Poll Hints Bush Immigrant Plans Unpopular

NewsMax ^

[Happy2BMe]

Poll Hints Bush Immigrant Plans Unpopular

NewsMax.com Wires
Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2004

WASHINGTON -- More than half of Americans oppose President Bush's plan that would allow some illegal immigrants to stay for several years to work jobs U.S. citizens don't want, a poll indicates.

Just over half, 55 percent, said they oppose the plan, while 42 percent favor it, according to a CNN-USA Today-Gallup poll out Monday.

By a 2-1 margin, those in the poll said immigrants hurt the economy by driving wages down for many Americans rather than help the economy by providing low-cost labor. In 2000, people were split on that question.

When people were asked whether the United States should make it easier for illegal immigrants to become citizens, 74 percent said no - up from 67 percent in August 2001.

The poll of 1,003 adults was taken Jan. 9-11 and had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

[Brian Allen]

<< Just over half, 55 percent, said they oppose the plan,

As long as its the half that doesn't have anywhere else to go, it doesn't matter. What are they going to do, vote Democrat? >>

Including me there are eighteen usually activist Republicans in my immediate to close circle of friends and aquaintances who already send in checks made out for Zero Dollars and Zero Cents and who will neither support a federal Republican nor vote for one for as long as President Bush's criminal reward for criminal alien invaders is on the table.

As things stand, that's nineteen votes that I know of that the "opposition" doesn't need to dig up.

And, speaking of the opposition, God knows that the last time around the bastards sprung from prison, imported from the third world, granted "citizenship" to and dug up enough dimpled chads to create the illusion of having won the popular vote.

President Bush can lose re-election on this issue.

[sweetliberty]

"Poll Hints Bush Immigrant Plans Unpopular"

Well DUH!!!! Ya think??

[upcountry miss]

While I don't feel as strongly about this issue as most Freepers, I guess I am not as forgiving as you. You say non-agricultural employees-what about the farmers hiring immigrants? Do they just go merrily along their way with no penalty? I think most immigrants would happily pay a stiff fine (don't call it a fee) in order to legally obtain a work permit. This fine could be deducted from their wages. I suspect they would still earn more than in Mexico, and I am strongly in favor of severely penalizing ALL employers who illegally hire immigrants.

[AdamSelene235]

Add Bush's signature on the AWB and I imagine things could get interesting.

On the bright side, if an overt Socialist like Dean if elected he'll find we are too broke to do much.

The Middle Eastern situation will get completely buggered.

[Brian Allen]

#7 BTTT!

[af_vet_rr]

Here is a great solution to the illegal immigration problem. If a non agricultural business has illegals hired it should have 6 mos to either help them become citizens at company expense or fire them or pay a large fine. The fine should be compounded yearly.

Here's my plan. If a company hasn't made a good attempt at verifying the legality of its worker's citizenship status, throw the owners and managers in jail for harboring criminals ;-)

[Hoverbug]

What in Bush's plan stops the following from happening?:

Illegals here register. They are now legal, and have to be paid at least minimum wage.

A 'new' group of illegal aliens come north, will accept a lower wage than the "guest worker", and is hired instead of the guest worker.

Hb

[Brian Allen]

<< The plan really is brilliant. >>

Yair.

Right on.

Brilliant.

Can't get the criminal-alien invaders to stop coming and/or to leave while it involves the commission of countless felonies to come and to stay.

So we'll reward their past and current felonious criminality with the grant of amnesty -- and out of gratitude for that amnesty they -- and their millions of spawn and extended families -- will all depart after three years or six.

Bloody brilliant, that.

Flew right over the cookoo's nest!

[And, unless he reverses himself, will likely cost President Bush his job]

[spodefly]

When people were asked whether the United States should make it easier for illegal immigrants to become citizens, 74 percent said no - up from 67 percent in August 2001.

C'mon you heartless bastards. They are just "economic refugees" coming here to "do the jobs Americans don't want." Illegal Aliens will make great "neighbors"!

[P.O.E.]

Lettuce Roll?

[normy]

The reason I say farmers should be excluded is it would require a different solution. If a citizen is fine with picking fruit for 4.00 an hour thats fine. Perhaps Bush's plan would work for farming only.

Companys of any size that hire illegals should pay the fine, not the illegals themselves. If we allow people to pay a 'fine' to work here it still makes it a favorable prospect to go to the U.S. to work. It still tells a corporation it is better to hire resident worker than a citizen. What are the benifits of citizenship ?

Companys must find it unprofitable to hire non- citizens. Lets face it if a corp. doing a million dollar road construction job can hire resident workers for minimum wage the citizen construction worker is done for because he cant live with his buddies and go home to Mexico in the winter.

[Libertina]

Shocker... /s

[putupon]

Lettuce Roll?

Lettuce Roll them illegals back home!

[normy]

Here's my plan. If a company hasn't made a good attempt at verifying the legality of its worker's citizenship status, throw the owners and managers in jail for harboring criminals ;-)

Ha Ha not a horrible idea but we want those jobs here so people have work.

[Tauzero]

"There may be an economic COST to doing so."

And there could just as well be an economic cost to not doing so. Both in the longer term from changing culture, and short term from welfare statism.

[r9etb]

Just my $0.02, but I'll note that Bush's "plan" is nothing but a proposal. It's NOT a law, and it's NOT policy.

What he has done here is to open an actual debate on the topic, which is something that has not occurred for a long time, and certainly not in a post 9-11 context.

As such, I think he has laid out a reasonable position (which is not the same as a correct position) that is a) no worse than what we have now; and b) is well to the right of the Aztlan activists and their Democrat enablers. And as a matter of fact, the proposal to register "illegals" makes theoretical sense on a number of levels.

What will most likely happen is that the Tancredo wing of Congress will drag immigration policy toward a better-secured border. Their influence will give us something better than we have now.

Or at least, we'll get something better if those fine folks don't follow Tancredo -- who is a consummate political fool -- on a fratricide mission against Bush.

Bush has gotten the debate off dead-center. Now it can progress toward some definitive conclusion, which should bring an improvement in border policies. All in all, that's a good thing for him to have done.

[Tauzero]

"Could it be that the answer is not as easy as most Freepers think?"

Could it be the answer is not so easy as Bush thinks?

[Dead Dog]

....For the first time in our history we have consolidated all border agencies under one roof, to make sure they share information and the work is more effective.

We're matching all visa applicants against an expanded screening list to identify terrorists and criminals and immigration violators.

This month we have become using advanced technology to better record and track aliens who enter our country and to make sure they leave as scheduled.

BUSH: We have deployed new gamma and X-ray systems to scan cargo and containers and shipments at ports of entry to America.

We have significantly expanded the Border Patrol with more than 1,000 new agents on the borders and 40 percent greater funding over the last two years. We're working closely with the Canadian and Mexican governments to increase border security.

America is acting on a basic belief: Our borders should be open to legal travel and honest trade; our borders should be shut and barred tight to criminals, to drug traders, drug traffickers and to criminals and to terrorists.

....

Third, we should not give unfair rewards to illegal immigrants in the citizenship process or disadvantage those who came here lawfully or hope to do so.

..

..There must be strong workplace enforcement with tough penalties for anyone -- for any employer violating these laws

It's simply a carrot and a stick, it's up to Congress to provide both the carrot and the stick.

Bush's proposal is prudent, and politically feasible solution. It may not be 100% bullet proof, but it certainly will not increase the illegals. And it certainly doesn't desirve the hysterical screams of "Treason" coming from some conservatives.

It sure the hell ain't giving away the farm.

[varon]

As long as its the half that doesn't have anywhere else to go, it doesn't matter. What are they going to do, vote Democrat?

That's why a two party system sucks. It's a "hostage" situation if there is no choice.

[Dead Dog]

Actually, the solution is quite simple.

Step 1). Get rid of minimum wage and payroll taxes
Step 2). Enforce the border by mobilizing National Guard
and Militia, kill everything moving North illegally

Step 3). Give amnesty to illegals heading south.
Step 4). Let Vince Fox know what side of the Evil Axis he
wants to avoid being on.

Until these can be politically implemented, I like the Bush plan.