Obama, McCain invited to address NaFFAA
August 26, 2008
By Joseph G. Lariosa
“This is an historic event if McCain can make it because, this is the first time for NaFFAA to invite a Republican candidate for President since it’s founding in 1997,” according to the NaFFAA press statement. Former NaFFAA national chairman, Atty. Loida Nicolas Lewis, introduced Former First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton as guest of the NaFFAA national convention in New York city in 1999.
With the U.S. Congress in recess, it was reported that Speaker Nancy Pelosi is slated to schedule S. 1315 for debate after Labor Day (Sept. 1).
Mr. McCain is one of three senators, who abstained from voting for S. 1315, which was overwhelmingly passed by the Senate with a 96-1 vote last April 24. The two others who abstained were Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) and Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL), who was quoted by Mr. Obama’s spokesman as saying that because the S. 1315 was sure to pass, Mr. Obama did not vote anymore. The lone opposition was Sen. David Vitter (R-LA).
After the vote, Obama’s campaign issued this statement: “Our veterans and service members have made incredible sacrifices for our nation, and today, the Senate honored their service by providing them with the care and benefits they deserve.”
The NaFFAA press statement also said they will also “ask McCain to support the Comprehensive Immigration Reform towards partial amnesty for the over 200,000/plus overstaying Filipinos who are among the 12-million undocumented aliens in the United States; the issuance of more visas to
the Philippines to ease the 10/20-year waiting period for I-130 Family-based visas to join their US-citizen parents or sons/daughters here in the U.S.
“The Filipino Americans will remind McCain of the presence of the 3-million/plus Filipino Americans across the U.S., and the presence of over 100,000 Americans in the Philippines. This is enough reason to help improve the RP-US friendly relations towards a more equitable mutual alliance which will impact America’s economic and military aid to the Philippines.”
NaFFAA’s mission is the empowerment of Filipinos and Filipino Americans. This year theme of the NaFFAA conference is “Forging a New Filipino-American Agenda for the 21st Century” is relevant, as we elect our new President in November 4, 2008. It says Filipinos must be counted, and, in order to be counted, we must register and vote. NaFFAA’ s strategy is to motivate and organize a massive
Get-Out-The- Vote (GOTV) campaign thru its Filvote Program jointly headed by Perry Diaz and Gloria Caoile We must encourage those among us to register, if they are qualified, and encourage those who have registered to vote, including ABSENTEE VOTING. Tuesday, October 28, 2008, is the last day to Apply by Mail for an Absentee Ballot for the General Elections on November 4, 2008.
There will be political workshops both for the FilAm Republicans and Democrats during the conference. If you are interested to join the pool of panelists, please contact Eduardo “Ed” Navarra at 248.334
2868, email EJN0115@aol. com or Ernesto Gange at 267.229.4267, email: Ernesto1gange@ aol.com
.
To register for the Seattle Conference, please contact Conference Chairman Mariela Fletcher at 206.892.0075, email Marielfletch@ msn.com or visit www.naffaar7. org.
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