream Act, with unbridled facts that are not addressed as Sen. Reids bill has no age limit up to 35 and if you arrived just before the age of 15, you can still claim—AMNESTY. Further abuse is you don’t have to be an exceptional Scholar, or receive the right grades. The HOUSE bill limited all these hidden conditions. If there are any conditions under the Senator Reid of Nevada Act? The last big problem is that it’s incentive to sponsor the whole family, including uncles and aunts.

Last time this “Chain Migration” happened was in the 1986 Simpson-Mazzoli bill, when another 5.3 million people turned up at our door, under the Chain migration. Sponsored by legitimized But the most major ramification is that all those students who eventually receive citizenship can sponsor 3 to 4 million immediate members of the family, stretching to Uncle and aunts. Finally the most dangerous act that could be accepted is the sanctioned US/Mexican totalization Social Security agreement, which at our peril would cripple yours and mine Pensions. Do you know that hundreds of thousands of illegal alien guest workers, who were legally processed in 1986, were able to get public benefits that many didn’t pay into, while American citizens paid all of their lives into the Social Security system?

If you are a patriotic American and see your jobs disappearing, and unable to get a modification loan to save your home while banks hoard billions of dollars offered by President Obama. However from 1997 Head of HUD, a Democrat called Andrew Cuomo, was the personage who became the architect of the housing collapse.

We—as a country can no longer be the PPO medical welfare, the education system for everybody who chooses to illegally enter this country. Now is the time to reprimand any politician who supported the Dream Act, or any form of Amnesty by joining the Tea Party movement or NumbersUSA. Both are fighting to stop our taxes being spent on illegal aliens, who arrive here by plane or simply crossed our sovereign border. You can harass your Senator or Congressman at the Washington switchboard at 202-224-3121 We must wipe the slate clean and remove the corrupted political debris from every state, of—ALL—elected officials which includes Governors and Mayors.

This November we must be on our guard, vigilant against illegal aliens violating our voting federal laws, specifically in California and Nevada, but also every other state. Absentee ballot voting is specifically vulnerable in an “honor System” that doesn’t work anymore. ITS TIME THE US GOVERNMENT ISSUED A VOTER ID CARD< AS THEY DO IN OTHER INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS TO HALT ANY CHANCE OF FRAUD?

No copyright for any of my articles or comments. Distribute freely.

posted by: angelo reyes on September 23, 2010 7:53pm

I was there ,no surprise to see politics at its best,show your face 5 minutes before the bell.and of course you don’t know about the id program or or the dream act,its only been a major topic for the last 10 years.Linda might be a good person,but Richard Blumenthal has fought hard for this state, he has earned my vote.as a democrat,im going to give my party all the time it takes to fix the destruction that the republicans made.Buuuut for a few front row tickets. (LOL)

posted by: truth teller on September 23, 2010 7:57pm

Does this women think she can fool the Spanish community.?.. she has no clue what regular people are going through. Repubs are now trying to act as if they care about us… this is a joke.

posted by: I Remember on September 23, 2010 9:14pm

I remember that Frank Alvarado was the head of New Haven’s LCI department during the late 1990’s loan scandal.

http://www.yaleherald.com/archive/xxvi/9.4.98/news/scandals.html

Glad to see he’s still in business!

posted by: Threefifths on September 23, 2010 9:37pm

Francis the real deal on the dream act.

DREAM ACT Will Extend Poverty Draft to Immigrant Youth. Such A Deal.
Wed, 09/22/2010 - 08:40 — Bruce A. Dixon

http://www.blackagendareport.com/?q=content/dream-act-will-extend-poverty-draft-immigrant-youth-such-deal

posted by: Townie on September 24, 2010 7:47am

Both political parties only pretend to care about the people. Their main interest is gaining and maintaining power.
Illegal immigration is a real problem in this country and we need experienced and thoughtful representatives to remedy it. If we don’t our economy and our society will continue to suffer.

posted by: Farida on September 24, 2010 8:28am

How about this?

http://fabiusmaximus.wordpress.com/2010/09/10/21369/

posted by: fairhavengal on September 24, 2010 12:01pm

OMG! Seriously?! She wants to be a senator from Connecticut? I hope people remember
what ignorant politicians got us in the past…remember George Bush???
I hope people see her for what she is…another rich person trying to buy
a seat in congress and only protect the rich!

posted by: Brian L. Jenkins on September 24, 2010 1:30pm

This was a brilliant political move on her part. Concede absolutely nothing! Who’s to say that Blumenthal will make the necessary investments in the minority communities? If I were still living in Conn. I’d lead the charge across the state in the minority communities in support of her campaign. We must stop being dependent on the Democratic Party. Especially when members of the Democratic Party are not attentive to the needs of its staunch supporters,MINORITIES!

posted by: What is Fair Haven coming to on September 24, 2010 1:33pm

What is in the kool aid in Fair Haven? First All Our Kin carries Foley’s water, and now SAMA is trying to sell McMahon to all the merchants, who obviously don’t know how little she cares about them and their community. Honestly, people, wake up! SAMA and AOK, please think about the broader interests of the community before those of your own institutions. This is embarrassing and scary.

posted by: Car Shipping Quote on September 24, 2010 5:41pm

I think McMahon is a very interesting candidate. And I’m pretty sure that Jim Ross was a ring announcer, not a referee.

posted by: hawkeye on September 26, 2010 8:44pm

Richard Blumenthal has been living off of taxpayor money, long enough! He won’t use his family money, to pay for his election campaign, but instead, takes PAC and special interest money, some of which, he returned, after pressure from Linda McMahon. He even “sold his soul” for money that Pres. Barack Obama, procured for him, at a fundraiser in Stamford. Obama was the last person Blumenthal should used for fundraising, as many Democratic candidates, are keeping their distance from Obama, as he is far from an election winning-charm. Besides, every Democratic candidate that Obama has stumped for, so far, HAS LOST.

Blumenthal has put himself, “in between a rock and a hard place,” leaving a non-political businesswman, Linda McMahon, as the victor on Nov. 2.

posted by: Pedro d'Ibiza on October 1, 2010 6:20pm

I was able to meet our future Senator McMahon in Fair Haven, and found her to a charming lady, and she actually knows quite a lot of Spanish as well! Last time Blumenthal came around, he seemed wooden and robotic, ... . Blumenthal seemed very fake and VERY uncomfortable around us, and as a Vietnam vet I could never support him given how many times he has lied about his non-service and then lied about the lies. Very painful to me.

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