[You Dirty Rats]

I just don't understand the unrelenting hostility towards immigrants, and particularly towards Latino immigrants.

My father is married to a Latina, and their family is typical of many Latino families: Deeply loyal to the family, hard-working, very religious (Catholic), proud to be Americans (those who have become citizens), and very glad to be in America (all).

The appaer to me to be natural CONSERVATIVES in their outlook, but the hardcore anti-immigrant Conservatives are alienating what should be natural allies.

The claim that most of the illegals are just collecting welfare and mooching off the rest of us is not true. Most of them work. Those that do sponge off the system should have their benefits cutoff -- this is mostly due to misguided policies in certain states (notably California).

There is plenty of room in this country for people who want to work.

[WackyKat]

There is plenty of room in this country for people who want to work.

Sure, tell that to the millions of Americans who have lost jobs in the last two years

The driving force behind mass immigration is to drive down American wages until they equalize with Third World wages

[skeeter]

The appaer to me to be natural CONSERVATIVES in their outlook, but the hardcore anti-immigrant Conservatives are alienating what should be natural allies.

Yet historically 'hispanics' vote 60/40 democratic.

Mexicans as a subgroup lean more left than that.

[Kevin Curry]

I just don't understand the unrelenting hostility towards immigrants, and particularly towards Latino immigrants

Here's a clue, Stu: implying that racism is the motivation is a cheap gutter tactic. Don't stoop to it.

If 9 million white Canadians were skulking around illegally in our country, demanding that Bush find a way to legalize them, most if not all of us here would be just as angry.

But we don't have 9 million Canadians skulking around in our country illegally. Do you know why? Because by and large Canadians have successfully taken up the challenge to create a society of laws that works.

The problem rests with the Mexicans themselves--indivuduals as well as leaders. They have a hell-hole for a country, and rather than roll up the sleeves and fix it, they move across the border. They have no incentive to do the hard work of bettering their country (a place of magnificent geography and abundant natural resources) because Bush is willing to give them an easier short-term solution.

[Aggie Mama]

It's not hostility towards immigrants. It's hostility towards not following the Rule of Law. Why should I play by the rules if someone else gets rewarded for not playing by the rules?

Your father's family sounds like my husband's family. They live in Brownsville and would be the first to tell you how much the illegals drain the resources of the government. They are appalled at Bush's proposal. They might say it in Spanish, but they are still furious at his idea.

[Rate_Determining_Step]

I just don't understand the unrelenting hostility towards immigrants, and particularly towards Latino immigrants.

Ya, I can't figure this out. Granted, I live in WA state and am not living through a big cultural change, but this doesn't make sense.

Some observations:

1. Lots of cultures. It's American.
2. Who gives a crank if you have to listen to a supermarket announcement in Spanish? Boo hoo.
   Go to little Havana and see how many O'Mally Avenues there are. Lots of Polish in Chicago. You can go for a while and not hear English there too.
3. I heard nothing wrong in with Bush said.
4. Everybody says he said "amnesty" - I heard no amnesty.
5. I have no horse in this race. I'm white - no latina/os in my family
6. Current immigration laws are not good. Penalize the honest and reward the bad. I see this as a step forward.
7. I don't firgure this will get one extra Hispanic vote - it's not about that. It's better for America.

Ya, I can't figure out the animosity against Hispanics here by some.

To you Buchannan trolls: Don't come at my conservative bona-fides. I've been here for 4 years. Favorite politician was Reagan and Phil Gramm. Want to trash the IRS. Full 2nd Amendment support. Against ALL 3rd trimester abortions - it's murder. Haven't seen a union I wouldn't want to bust. Take your Dixiecrat-think elsewhere.

[kevao]

I just don't understand the unrelenting hostility towards immigrants, and particularly towards Latino immigrants.

It's obvious you don't. Please don't confuse hostility toward ILLEGAL immigrants (criminals) with hostility toward legal immigrants.