Monique Chartier

It Doesn’t Count If You Don’t Count

By Monique Chartier | April 15, 2008 |

The newest addition to the list of “reasons” that the Governor’s Executive Order and various legislative initiatives on illegal immigration should not be undertaken is that the actual number of undocumented immigrants in the state is unknown. Mr. Jaime Aguayo of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Hispanic Affairs made such an argument yesterday morning on…

Mistaking Thoughtfulness for Misogyny?

By Monique Chartier | April 10, 2008 |

Sir Elton, isn’t it possible that some people oppose Senator Clinton’s candidacy on the basis of issues and character and not because they hate women? And how can we resist flipping it around? In the unlikely event Condoleezza Rice ever runs for office, will you support her or will you be a misogynist? British pop…

POV: The Employer of Undocumented Immigrants

By Monique Chartier | April 10, 2008 |

Ceasing the exploitation of human beings is one of the reasons that so many of us support the enforcement of our immigration laws, particularly those pertaining to employment. [Note to Congress: Comprehensive immigration reform is not needed. The only problem with our existing immigration laws is that they are insufficiently enforced. This matter only requires…

An Unhelpful Visitor From Out of State

By Monique Chartier | April 8, 2008 |

It sounds like during the 4:00 hour, WPRO‘s Dan Yorke was trying to diffuse the visceral reaction that some of his listeners, myself included, had to the remarks made by the “minister” (quotes because no true minister would utter the remarks he made) from New Jersey by pointing out where the “minister” from New Jersey…

A Letter to the Catholic Church From a Parishioner

By Monique Chartier | April 7, 2008 |

Jason Martins, producer of WPRO’s Matt Allen Show, put the following letter in the collection basket yesterday in lieu of an offering. Dear Father, I am writing this letter in response to the comments made by Bishop Tobin earlier this week following the Executive Order by Governor Carcieri focusing on illegal immigration. As you have…

A Hillary Update

By Monique Chartier | April 6, 2008 | Comments Off on A Hillary Update

Senator Hillary Clinton yesterday renewed her call for admission of the Michigan and Florida primary ballots. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton yesterday strengthened her pitch to allow disputed Democratic primaries in Michigan and Florida to be counted in the nominating contest, noting the vote totals had been officially recognized in each state. “Some say their votes…

A Capitol Idea

By Monique Chartier | April 4, 2008 |

Here’s the plan. Seventy five of us are going to charter a plane and fly to the capitols of half a dozen countries around the world. I’m thinking Lisbon, Santiago, Bern, Warsaw, Rome and London. When we get to each city, we’re going to “storm” the office of the policy director of the president or…

A Novel Way of Referring to Rhode Island

By Monique Chartier | April 3, 2008 |

At the news conference yesterday of Rhode Island clergy leaders where the Governor’s Executive Order on illegal immigration was criticized with various levels of tact, the Reverend Donald C. Anderson, Executive Minister of the Rhode Island State Council of Churches, observed In God’s kingdom there are no second-class citizens, only sisters and brothers. Rhode Island…

Giving New Meaning to Universal Health Care

By Monique Chartier | April 1, 2008 |

A caller to the Dan Yorke Show this afternoon did not quite connect the dots but juxtaposed Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Roberts’ position on universal health care (she favors it) with her call for the Governor to withdraw his Executive Order pertaining to illegal immigration. The caller raised an interesting point. Putting together the Lieutenant Governor’s…

Governor’s Executive Order: Backing Out the Fiction

By Monique Chartier | March 30, 2008 |

Back up a dump truck! However, the various misinformed assertions about the Governor’s Executive Order are quickly disposed of: Racial profiling – N/A Scapegoating – N/A Hate – N/A Political grandstanding for campaign purposes – Humorous and N/A As are these: National origin, color of skin, accent – N/A Taking the law into one’s own…