What do you think he's not being up front about? He's said the current immigration laws don't reflect the economic reality and his solution is a guest worker program involving some type matching of employers unable to hire citizen with foreigners willing to take those jobs.
Other than that he hasn't really said much. When he says that family values don't end at the border I think he is referring to fact the Mexican laborers will continue to come as long as that is the only they can support their families.
I've discussed the issue with many of the same people here in Texas that Bush has (Senators, Congressmen, x-Gov, party leaders, business leaders, political consultants) and everyone sincerely believes that as long as we need them and they need to come here to support their families, there is no way we can stop it. Accept the reality and try to reform the laws to deal with it as best possible.
Those who believe that we can seal the borders aren't living in the real world.
That is what I mean when I say the President should be up front. "Accept the reality. . . and deal with it as best possible."
Don't suggest that a shiny new law is needed -- what's needed for example is the curtailment of the immigrant "rights" industry and an attitude change from business about respect for laws.
It would help business if government would cooperate and enforce existing laws. That is the reality.
Here's one step that would help me cut some slack for the President, et al.,
The Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, Article 41 says "1. Without prejudice to their privileges and immunities, it is the duty of all persons enjoying such privileges and immunities to respect the laws and regulations of the receiving State. They also have a duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of that State."
Go before the public and state clearly, "Stop meddling in our internal affair, Mr. Fox." Repeat often.
Your other points are good; e.g., "current immigration laws don't reflect the economic reality" and "Those who believe that we can seal the borders aren't living in the real world."
But require much debate. To wit, "economic reality" as in an artificially created glut of labor? We can at least try to enforce current laws (re: borders). They are not broken they are being broken and, except for a narrow focus, no one seems to be willing to fight the immigrant "rights" industry and the cheap-labor lobby.
More reality: the same thing will happen when we have shiny new laws.