Backers say Bush plan goes beyond immigration

Washington Times ^ | 1-15-04 | Bill Sammon

[JustPiper]

President Bush's political strategists, taking note of the unpopularity of his immigration initiative as reflected in public-opinion polls, expressed confidence yesterday that the proposal will gain support as it is recast as an economic and homeland security issue.

"Once people have had a chance to educate themselves about the proposal and what it does, support for it will grow," said Christine Iverson, spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee.

[JustPiper]

Ping!!!

[Howlin]

According to a Gallup poll, 55 percent of Americans disapprove of the proposal. A poll by ABC News found that 52 percent of the country opposes allowing illegal immigrants from Mexico "to live and work legally in the United States."

So, barely half.

[Michael Barnes]

I dunno..I have spoken to many liberal friends who are agianst it..Personally, I think the media would love to spin this FOR BUSH. The ol' set up for failure thing.

I hate the idea personally. Hope this thing never get's off the ground.

[Acolyte]

>>This is why Bush supporters are eager to sell the plan as having benefits outside of immigration. Miss Iverson, for example, said the proposal will stimulate the economy by matching "willing workers with willing employers."<<

Matching workers willing to work for $3.50 an hour with employers willing to pay that much, most likely.

[Michael Barnes]

drat...forgot to include that it would not surprise me if the numbers are much higher and this "data" is being massaged to a lower figure.

[Sabertooth]

A Bush campaign official said the administration's own internal polling shows that "a majority of Republicans do support the president's immigration policy. Does that mean everybody does? No. And ultimately this was a difficult decision."

< -snip- >

White House Deputy Press Secretary Trent Duffy said Mr. Bush proposed the plan because "it's the right thing to do." Mr. Duffy said his boss "doesn't make decisions based on polls."

Hilarious.

This is all spin; the Bush Amnesty is a debacle.

If the President's polls showed support for the Bush Amnesty, his decision wouldn't have been difficult.

If it's really "the right thing to do," the President's decision wouldn't have been difficult.

President Bush has always wanted Amnesty for Illegal Aliens. Always.

[DoughtyOne]

The thing about the polls is this. If asked if people approve of Bush's immigration plan, they repond on their like or dislike of Bush. Republicans break about even on the plan. Democrats don't like it because it's Bush's idea. When asked if people agree with any amnesty or legitimazation of the illegals already here, totally separate from Bush, 75% say a resounding no. Neither Democrats or Republicans favor the idea. Bush has signed on to a plan that almost nobody desires. For the life of me, I don't see how anyone but the floundering El Presidente Vincente Fox could sign on to this sucker.

[dagnabbit]

I'd wish the pollsters had also broken out the count by who the respondants voted for in 2000. I suspect a lot more than 52 percent of Bush voters (AKA suckers) oppose this assault on our country. The pro-Amnesty crowd tilts heavily left - just like the President on the issue.

[F16Fighter]

"Once people have had a chance to educate themselves about the proposal and what it does, support for it will grow," said Christine Iverson, spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee.

"Grow" like what? A tumor?

Question to Christine Iverson: "Are you confusing the IQ of Republican and conservative voters with the morons who vote Democrat?"

These professional propagandists over at the RNC and GOP have become as delusional and arrogant as the DNC and Terry McAullife.

[Kay Soze]

WOW

So the "proposal" is doing in mainstream US then here on Free Republic!

Here 66% are against it.

We have alot of Freepfringers!

[Pushing W to the Right]

[ThePythonicCow]

I like Bush's proposal.

The problem of 10 million or whatever illegal immigrants already in our country cannot practically be solved by deporting them. Too many, too entrenched. It would take an effort resembling that used by Hitler to round up the Jews to deport all the illegal immigrants. Ugly, really ugly.

What needs to be done is to move the status quo toward getting everyone involved to operate legally. If you can't enforce the law, change it, in a way that is reasonably fair to the various parties involved. Better than continuing to operate with the chronic sore of mass illegality. But this requires a win-win solution, where all parties see some gain. This is hard to swallow for those who have been wronged by the illegal behaviour of others so far.

This is not simple amnesty. That is unnecessary, outrageously unearned, and doesn't change future behaviour to being legal. Rather it is a temporary worker program, with incentives for leaving when the time is up, and with additional fees, but not punative fines, for those who have been here illegally. Simply announcing those additional fees now, as Bush did, will immediately slow the flow of illegal immigrants some, as people decide to stay in their current country for now, expecting to come later for less money.

If Bush leaves his 8 years with the current massively extra-legal immigrant situation replaced with one in which most people are operating within the law, then this will be a substantial improvement.

The key remaining difficulty will be in avoiding the expense of education, social services, medical care and such for the families of temporary workers. What Bush is proposing doesn't resolve that issue, though I don't see that it makes it alot worse.

But I wouldn't reject a plan because it doesn't solve all the related problems, so long as it moves us in the right direction (respect for the law).

[Travis McGee]

Depends on how the poll questions are worded.

When asked, "should illegal aliens in America be granted amnesty" about 80% say NO!

[Travis McGee]

That is an incoherent response. Gibberish. We will increase respect for the law by just saying "Oh well" and granting amnesty (in stages) to 12 million law breakers?

I want some of what you're smoking.

[Travis McGee]

These professional propagandists over at the RNC and GOP have become as delusional and arrogant as the DNC and Terry McAullife.

Amen! The "let them eat cake" wing of the RNC is in charge.

[ThePythonicCow]

President Bush has always wanted Amnesty for Illegal Aliens. Always.

I'd like to think that he would like to provide them a basis for working here legally, and willing to forgive their past in return for their co-operation with a legal framework.

Bush really is compassionate and forgiving. He will forgive almost anyone anything, if they will come straight, and he will work hard to setup a framework in which that can happen. He holds no grudge against illegal immigrants, only a strong desire to improve a bad situation.

Of course, if you won't come around, and your powers of evil are sufficiently large, he will send the Marines out to capture or kill you, after fair warning.

[DeuceTraveler]

I thought the part about it also creating a more secure nation was the worst spin in this article.

"By getting a large number of temporary workers into a program, we have a better idea of who is coming and going in the United States of America," the official added.

What a friggin' joke.

[ThePythonicCow]

What would you have Bush do?

[ThePythonicCow]

We will increase respect for the law by just saying "Oh well" and granting amnesty (in stages) to 12 million law breakers?

That's not what he's doing.

[Travis McGee]

Notify employers that standing laws will be enforced against hiring illegal. Make examples.

No more tuition, welfare, or non-emergent health care for illegals. Allow police to ask illegals (those 20 guys standing outside of Home Depot who don't speak English for example) if they are legal residents, and call the INS if they are in fact illegals.

The illegals will deport themselves when they are cut off from the great American mammary gland.