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.”
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.