Jeb Bush Calls Tone of Immigration Debate `Hurtful' (Official "Bush Picks At Toe Jam" th

LA Times ^ | 4/5/06 | Peter Wallsten

[zook]

WASHINGTON — Accusing politicians of "pounding their chests" on immigration for short-term political gain, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said Tuesday that the tone of the debate had been "hurtful" to him and his Mexican-born wife, Columba.

Bush, the younger brother of President Bush, reserved some of his sharpest criticism for conservatives in his own Republican Party, calling it "just plain wrong" to charge illegal immigrants with a felony, as a provision passed by the Republican-led House would do. He also opposed "penalizing the children of illegal immigrants" by denying them U.S. citizenship, an idea backed by some conservatives but not included in the legislation.

"My wife came here legally, but it hurts her just as it hurts me when people give the perception that all immigrants are bad," the Florida governor wrote in an e-mail exchange with The Times.

[zook]

Gov. Bush suggests that some fellow Republicans are misusing the issue for short-term political gain. Right on, Jeb!

[Bikers4Bush]

"Waaaaaa, it hurts my feelings when people talk about illegals because my wife is an immigrant, waaaaa."

Stick a sock in it Jeb, your wife was a legal immigrant and nobody has a beef with them, the beef is with all the illegal trash.

Either all laws are enforced or they're all subject to being ignored. You don't get to pick and choose just because you have a softspot for illegals.

[Brilliant]

the tone of the debate had been "hurtful"




But why are we having this debate? Because some politicians in Washington opened the doors without first asking us our opinion. The proponents of immigration have pretty much brought all this on themselves.

[WesternPacific]

when people give the perception that all immigrants are bad..

This is not the case. What part of ILLEGAL immigration do these people not understand.

[kittymyrib]

Jeb is the father of George and Barbara's grandchildren, whom #41 referred to as "the little brown ones", so what did anyone expect Jeb to say? Personally, I think we've had way more than our share of Bushes and Clintons and their advice to the masses. Surely in a country of almost 300,000,000 people, we can find someone else to elect to office on the state and national level.

[conservativecorner]

Jeb is as wrong as his brother on the illegal immigration issue. It's tough having to be the little brother when the big Bro steps in it.

[JoanneSD]

Florida should open its doors to all illegal immigrants, if the Governor supports them so much, it could add more to their diversity,

[TomGuy]

It seems the whole Bush family doesn't mind the invasion of illegals. They seem to support it.

We definitely need a 'dynasty' change in Washington, DC.

[shekkian]

Jeb drops the ball.

[Kidan]

Y'know, there was a time when I actually liked having Jeb in office here....

[russesjunjee]

Both Bush's are traitors and illegal alien butt kissers. It's becoming more and more obvious that the Republican party is filled with corrupt globalists just like the Democratic party.

Both parties seem determined to forcibly globalize the American people and sell our sovereignty down the river. We better do something about our government fast or they are going to sell our country right out from under us.

[BritExPatInFla]

Paging all those who want JEB?? to replace Harris on the ticket....Thanks to this sound bite, that would be a case of going from no chance of winning to no chance in hell of winning the senate seat. No more Bushes on any ticket....please.

[summer]

I'm glad you posted this. I think Gov Bush is trying to raise the bar here, by making this debate more of a civil discourse, instead of the trashing of one group of people against another. BTW, I all for protecting our borders, and I don't want to see wages fall. However, I am not convinced the answer is as some have suggested, to lock up 13 million people in jail.

Also from the article:

"Columba and I watch the news early in the morning and in the evenings," Bush wrote in the late-night e-mail exchange. "The cumulative effect of the coverage is that immigrants are bad and hurting our country. The coverage is black and white, good and bad, without the nuances that the coverage deserves."

The Florida governor has said he does not intend to run for president in 2008. But he has been mentioned as a potential running mate for another likely candidate, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).

In his e-mail, Gov. Bush endorsed the idea of a broad guest-worker program encompassing the kinds of low-wage workers sought by farms and factories as well as high-tech professionals from places such as India.

..."The focus should be on protecting our borders rather than these piling on provisions that are punitive to many who have made a great contribution to our country," he wrote. "Along with that, the focus should be on a guest worker program and a means to deal with the millions of long term undocumented workers….

"Frankly," he added, "I also believe we should open up legal immigration to the qualified scientists, innovators, entrepreneurs and others who can additionally add value to our great country."

[russesjunjee]

The plan is to keep putting forward Bushes and Clintons to the voters. They are the new royal families of America, and even though they hate each other, they want to make certain that the crown stays in the family. That's why Bush Sr. is suddenly so chummy with Bill Clinton. They are getting ready to hand the crown back to Hillery.

[mr_hammer]

You gotta be kidding me!

[Finalapproach29er]

What a wuss.

[TXBSAFH]

He is a Bush, of course he is a free traitor, globalist, liberal.

[Finalapproach29er]

Read "Compromised" by Terry Reed.

Bushes have been friends with Clintons for decades. They're corrupt.

[Rennes Templar]

"..calling it "just plain wrong" to charge illegal immigrants with a felony,"

I'm not going to pay my taxes this year. If the IRS tries to penalize me, I'll tell them they're just plain wrong.