Posted on 09/19/2006 2:36:50 PM PDT by kiriath_jearim
LEXINGTON, S.C. - Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee said Monday the federal government has done a "lousy job" protecting America's borders because the country lacks a practical way to let people in legally.
"We simply have not even attempted to create a legal means" to process the people who want to come here and the people we need to run the economy, the Republican governor told about 50 people at a fundraising luncheon for the Lexington County GOP.
When people say illegal immigrants take jobs from Americans, Huckabee said he asks them to name someone "who cannot get a job because a Mexican illegally here has taken the job they want."
"If that's the case, if you can get me their name and phone number by five this afternoon, I can have them making a bed, plucking a chicken, tarring a roof or picking a tomato by the morning at 8 o' clock," he said.
No one has been able to give him a name, he said. Illegal immigrants have jobs Americans don't want, he said.
America has a right to know who's here and why, he said. But federal immigration laws "are so antiquated and the process so cumbersome, it would take some people 10 to 20 years to go through the legal process."
Creating a system to process people properly and thoroughly would cost money, but certainly less than it would cost to "round up 13 million people and deport them," Huckabee said.
He said he doesn't believe in "blanket amnesty," but illegal immigrants here should be given a way to pay a fine and apply for legal status. They should be required to speak English and pay taxes, he said.
He said the debate has gotten too emotional.
"It's a problem we can confront, but we can't confront it if all we're going to do is stand on opposite sides of the room screaming," he said.
"Tonight, when you get home, get on your knees and thank God you live in a country people are trying to break into rather than a country people are trying to break out of," Huckabee said. "If we start there, we might have a possibility of getting a solution."
The luncheon was one of several South Carolina stops the potential presidential contender planned for Monday and Tuesday, which is when he will raise money for Karen Floyd, the GOP nominee for state education superintendent. Gov. since 1996, Huckabee said he will wait until after he leaves office in January to decide whether to run for president in 2008.
Responding to an audience question, the avid sportsman said he would support a national "right to carry" bill that would require states to recognize concealed weapons permits issued by other states.
"That way, we could be anywhere," he said, showing the audience the weapons license in his wallet. He then boasted of killing an antelope Saturday from 250 yards in the One Shot Antelope Hunt in Lander, Wyo.
Though he's a hunter, he said the Second Amendment is not about hunting. "It's about protecting yourself, your families," and making sure government never tries to overrun its people, he said.
"Though he's a hunter, he said the Second Amendment is not about hunting. "It's about protecting yourself, your families," and making sure government never tries to overrun its people, he said."
****
Sounds good, but Bush Sr. in 1989 said almost the same thing at the GOP presidential convention. About two months after Bush was inaugurated, he banned the importation of "military-style" semiautomatic firearms, e.g. H&K91/92/93, FN-FAL, Steyr AUG, Norinco/Polytech AK clones, etc.
ping
I think Governor Huckabee is solid on RKBA. On immigration, he's Bush-y, but not the worst available.
The Gov. has impeccable character. A good speaker and has been good for Arkansas.
I don't live in Ark., bet he has been to our church a number of times.
"...Huckabee said he asks them to name someone "who cannot get a job because a Mexican illegally here has taken the job they want."
While in college, I framed houses, operated punch presses and lathes and worked the inspection line in a factory. I made really good money during summer break.
Can college students still get hired to frame houses and operate punch presses and lathes and make good money?
I think he needs to examine the situation in that Georgia town where a bunch of illegals were arrested and await deportation. There was a case of a woman, I think, quitting her job and immediately getting a higher paying job working for one of the employers of the many illegals.
It's almost impossible to prove that a particular person can't work because of the effect of illegals. But in the Georgia case, it was apparent that the employer of the illegals was able to supply a benefit to a citizen when the illegals were sent packing.
My stepson, father of two, used to work readily in housing construction and roofing, at $15/hr in Alabama. For the last 3 years, he can't get a construction job to support his family, yet there are illegals roofing homes and building homes ALL OVER Alabama. It is beyond ridiculous, and I am sick an tired of hearing that Mexicans only take the jobs Americans won't do.
It's not plucking chickens, guv. It's construction and roofing. The house prices have skyrocketed over the past several years and all of the difference in costs vs labor have gone into the pocketbooks of the builders and developers.
I could understand the home price increase coming due to increased labor costs for American workers, but in construction it is simple greed that is harming our own, and this comes from an EXTREME pro-business conservative!
Because Tyson & ConAgra chicken processing don't want to pay a decent salary to LEGAL workers. But, they can afford to help fund Huckabee's campaign while the taxpayer's pay for the education & healthcare of ILLEGALS! I'll pay more for my chickens, thank you very much as long as there are NO ILLEGALS!
I guess Huckabee doesn't get the word ILLEGAL. I bet he would get it if LEGALS didn't obey the laws in Arkansas! In fact, I know he doesn't GET IT because I have had this conversation with his office more than a few times.
He can run for President if he wants but I won't be voting for him! I'm actually sorry that I helped campaign for him in the first place. He is NO conservative especially on immigration
Finally, he's showing his true colors to the rest of the nation...
Dream on Hucksterbee...
His band performed at the FR Inaugural Ball in 2005. I wasn't there, but I heard it was good!
I disagree with this guy.He's another poster boy for illegal immigration.The issue is who's here illegal and who isn't,and whether their plucking chickens or f**king chickens is a side issue that's being used as a smoke screen to legitimize breaking immigration laws !!!
This is the best line in the whole article
I was there. They were solid and they kept the crowd dancing all night.
Are you kidding? Arkansas might as well be Aztlan headquarters. We're the backbone of the illegal enablers.
Well I think it's time your stepson went back to school and learned a more marketable skill; so quit your whining and let the free market do it's thing; pull yourself up by the bootsraps; blaze a trail, American dream and so on and so forth... /FOBL sarcasm off
I yield to a local opinion on the question!
I'm with you.
I was really interested when I first read about him.
Then I read how he feels about illegals.
Thanks, but no thanks.
Next...
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