Immigration, Bush proposal divides Republican Senate candidates

Mercury News ^ | Feb 1, 2004 | AP

[JoeSchem]

"I don't think you're going to solve this with barbed wire and National Guardsmen,"

Certainly not with the National Guardsman who became President of the United States.

[Pubbie]

No this is a different Ryan - the AG was named Jim Ryan.

The Senate candidate is Jack Ryan.

[Kuksool]

{Wasn't Ryan the A.G. of Illinois for the last few years and who lost the race for governor?}

That was Jim Ryan. The man running for the Senate is Jack Ryan, the ex-husband of actress Jeri Ryan.

[Missouri]

A.G. Ryan, ex-gov. Ryan, Senator Ryan. This is getting confusing. I'm glad I don't live in Illinois.

[4.1O dana super trac pak]

I guess Rove will be backing the Democrat candidate.

[Be active]

"Oberweis joins them in saying the United States must help other countries build their economies, reducing the incentive for their citizens to come here".

If we can spend 100 BILLION dollars in Iraq, we can spend a few billion to curtail illegal immigration. We could work out a plan with Mexico to give them economic aid if they stopped their people from coming to the U.S. It could work. Mexico likes their people sneaking into our country because of all the money they send back.

[Be active]

Oberweis milks immigration issue
Chicago Sun-Times: January 17, 2004 -- by Thomas Roeser

There's no doubt that Jim Oberweis, the conservative Aurora ice cream retailer-stock analyst candidate for the GOP Senate nomination, is not like some other candidates: touting here-again, gone-again issues like flavors of the month (pun intended). Since mid-November, he has been stressing far more than his competitors illegal immigration as a major U.S. problem. Now he is taking on the president of the United States, pledging to work against George W. Bush's immigration reform plan. It's a gutsy gamble because Bush is hugely popular with Republicans, but if Oberweis succeeds, he just might dominate the movement-conservative market to win his party's nod March 16.

Not content with just making speeches opposing Bush's plan to give foreign guest workers legal status for three years if they can get work visas tied to specific jobs, Oberweis has taken to the paid radio airwaves. In commercials beamed on 17 stations statewide plus the Rush Limbaugh program in Illinois, Oberweis declares, ''I have been a supporter of President Bush on taxes, on terrorism and his opposition to gay marriage. But I must stand opposed to the administration's plan to liberalize immigration laws. Illegal immigration fosters disrespect for the rule of law, results in lower wages for American families and costs taxpayers millions for government services. The president's plan is just plain wrong.

''I want to be the voice for Illinois voters to tell the president we think illegal immigration cannot be rewarded with amnesty. If you agree, call me toll free at (888) 338-4455. Sign up to oppose the president's initiative. And join my campaign for straight talk in the U.S. Senate.''

A 2002 Zogby poll showed that 68 percent of Americans are so worked up about illegal immigration that they want troops posted on the border. Not only that, but last year a Roper/ASW poll showed that 83 percent support mandatory detention, forfeiture of property and deportation.

On my WLS radio talk show last Sunday, listeners jammed the phones with protests (several conservatives said they wouldn't vote again for Bush). Oberweis' commercial resonating across the state has caused five additional phones to be installed in his Aurora headquarters. So far, not much has been heard from most of his GOP opponents on the issue.

Is this a replay of Know Nothing nativism that opposed immigration in the mid-19th century? That is not the case with Oberweis, who stresses his opposition only to rewarding illegal immigration. As senator, Oberweis says he would concentrate on two items: ''the security and safety of our families, and opportunities for our citizens to work and thrive and build for the future."

''I think a major threat to both of these goals has been the reluctance of our political leaders to take on the problem of the overflow of illegal aliens in our country. Some argue that we should ignore illegal immigration since these people are doing jobs Americans won't do. I say, nonsense. The main effect of illegal immigration on our economy is to depress American wages on the one hand and stifle the drive for creation of labor-saving devices on the other.

''As a result of illegal immigration, we live in a society of increasingly threatened national security, higher crime, loss of jobs, competition for basic social services, divisive cultural and linguistic problems and longer waits and higher rates for health care,'' he said. ''Illegal immigration also breeds a general disrespect for the law and punishes those who are trying to immigrate to our country legally. This must stop!

''Many of the decisions made by our political leaders defy common sense. Illegal aliens in Illinois now pay in-state tuition rates for a college education while a United States citizen in Iowa pays twice as much. The Legislature came within a few votes of authorizing driver's licenses for illegal aliens.''

Oberweis supports legislation requiring state and local law enforcement authorities to apprehend and turn over to the INS illegal immigrants they contact.

Most establishment Republicans list only two prospective winners in the primary: Jack Ryan and Andy McKenna. Elbowing them out of the way might well be Oberweis, who is fast developing as a crusader on an issue that throbs with emotion for many movement conservatives.


http://www.oberweisforsenate.com/

I think Oberweis is the best choice!

[Happy2BMe]

Immigration, Bush proposal divides Republican Senate candidates.

Imagine THAT - PING!

[Happy2BMe]

"Illegal Residents: 432,000 illegal aliens resided in Illinois as of 2000, according to INS figures. This is 49 percent higher than the previous INS estimate in 1996 and 123 percent higher than the estimate for 1990.25"

Study: Immigration Biggest Contributor to Sprawl (87% of Growth Attributed to Immigrants)

Bush’s Proposal Amounts To Amnesty For Millions of Illegal Immigrants

Bush: Let Illegals Work in U.S. (But that is not enough say illegals.)

[dagnabbit]

I sure hope we get a chance to vote for a decent President in 2008, because we sure don't have that opportunity this year.

[Kuksool]

Former Governor George Ryan, Former Attorney General Jim Ryan, and Senate Candidate Jack Ryan are not related. Ryan is a very common name in the Chicago Metro Area.

[Kuksool]

In fact, the Senate 2002 race featured a contest between RAT incumbent Dick Durbin and GOP challenger Jim Durkin.

[B4Ranch]

Real patriots can't be
browbeaten into blind allegiance against freedom.

[Clintonfatigued]

Same here. More candidates need to say, "While I admire President Bush and many of his policies, he is mistaken here and I can not support this proposal." BTW, why didn't anyone in the White House tip off their Republican allies about this proposal in the first place?

[WOSG]

Any open senate race state should be TREATED as a "must win" state. I hope Bush puts his resources into retaining the Senate seat there and winning the state.

Bush could win Illinois if he tries.

[WOSG]

" only one - state Sen. Steve Rauschenberger - backs bipartisan federal legislation making it easier for states to offer lower, in-state college tuition to the children of illegal immigrants."

Based on this, I am glad Raschenberger is getting no traction.

It seems either Oberweis or Ryan would be okay on immigration.

Jack Ryan ought to get TOM CLANCY to endorse him.
I know he's no CIA hero, but what the heck, it may just erase the curse of the Ryans in Illinois.

[WOSG]

"As to cracking down on employers, fine. However the Feds then have to make them immune from harassment lawsuits from 'immigrant advocate groups'. Saying they're responsible and LIABLE for hiring illegals, but denying them the ability to make-sure Jose has legal papers without fear of retaliation is idiotic."

Good points.

Check out my article on immigration for other real solutions:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1059957/posts

[WOSG]

''I think a major threat to both of these goals has been the reluctance of our political leaders to take on the problem of the overflow of illegal aliens in our country. Some argue that we should ignore illegal immigration since these people are doing jobs Americans won't do. I say, nonsense. The main effect of illegal immigration on our economy is to depress American wages on the one hand and stifle the drive for creation of labor-saving devices on the other. ''As a result of illegal immigration, we live in a society of increasingly threatened national security, higher crime, loss of jobs, competition for basic social services, divisive cultural and linguistic problems and longer waits and higher rates for health care,'' he said. ''Illegal immigration also breeds a general disrespect for the law and punishes those who are trying to immigrate to our country legally. This must stop! ''Many of the decisions made by our political leaders defy common sense. Illegal aliens in Illinois now pay in-state tuition rates for a college education while a United States citizen in Iowa pays twice as much. The Legislature came within a few votes of authorizing driver's licenses for illegal aliens.''

This is great straight-talk from Oberweis - if he wins on this issue, ie if he wins in NOVEMBER, it will certainly help to kill amnesty as an idea. The key is not to just get the GOP base on this side of the issue, but to get the liberals and swing voters too.

[BillyBoy]

TO CONTRAST:

"Using the National Guard is a possibility supported by doctor-turned-businessman Kathuria and Wright, a former state senator.

Legislation being considered in Congress would bar local police from turning a blind eye to suspected violations.

Kathuria and Oberweis support the idea. "If people know it (the law) is going to be enforced, it will stop a lot of the illegal immigration," Kathuria said".

[JohnnyZ]

Look at all the little sheeple lining up behind the "moderate" just 'cause he tells them he's against immigration. Must be a sad life to be so easily manipulated.