Hispanic group snubs Kean
2006-10-23
Source: North Jersey Media Group
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rss feedIn a room packed with Hispanic business leaders from across the state, Daniel Jara of the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey told the audience Friday the usually nonpartisan event had intentionally crossed GOP state Sen. Tom Kean Jr. off its guest list.
It wasn't, Jara said, because his Democratic opponent, Sen. Robert Menendez, was one of the featured speakers.
"We didn't invite him (Kean) for one reason and one reason only: because of his position on immigration reform," he said, "which we feel is an insult to New Jersey and an insult to our community."
The audience, which included Hispanic business leaders from across the political spectrum, applauded Jara.
During the hotly contested U.S. Senate campaign, Kean has made statements supporting Congress' adopting a more restrictive immigration policy and opposes a Senate proposal that would put millions of undocumented immigrants on a pathway to U.S. citizenship.
Speaking at the chamber's 16th annual Convention and Expo, Jara's comments demonstrated how the battle over immigration reform has often transcended partisan politics among Hispanics who have become successful in the United States but remain closely identified with their own immigrant experience.
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