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On September 25, Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton spoke at a rally sponsored by the Danbury-based anti-immigration group United States Citizens for Immigration Law Enforcement (USCFILE). This past Saturday, Boughton spoke at the “Drain the Swamp” rally, organized by Tea Party Patriot Bob MacGuffie. MacGuffie was responsible for last summer’s widely circulated memo, which suggested people attending town hall meetings artificially inflate their numbers, “rock the boat early” and “shout out” the Representative, in an attempt to “rattle” him or her. USCFILE favors, among other things, repealing the 14th Amendment and making English the official language of the United States. In addition, USCFILE’s president, Elise Marciano, has made more than a few controversial statements, including this bombshell about President Obama on Danbury Public Access television:

MARCIANO: “He’s not going to a Christian church. As President of the United States, he’s not going to a Christian church, even though he claims that the Reverend Wright’s church was Christian. How do you figure that? I’ll tell you why – because he was brought up as a Muslim, and he is a Muslim and they cannot go back on their religion.”

Marciano emceed USCFILE’s event on September 25, introducing Mayor Boughton, which was followed by warm handshake between the two.

“You can tell a lot about a person by the company they keep,” said Democratic State Party Chairwoman Nancy DiNardo. “Certainly there are people concerned with the direction of our state and country, and they deserve to be part of our dialogue on the issues. But why would Mark Boughton agree to associate and campaign with people who are openly attempting to use intimidation and fear to prove their point? These were political stops for Mark – he spoke about his campaign, and that of his running mate, Tom Foley. He was asking for their support in November. What does Tom Foley have to say about his campaign asking groups like this for their support? The rhetoric and tactics Mr. MacGuffie and Ms. Marciano have used degrade our political process and do nothing to further an honest dialogue about the important issues that face the state. Mark Boughton and Tom Foley owe the people of this state an explanation.”

AUDIO:



PARTIAL TRANSCRIPT:

MARCIANO: Suppose we don't put down our race?

(laughter)

CONSUMPTUS: Ah, I think there are options for you not to fill in each question, and they can account for that. But what's the…I don't' see the problem with putting down…

MARCAINO: I'm an American..

COMSUMPTUS: .what your race is

MARCIANO (yelling): I'm an American!

(inaudible)

MARCAINO: So I'm just going to put American.


COMSUMPTUS: You know, there may be that option, I'm not..I don't know what the option is…we'll see.