Saxtonville: Day Eight - we did it!
Kari Chisholm
The Oregonian ran the photo of the corrugated tin shed where Ron Saxton's farm housed actual humans - and, yes, they confirmed that it did, in fact - house humans.
The building was once used as migrant housing.
The Big O throws Saxton a bone, saying that "there's no evidence to support Democratic charges that the migrant camp on the farm he partially owned was substandard." Whatever. The farm still housed humans in a tin shed. Which is, apparently, standard business practice in the cherry farm business.
But that's a fact that Ron Saxton wouldn't know because, as the Oregonian reports, he not actually a farmer.
Again and again, Ronald has claimed that he's a farmer - from the Voter's Pamphlet to the Candidates Gone Wild "Cribs" episode (at 2:04, talking about his bizarre Green Acres collection, "I'd rather be a farmer than a lawyer.")
Saxton's partners in a Rickreall cherry orchard say he was mostly a passive investor who had little to do with the operation of the farm, despite the fact that he listed "farming" as the first entry under occupational background in the Oregon Voters' Pamphlet. ...Saxton "was a pretty distant partner" and a "small percentage owner," said Peseau, adding that Saxton "was never really a factor" in the operation of the farm.
Here's why this matters. A real farmer, someone with actual agricultural experience, would never have made illegal immigration the central issue in their campaign. A real farmer, unlike Ron Saxton, would understand the complex economics and politics of the issues.
Instead, Ron Saxton is just following the 2006 Karl Rove playbook - mouthing RNC talking points and hoping he doesn't get caught in the hypocrisy of it all.
Well, Ronald, go back to your margaritas (er, Diet Peach Snapple). Because, as our friend Steve Novick would say, you're just a $400-an-hour hosebag corporate attorney.
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Oct 20, '06
[Insert lame Saxton apologist comments here.]
9:33 a.m.
Oct 20, '06
No, but he IS a farmer! Felix says he was around to remember the inspection that the farm passed with flying colors.
Oct 20, '06
It cracks me up how after the farmer thing was blown Saxton went on talking about his garden,(check out the O bio.) It's like he's just got to make us believe there's dirt under his fingernails. I bet he gets manicures. I with I could shake the guys hand just to check how soft those palms are. I heard that at the Pendleton round-up the Governor rode a horse and Saxton rode in a buggy. If Saxton were a Democrat he'd never hear the end of it for that. The man is a corporate attorney. An investment in a vineyard may make him more popular with his rich friends but it doesn't make him a farmer.
Oct 20, '06
nice!
i wonder if the oregonian wants to rethink its endorsement of "farmer ron" yet.
Oct 20, '06
You can't have your cake and eat it too.
EITHER
OR
I think that it was the latter, and I think that he (being a lawyer) thought he could get away with calling himself a farmer because he has part ownership interest in a farm.
Oct 20, '06
He was a farmer before he wasn't a farmer.
Oct 20, '06
Mr. Chisholm,
Who the heck are you REALLY working for? You have GOT to realize, that every time this "farmer Ron" - migrant workers in a tin shack thing gets repeated:
WE LOSE RURAL AND OLDER DEMOCRATS
As someone whose family, amongst thousands of others in this state, was raised in war surplus metal quanset huts (Athens, OR),.. PLEASE think this one through.
-JL
Oct 20, '06
EITHER
OR
Well, that's a hell of an endorsement ain't it? He's either an abusive slavedriver or a dishonest incompetent.
Vote Saxton!
10:20 a.m.
Oct 20, '06
Thanks and congratulations Kari!!! I urge everyone to send this link to everyone on your email list. Saxton is not a farmer! His has questionable links to sub standard housing for immigrants and maybe even was responsible for hiring illegal immigrants. Ballots are going out in the mail today. If Democrats don't vote, Democrats won't win.
Now lets go after the other column on the front page of today's Metro section in the Big "O". Let's get some major support going for Rob Brading after being slammed by the truth twisting Karen Minnis campaign mailing trying to paint Rob Brading as, horrors..sympathetic to gays. I don't know how Minnis can look herself in the mirror after the false NON-scandal that Rob Brading supports allowing porn on public library computers when he clearly does not. Now she wants to take Rob on for serving as an executive with the National Conference of Christians and Jews when he was hired for 6 months as the first hetrosexual director for the Fund for Human Dignity back in 1990.
What's hilarious about this meanest false issue from Minnis ad is, Rob Brading's short tenure caused all the gays and lesbians to guit and stop fund raising because he was a hetrosexual from outside their organization. That should make Karen Minnis and the rest of those who engage in daily discrimination against gays HAPPY! Come on Karen find a real issue and stop your crappy campaign lies. Volunteer for Rob! He's up against the well financed Republicans who will print out and out lies to keep Karen Minnis in office. She's a woman who ought to be on her knees begging for forgiveness.
Oct 20, '06
Wait, what?
People raised in war surplus metal quanset huts take offense at the "migrant workers in a tin shack thing"?
Why? I don't get it.
I once lived out of my van with my whole family for close to a year - two kids, the ex - and... a dog and cat. My first winter in Oregon, to be exact. It's amazing I'm still here. Anyway, I certainly don't get mad if someone wants to advocate for other homeless families.
If that's all it takes to LOSE RURAL AND OLDER DEMOCRATS (who all read BO?), I don't think you really had 'em anyway.
I'm sorry, you may be right - I wouldn't know. I just don't get it.
Oct 20, '06
From "Saxtonville: Day Three"
"Set aside, for a moment, the question of whether Ron Saxton employed illegal immigrants. Here's a better question: Why would anyone think that a corrugated tin shed is an appropriate place to house anyone?
And here's what I really want to know: It's been three days now since the story hit DailyKos and BlueOregon, and still no media coverage of Saxtonville. Why hasn't anyone (anyone!) in the mainstream media yet covered the story of Saxtonville? Why won't they run these photos? Why won't they talk about Ron Saxton's migrant labor camp?"
Now we have the answer: It is much ado about nothing. It hasn't been a migrant labor camp for the past 17 years. Trying to generate indignation over anachronistic photographs just didn't fire all the cylinders. But, now the anxious watch is over. We did it!
Oct 20, '06
This snafu is emblematic of Saxton's campaign:
There is no there there. Ron Saxton is an illusion created by highly paid political consultants and promulgated through a high-priced media campaign.
Oct 20, '06
Righty sez: EITHER
OR
Don't quite your day job, Righty. You would be broke in short order if you had to rely upon logic to make a living.
Actually, both are true.
Saxton lied about being a farmer
AND
By virtue of being an invester he directly profited from deplorably substandard migrant living conditions.
Oct 20, '06
PS... which very likely housed at least some (if not all) illegal migrants at some point during Saxton's involvement as an invester.
Oct 20, '06
Yep. The "Saxtonville" missile burned up on the launch pad, it's smoldering shell a monument to it's folly.
Though I found this little saga amusing and the Photoshopped pics are fun, it distorts the facts far more than does Ron Saxton adding "Cherry Farmer" to his resume.
12:23 p.m.
Oct 20, '06
You know, I really wish the O would give credit where credit is due rather than referring obliquely to "Democratic bloggers." Would it kill them to actually give the cite?
Oct 20, '06
This story is annoying me, and I think Saxton is a tool...
There are so many easy things to slam Saxton on, this is just getting rediculus. Just mention the damn thing once, and let it go already.
Oct 20, '06
BRILLIANT! Bang-up job Mr Chisolm. Y'all showed them eleph'nts a thing or two. In eight days too. Sould garuntee Kulongoski's re-'lection to the Gov barn with this news.
Gotta' hand it to y'all, I'd a thought it would be 'bout things like kids an' health costs an' things that 'ffect families an' what yer gonna' do 'bout it that gets folk 'lected. Proved me wrong. Good thing the party has you to help 'em along. Should be a land-slide come November.
Good thing the paper picked up yer slant an' said so. Would hate to see 'em say it's really nothin' an' make y'all look kinda despirate to the voters 'bout the time ballots drop.
Oh well, any public'ty is good public'ty, I s'pose. Just not sure fer who.
Oct 20, '06
Madam Hatter - Although I am a conservative I do not support Saxton. I don't trust the guy and don't believe he is principled (political savvy, maybe). I personally respect Gov. Kulongoski, but I wouldn't vote for him based upon the issues.
Kevin - (ignoring your insult with the belief that it only makes you look bad) - I was speaking in a political sense.
You really only have one issue here, not two. If you are trying to make political gain by the fact that Saxton had a slight financial interest in and no ready knowledge of a farm with substandard housing I think you are wasting your time.
To me his decision to call himself is farmer is a more immediate and direct issue that goes to his integrity.
Oct 20, '06
Kudos, Kari.
This whole episode again shows the character of the man who would lead us. Ugh and yuk.
Even in those I am politically at odds with, sincerity can only be respected. But Saxton seems to have no notion of what sincerity even means.
3:07 p.m.
Oct 20, '06
If they were going to use it as housing for migrant workers, shouldn't they have used a building that was fit to house human beings?
Oct 20, '06
Why?
Oct 20, '06
Oh, do you mean they're actually human beings? Like Oregonians? Would someting like this make you wonder where you'd stand if you weren't ... (see BO Demographics)
Oct 21, '06
In response to Torrid's post at LO. It is simple in the state of Oregon. No occupancy permit. No building occupancy. If you are in violation, then you are commitiing an illegal act. Ron Saxton and partners have such strong moral fiber that they would never commit an illegal act. In fact I believe it was Mr. Saxton who said; "Illegal is Illegal." I couldn't agree more Ron.
Oct 21, '06
Kari: if you learned that the shed was covered by an active occupancy permit at the time Saxton was a part owner, would you be willing to apologize to Ron Saxton on live television?
Oct 21, '06
Come on, we're all clamoring for "Saxtonville Day Nine". Don't tell me you're throwing in the towel on the swiftboating of Ron. Please, say it aint so. Surely disingenous Democrats can hold their own against sleazy Republican operatives when it comes to twisting truth and propagating falsehoods. I want more Saxtonville dammit, if I have to twist the facts myself!
Oct 21, '06
Another version of Saxtonville/Margaritaville:
Working for piece rates, for absentee cheapskates,
I'm stoopin' and pickin' for dollars a day,
Because I've no green card, I live in a barnyard
And bring in the crops to make this hobby farm pay.
(CHORUS) Slaving away again in Ronny Saxtonville, Renting a shack of old rusty tin, Some people claim there's the INS to blame, But I know that's Republican spin.
Picking the pinot to make fancy vino,
For lawyers who charge 400 an hour,
I'd never choose this, the pain and the bruises,
But the owners and lawyers, they have all the power.
Repeat CHORUS.
Can we have an Election Night karaoke contest with these tunes?
Oct 27, '06