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.

[lainde]

bttt

[mgist]

Click here and here for lists of crimes committed by illegal aliens.

American men molest children in the US and all over the world, they are some of the biggest financial constributors to the illegal child prostitution rings around the world. Does that make us all pedophiles?

[Hoverbug]

I'm talking about the people who walk across illegally throgh the brush, not the ones who present themselves for inspections.

There are already stiff penalties for hiring illegals.

How many Agents are there for how many miles of border. You go ask any Border Patrol Agent if the border is under contol. Do you know what happens to someone who is arrested for crossing illegally? He's turned loose to try again.

If our borders are secure, how did all these illegals get here in the first place?

Hb

[mgist]

Unfortunately, the conservative base is not seeing this. In that sense, it is a political failure.

The Bush plan is brilliant, it addresses American interests in numerous ways. Doing nothing is much worse. If Americans are so blinded by xenophobia, we deserve Dean.

[normy]

Lets assume this proposal passed into law

Why does this stop illegal immigration and not encourage it? Would this proposal make new laws saying "NOW illegal immigration is truly illegal"?

Does an illegal immigrant who arrives after this thing would start get to apply for this also, therefore becoming a guest worker too?

Now every single construction company in the U.S has to only pay its workers minimum wage.

Every single munufacturing plant has to only pay its workers minimum wage.

Now after three years the resident worker goes home to Mexico and lives well on his wages while the American worker must adapt to a very poor lifestyle.

In other words there could begin a new class of Americans , the minimum wage worker.

would the government require raises for these people or only for citizen workers?

Does the Mexican government now get to lobby the U.S. government for higher wages for their citizens?

This is the worst idea I have ever heard of because our politicians do not have the balls to fine companys who hire illegals.

[upcountry miss]

I agree with much of what you state except I can't agree that farmers be allowed to commit crimes without suffering any consequence. Also, the fine mentioned would be to change their status from illegal to legally possessing a work permit. I would suggest that monies collected from fines go to enforcing our borders but I am not naive enough to think that any money collected wouldn't be diverted to some pork-barrelled project.

Tauzero; I agree that Bush is wrong on a lot of this, but still maintain that unless a dialog is started the situation is bound to get worse.

Dead Dog: I agree with most of what you say, but wouldn't be as easy on these illegals. There has to be some hardship involved.

[P.O.E.]

ROFL :)

I'm certainly not buying that "there's too many to deport them all" pseudo-argument. It would certainly slow the flow to start sending some back. Of course the media would be all over it with the boo-hoo anecdotes.

[Hoverbug]

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

Yes it is.

Hb

[normy]

The Bush plan is brilliant, it addresses American interests in numerous ways. Doing nothing is much worse. If Americans are so blinded by xenophobia, we deserve Dean

First please do not start with the "Americans being blinded by xenophobia" thing. I wonered how long it would take for that to surface.

Secondly please sway my opinion with your reasons this would be good for American interests.

[Arthur McGowan]

And, considering the crime statistics, not closing the borders is undoubtedly imposing other mammoth costs.

[hattend]

Just a hint? 74%? LOL!!!

[Happy2BMe]

"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."

Excellent point. The last attempt was in 1986, Ronald Reagan was president, and we were at the height of the Cold War and Democrats were doing their damndest to set up Reagan for another Watergate.

A FReeper's Guide To Immigration Reform

[Mr. Mojo]

Only 55%? Boy, I bet they must have stretched and massaged those numbers the way the Japanese massage their Kobe cows.

I actually think they're pretty accurate. Remember, many GOPers would support anything the Prez proposes, even if the proposal runs contrary to their political views. Herd mentality Pubbies. A 'Rat proposing the exact same thing would get clobbered by these same folks.

[Happy2BMe]

"Just a hint? 74%? LOL!!!"

Don't laugh! - It's not far behind that right here among Bush's stanuchest supporters . .

Question ...

After hearing President Bush's speech, do you approve of his immigration reform plan?

Yes
550 votes - 21%

No
1,672 votes - 66%

Undecided
304 votes - 12%

2,526 votes total; you voted "No"

BTW: The numbers voting NO are steadily climbing.

~ Take the FReeper Immigration Reform Poll ~

[Brian Allen]

<< 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. >>

God forbid.

Dean would, of course, not only for sure bugger up the War on Terrorism -- and that would be noticable -- but would not be passionately concerned with getting Constitutionalists on feral court benches and would probably commit Trillions of Dollars to illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional doctor and pharmacist bill-paying scams for America's already wealthy-beyond-belief fogies; Billions more on illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional, drunken-Kennedy-esque ejjakasheon legislation, would likely heap massive trade-Luddite tarrif taxes on US all to buy the remaining twenty seven steelworkers' votes; blow Billions on Africa's so-called "AIDS epidemic" [Despite there is no such epidemic and/or that it's none of our business] -- and confiscate from its owners and squander countless Billions more on illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional welfare for America's New Welfare Rich, the "farmers," and thus incite that corruptly-parasitical gang to grow billions more tons of whatever the USDA has already stockpiled by the scores of millions of unsaleable tons!

And stuff like that.

President Bush, though, thank God, is, with the probable exception of former president Reagan, perhaps the brightest fellow to have occupied the office since Calvin Coolidge and is pretty darn quick on his feet -- and my bet is that he has the good sense and the courage to reverse himself.

Or else.

And Tom Tancredo, meanwhile -- as a Man AND as a message bearer -- will be a great write-in candidate.

[hattend]

I was laughing at the headline... 74% say no but to the press that is only a "hint" of discontent.

[Happy2BMe]

"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."

Alien Nation - Mexican Hypocrisy, Corruption, and Welfare Fraud

The Illegal Alien Crime Wave"

[Happy2BMe]

I'm going to the local Republican Party meeting tonight.

Should be interesting. May do a separate thread on it.

This could turn out to be one of the greatest political achievements of our lifetime or it could turn out to be one of the gretest blunders.

The clock is ticking very fast on this one.

[keri]

If Americans are so blinded by xenophobia, we deserve Dean.

Better?

[k2blader]

I was pretty relieved to see the majority of FReepers disapprove of the illegal amnesty proposal.

It'd be interesting also to see what percentage of those disapproving are still planning to vote for Prez Bush.