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Bush, GOP 'Naive' for Pushing Bill to Help Illegal Aliens, Critic Alleges
CNSNews.com ^ | October 17th, 2003 | Steve Brown

Posted on 10/17/2003 8:53:04 AM PDT by Sabertooth

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Bush, GOP 'Naive' for Pushing Bill to Help Illegal Aliens, Critic Alleges
By Steve Brown
CNSNews.com Staff Writer
October 17, 2003

(CNSNews.com) - Illegal immigration opponents Thursday said President Bush and congressional Republicans risk losing their core voter base in national elections next year by embracing measures that would grant amnesty to illegal aliens. The remarks came as the Senate Judiciary Committee held a markup session on a bill that would allow in-state collegiate tuition and residency for illegal immigrants.

"The Bush administration wants to push for some form of amnesty but hasn't come to terms with how to do that without offending its political base," David Ray, spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), told CNSNews.com.

Ray pointed to numerous independent polls, which he said show Americans "overwhelmingly" reject policies that either allow more illegal aliens in the country or reward those who are already in the United States.

The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAM Act - S.1545), sponsored by Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), would specifically lift the federal ban that prevents states from allowing illegal aliens to pay in-state tuition for college.

The bill would also grant conditional resident status for illegals under 16 years of age who have lived in the country more than five years if they graduate high school, are accepted by a university, serve in the armed forces or perform community service.

Ray said the administration views the DREAM Act as a tool for creating exemptions for illegal immigrants deserving of sympathy. But he added that the bill would also "allow the Democrats to turn the fledgling measure into a vulture."

"The final piece of the puzzle will fall into place when the whole measure is placed on an appropriations bill," Ray said. Once that occurs, according to Ray, no one will be able to do anything to defeat it.

"History has taught us that that's how this measure will move," Ray said.
But bill supporters disagree.

"I believe the DREAM Act will live up to its name," Hatch said on the Senate floor when introducing the measure July 31. "It will allow these illegal immigrant children the opportunity to not only dream of the infinite possibilities that their futures may hold in the United States, but it will also afford them the opportunity to realize their dreams.

"With the passage of the DREAM Act, the United States stands to benefit enormously," Hatch added.

Ray noted that the only people who would benefit from the act are the 8 to 12 million illegal immigrants here in violation of federal law. He said it would open the floodgates to millions more immigrants looking to come to the United States even if meant breaking the law.

"The Republicans are being naive if they don't see the DREAM Act as the vehicle by which the Democrats are going to push for the extension of general amnesty for the whole illegal alien population currently in the United States," Ray said.

"The most troubling thing is that not only is amnesty a bad idea, but nobody seems to be addressing: What about the illegal aliens who arrive the day after the bill passes? Are they going to have an amnesty as well? Isn't that in essence just surrendering the sovereignty of America to any and every one who wants to come here?" Ray added.

Hatch responded to that interpretation in a Sept. 4 release, saying the DREAM Act benefits American society in general.

"As a nation, we cannot hand pick a better group of individuals to become part of our society. By definition, DREAM Act beneficiaries are extraordinary people. They are young men and women who have grown up in the United States, who are loyal to our country and who have graduated from high school," Hatch said.

"And more importantly, they are young people who desire to obtain higher education, serve our communities as volunteers or join the military," Hatch added. "The DREAM Act makes productive citizens out of young people who are already living in our country, which benefits all of us."

Hatch also addressed criticism that the DREAM Act would lead to more illegal aliens.

"The fact is that the DREAM Act was carefully drafted to avoid precisely this problem. The act specifically limits eligibility to those who entered the United States five years or more prior to the bill's enactment. It applies to a limited number of people who have already resided in the United States for at least five years and who have demonstrated favorable equities in and significant ties to the United States," Hatch explained.

"Let me clear up any confusion on this point once and for all: Anyone who entered the United States less than five years prior to the enactment of this bill, or who plans to enter the United States illegally in the future, will not be covered by the DREAM Act," Hatch added.

Yet Ray was unconvinced by Hatch's statement.

"What we're seeing right now with the discussion of the (DREAM) Act...is our legislators making every possible attempt to try to dress this up and try to present it as something that it's not - to try to disguise the fact that what they're pushing through is a measure that will be received as politically radioactive by the public," Ray said

"The Republicans are at the beck and call of big business that wants a never-ending supply of cheap workers," Ray said, "and Democrats are pushing for an amnesty because they know that these illegals will be future Democratic voters."

Because of time limitations, Hatch's panel did not report the bill out of committee Thursday. It will be taken up again Oct. 23.



TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: amnesty; illegalaliens; illegals; immigrantlist; judiciarycommittee; orrinhatch; republicanturncoats
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To: Geezerette


Sean had all he could do to keep from being (understandably) rude. He did ask, "And are the taxpayers going to foot this thing?" Like, who else??

Hannity's a poser. Whenever it matters, he's just another appeasing, hand-wringing, do-nothing on GOP sellouts to Illegal Aliens.


21 posted on 10/17/2003 10:14:38 AM PDT by Sabertooth (No Drivers' Licences for Illegal Aliens. Petition SB60. http://www.saveourlicense.com/n_home.htm)
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To: Geezerette
Are you serious about Katherine Harris? She's my rep!
22 posted on 10/17/2003 10:18:19 AM PDT by sunshine state
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To: Sunshine Sister
Katherine Harris? That surprises me a lot. I thought she was conservative.

No, she's a Republican.

23 posted on 10/17/2003 10:18:59 AM PDT by Cacophonous
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To: Cacophonous
That is a very telling remark. Republican used to mean something. Guess not any more!
24 posted on 10/17/2003 10:21:01 AM PDT by Sunshine Sister
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To: Sabertooth
"The Republicans are being naive if they don't see the DREAM Act as the vehicle by which the Democrats are going to push for the extension of general amnesty for the whole illegal alien population currently in the United States," Ray said."

I bet the GOP wishes that we believed that they are just naive instead of what we know. That they are co-conspirators in undermining our sovereignty and the scanctity of being a citizen. I see no reason what so ever to leave my house to vote in Nov.

25 posted on 10/17/2003 10:24:38 AM PDT by MissAmericanPie
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To: Sabertooth
put me on your ping list bump
26 posted on 10/17/2003 10:40:07 AM PDT by tophat9000
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Comment #27 Removed by Moderator

To: Sabertooth
A very deserving BTTT for this important thread.
28 posted on 10/17/2003 10:56:49 AM PDT by truthkeeper
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To: gubamyster
"Ray noted...He said it would open the floodgates to millions more immigrants looking to come to the United States even if meant breaking the law."

That all depends on what the meaning of 'law' is...is a law that's not enforced (and even encouraged) really a law? Methinks not.

That's why the press gets away with never regrarding them as illegals. Technically they're breaking no de facto laws, so they can rightly be regarded as 'undocumented' immigrants.

29 posted on 10/17/2003 11:23:00 AM PDT by Paulie
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To: RiflemanSharpe
He is not being naive, he wants the latino vote. That is why he is pushing this bill.

He's naive in thinking he's ever going to get it.

But I doubt he harbors any such illusions. He supports the bill because it benefits the people who finance his campaign.

30 posted on 10/17/2003 12:56:26 PM PDT by traditionalist
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To: Sabertooth
BTTT

We have to win folks, we won on the H-1B and we can win on this.

Your country needs you.

31 posted on 10/17/2003 2:58:09 PM PDT by 4.1O dana super trac pak (Stop the open borders death cult)
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To: FITZ
would you like to share some of your suspicions (about the dominant/submissive relationship) between bush and fox?

it does seem that when fox calls bush runs.
32 posted on 10/17/2003 3:14:37 PM PDT by contessa machiaveli
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To: Sabertooth
...because they know that these illegals will be future Democratic voters.

Or not.

33 posted on 10/17/2003 3:17:50 PM PDT by PRND21
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To: Sabertooth
There is no great public demand for the DREAM Act. And Sen. Hatch's assurances are meaningless. Its just a ploy to make something most Americans reject more acceptable. I mean heck, the senator can put lipstick on a pig and call it what he wants but its still a pig. What part of no benefits for illegal aliens he doesn't get that we don't want it? And oh yes, we're opposed to an amnesty too, no matter what its called.
34 posted on 10/17/2003 3:20:40 PM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
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To: contessa machiaveli
One of the more mild speculations I can do is think that our government leaders know the Mexican elite is corrupt, extremely greedy, and know they deliberately are preventing a middle class, they know they are evil oligarchs but they fear what might replace them if the majority were to uprise and throw them out. I'd hate to think it was something worse like an actual friendship between Bushes and the Salinas de Gortari family. Vicente Fox has not made any attempt to improve the economy of Mexico except for his own elite class because his whole economic agenda was to have as many of the Mexican people leave their homeland as he could---- and many say he deliberately had things get worse to make sure they would. That way they won't stay and demand changes.
35 posted on 10/17/2003 3:34:01 PM PDT by FITZ
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To: FITZ
on my trips to mexico city i like to fantasize that there is a middle class based on the colonias condessa, roma, polanco, chapultepec, and rosa. however, those areas are IT, the concentration of the middle class is in a 5 sq. mile area of mexico. sad, and this is with NAFTA.

36 posted on 10/17/2003 3:45:43 PM PDT by contessa machiaveli
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To: Sabertooth
You and I know they can do what ever they want and the Zombie voters will elect them.

You don't want Hillary now do you?

This is just a bug on the windshield. Gay rights and Pro-Abortion party planks are next. You can bookmark it.

37 posted on 10/17/2003 3:52:50 PM PDT by Afronaut (Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil.)
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To: Sabertooth
Thank God somebody said it. What a milquetoast that guy is. Luckily I get Bob Grant and Savage back to back.
38 posted on 10/17/2003 4:03:01 PM PDT by 4.1O dana super trac pak (Stop the open borders death cult)
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To: RiflemanSharpe
He is not being naive, he wants the latino vote. That is why he is pushing this bill.

I totally agree.. he's stabbing us in the back IMO. He IS naive in thinking that the latino vote will go for him or other Republicans. I am SICK to death of the illegal issue. IF we don't do something and soon it's the end of this country. The need to change the law re children being born in this country as automatic citizens. If Bush et al don't realize that they are alienating his base he's a fool.

39 posted on 10/17/2003 4:10:11 PM PDT by Zipporah
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To: contessa machiaveli
There is a tiny middle class there and in some other places ---- but often what is called middle class in Mexico wouldn't be considered poverty level in the USA ---even with cost of living quite a bit cheaper in Mexico. It'd be pretty tough to be middle class in Mexico and consider yourself even comfortable. Their middle class might make $2 an hour ---- and things aren't that cheap.
40 posted on 10/17/2003 4:10:42 PM PDT by FITZ
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