Last month, Senator and presidential hopeful Barack Obama publicly endorsed a national holiday in favor of a Cesar Chavez Day, in honor of the late, legendary activist for labor rights and fair treatment of minorities.  The Chicago Tribune reports that Obama, via a press release on Chavez’ birthday, expressed the importance of remembering the immigrant hero and role model, and that his legacy should continue. 

"As farmworkers and laborers across America continue to struggle for fair treatment and fair wages, we find strength in what Cesar Chavez accomplished so many years ago," Obama’s statement said.  "And we should honor him for what he’s taught us about making America a stronger, more just, and more prosperous nation.  That’s why I support the call to make Cesar Chavez’s birthday a national holiday.  It’s time to recognize the contributions of this American icon to the ongoing efforts to perfect our union."   

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After an Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigation, Republican congressional candidate Chris Hackett has been cleared of accusations of wrongdoing when he failed to notify federal authorities that his housekeeper was not a documented immigrant.  The Times Leader of Wilkes-Barre , PA , reports that the Pennsylvania candidate said he didn’t notify authorities because he didn’t feel he was required to do that.   

Hackett and his GOP opponent for the state’s 10^th District, Dan Meuser, have been involved in a heated, back-and-forth exchange on the issue of immigration.  Meuser himself has run into immigrant hiring problems before; his company, Pride Mobility Products, paid a $23,000 settlement to the federal government 12 years ago for hiring undocumented immigrants.  

Hackett campaign spokesman Mark Harris said the employee was a "sporadic household worker" whom Hackett barely knew, and that the candidate believes the job of policing undocumented immigrants lies with law enforcement: "[Hackett] does not favor turning homeowners into law enforcement agents who have to monitor and enforce the legal status of an occasional house painter, lawn service worker, or babysitter they might hire."  

Meuser campaign spokesman Eric Wallace said Hackett’s actions raise questions.  "The pattern of hypocrisy that Chris Hackett has displayed in his negative campaign, attacking Dan for an isolated incident 13 years ago, while at the same time employing an illegal alien in his own home…undoubtedly leaves voters questioning his judgment," Wallace said.