Republicans Cutting off his Lati nose to spite their face.




Raids at Agriprocessors in Postville is GOP contributor.


Washington, D.C. - A top official at the Agriprocessors Inc. plant in Postville that was the subject of an immigration enforcement action Monday is an active Republican campaign contributor, records show.

Sholom Rubashkin, whose family owns the company, since 2000 has made $23,750 in federal campaign contributions, according to Federal Election Commission records.

That includes $5,750 to the Republican Party of Iowa from 2002 through 2004.

Rubashkin also gave $2,000 to Rep. Tom Latham, an Ames Republican, in 2004; $1,500 to candidate William Dix in 2006; $3,000 to candidate Stan Thompson from 2001 through 2004; $2,000 to Sen. Charles Grassley of New Hartford in 2004; and $2,500 to former Rep. Jim Nussle in 2000 and 2002.

Grassley collected another $2,000 each from Abraham Rubashkin, Leah Rubashkin and Ryfka Rubashkin, all of Postville, in August 2004.

In the wake of the Postville action, members of the Iowa congressional delegation said those who violate the law should be held accountable, but families' well-being is important, too.

Grassley said that a blind eye can't be turned toward lawbreakers, but "as federal officials take people into custody, I expect any action to be taken to be conducted in a professional and humanitarian manner."

Rep. Bruce Braley, a Waterloo Democrat, said there are hundreds of children in Postville whose lives will be changed by the raid, and he wants to make sure they are a priority.

"If people have broken the law, there should be consequences," he said. "I'll be interested to see if federal authorities will be bringing any charges against the employer."

Latham, whose district includes Postville, declined to comment.

Rep. Steve King of Kiron, the top Republican on an immigration panel, said those detained should be treated with respect because "we're all God's creatures. And yet, we are all called to abide by the rule of law."

Rep. Leonard Boswell, a Des Moines Democrat, said that anyone who violates the law should be held accountable but "treated with dignity."

Rep. Dave Loebsack, a Mount Vernon Democrat, said his office monitored the situation during the day. "I believe our laws must be enforced, and it is my hope that ICE officials learned valuable lessons during the 2006 raid on Swift & Co. and applied them today in Postville," he said