FORT SMITH : Apology on e-mail is sought
Posted on Thursday, November 29, 2007
The chairman of the Republican Party of Arkansas called Wednesday for state Sen. Denny Altes, R-Fort Smith, to apologize for e-mail comments attributed to the Senate GOP leader by a television station.
Fort Smith-Fayetteville station KHBS / KHOG-TV reported Wednesday evening that Altes sent an e-mail calling for illegal aliens to be sent back and stating that “we are being out populated by the blacks also.”
Dennis Milligan, the state party chairman, said in a written response that illegal immigration should be discussed “in a respectable manner, without pitting neighbor against neighbor or using fear as a divisive tool.
“ With this being said, I believe Sen. Altes’ comments are wrong and as a legislative leader, he should apologize,” Milligan said in the statement. “They are disrespectful and denigrating to the practical concerns of how we truly address illegal immigration.”
Altes did not immediately respond to messages left at his home, on his cell phone or on e-mail.
In the e-mail on the television station’s Web site, the message attributed to Altes states that he’s for “sending the illegals back but we know that is impossible.
“ We are where we were with the black folks after the revolutionary war. We can’t send them back and the more we p *** them off the worse it will be in the future. So what do we do,” the e-mail states. “I say the governor needs to try to enforce the law and sign the letter of understanding... and at least we can send the troublemakers back. Sure we are being overrun but we are being outpopulated by the blacks also. What is the answer, only time will tell.”
Altes has represented the Fort Smith area in the Legislature since 1999, when he was elected to the House. He served two terms there and has been a member of the Senate since 2003.
The U. S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey estimates that in 2006 Fort Smith had a black population of about 9 percent and a Hispanic population of about 13. 6 percent.
Altes has been an outspoken opponent of illegal immigration, fighting Gov. Mike Huckabee’s proposal in 2005 to offer in-state college tuition benefits to the children of illegal immigrants.
The e-mail that KHBS / KHOG attributed to Altes stated that the senator has been “in the trenches fighting this thing” but that he and former state Sen. Jim Holt, R-Springdale, were accused of being racists and bigots for their 2005 stance.
“But the Republicans run from this issue and have left me high and dry,” the e-mail states.
FEEDBACK:
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online
