By Jonathan Randles and Brandon Lowrey
Signal Staff Writers
jrandles@the-signal.com
661-259-1234 x519
Posted: Jan. 23, 2010 8:16 p.m.
POSTED Jan. 24, 2010 4:55 a.m.
Kellar’s war with words
City councilman draws support, fire over comments during rally against illegal immigration
A Santa Clarita city councilman's fiery speech at a rally against illegal immigration has drawn praise and criticism from those on either side of one of the most divisive issues in national politics.
Councilman Bob Kellar and his supporters said his words reflected his passion for the rule of law.
Others called his words overblown rhetoric and an embarassment to the city.
At the rally last weekend, Kellar gripped a microphone and told a crowd he agreed with former President Theodore Roosevelt's philosophy: This nation has room for only one flag - the American one - and one language - English. He said he once voiced that opinion at a City Council meeting and people told him he sounded like a racist.
"I said, ‘That's good. If that's what you think I am because I happen to believe in America, (then) I'm a proud racist. You're darn right, I am,'" Kellar said.
Those at the rally against illegal immigration cheered the words of the councilman and retired Los Angeles police officer.
But his words, captured on video and posted on YouTube, shocked some residents and made his fellow City Council members uneasy.
The speech also appeared to put him at odds with a section of the code of ethics for city employees, which requires officials to state explicitly they are not representing the city when advocating a personal opinion. But city officials said any ethics code violation was doubtful.
In interviews last week, Kellar said he stands by his words but hopes others don't take them out of context.
He said he is not a racist and never meant to say he was - rather, he used a rhetorical device to say opponents' name-calling wouldn't change his views.
Kellar said he does not believe expressing his personal views violates the code of ethics he and other council members approved in 2008.
He said he personally feels illegal immigration is ruining the nation economically and culturally.
"Sure, it sounds radical to many folks that don't believe like I do," Kellar said. "I was raised by my family and taught that this is America.
America has one language and one flag."
Reaction
Kellar's words echoed far beyond their intended audience at the impassioned Valencia rally organized by local Minutemen and conservative "tea party" groups.
Some found Kellar's statements at the rally disturbing, regardless of what he meant.
"I was shocked. I couldn't believe it," said Bruce McFarland, a local Democratic activist, who added Kellar's latest YouTube appearance has been a hot topic in e-mail discussions.
"Here's a guy who is supposed to be representing the city of Santa Clarita, and does represent the city of Santa Clarita - whether or not he says he's expressing our opinion," McFarland said.
"He doesn't represent us well talking that way, and I don't think he should continue to hold office. He's an embarassment to the city."
Roger Gitlin, leader of the Santa Clarita Valley Minutemen and rally organizer, said he was proud of Kellar for stepping up and speaking.
"Bob Kellar is not a racist," he said. "Bob Kellar is an American who abides by the rule of law and asks our government to do the same."
However, Gitlin said it seemed Kellar might have been "over-rhetorical."
"I think Bob probably got a little ahead of himself with his words," he said. "He is not a racist. He judges people by their deeds, not by the color of their skin or by their ethnicity."
Others who disagreed with Kellar acknowledged the councilman's opinion about illegal immigration alone doesn't make him racist.
A spokesman for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, which helped suspects arrested during a local immigration raid last year, said Kellar's views, however, may be outdated.
"I don't believe that establishing ‘one flag, one language' is necessarily racist," said coalition spokesman Jorge Mario Cabrera. "I do believe that it doesn't correspond with the reality of the America we live in now."
Jorge Garcia, a Chicano studies professor at California State University, Northridge, said most immigrants, regardless of where they come from or what language they speak, try to learn English.
He scoffed at Kellar's attempt to portray his own views as radical.
"He's not a radical - he's a reactionary," Garcia said. "A reactionary wants to go back to some mythical time where everybody speaks English. It's never been that way."
City officials react
City Councilwoman Laurie Ender said she does not share Kellar's opinions.
"I thought what he said was shocking and I hope he is able to clarify his comments," she said.
Councilman Frank Ferry, a former U.S. history teacher, said during times of economic turmoil people often attack poor and disenfranchised groups.
"In my eyes, Bob Kellar and others at the rally are attacking the undocumented worker," Ferry said. "(Kellar's) rhetoric is very loud and strong, and it will definitely offend a group of people. ... But Bob doesn't care. He's not going to change his position."
Councilwoman Marsha McLean said illegal immigration is a polarizing issue that elicits strong rhetoric from both sides.
"I believe that each of us individually are responsible for the way we conduct ourselves in office," McLean said.
"The public will ultimately decide if our actions or words are appropriate or not."
Mayor Laurene Weste declined to comment.
Ethics
The city's code of ethics states, in regard to advocacy, that "when presenting their individual opinions and positions, (City Council members and other city officials) shall explicitly state they do not represent their body or the city of Santa Clarita, nor will they allow the inference that they do."
Kellar, who was mayor when the City Council approved and enacted the code in May 2008, was introduced at the rally as a city councilman and referenced what he had said about one flag, one language at a City Council meeting. On the YouTube video, he did not explicitly say he was not representing the city.
City Attorney Carl Newton, who would investigate any breach of the city's code of ethics, said Thursday he thought it was clear Kellar was giving his own passionate opinion and did not violate the code, citing the First Amendment.
"He did not say he was speaking on behalf of the council or speaking in an official capacity, so I don't think he has violated any policy," Newton said.
Ferry agreed, and other council members declined to comment about the matter.
"We have five different opinions," Ferry said. "He didn't do anything on behalf of the council."
Newton said his office has never been called to investigate an alleged breach of the code, and the consequences of a violation are unclear.
Kellar's views
Kellar said he supports immigrants who are learning English, but he is disturbed by immigrants who do not choose to learn English and assimilate.
"At the Rose Parade a few years back, I saw more Mexican flags being waved around the crowd than American flags," Kellar said. "What is that? That is disturbing to me. This is America; this is not Mexico."
"If they want to be a proud American, they should learn the English language like our forefathers did."
"I care about America," Kellar said. "I recognize we are a melting pot. We all are, including me. But we are now Americans.
"We have one flag; we have one language. That is a piece of the big puzzle that makes this nation great."
Kellar said it is the responsibility of every elected official to speak out about the issue of illegal immigration.
"Shame on elected representatives who don't have the intestinal fortitude to address the issue," Kellar said.
"I will not deviate that illegal immigration is wrong."
He added: "If there are people out there who differ with me, then so be it, because we are Americans."
Signal staff writer Tammy Marashlian contributed to this report.
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Brian:
January 24, 2010 - 11:27 AM
"Sure, it sounds radical to many folks that don't believe like I do," Kellar said. "I was raised by my family and taught that this is America.
America has one language and one flag."
Such a small minded little man. Yeah Bob, we ALL grew up just like you!
To quote one of the teabag protesters, MORAN!
truthseeker:
January 24, 2010 - 11:48 AM
Standing against ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION is now racist? Are you people mad? Bob Kellar expresses what so many of us LEGAL residents of this country (many of us from other parts of the world) think. Witness the illegal immigrant gang-bangers MURDERS and CRIME! Have a look at the ILLEGALS gathered outside the social services offices! See the Section 8 housing for the poor and the elderly in need being used up by multiple families here ILLEGALLY! Have a look at some of the schools and see the 80% children of ILLEGALS and watch the teaching standards go down!
That is NOT America! That is NOT the law and order tradition of America! That is NOT respect for all! That is an INSULT to the millions of other LEGAL immigrants who came here and RESPECTED this country, her laws, her language, and her institutions.
I've HAD IT with the PC crowd apologists who helped contribute to the destruction of my city and these attack dogs that trash the messenger but are nowhere to be found when ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CRIMINALS create destruction and chaos in Santa Clarita.
neutronflux:
January 24, 2010 - 01:05 PM
When it comes down to it he called himself a "racist." As a resident for 27 years, that is not okay.
Lastly, the destruction of our city was done by our city council. They have approved hundreds of housing developments. Yet, they don't look at the fact that our infrastructure cannot support it.
Joe91355:
January 24, 2010 - 01:14 PM
I support Mr. Kellar and understand his frustration. I am proud to live in a city where one of our politicians has the backbone to be honest and stand up for what he believes. Mr. Kellar provided a clear explanation for the words that he used and I am content with that explanation. City Attorney Carl Newton made the correct desion not to investigate any city code violation.
SCVBILL:
January 24, 2010 - 01:29 PM
I enthusiastically support Kellar and his statement.