State Rep. Leo Berman Leads Charge From Right
Sitting in his Texas Capitol office, surrounded by pictures of his storied 22-year military career, the seven-term, 75-year old state Rep. Leo Berman, R-Tyler, said in his distinctive New York accent, “I’m very unusual for a legislator.”
His reasoning? “Because I personally answer every e-mail I get,” he said.
Berman does not shy from questions about his archconservative legislative agenda, which manages to stand out even in the redder-than-average Texas Legislature.
Last session, his bills — like the one restricting illegal immigrants to certain geographical regions or another denying them access to higher education — failed to gain traction in the ...
Comments (20)
Chili Dawg
Leo says that the label "birther" does not embarass him. How does he feel about the label "Knucklehead." then?
Chili Dawg
I personally answer every e-mail I get,” Leo Berman said.
==============================
From: Mr. Johnson Traore.
Director in Charge of Vault.
Laveguarde Security Company.
Abidjan-Ivory Coast.
West Africa.
Hello Mr. Berman:
Please accept my apology if my mail cause you any form of embarrassment. I am Mr. Johnson Traore; I work with a leading security company here in Abidjan - Ivory Coast as Director in Charge of Vaults.
I have two abandoned consignment Trunk boxes worth 10.7MUSD in our Security Vault right now, the consignment belongs to one of our customs who also happened to be my friend.
But right now he is dead and no one has come forward to lay claim to this consignment for over a year now. My company wants to turn over the two consignment to the Ministry of Securities as unclaimed items in line with the policy of my company.
I seek your urgent assistance to come forward and make claim to this consignment so that it will be delivered to you as the next of kin to the deceased customer.
Please be rest assured that my intention is genuine and I am willing to present you with all the necessary documents to authenticate my claims and will facilitate the quick release of the consignment, since the customer has paid all necessary dues before his death, all we need do is make legal transfer of ownership of the consignment to your name legally at the court and you become the bona-fide owner of the consignment and it will be shipped to your choice destination by Diplimatic Courier.
Please note that as soon as I receive your acceptance e-mail, I will give you more details and what to do.
Kindly to reply me through my private email address: , if you are interested because we have just 7 working days to make this claim and please you must keep this information secret until we are through.
Thank you and May God bless you,
Mr. Johnson Traore
Chili Dawg
Asked where he gets his information, Berman cites e-mails and online video clips.
<b> “YouTubes are infallible,” </b> he said.
==================================
{Facepalm}
steve smith
When did we lose our common sense? Our Government, has allowed the invasion of 30 million criminals in direct violation of Article IV, Section IV of our Constitution. they force American tax payers to pay Billions to provide Welfare, Prison cells, Educate the invaders children, free medical care,massive document fraud, & are destroying our schools, hospitals, communities, culture while Robbing, Raping, Killing & Assaulting American Citizens WAKE UP PEOPLE!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9IGKRzdzZ8&feature=player_embedded
.youtube.com/watch?v=tsH8xvjTAlo
.youtube.com/watch?v=Btj6IeOFkis&feature=player_embedded
.immigrationcounters.com/
.ojjpac.org/memorial.asp
.immigrationshumancost.org/
.newswithviews.com/Wooldridge/frosty580.htm
.youtube.com/watch?v=muw22wTePqQ
http://www.uscis.gov/ilink/docView/SLB/HTML/SLB/0-0-0-1/0-0-0-29/0-0-0-8501.html#0-0-0-324
.gopetition.com/petition/40860.html
Every Non-representative including obama and holder should be IMPEACHED! for not upholding the oath of office they swore to defend the Constitution! If these clowns were to do their job, this would all be a Moot point!
Anchors and their criminal parents go, period, and cut the phony tears, you knew you were breaking the law when you crossed the border.
Next shut down any business hiring illegal labor and confiscate all property belonging to the owner. Property will be sold at auction and the proceeds to pay for the massive deportation. Oh and owners go to jail.
Got a better idea? Lets hear it!
Karen Cummings
"Next shut down any business hiring illegal labor and confiscate all property belonging to the owner. Property will be sold at auction and the proceeds to pay for the massive deportation. Oh and owners go to jail.
Got a better idea? Lets hear it!"
Oh my, you support violating the Constitution?
Here is a much better idea if you must pass state immigration laws.
http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2011/02/17/utah-immigration-bill-robles/
Chili Dawg
"an issue he hopes provokes a lawsuit he can take all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court"
=============================\
In other words he is trying to legislate from the judicial bench.
Isn't that anti-American? Isn't the concept of "separation of powers' fundamental to the Constitution?
Karen Cummings
"an issue he hopes provokes a lawsuit he can take all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court"
I cannot believe when Texas has a 27B budget deificit, our lawmakers a trying to pass unconstitutional laws that will only cost the taxpayers money. States do not determine citizenship. Gee, what if our state lawmakers decided anyone who is a Methodist is not a citizen, or anyone who is German descent cannot be a citizen?
http://jonathanturley.org/2011/02/26/birthright-citizenship-was-the-original-intent/
Kayte VanScoy via Texas Tribune on Facebook
not the onion, right? just checking.
Rosemary Edwards via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Rep Berman is a strong conservative. Good work, sir.
Kevin McClellan
Alzhiemers-- perhaps we should amend the Constitution so Legislators have to prove they are of sound mind.
Rachel Miller via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Way to go Burman!
Scott Kilpatrick via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I understand that you rightwing folks like him for his stance on immigration. But please, tell me: What is conservative about this guy informing his legislative work with unfounded YouTube videos posted by Loughner-esque nutjobs? How can you praise this way of thinking, especially in someone who directly affects your community? I want to understand.
Bjorn Bennett
Most people assume that Texas will always be a Republican state. The more they allow Republicans like Leo Berman to talk in public, the shorter that time will be.
When you have driven Hispanic Texans into the Democratic party, Rep. Berman, how will you keep control? And do you really think that President Obama is not American???
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Fail!
Rachel Miller via Texas Tribune on Facebook
You mean unlike the people who receive information on Facebook? There is a wide variety of information from the entire spectrum available on the Internet. YouTube is an excellent depository for local reporting, documentaries, etc. in video format. It is a FACT that illegal immigration is a drain on our economy & a threat to our safety. Wanting people to follows the laws of our country does not make me "right wing". You assume too much...
Chili Dawg
Rachel, Berman's a birther becasue he saw it on YouTube!
Is he also a 9/11 truther? there is plenty of trash on Youtube about that as well.
Sid Greer
Leo Breman has NO integrity. He may think he does but he is nothing more than an old, white racist that would have fit well in the KKK of the 1960's. Let's not kid ourselves about his motives. If he is so smart he would have read the US Constitution and know all he is proposing is outside the reach of state laws. It is unfortunate that he is so narrow minded and not wanting to do what is right for all Texas regardless of where they are from. The kids that could benefit from the Dream Act are not going to benefit from his actions.
The Congress just needs to enforce laws on the books to eliminate illegal immigration. It is NOT happening because the same Republican fat cat businesses that support Leo and his party do all they can to be sure no enforcement is done. They want an educated, low pay work force. That is a fact. Just look at home builder bob Perry in Houston and see who is on his job sites.
I have workers from Mexico and they are legal with visas. I can not get ANY legal Texas workers because they do not want to do farm work. I am the exception and not the rule in ag for workers being legal.
If these harsh laws go into effect without federal laws that allow guest workers more easy than today, kiss good by to the mufti billion dollar Texas fruit and vegetable market and a lot of other businesses.
Rachel Miller via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I agree it was a poor choice of words since nothing is infallible. I'm curious about the statement & the context as it wasn't really presented here and the phrase doesn't stand alone well. (which always makes one nervous no matter which "wing" one is on).
Annette Bryant
We need more like Rep. Berman. HERE IS WHY WE NEED TO TAKE THE ILLEGALS' OFF WELFARE IN TEXAS:
Comparisons of Texas verses the other states of the Nation.
1. Overall birth rate (47%)
2. Percent of population 25 and older with out a highschool diploma ( 50th)
3. Percent of poor people covered by Medicade (49th)
4. Percent of population with employer-based insurances (48th)
5. Per capita spending on Medicaid (49th)
6. Per capita spending on Medicaid (49 th)
7. Average credit score (49th)
8. Percent of Non-elderly women with health insurance (50th)
9. Number of executions (1st)
10. Public school enrollment (2nd)
11. Percent of unisured children (1st)
12. Percent of children living in poverty (4th)
13. Percent of population living below poverty (4th)
14. Percent of population living below poverty (1st)
15. Percent of population with food insurity (2nd)
16. Overall birth rate (2nd)
This should show that we obviously cannot afford to support all the Illegal Aliens who are invading our State!
If they were in uniform, we would consider them an attack on your State, yet; why do they think they deserve all the freebies of SNAP, free Anchor Babies, Medical, housing incentives, free emergency and hospital care, etc., yet they still complain it is not enough. The Illegals knew when they came here they were breaking the law, otherwise; why would they "sneak" over the here.
I do not want one penny of my tax money to pay for the Illegals education, food, anchor babies, or any other welfare. Why should I pay for their education when they refuse to learn English. There are Illegal! They know that. Why should I support them? I was born and raised in Texas and I have never received a penny of welfare! I would be embarrased if I came here begging for hand outs. I would hate for my neighbors to think that their taxes were going to support me and my babies/family. Most of the girls drop out at the age 13 - 14 because they are pregnant and their elders pass down from one generation to the next how to sign up for food stamps and other welfare. They get fake social security cards, fake I.D.'s, fake drivers license, and fake Texas Drivers Inspection Stickers.
We also have to support the Illegals (43%) in prison with food, room, board, and medical treatment. Many come here in disquise as Mexican Nationals incase they are caught they will only have to sneak across the border again. I would like to suggest powerful electric fences across our borders. Who is going to support them when they out breed the Legal taxpaying Citizens! Get legal, speak English, support your own family; I can barely support my own. I would have loved to have 8 to 11 children but I knew I could not support them well.
I and many of my friends have been approched at HEB with people with food baskets full of expensive items to sell which they just purchased through SNAP/food stamps. They would rather have just
enough cash for crack cocaine, alcohol, ciggs., rather than feed their families with our tax money!
Immigrants are welcome here, however; come here legally, speak English, pay your "fair share of taxes", do not fly your homeland flag in my face, and support yourself like Americans!
If you are not happy here in the country/state, or we are not giving you enough freebies, this is a free country and you are free to leave at anytime.
IT IS NOT RACIST TO BE AGAINST ILLEGALS!
John McCoy
Every time I see Rep. Berman on CNN or Fox News Channel, I am mortified. What an embarrassment to our state he is! How in the world did the good people of Tyler elect such an uninformed buffoon to represent them? With his strange accent, he doesn't even sound Texan. The man has obviously not lived and worked alongside Hispanic people as all Texans have. If I were to sit down and have a conversation with him, I would ask him to explain how I was going to get my crops in without Latino labor. I can't get the local young people to come near a field. If we all want to pay 40% more to have our houses and barns built, let Berman pass his laws.
voteforamerica
LATINOS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
TEAPARTYOFTX@GMAIL.COM
April 17th, 2011
Fellow Americans, Obama and the Democrats are working in secret, to pass the Dream act by Executive order, this is President's Obama tool for quick enactment of the Dream Act.
An Executive order, is an order issue by The President as head of the executive branch of the Federal Government, but this push for amnesty to illegal aliens by executive order, deviates from the congressional intent and exceeds the President's constitutional powers. Article I, Section 1 of the US Constitution specifically reserves all federal legislative authority to Congress, not the president. No President should use executive orders as a way to make policy without consulting the Congress. Obama think that he can do whatever he wants and trash our Constitution. Congress, must stop Obama from take- over the Congressional powers, we have a Constitution and no president should have the power to act unilaterally to void the laws of the United States, Obama took an oath to defend the Constitution , but what he is doing is to trash our Constitution and our laws. This president order the Dept. of Home land Security not to enforce our immigration laws, he refused to secure our borders, he order Erick Holder to sued The State of Arizona, for enforcing the immigration laws and protect the people of Arizona, 2,158 Americans are being kill in our country every year by illegal aliens, our jobs are taken by illegal aliens, 30 Billion Dollars per year are send out of the United States by illegal aliens and our Government is helping them to destroy our local economics. Fellow Americans, Obama and the pro-amnesty Washington politicians, “LA RAZA, MALDEF, MECHA,LULA, THE HISPANIC CAUCUS AND THE NATIONAL HISPANIC LEADERSHIP" are a threat to our country. Promoting or stand for any immigration reform or amnesty is to void the rule of law, our Constitution and our sovereignty. Their hungry for political power blind them to the point of treason and betray their own country. Fellow Americans we are the heart of America, we can not let this happen, we are the believers of our Constitution, the rule of law and our sovereignty; what we see today is the result of the amnesty of 1986, President Reagan and congress give amnesty to 3.5 millions illegal aliens and promised to the American people that this will never be done again. The amnesty of 1986 promoted this invasion of illegal aliens, now we have more than 12 million illegal aliens, and Obama refused to enforce our immigration laws and is planning behind our backs with Democrats Senators to give amnesty to the illegal aliens; this is plain and simple treason and he must be impeach by congress.
Fellow tea party members, we got a job to do, the following is the list of senators that voted in support the Dream act and amnesty to illegal aliens. They are up for re-election in 2012, we declared war on the corrupt Washington politicians and our job is to retire the busters from the political arena.
Here is the list of our target. Senators that supported the Dream act, that are up for re-election in 2012.
SENATOR-STATE-PARTY SENATOR-STATE- PARTY
Bingaman NM Dem Feinstein Cal Dem
Nelson FL Dem Gillibrand NY Dem
Menendez NJ Dem Lieberman CT Ind
Whitehouse RI Dem Cantwell WA Dem
Akaka HI Dem Cardin MD Dem
Carper DE Dem Webb VA Dem
Lugar IN Rep Kohl WI Dem
Casey PA Dem Klobuchar MN Dem
Stabenow MI Dem McCaskill MO Dem
Brown OH Dem Conrad ND Dem
Sanders VT Ind
Obama Ill Dem- Traitor, pathological liar- no values-no principles- whore that sell out to special interest and the IMF- The World Bank- The US Reserve Bank and the WTO. We Latinos will work to get the traitors out of Washington. We ask you to get inform and vote out of office the politicians that fail to vote for what is best for all Americans including Blacks and Latinos. Any immigration reform it is not good for the American people and in violation of our laws and constitution.
http://www.conservativeusa.org/mega-cong.ht nd-money-home.html http://www.usimmigrationsupport.org/immigrants-se http ://www.cairco.org/econ/econ.html http://biggovernment.com/awrhawkins/2011/04/12/while-governor-jan-brewer-fights-to-keep-arizona-safe-president-obama-fights-against-arizona/
Francisco Canales teapartyoftx@gmail.com