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Go after lawbreakers, not the Constitution
San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 8/10/10 | Debra J. Saunders

Posted on 08/10/2010 7:50:35 AM PDT by SmithL

Trust Republicans to go too far. They take a good idea - such as the notion that the federal government should enforce immigration laws and states should be able to help - and then drive it into the fringes. Witness a Fox News interview in which Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., declared, "We should change our Constitution and say if you come here illegally, and you have a child, that child is automatically not a citizen."

Graham has supported a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants. He opposed the new Arizona immigration law. So why would he advocate repealing part of the 14th Amendment - which, by the way, exists because the Grand Old Party wanted to stop efforts to keep freed slaves from becoming citizens?

Graham's right about this much: Illegal immigrants have taken advantage of the law. The Dallas Morning News reported Sunday that 60,000 babies are born annually in Texas to illegal immigrants. Last year, these "anchor babies" accounted for 16 percent of the state's births.

But it's not clear how many illegal immigrants are coming here to have babies as opposed to having babies in America because they are here.

Then there's the recent Washington Post story about "birth tourism" and affluent expectant mothers paying offshore consultants a $14,750 fee to obtain tourism visas that allow them to give birth in the United States and win U.S. citizenship for their babies.

No one likes to see adults game the system. . . .

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Editorial; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 14thamendment; illegalaliens; illegals
I'm a fan of Debra, and I know it has to be rough being the token Conservative at the Chronicle, but I really disagree with her on this issue.

Doing away with birthright citizenship is an essential element of immigration reform.

1 posted on 08/10/2010 7:50:37 AM PDT by SmithL
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To: SmithL

Another faux Conservative clown who wastes her time and energy shooting her own in the back instead of ever having the guts to speak truth to the Leftist Media bubble world.


2 posted on 08/10/2010 7:53:10 AM PDT by MNJohnnie (The problem with Socialism is eventually you run our of other peoples money. Lady Thatcher)
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To: SmithL

No need to change the Constitution. Just pass a statutory clarification that children born illegally in this country (i.e. the mother is in the country illegally) are not born under the jurisdiction of the United States and are therefore not citizens of the United States but the same nationality and citizenship as their mothers.


3 posted on 08/10/2010 7:55:54 AM PDT by VRWCmember
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To: SmithL
All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside."

That clause means something; it is not inert.

4 posted on 08/10/2010 7:56:45 AM PDT by Loud Mime (Argue from the Constitution: Initialpoints.net)
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To: SmithL

“You say you want to change the constitution,
well, you know, we all want to change your head”.

There is no need to amend the constitution. All that is needed is to overturn a Judges ruling and re-visit the INTENT of the 14th amendment.

It specifically outlines who the 14th amendment applies to and Illegal Immigrants are NOT listed.

This congress is the LAST group of looters that I would trust with a constitutional convention, ESPECIALLY Graham.


5 posted on 08/10/2010 7:58:42 AM PDT by CrappieLuck
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To: SmithL

This sentence from her article shows how stupid she is
“But it’s not clear how many illegal immigrants are coming here to have babies as opposed to having babies in America because they are here. “
1. Seh should visit ANY public hospital but especially near a border. In Dallas we pay for 12,000 illegals to drop their kid here and then we pay for at least the next 18 years

2, What difference does it make whether they waded across the Rio Grande ( as they do in border cities) or snuck in here , got pregnant and then dropped the illegal kid they should not be citizens.

She is a loon on this issue.


6 posted on 08/10/2010 7:59:12 AM PDT by RWGinger
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To: SmithL

They are breaking into our country to rob and steel. They are law breakers. They are not “immigrants”. They are THIEVES.


7 posted on 08/10/2010 8:02:08 AM PDT by Dogbert41
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To: SmithL

What Graham does here is brilliant. He wants amnesty, so he needs to demonize those who are against it. What better way to do that than make what most people will consider a preposterous suggestion, amending the 14th Amendment?

In truth the 14th doesn’t need to be amended. It only needs to be properly interpreted. Having said that, we will probably have to amend it to get the job done.

Does anyone really think Graham wants that to happen? Seriously? LOL, not a chance folks...

He’s trying to drive a wedge between reasoned people and the ignorant masses. McCain works his magic yet again.

Now on to re-electing the bastard, so he can further destroy everything we stand for.


8 posted on 08/10/2010 8:03:10 AM PDT by DoughtyOne (Latest most accurate Az Poll to date, of 14 likely voters: McCain 137%, Hayworth -37% (+/- 92%))
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To: Loud Mime

Agreed, there is the winning point.


9 posted on 08/10/2010 8:04:32 AM PDT by Marty62 (marty60)
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To: RWGinger

If not sooner, certainly not much later, the Latino demographics are going to guarantee a permanent Dem majority, from which we will never recover.

Amnesty will just accelerate this and any changes to the anchor baby issue will be long in coming, if ever.


10 posted on 08/10/2010 8:06:11 AM PDT by umgud (Obama is a failed experiment.)
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To: SmithL
--and here is what Milwaukee's version of The Daily Worker has to say--- --http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2567846/posts
11 posted on 08/10/2010 8:06:58 AM PDT by rellimpank (--don't believe anything the MSM tells you about firearms or explosives--NRA Benefactor)
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To: SmithL
So why would he advocate repealing part of the 14th Amendment - which, by the way, exists because the Grand Old Party wanted to stop efforts to keep freed slaves from becoming citizens?

That's sloppy way of stating the truth, which is the GOP wanted to make sure that the former slaves who were by any standard, native born on our soil and had been for generations, would be citizens.

It was NEVER intended to give citizenship rights to free-loaders who wanted to use their children as a meal ticket to the "promised land". Since there are no recently freed slaves who need the 14th amendment to protect their rights as native born and the offspring of native born, it needs to be repealed.

12 posted on 08/10/2010 8:07:29 AM PDT by Tamar1973 (Germans in 1932 thought they were voting for change too.)
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To: SmithL
There is an estimated 400,000 anchor babies born annually. They are entitled to Medicaid, food stamps, etc. as American citizens. They are adding enormously to our social welfare costs including schools, hospitals, and other services. Birthright citizenship is far from being just an academic matter.

HERE ARE ALL THE DEVELOPED NATIONS OF THE WORLD THAT OFFER BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP TO THE BABIES OF TOURISTS AND ILLEGAL ALIENS:

United States

That's right, every other modern Developed nation in the world has gotten rid of birthright citizenship policies. Yet, most of U.S. news media and politicians the last two weeks have ridiculed the comments by some other politicians that it is time for the U.S. to put an end to birthright citizenship for tourists and illegal aliens.

Folks, the U.S. stands alone. Roy Beck, NumberrsUSA.

13 posted on 08/10/2010 8:07:43 AM PDT by kabar
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To: RWGinger

One of my very close relatives used to be third in command of nursing at Los Angles County Medical Center. They actually got calls from Mexico wanting to know if delivery services would be free if they showed up to drop the little critters.

The births at that major hospital were over 90% the offspring of illegal aliens. 60 to 70% of all other services, were provided to illegal aliens.

I think that pretty much puts this issue to rest.


14 posted on 08/10/2010 8:07:45 AM PDT by DoughtyOne (Latest most accurate Az Poll to date, of 14 likely voters: McCain 137%, Hayworth -37% (+/- 92%))
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To: SmithL

They’re not “going after the Constitution.”

The Fourteenth Amendment was NEVER intended to grant birthright citizenship. Illegals are not “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” because their primary loyalty is to their nation of origin.

Illegal aliens are invading barbarians loyal to a foreign government, not “future citizens.”


15 posted on 08/10/2010 8:09:37 AM PDT by Little Ray (The Gods of the Copybook Headings with terror and slaughter return!)
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To: DoughtyOne

“I think that pretty much puts this issue to rest.”

Except many don’t see it as a problem.

We have a very very short window to get things done and I hope those of us who want our country to remain the best stay focused.
It gets old being called racist and xenophobic
Thank God for Free Republic.


16 posted on 08/10/2010 8:13:31 AM PDT by RWGinger
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To: Loud Mime
"All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside."

That clause means something; it is not inert. "

Spot on!

...citizenship by birth is established by the sovereign 
jurisdiction the United States already has over the parents 
of the child, and that required that they owe allegiance 
exclusively to the United States - just as is required to 
become a naturalized citizen. Therefore, while both national
and the constitutional amendment made no distinction between
who can be a citizen (Indian, Chinese, African, German, 
etc.) both required an exclusive allegiance to this country 
and that mean not owing any other other government 
allegiance.

The Federalist Blog: What 'Subject to the Jurisdiction Thereof' Really Means

17 posted on 08/10/2010 8:16:39 AM PDT by avacado
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To: RWGinger

I agree.


18 posted on 08/10/2010 8:19:26 AM PDT by DoughtyOne (Latest most accurate Az Poll to date, of 14 likely voters: McCain 137%, Hayworth -37% (+/- 92%))
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To: SmithL

You are right to disagree with her. She doesn’t sound like a Conservative in this article.

Besides, almost all conservatives (especially here at FR) agree that a child should hold the citizenship of its parents (both).

If you are here on a visa, temp work card, student, etc. and have not been sworn in through the INS, and you have a child, it is a citizen of your country. And, if you have a child with an American citizen then that child will be an American citizen and you should get booted. IMO!


19 posted on 08/10/2010 8:43:04 AM PDT by beachn4fun (Boycott the boycotts! Support Arizona.)
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To: VRWCmember
Yours is the voice of reason.

It probably won't get by the rat Senate, but dozens of aggressive House bills passed next year by the new conservative majority will paint the rats into many corners.

Once we take the House, our work will just begin. The new congressmen will need lots of support. I can only imagine the whirlwind of sh!t that will come down on their heads. Every day will be combat as Hussein's flying monkeys deploy.

20 posted on 08/10/2010 2:10:18 PM PDT by Jacquerie (All Muslims are suspect.)
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