Making a movie of themselves: Minnesota Majority and MinnSIR unite

Loyal readers know that we frequently hold our nose and dive into a Yahoo group where Ruthie Hendrycks posts in her role as President of Minnesotans Seeking Immigration Reform (MinnSIR), an unincorporated association that's a subchapter of the Minnesota Coalition for Immigration Reduction (also small and unincorporated).

We've learned that MinnSIR is teaming up with Minnesota Majority to make a video and it's top secret, according to this post by Ms. Hendrycks:

MINNESOTA MEMBERS

As you know, a video is being planned and scheduled concerning the negative impacts of

illegal immigration on Minnesotans. MINNSIR in coordination with Minnesota Majority

will be filming all those and their stories who choose to participate.

 

So many times - we hear the other side of this issue in video's and the media.

It is time that our fellow citizens and those elected to serve the residents of Minnesota -

HEAR OUR THOUGHTS!!!!!!

 

We do have several individuals already - who have agreed to participate and this email

will be going out to them again separately to arrange a time for filming.

ONLY THOSE WHO CONTACT RUTHIE - will be advised of location and filming date.

This is to ensure those moles subscribed to MINNSIR do not deter our mission.

Filming will take place shortly and should be completed by early April.

 

I am sending this request out to see if there are more that would like to be involved.

Your identity can be shadowed, but we prefer that not all opt for this option.

 

Issues of how illegal immigration has impacted you can range from but not limited to:

Economics

Job and Employment Issues

Crime

Health Issues

Language Barriers

School and Education Issues

Etc.

 

Exactly what we are looking for is YOUR STORIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you know of others that may consider being involved - please contact them

and have them contact Ruthie. Ask only those you trust.

Material used will be at the desegregation of MnMajority and MINNSIR

Ruthie will be the primary interviewer - please contact [email address redacted by editor] to discuss your participation or with questions.

 

Again

Happy Easter

Ruthie

So MinnSIR and Majority will be making a video about the negative effects of immigration. Let's take a look at the production' sponsors.

First, MinnSIR.  Beginning with the email itself, we the self-pity in the message puzzling. For instance, the media frequently give Ms. Hendrycks a platform for her views, as she is trotted out to represent the "anti" position in the debate on comprehensive immigration review. indeed, the group and a rally (which drew fewer than 100 people) was deemed newsworthy by the Strib barely a month after Hendrycks founded it in 2006.

Not once have we seen evidence that the mainstream media has asked the group to provide membership numbers or a balance sheet.  Since the group has no paid staff and revenues under $25,000, it's not required to provide any public transparency.   

A headline on the front page of the group's website now touts Ruthie's bid for Congress (though the fine print reveals she's in a bid for the open seat in Minnesota House District 21B). Since the group isn't large enough to report to anyone and hasn't voluntarily opened it's books, it's impossible to tell if this in-kind contribution to a candidate is worth over $100, at which point the group would have to register  with the state Campaign Finance and Disclosure board.

While the group claims to be only against illegal immigration and to support "sensible" immigration reform, Ruthie approvingly distributes emails decrying the presence of Liberian refugees in Minnesota, opposing a state bill to allow a private service club to honor Mexican-American veterans (it passed this month in the Minnesota House by a 121-5 vote) and other such matters.

Minnesota Majority is another kettle of fish entirely. Launched last summer by social conservative Jeff Davis and friends, the group promotes "traditional values" and more. The group is a non-profit 501(c) 4, an organization that can engage in lobbying or political campaigning. Donations are not tax deductible.

And cultural flashpoints over "traditional values" are indeed a war for these folks: 

Our country is in the midst of a fierce civil war between those who cherish our nation’s traditional values and those who want to radically remake America into a secular progressive country.

Minnesota Majority's web page about immigration (or illegal aliens, MM's preferred descriptor) is here. Some fascinating links from the Minn Majority page to interesting people and organizations.

The group generated a fair amount of controversy when a statement attributing longer lifespans to "racial purity" in the populations of Japan and Sweden was on the group's page about health care. As a firestorm of criticism hit, the statement was first defended, then scrubbed from the site. (See several posts at Lloydletta ,  Democracy at Work, Minnesota 2020 [Mn 2020 fellow John Hecke's column here] and MnPublius for a review of the fracas).

For a glimpse of past Minnesota Majority video projects, check out the group's YouTube page. We eagerly await the release of the organization's joint production with the brain trust at MinnSIR.