He pointed to the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. protectorate that imports tens of thousands of foreign textile workers, as a successful model for a guest-worker program that could be adapted nationally.

"The concept of prequalifying foreign workers in their home country under private-sector management is a system that works very well in one place in America," he said of the islands' program. "I think members of Congress ought to be looking at that model and be considering it as a possible basis for a nationwide program."

One of the clients represented by convicted briber and former Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff was a wealthy businessman, Willie Tan, in the garment industry on the island and U.S. commonwealth, Northern Marianas Islands, or CNMI.

Attempting to prevent Congress from extending federal labor laws to the island, despite the fact that all products produced there included "Made in the U.S.A." on the label, Abramoff and allies like Ralph Reed summoned the help of Christian conservatives to thwart Congressional efforts.

It was on this island that some of the worst human rights abuses occurred under the legal jurisdiction of the United States. The U.S. Department of Interior, according to the Washington Post, "presented a very different picture of life for Chinese workers on the islands. An Interior report found that Chinese women were subject to forced abortions and that women and children were subject to forced prostitution in the local sex-tourism industry."

And Republican Bob Schaffer wants to expand this nationally?

(Hat tip: Square State)

Democrats Abroad is the official Democratic Party organization for the millions of Americans living outside the United States. DA works to advance the principles of the Party by spreading the Democratic message to Americans abroad and encouraging them to vote for Democratic candidates back home.

There are over 6 million Americans living overseas, which means millions of potential votes, which can make them difference in a number of close, crucial races.

If you live outside the US, or have friends or family who do, make sure you visit www.Votefromabroad.org. This easy-to-use website will guide you through printing, signing and mailing in an absentee ballot in minutes.

And, did you know that if you applied from overseas for an absentee ballot before your state’s deadline for doing so, and did not yet receive it, you can use www.votefromabroad.org to get a Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB). This allows you to vote for federal offices (the House and Senate on November 7, 2006) and can be used if you don’t get your regular ballot in time.

"I'm proud that the Democratic Party is the party of minority empowerment. The Democratic Party has led the way in promoting minority leadership at the local, state and national level, that's why 92% of Latino elected officials here today are Democrats, and Democrats will continue to lead the way..."

"Democrats are done running 18 state Presidential campaigns. We will compete everywhere. We will also compete in every community...The truth is there are no red states, there are no blue states. There are only American state..."

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"...The Republican leadership looks for ways to divide us. It was African-Americans in 2002, gay marriage in 2004, and it's gonna be immigrants in 2006, you wait and see..."

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