Bush seeks to ease immigration laws

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | 1-6-04 | DEB RIECHMANN ASSOCAITED PRESS

[JustPiper]

WASHINGTON — President Bush is proposing to let foreign workers who have U.S. jobs waiting for them enter America.

Virtually silent on the immigration issue for two years, Bush was working today on remarks he will make about immigration on Wednesday afternoon at the White House to about 150 people active in immigration issues.

White House press secretary Scott McClellan would not say whether the president would announce a detailed proposal, or general outlines of a proposal to match willing foreign workers, mostly from Mexico, with receptive U.S. employers. There are an estimated 10 million undocumented workers in the United States, as many as half of them from Mexico

‘‘It’s the issue of what he’s talked about before — about matching willing workers with willing employers where there are jobs that Americans are not interested in filling,’’ McClellan said.

‘‘That’s an economic need that exists. It’s important that we have a fair immigration policy and an immigration policy that addresses those economic needs,’’ McClellan added.

The announcement comes just before Bush’s scheduled meeting with Mexico’s President Vicente Fox next week at the Summit of the Americas in Monterrey, Mexico. Mexican officials have complained bitterly at times that while the Bush administration has sought their help with border security and combatting drug trafficking, they have not acted on their desire for favorable changes in U.S. immigration policy.

Mexican officials have argued that the administration used post-Sept. 11 security concerns as an excuse to better protect, rather than allow freer movement over the U.S.-Mexican border. Tense relations were further aggravated by Mexico’s decision not to support the U.S.-led war in Iraq, and when Bush refused to stop the execution of a Mexican national in Texas.

[Texas_Dawg]

Is the type of work you do threatened by a foreign (illegal) worker coming here to the US?

Of course not.

[Dr.Zoidberg]

I see it come from both sides and find it ridiculous from either.

I found your characterization of certain Freepers as misanthropes and racists to be sickening and damned irresponsible however. Just because they don't see the world with your eyes is no reason to demonize them.

The same goes for the others here who use the tactics of character assassination and ridicule when all else fails.

I'm not afraid of empty labels, so if you want to call me a racist and misanthrope, that's fine, misguided but fine. Slinging words like that without knowing who and what you are talking about only serves to make you sound like a fool.

[Texas_Dawg]

I found your characterization of certain Freepers as misanthropes and racists to be sickening and damned irresponsible however. Just because they don't see the world with your eyes is no reason to demonize them.

You obviously haven't been paying much attention to FR.

[Beck_isright]

"If a person is matched with a job and comes to work they are no longer illegal."

Bovine scattalogy. If a person crosses the border illegally, they are an illegal alien. This used to be a nation of laws. I guess since you don's support upholding the law, you must have voted for Clinton.

[Dr.Zoidberg]

Do you mean to say that attacking someone for disagreeing with you is o.k.?

[from this machine]

Once I built a railroad, made it run Made it race against time Once I built a rairoad, now it’s done Brother can you spare a dime? Once I built a tower to the sun Brick and rivet and lime Once I built a tower, now it’s done Brother can you spare a dime? Once in khaki suits Gee, we looked swell Full of that yankee doodle de dum Half a million boots went slogging through hell I was the kid with the drum Say don’t you remember, they called me al It was al all the time Say don’t you remember, I’m your pal! Buddy can you spare a dime? Once I built a railroad, made it run Made it race against time Once I built a rairoad, now it’s done Brother can you spare a dime? Once I built a tower to the sun Brick and rivet and lime Once I built a tower, now it’s done Brother can you spare a dime? Once in khaki suits Gee, we looked swell Full of that yankee doodle de dum Half a million boots went slogging through hell I was the kid with the drum Say don’t you remember, they called me al It was al all the time Say don’t you remember, I’m your pal! Buddy can you spare a dime?

[Texas_Dawg]

Nice try. Do you realize how much you sound like the far left anti-war fringe?

No, reasonable people can disagree with the war as I know many who still support GWB that have. That is very, very different than hating the US and everything it does.

Reasonable people can disagree with GWB's policy on Mexico. And there are a handful here that do that. But there are many here who are isolationist misanthropes and racists as I said. If you don't know that, you haven't been paying much attention to FR. Surely you don't think FreeRepublic.com represents the views of a large percentage of conservatives in this country, do you?

[Texas_Dawg]

Haha. Hilarious. Thanks.

[Dr.Zoidberg]

Your opinion of me means absolutely nothing. You don't know anything about me or my political and social views so I couldn't even begin to care less whether you see me as a fringer or not.

I just think you should try to be less of an ass and stop the Jessie Jackson style preaching, that's all I was saying.

Until then, you will be relegated to the same page as the rest of the trolls and agitators. Ignored at best, laughed at worst.

I'm done with you.

[expat_panama]

a foreign (illegal) worker coming here to the US?

Amazing on how fast words change their meanings.  'Illegal' used to mean 'not according to or authorized by law', but now it means 'foreign'.

The article said "President Bush is proposing to let foreign workers who have U.S. jobs waiting for them enter America."  No laws broken here.  It is possible for a foreigner outside the US to come into the US without breaking a law.

I used to say I was against "illegal immigration", but now I have say I'm against law-breaking immigration. 

I guess it's like the word "gay".

[Mad Dawgg]

"...the one protecting you from all those black helicopters? Later, Cletus."

I thought it was the contrails that everyone was hiding from...

Or are the black helicopters dispensing the contrails?

I'm so confused...

[CWOJackson]

Wasn't that establish during the Iran-Contrails hearings?

[Texas_Dawg]

Your opinion of me means absolutely nothing. You don't know anything about me or my political and social views so I couldn't even begin to care less whether you see me as a fringer or not.

Did I say anything about you or give an opinion of you? Settle down there, Cletus. I said there are misanthropes and racists on FR and if you don't know that, you haven't been paying attention.

[Mad Dawgg]

"Wasn't that establish during the Iran-Contrails hearings?"

No I think you are confusing it with the IRAN-CONTOUR scandal.

The Iran-Contour scandal was when the Democrats accused Reagan of Making false Maps of Syria (or France, I get the two confused.)

Anyhow the whole event lost steam when Colonel Ollie North testified in full dress unifrom stating there was no such thing as France and/or Tom Daschle.

I would post the link, but I want a pony.

[Texas_Dawg]

Amazing on how fast words change their meanings. 'Illegal' used to mean 'not according to or authorized by law', but now it means 'foreign'.

The main reason some at FR are so mad about this idea is that if Bush grants "amnesty" to some foreign workers, it will not allow these FReepers to accurately call these people "illegals" anymore. And if the guy mowing your lawn is just as much an American at them at some point, what grounds do they have for hating that person? Before that man mowing their lawn and roofing their house was a dirty "illegal". Now he's just an American like them. Man... that has to suck for some FReepers.

[from this machine]

I'm going to sleep now, when I wake up my country will be gone.

[Theo]

undocumented workers

I keep seeing that phrase. What the heck does it mean? Isn't "illegal immigrant" a more direct and more accurate and more honest description? "Undocumented workers"? Huh? What? Come on....

If people tolerate that phrase, we're in a heap of trouble....

Well, this whole illegal alien thing has me placing more of my trust in God, less in those who represent me in government....

[Theo]

Some day you'll look back on your current mindlessness with embarrassment....

[Texas_Dawg]

I keep seeing that phrase. What the heck does it mean? Isn't "illegal immigrant" a more direct and more accurate and more honest description? "Undocumented workers"? Huh? What? Come on....

Good point. A bunch of legalese. Look on the bright side though... once they are given "amnesty", they won't be "illegals" anymore. Then they'll just be law-abiding people living and working in America, just like you and me.

[Texas_Dawg]

Some day you'll look back on your current mindlessness with embarrassment....

Mindlessness? Because I don't think illegally-immigrated Mexicans (many of them devout Christians like you say you are) that would love to work here and support this country are the downfall of our society? No... I don't think I'll look back on that with embarrassment someday.