Posted on 01/13/2004 5:54:13 AM PST by JustPiper
Conservative talk-radio star, author says amnesty is betrayal of country
In the latest indication President Bush is having problems with his conservative core political constituency, Michael Savage, one of talk radio's biggest stars, tonight called for the impeachment of President Bush over his plans to legalize millions of illegal aliens.
"This is the worst betrayal of our country in my lifetime," said Savage, whose program is heard on more than 350 stations with an audience reaching some 6 million. His book, "The Savage Nation," last year was No. 1 on the New York Times best-seller's list for five weeks. His follow-up, "The Enemy Within," out just one week, is already No. 8 on the list. Both were published by WND Books.
President Bush
Tonight Savage called Bush a liberal and described him as part of the "enemy within" that is destroying the nation.
Savage created the phrase "compassionate conservative" in 1994, a term picked up by Bush during his presidential campaign – a campaign supported by Savage.
"This is much more serious than dropping your pants for an intern," said Savage. "This is a policy that represents a danger to national security."
Savage is hardly alone in his strong feelings of opposition to Bush's proposal to offer legal status to illegal immigrants. A new ABC News poll finds 52 percent of the nation opposes an amnesty program for illegal immigrants from Mexico, while 57 percent oppose one for illegal immigrants from other countries. Both results are roughly the same as when the administration floated the idea two-and-a-half years ago.
But today in Monterrey, Mexico, Bush reaffirmed his support of the proposal, despite its unpopularity at home. He said it could help illegal immigrants "leave the shadows and have an identity."
At a joint press conference with Mexican President Vicente Fox, Bush warned that his government will not allow the existence in the United States of an underclass of illegal immigrants, but claimed again his proposal is not an amnesty. Amnesty, he said, would only promote the violation of the law and perpetuate illegal immigration.
Bush said his immigration proposal would benefit both the United States and Mexico as it recognizes the contribution of thousands of honest Mexicans who work in the United States.
For his part, Fox embraced Bush's proposal.
"What else can we wish?" Fox said at the news conference with the president.
In the U.S., the latest poll on the controversy shows at least twice as many Americans "strongly" oppose the proposal as strongly support it.
Opposition peaks in Bush's own party: Fifty-eight percent of Republicans oppose his immigration proposal for Mexicans, compared with 50 percent of Democrats. For illegal immigrants other than Mexicans, 63 percent of Republicans are opposed.
Bush reportedly will disclose more details of the plan in his State of the Union address Jan. 20.
Meanwhile, the National Border Patrol Council, which represents all 9,000 of the Border Patrol's non-supervisory agents, has told its members to challenge President Bush´s proposed guest-worker program, calling it a "slap in the face to anyone who has ever tried to enforce the immigration laws of the United States," the Washington Times reported today.
The agents were told in a letter from Vice President John Frecker that the proposal offered last week during a White House press conference "implies that the country really wasn't serious about" immigration enforcement in the first place.
"Hey, you know all those illegal aliens you risked 'life and limb' to apprehend? FAH-GED-ABOWD-IT," said Frecker, a veteran Border Patrol agent. "President Bush has solved the problem. Don't be confused and call this an 'amnesty,' even though those who are here illegally will suddenly become legal and will be allowed to stay here. The president assures us that it's not an amnesty," he said.
Last week Bush proposed the sweeping immigration changes that would allow the 8 million to 12 million illegal aliens thought to be in the United States to remain in the country if they have a job and apply for a guest-worker card. The immigrants could stay for renewable three-year periods, after which they could apply for permanent legal residence.
Savage cited a new report published in the City Journal by the Manhattan Institute suggesting there is a major crime wave in the U.S. caused by illegal immigration.
"Some of the most violent criminals at large today are illegal aliens," the report charges. "Yet in cities where the crime these aliens commit is highest, the police cannot use the most obvious tool to apprehend them: their immigration status. In Los Angeles, for example, dozens of members of a ruthless Salvadoran prison gang have sneaked back into town after having been deported for such crimes as murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and drug trafficking. Police officers know who they are and know that their mere presence in the country is a felony. Yet should a cop arrest an illegal gang-banger for felonious reentry, it is he who will be treated as a criminal, for violating the LAPD’s rule against enforcing immigration law."
The situation is similar, the report says in New York, Chicago, San Diego, Austin and Houston. These "sanctuary policies" generally prohibit city employees, including the cops, from reporting immigration violations to federal authorities, says the report.
"These people are destroying America," said Savage. "That's all I have to say on the subject. But you can talk about it. Talk about it while you can – while America is still a free country, because it's not going to last."
Are you even paying attention? This is not a single issue. Campaign Finance Reform, No Child Left Behind, Medicare Drug Entitlement, incredible expansion of the Federal Government, and he is topping it off with this. This is more than a single issue. I am not going to vote for a big-government Republican just to keep a big-government Democrat out of office. I'm voting my conscience and voting either independent or Libertarian this year.
Good. That's exactly how the majority of Americans feel.
So... SEND THEM BACK!
Then we won't have a problem of the existence of an illegal underclass any more.
Cheers!
- John
I only had to watch his 'show' a couple of times to know without doubt he was an idiot. He screamed at people even when they agreed with him. He hung up on those who dared disagree and called them names. He showed stupid video clips that had nothing to do with the topic at hand. Basically, he reminded me of someone on meth.
If you choose to not be 'on my side,' that's fine.
"He only won over Gore by about a couple thousand votes and I like many conservatives will take a "walk" this election. Many are saying, Go Pat Go."
Fine, your choice. Hope if one of the 9 dwarves is elected, you are happy to have gotten your way.
BUSH IS A LIBERAL. Deal with it.
When you have poor people from different areas of Mexico who feel no attachment to each other except being common violaters of the law and the desire for cash money being the strongest bond, they will turn each other in.
sounds pretty dang expensive to me
Do you understand that when the penalty for staying is complete forfeiture of their belongings because we don't deport their houses, furniture and vehicles, any illegal who has any property of value will move themselves back to their home country.
the minute you start telling the courts to "back off,"
This is the one part I don't like but in order for it to work we would have to shut down the pro illegal groups.
I'm picturing these massive sweeps through our streets to root out the illegals.
Initially, just go to the addresses that other illegals gave and check school rooms for any kids of local families.
My problem is that these people are here ILLEGALLY, thus are breaking the law, but IMHO, I think some of these people might make better Americans than some of our own home-grown liberals.
True, so true!
He is absolutely going to have to. I'm begining to wonder about Karl Rove's strategy. I don't think he's going to gain a significant number of hispanic votes because of this questionable policy. We also recently learned that the Jewish vote is certainly not a lock -- nor is the black vote. The country is still quite divided so I don't think he's managed to get too many rat switch-overs either. He has to hold on to his base or he could definitely have problems.
MILLIONS of conservatives are hopping mad about this and Bush is going to pay dearly come November. In fact, I preditd this will cost him the election. I hope it kills the GOP so that REAL conservatives can start a party that is truly conservative. The GOP has betrayed conservatism.
More wishful thinking, dude. This immigration plan will likely not see the light of day this session of Congress.
Then what will you do? What issue will you come up with to trash Bush?
Bush is going to be re-elected, much to your dismay. Americans are not going to put a green, clueless, clod as leader of the war on terror.
For me it's not a single issue at all. Aside from the illegal imigrant proposal we have Bush signing the so-called campaign finance reform bill, the bloated farm bill, Teddy Kennedy's education bill, the medicare prescription drug give-a-way, the Patriot Act versions one and two, the Africa AIDS give-a-way, the outright refusal to seal the southern border, and on and on and on. It's far from a single issue at all. As a Constitutional conservative about all I can find to agree with GWB about is the war on terrorism. But, you are right, though, Dean and or Clark aren't any better. Pretty crummy choices from the greatest nation on earth if you ask me.
Never heard of it.
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