Bush declares war on immigrant cleaning ladies

The Hill ^ | October 29, 2003 | Dick Morris

[paulklenk]

Taking time out from the war on terror and the war on drugs, President Bush, to the purple born, has declared war on cleaning ladies.

The agents of his wrath swooped down on 61 Wal-Mart stores in 21 states where men and women from South America and Eastern Europe toiled at minimum-wage jobs mopping floors and cleaning toilets until Bush closed them down. One wonders if the president remembers the words of the man whom he once cited as his role model: “That which you do to the least of these, you do to me.”

Perhaps the president and all his advisers have forgotten that their ancestors, too, were immigrants who had to struggle to make it in this new land. The fact that their forebears may or may not have come here legally and these plunderers of our national treasure came without sanction of law merely betokens how self-involved we are in our prosperity, narcissistically refusing to share it with those in need.

These men and women now in jail came here seeking work, not welfare. The $11 billion a year Mexican Americans send home to their impoverished nation gives every man, woman and child back home $110 with which to buy food and other necessities. Bush no doubt has no family memories of immigrants who sent money home, but those of us of more recent vintage recall clearly the stories of our fathers and grandfathers. It was that money that allowed our ancestors to survive.

Does Bush seriously contend that, with 6 percent unemployment, there are Americans waiting to take the jobs of those he arrested at Wal-Mart? He knows full well that the alternative to illegal immigrants performing those jobs is to use robots to do it. He has not saved jobs for Americans. He has saved them for robots.

For those in high dudgeon who are reading this column and would intone piously about the rule of law, let me ask if you are sure the toilet you used at the gas station was cleaned by a legal immigrant or a U.S. citizen. How about your garden and lawn? And your housecleaners? And the guy who waits on you at the lunch counter or cleans the dishes after you have eaten? Are those all here legally? I invite you to vindicate your self-righteous views on immigration by mowing your own lawn, cleaning your own toilets and cooking your own food — or do so for $5.25 an hour.

America needs Bush to crack down on illegal immigration, but from nations that harbor terrorists or sponsor them. We need an end to immigrants coming in on student visas from those nations. We must have more aggressive efforts to round up those who have overstayed their visas who hail from lands that wish us no good.

We need an immigration policy along the lines of legislation proposed by Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.) that would reward with amnesty and citizenship those who pass certain criteria such as English literacy, no arrest record and employment with contributions to Social Security.

The Republican Party can continue its war on Hispanics and its battles against cleaning ladies if it wants, but it does so at the price of its own electability. What message does the Wal-Mart raid send at a time when Bush is attempting to overcome past GOP insistence on cutoff of aid to legal immigrants by adopting pro-Hispanic policies and appointing top level Hispanics to key jobs?

Americans do not confuse hardworking Mexican and Eastern European immigrants, legal and illegal, with those who come to our nation from nations that sponsor or harbor terrorists. We know that the former build our nation and the latter want to tear it down. Bush does himself and his party no good by attacking the good immigrants and letting the bad ones go free.

[paulklenk]

Is this really the battle Bush should be fighting right now? Couldn't we have found better people to make examples of when it comes to illegal immigration?

Each day, I get a ride home from one of eight or ten guys who hang out near my subway stop. They are all Latino, and are from all over Central and South America. They are the most decent, honest hardworking people I have ever met. They have more dignity than just about any group of people I know. I doubt most of them are citizens, but they deserve to be.

We need to find a realistic way to help more of these hardworking people become tax-paying citizens.

This message goes out to Ely, Jorge, Phillipe, Alex, Ismael, Arturo, and Cali. May all decent, God-fearing Americans do our best to find you a place -- a legal place -- in our country. You deserve it.

[HarleyD]

My mistake. I thought that the Hollywood elite were going to have to start cleaning their mansions.

[ClearCase_guy]

One wonders if the president remembers the words of the man whom he once cited as his role model: “That which you do to the least of these, you do to me.”

So, to enforce laws against illegal immigration is to act in an un-Christian manner? Who knew?

[paulklenk]

I know there are a lot of Freepers who are very angry about illegal immigrants. But we need to find a real solution, and not forget the human factor. Protecting our country should be paramount, but there has got to be a simple way to identify, document and legalize a lot of people who are currently here illegally, and also to revamp our immigration system and policies to make it easier for decent people to come here and work.

Visit a city like NYC sometime, and you will begin to understand what an opportunity Republicans have to recruit life-long loyal members who came here has immigrants.

[JustAnAmerican]

"We need to find a realistic way to help more of these hardworking people become tax-paying citizens."

It's called "Legal" immigration. But I suppose these "Hardworking" people don't believe in following our laws huh?

[glock rocks]

yah. Reagan's amnesty worked out real well, too.

[netmilsmom]

Not a problem for your friends. Tell them to go home, get the right papers and do it legally. My grandparents came here, hard working and LEGAL. Your friends could do the same.

Remember, it's not just the hardworking people coming into our country. It's the ones on the dole, the murders and rapists (ask anyone in a border state) and the terrorists that want to murder my children. Sorry, in this state of the world, I have little sympathy for your pals.

[paulklenk]

So, to enforce laws against illegal immigration is to act in an un-Christian manner? Who knew?

What is un-Christian is forgetting to temper justice with mercy, forgetting to temper what is technically legal with what is decent and humane. One without the other is un-Christian.

[Rick.Donaldson]

HEY! You forgot the BARF ALERT. LOL. What crap. ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARE ILLEGAL. If they want jobs, let them follow the freakin' rules and immigate LEGALLY. If they can't tough, let them go back to whereever they came from and live there.

[paulklenk]

The problem with your attitude is, it does nothing at all in the real world of politics to solve the problem, and to do it in a way that is advantageous to Republicans. Your answer is a fantasy based on pure idealism, not practical political methods.

When you can pull your head out of the sand and actually come up with something we can vote on and implement, let us know.

[paulklenk]

Then let us come up with rules and means of entry that make it easy for them to come here, instead of bogging them down in bureacracy.

[wjcsux]

What is "Un-Christian" about enforcing our immigration laws?

[Exton1]

Boy paulklenk, have you been brain-washed. America allows and has more immigration than the rest of the world combined. Just because you get a job does not make you a “Good Immigrants.” Illegals start off breaking the law. Why do you think that they won’t break more? I am sick and tired of having to “press one for English,” and for seeing Mexican flags flown in our parks. WE ARE BEING INVADED BY MEXICO! WE HAVE A RIGHT FOR NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY, AND TO DO WHAT MEXICO DOES, PUT THE MILITARY ON THE SOUTHERN BORDER AND KICK OUT ALL ILLEGAL (CRIMINAL) ALIENS.

[from occupied ga]

, but there has got to be a simple way to identify, document and legalize a lot of people who are currently here illegally,

Why? By definition they're here illegally and hence criminals

[netmilsmom]

I have friends that came here from Liverpool. They filled out the papers, got work visas and became citizens. Honestly, we have enough dumb people here. Why do you want more??

[the_devils_advocate_666]

Kind of like fighting the WOD by busting geriatric cancer patients that puff a few joints, eh?

[paulklenk]

I don't know why it's so hard for people to understand: I want a legal, lawful, systematic way for people to get here on an expedited basis. We can change to the laws and the system. THEN IT WOULD STILL BE LEGAL, but easier. How hard is that to understand?

Perhaps you don't want to understand. Perhaps there are just a lot of bigoted Freepers out there who don't WANT to make our country available to people who are different. Perhaps harping on illegal immigration is the only way they know to express their hatred of foreigners, colored people, and others who talk funny.

[netmilsmom]

It's not just Mexicans. Come to my part of the world, Arab-Michigan. I love some people here. Like the families that are native born or naturalized and feel America is home. However, a white woman with children are warning to stay out of Dearborn without a male escort. Wonder why?

[y2k_free_radical]

What a bleeding heart liberal-breaking the law is o.k. to him-bet he does coke

[paulklenk]

Sorry about your having to press one for English. That really betrays a lot about you. Boo-hoo-hoo, for you. An extra number to dial, and another reminder of having to share your country with people you hate because they don't talk like you.

If you care about the law so much, you should also care about people. Caring about those two together should make us want to change the system so good people can get here easily, quickly, AND legally.