THE ROBERT W. WHITAKER ARCHIVE

BASICS: OUR BORDER IS NO LONGER A GAME | nationalsalvation.net

Lester Maddox was a staunch segregationist who was elected governor of Georgia in the 1960s. Black riots were occurring all over the country. When a black riot took place in Augusta, Georgia, Lester Maddox stated that if any policeman did not SHOOT looters on sight, he personally would take away that officer's badge.

The riot ended suddenly. Only one looter was shot. He was in a liquor store he had broken into, laying on the floor. That picture appeared in outraged publications all over America, especially Time Magazine. But though Time tried to make the case that the poor man was only getting liquor to take home to his starving family, it wasn't very successful.

While I was on Capitol Hill there was a hurricane in Florida followed by massive looting. My boss, John Ashbrook, shared his senior staffer's gift for subtlety, so he made a speech on the House Floor called, "Shoot Looters!" The main newspaper in his district attacked him violently, saying this was an irrational statement to make. After a flood of letters backing Ashbook came in, they decided it must be some kind of organized protest by Ashbrook supporters, so they did a scientific poll of the district.

They pointed out, with some embarrassment, that Eighty-One Percent (81%) of district residents backed Ashbrook: "Shoot Looters!" More than one letter to the paper said that this was the first time the writer had EVER agreed with Ashbrook on ANYTHING.

I first broached the idea of a Platform Party to Jamie Kelso as we were riding back from the DC convention. He LOVED the concept, but we had one strong disagreement. As you will see in an article below, I believe in SHOOTING anyone who comes across our border illegally. Jamie said Americans would not STAND for such a thing.

I would give a months warning in every publication in Mexico, Canada, and elsewhere. I would put up huge signs in English, Spanish, French and various Indian languages to make it clear that the US border is a DEADLINE, complete with skull and crossbones for the illiterate.

My point is this: Any other form of enforcement would be subject to debate.

We must make it absolutely clear that the US border is not a game of hide-and-seek.

We can say that America is the world's last superpower, but it is the only superpower in history that wants nothing but to protect its OWN borders and its own people's interests.

But the Preamble Party says that, on THAT point, there is no room for compromise.

Kelso says that is too violent. I say that any other approach makes the border a game of hide-and-seek.

Shoot looters. Shoot border violators. Our border is no longer a game.

There is a major side benefit to this. The United States will no longer speak in George Bush whine. We will speak little and MEAN it:

"Speak softly and carry a big stick."

A country that shoots anyone who violates its borders can tell OPEC to cut the crap and OPEC will cut the crap.