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.

[jpl]

What is THAT remark all about? Have you taken your meds today?

That's cute, but it doesn't exactly answer my question.

[skeeter]

I hope your not trying to say that in order to be a good christian one has to be supportive of immigration scofflaws.

If so you are I'm afraid you're doing far more to inhibit the Kingdom than help it.

[netmilsmom]

I think that it is wonderful that you are as Christian as you are. I pray that you are correct because if befriending a Muslim got you into heaven, I have nothing to worry about.

I have no problem with witnessing to them about the wonders of Christ. I'm so glad that they are doing it in Iraq and Afganistan. Better they stay there and not blow away my kids until Christ comes into their hearts.

[mabelkitty]

He's a moron.

Did you know that there is no such thing as second generation migrant labor? It's true. Seems folks in high places aren't happy that folks won't stay in low places, so they keep bringing more and more into the country.

[usadave]

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.

paulklenk, you are so full of it. The United States already lets in approximately one million LEGAL immigrants per year. And guess what? Most of these one million LEGAL immigrants that we let in each year "talk funny", most are not white, and they are ALL foreigners!

[ancient_geezer]

Why don't you go complain to Jesus Christ that you're being forced to give people free health care who don't pay for or deserve it?

Seems there's a problem about preventing church from particating in functions of state.

Christ tells us we are supposed to help each other on an individual basis and through our private charity.

You see its supposed to be done willingly and for love of God, not at the end of the gun of government.

If you don't do it on your own, for love of God and your neighbor, you are right. Jesus will say "I don't even know you."

[paulklenk]

I hope your not trying to say that in order to be a good christian one has to be supportive of immigration scofflaws.

No, I'm saying that in order to be a good Christian one has to be show mercy when enforcing the law, and that we can have a WIN-WIN situation if we address the lax system with solutions that we can actually get voted into legislation. Harping about how our grandmothers got here legally isn't going to help the situation. And Morris is right -- Bush beating up on cleaning ladies may make us feel legally righteous, but it will cost us votes in the end.

[mabelkitty]

This entire thread isn't worthy of Free Republic.

[y2k_free_radical]

ROTFLAO-calm down-i agree with many of your points-did you see my post 49 :>}

[Just another Joe]

Bush declares war on illegal immigrant cleaning ladies

And guess what? I'm all for it.

[paulklenk]

Oh, I may be full of it, but I'd still like to see you describe a solution that is actually workable in the real world, that addresses the economics and politics of the situation, and that has a chance of becoming law.

[paulklenk]

Yes, I read it.

[dwd1]

I commend you for having the courage to put your heads in the lion's mouth... It is my humble opinion that on this forum the best you can do is get support for expedited legal immigration...
Most here see a very clear line between legal and illegal immigration...

The truth may be that no one has the political will or power to truly solve the problem... The laws are there but not enforced as we have higher priorities... And no one here has proposed that the country from which the person comes take some responsibility for those who travel or work here illegally...

And maybe the unpleasant truth is that many here may want to have our cake and eat it too but it is our country, our government, our laws... And we got Texas, New Mexico, California, etc in a fair fight(just kidding!!)

If you go back to New York in the 1800's, it is the traditional practice within this country for a group to demand opportunity for their groups until they become an established interest. After a group has become an established interest, they then seek government, economic, and political power to protect their interests. That is the way this country and most of the world works. I promise you that though I served in Germany and I speak the language, I would not be able to go over there illegally and hope to find equal opportunity and prosperity without jumping through a lot of hoops or by getting together with Hannelore or Gretchen...

You must also be fair and recognize that very few other countries are as open as we are here in the US...

You are fighting an uphill and I would be truly amazed to see you change any minds here...

Also, if you look at the history of this country, during difficult economic times, groups tend to demand stricter enforcement of laws to restrain the power of other groups within this country... It is just the way things are here... Not necessarily fair, but true...

[Just another Joe]

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.

BS!
We need to deport a vast majority of the illegal immigrants that now live within the borders of the USA.

[ItsOurTimeNow]

But, what about the CHILLLDRUN!

"C'mon! Vamanos!

[paulklenk]

Bush declares war on illegal immigrant cleaning ladies. And guess what? I'm all for it.

Good luck winning hearts and minds to the cause of compassionate conservatism with that attitude. And good luck solving our country's problems with that attitude. It ought to bring people screaming in rapture to the polls.

[y2k_free_radical]

it ain't gonna be like the 50s or 60s again-once the horse is out of the barn,etc.-i,like you,am often nastalgic--but i must confess that i moved to south ga from s,car. and was origionally from n.car.

[petercooper]

deport anyone here illegally

[what's up]

Tsk, tsk. So much talk of mercy. What about all the illegals who have gotten mercy throughout the years (free health care, education, etc.)

Now, once instance of Bush enforcing the law and you're all hysterical.

How bout a little judgement to balance the mercy we've doled out for so long?

[paulklenk]

I commend you for having the courage to put your heads in the lion's mouth... It is my humble opinion that on this forum the best you can do is get support for expedited legal immigration...

We have to start somewhere, which is exactly why I'm pressing this issue. Getting our undies in a knot will prove nothing and the situation will remain the same.

We need to find a way to make this a win-win for everyone, especially the Republican party. It is an opportunity to radically change public opinion about Republicans.

But some people will moan about having to press One for English, which is a pretty pathetic political statement.