Posted on 07/02/2005 1:05:20 PM PDT by TERMINATTOR
He tells LULAC convention legalizing 250,000 aliens a year could prop system
The Bush administration should consider legalizing hundreds of thousands of immigrants as a way to bolster Social Security, former President Clinton told the nation’s largest Hispanic organization Friday.
Addressing more than 1,200 people at the League of United Latin American Citizens convention in Little Rock, Clinton said legalizing 250,000 illegal immigrants would add more workers under 55 to help keep the retirement system solvent.
"I think those of you who want immigration reform should look at Social Security," Clinton said at the Statehouse Convention Center. "If we legalized another 250,000 immigrants a year, it would solve more than half the shortfall of the Social Security system."
During his 48-minute speech, Clinton called for a more welcoming policy toward immigration and criticized the Minutemen, a group of vigilantes guarding the U.S. border with Mexico.
"We need to find a way to secure our borders without being anti-immigrant," Clinton said. "We need to keep bringing in new blood to this country."
Clinton’s speech capped the fifth day of the six-day convention in Little Rock of the Hispanic group, known as LULAC, from its initials. The day, which began with the news of Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor’s resignation from the high court, featured reminders from political leaders of the progress Hispanics have made politically.
At least three Hispanic men have been mentioned as possible successors to O’Connor’s seat — U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, and U.S. Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit Judge Emilio Garza.
Although he wouldn’t name his preferred nominee, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean told convention delegates he hopes the court will "represent the kind of diversity that America embraces."
"[President Bush] hasn’t had a very good five years in terms of unifying the country," Dean said. "He has a chance to change that."
Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman also declined to name any potential nominees but said Bush already has shown an interest in diversifying the federal courts.
"The president is obviously committed to identifying qualified Latino jurists around the country," Mehlman said. "I have no doubt he will nominate a man or woman to the court who will make our country proud, just like Justice O’Connor did."
The speeches capped a week of activity for the league as it wrapped up its convention at the Statehouse Convention Center. More than 10,000 people have attended the convention, which began Monday and ends today.
O’Connor’s retirement was cited often at the convention as LULAC delegates and leaders speculated about a potential successor.
Brent Wilkes, LULAC’s national executive director, said he was encouraged by the suggestion that at least three Hispanics are potential candidates for the vacancy.
Wilkes said the group won’t give a "blanket endorsement" to any Hispanic candidate, but said the fact that some have been mentioned shows progress for the community.
"It’s a huge change from 20 or 10 years ago," he said. "It shows that both parties have realized that Latinos are crucial to the future of the country and the future of their parties. We wish they had gotten the message earlier, but we’re glad they’re finally getting it now."
LULAC national President Hector Flores described Gonzales, who was appointed attorney general earlier this year, as "the right person for the job."
"We’re so happy the opportunity has arisen for the president to finally nominate a Latino to the highest court in the land," Flores said.
"It’s been a long time coming."
Dean and Mehlman both spoke to convention participants and praised the growing role Hispanics are playing in national politics.
Dean, who unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic presidential nomination last year, said the Democratic party is trying to reach out to more Hispanics nationwide. Speaking in English and Spanish, Dean said Republicans may try to "scapegoat" Hispanics and other members of minority groups in the mid-term elections as a way to strengthen support among conservative white voters.
"It is not a moral value to scapegoat people," Dean said. "In 2006, I believe immigrants will be scapegoated."
Noting that Bush’s Cabinet includes high-profile Hispanic members such as Gonzales and Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, Mehlman said the White House has been striving for a diverse government.
"We serve America better today because of that," Mehlman said.
"This is the most diverse administration in American history, Democrat or Republican."
Citing Bush’s record, from the No Child Left Behind Act to his plan to change Social Security, Mehlman said the White House’s domestic policies are benefiting Hispanics nationally.
The convention rolled out the major names for Friday’s events, including pop singer Gloria Estefan and several highranking White House officials.
Estefan addressed more than 800 LULAC members at a luncheon Friday and spent the afternoon signing autographs and posing for pictures in the convention center’s exhibit hall.
Estefan, who is releasing a children’s book in Spanish and English, said groups such as LULAC are needed to promote unity among Hispanics.
"The bottom line is, we may come from different countries of origin, but we are united by so many different things," Estefan said.
"That is something we need to remember."
Addressing the same luncheon, U.S. Treasurer Anna Cabral noted how the perception of the Hispanic community has changed throughout the years.
"Suddenly, Latinos are cool," she said. "They weren’t when I was growing up... We need to do everything we can to make this power work for our community."
Before the convention ends today, delegates will vote on national officers of the organization.
A white supremacy group, White Revolution, has received a permit from the city to protest the convention today, and organizers expect the Russellvillebased group to have 25 to 100 protesters on site.
LULAC officials have said they’re not concerned about the protest.
With roughly 115,000 members, LULAC bills itself as the nation’s oldest and largest Hispanic advocacy group.
Little Rock landed this year’s convention in 2002 after Clinton lobbied for his home state through a video shown to delegates. This year’s speakers have included Gov. Mike Huckabee, former U.S. Sen. Dale Bumpers and Tyson Foods CEO John Tyson.
LULAC officials also have said they were drawn to the state because of the explosive growth of its Hispanic population. Between 1990 and 2003, the state’s Hispanic population grew more than 400 percent.
Clinton said he was struck by how much the population has grown since he was Arkansas governor, especially in the state’s northwest.
"In Northwest Arkansas we have Catholic churches that have Spanish mass every Sunday," Clinton said. "I think that’s an indication of where we are as a people."
In his introduction of the former president, Flores said he had stopped as a child at the migrant center in Clinton’s hometown of Hope. Clinton said he thought it was ironic that they crossed paths again later in life.
"Your life story and mine are indications of what we can do when America brings out the best in us and brings us together and gives us a chance," Clinton said.
Clinton was greeted with a standing ovation after his address, and throngs of people crowded the stage as he left during the group’s gathering. As he began his speech, shouts of "You the man" and "We love you" could be heard in the ballroom.
"You all need to calm down," Clinton warned the crowd with a smile. "Otherwise, I’ll think I’m president again."
Uhhhhhh....I thought Socialist Security didn't need fixing.
Pay attention, I think we're finally getting to hear Hillarys stance on the issue since she's too cowardly to say anything herself.
THIS is why you never vote for a democrat.
This seems to run against Hillary's "get tough" musings. Of course, the Clintons are the masters of playing both sides of an issue.
Or a republican!
"The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government,
1. The act of invading; the act of encroaching upon the rights or possessions of another; encroachment; trespass.
DREAM Act (Student Adjustment Act)
Re-Introduction Request Letter
Each year 65,000 promising high school students are denied access to higher education. Without legal status, doors to higher education, the workforce, and, ultimately, a full, productive future are closed to these students, even though they have lived most of their lives in the United States. The DREAM Act (Student Adjustment Act) can help these displaced students - who are without documentation - contribute to the national economy and society by providing a path to citizenship.
This is a plea for you to act by urging President Bush's support and by asking Congress to re-introduce this legislation and championing its passage in this session.
Where is Teddy Roosevelt when you need someone with some moxie?
Clinton is exactly right. Illegal immigrants contribute FAR more than they take away from our economy. Study after study have proved this. (despite what some might say on here) Illegal immigrants come here to work, not to get fat off government largness, we have plenty of our own citizens to do that.
Immigration WILL fix our SS problem. However, if we phase out SS we can get the benefit from not having it AND get even more benfit from immigration without it being sucked up by the bloated wasteful and socialistic social security.
I haven't read the comments on here, but I'm guessing there will be a lot of knee jerk anti clinton anti immigration hysteria.
Just remember it was Ronald Reagan who said:
I've spoken of the shining city all my political life, but I don't know if I ever quite communicated what I saw when I said it. But in my mind it was a tall proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, wind-swept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace, a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity, and if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here. That's how I saw it, and see it still.
Think Bubba forgot that just a few months ago the Bush Administration gave immigrants access to the social security benefits further drowning an already drowned system.
Demo Rat Klinton wants more people dependent on the government, natural constituents of socialism. The Socialist Security system should be terminated, not "reformed". I'll take a refund of my "investment" now, and let the government off the hook.
I was listening to a talk radio show the other day and someone said that Brazil requires anyone seeking to enter the country to live and work have the equivelent of 10k on them upon entering. Which, it was said, is equal to the averages persons wages for 2 years. If true, sounds like a good policy to me.
But on Bill Clintons opinion. How could I have been so stupid. Of course! Let more peope in. The man's a friggin genius you know. Just think how lucky we will be when he is the "First Gentleman" in '08. It will be like ......like a two for the price of one deal.
**Please don't kill me. This IS sarcasm**
The policy toward legal immigration is just fine, it's the illegal immigration that is the problem.
MSM perpetually attempts to legitimize the illegals by lumping all immigrants together which is insulting to those who are following the legal process.
"I haven't read the comments on here, but I'm guessing there will be a lot of knee jerk anti clinton anti immigration hysteria."
As opposed to knee-jerk cheap labor lobby rationalizations and agitprop, like about social security?
No independent study shows that illegal immigration is a net gain for America, it's a net loss.
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