Kerry on the Record: Amnesty is OK

NewsMax.com ^ | March 4, 2004 | Dave Eberhart

[upchuck]

Kerry on the Record: Amnesty is OK

Dave Eberhart, Newsmax.com
Thursday, Mar. 04, 2004

[More Kerry on the Record: Intelligence, Defense, Taxes, Abortion, POW/MIA, Gay Marriage]

Putative Democratic candidate for president, Sen. John Forbes Kerry, D-Mass., is not afraid of the charged “amnesty” word when it comes to his stated policies on undocumented immigrants.

Despite amnesty’s nettlesome connotation as being synonymous with “rewarding persons who have engaged in illegal activity,” Kerry told the world at the Albuquerque, New Mexico Democratic Primary debate:

“I supported and was prepared to vote for amnesty from 1986. And it is essential to have immigration reform. Anyone who has been in this country for five or six years, who’s paid their taxes, who has stayed out of trouble, ought to be able to translate into an American citizenship immediately, not waiting.”

After a period of time, however, the dreaded “amnesty” word worked its way out of the Kerry lexicon on the subject. In its place -- the more refined and neater: “earned legalization”:

“I support an earned legalization proposal that will allow undocumented immigrants to legalize their status if they have been in the United States for a certain amount of time, have been working, and can pass a background check. This makes sense for the economy, provides fairness to people in our communities who have worked hard and paid taxes, and will also allow us to strengthen our homeland security by bringing undocumented workers out of the shadows.”

In any event, the Kerry rhetoric seemed to hit the right note. The Cesar Chavez-founded United Farm Workers endorsed Sen. Kerry for President. UFW President Arturo S. Rodriguez gave Kerry ringing praise in the official announcement:

“[T]he United Farm Workers proudly supports Senator John Kerry for President because he shares our vision of helping Latinos and all people achieve the decent life America promises those who work hard for a living….

“We trust Senator Kerry because of his long history with us, from participating in the grape boycott during the mid-1970s to supporting the right of California strawberry workers to organize in the late 1990s.

“Most recently, we have worked with Senator Kerry on bipartisan legislation dealing fairly with the immigration dilemma facing immigrant workers, their families and employers -- the AgJobs bill, S. 1645, that John Kerry co-sponsors along with 50 other U.S. senators from both parties….”

Despite having earned the key Chavez imprimatur, Kerry has not always been the Johnny-on-the-spot migrant worker’s best friend and savior.

In 1998, for instance, Kerry voted against the creation of a national registry containing names of U.S. workers who want to perform temporary or seasonal agricultural work, and to require the Attorney General to allow more foreign workers into the U.S. for farm work under H-2A visas.

Also in 1998, Kerry voted down an expanded Visa program for skilled workers.

In 1997, Kerry voted against an amendment that would have restored food stamp benefits to the children of legal immigrants.

But such momentary lapses can apparently be forgiven by the Chavez camp as Sen. Kerry is, indeed, a co-sponsor of S. 1645, the Agricultural Job Opportunity, Benefits, and Security Act of 2003.

This bill would create a guest-worker program that leads to amnesty for certain agricultural workers. The potential recipients of the amnesty will be required to prove 100 days of agricultural employment in the 18-month period that ended Aug. 31, 2003. Then, prior to receiving amnesty, workers would have to show 360 days of additional farm work over the next six years.

In 2002, Sen. Kerry voted for S.2045, the Abraham foreign worker bill to nearly triple the number of foreign high-tech workers. The bill passed the Senate 96-1 despite its arrival on the heels of the release of a special Government Accounting Office report finding.

Although he went with the herd in 2002, four years before in 1998, Kerry voted against S.1723, which passed the Senate 72-20. Enacted into law, it increased by nearly 150,000 the number of foreign workers that high-tech American companies could hire over the next three years.

In the case of S.1723, Kerry agreed with those who argued that the foreign workers were not needed -- while U.S. firms were laying-off tens-of-thousands of American workers.

As to Kerry’s opinion of the President’s proposed program: “We need comprehensive immigration reform; you can’t do just one piece. The president’s plan is a fraudulent plan. It’s fundamentally a plan for cheap labor.”

Harsh labels aside, Kerry finds himself bucking a President who is touting a plan that does not feature any sort of classic amnesty:

“I oppose amnesty -- placing undocumented workers on the automatic path to citizenship,” Bush said, when announcing his own proposal. “Granting amnesty encourages the violation of our laws and perpetuates illegal immigration. America’s a welcoming country. But citizenship must not be the automatic reward for violating the laws of America.”

Bush, among other things, wants to up the number of “green” cards that allow immigrants to work lawfully in the U.S. Currently about 140,000 “green cards” are issued each year to people wanting to migrate to the United States.

Under the Bush plan illegal immigrants already in the United States can only apply for the temporary worker program if they already have a job. The special status would last for three years and could be renewed once, for a total stay of six years. If temporary workers failed to stay employed or broke the law, they would be sent home.

Pundits say that the Bush plan is likely to pass muster in the Congress.

[upchuck]

“earned legalization”

Hmmm... I've been thinking about this a little. The "illegal aliens" are actually CRIMINAL aliens since they broke the law in entering our country in an illegal fashion.

If I'm a criminal and I seek a clean slate, how do I do this? One way is by "doing the time for my crime."

How 'bout this: Since these people are CRIMINALS, we offer them five years of hard labor in a maximum security prison during which time they are taught how to speak English and about American customs, mores, etc. After that, they automatically become American citizens.

You may think I'm crazy, but think about this: Under both President Bush's plan and Kerry's plan there is no penalty whatsoever for these CRIMINALS breaking the law. We just welcome them with open arms and all is forgiven.

I'm sorry. But if this plan (either plan) is implemented, there'll be a migration into this country like we've never seen or even imagined.

[doberville]

Sen. John Forbes Kerry, D-Mass., is not afraid of the charged “amnesty” word when it comes to his stated policies on undocumented immigrants. "undocumented immigrants" is what should be in quotes.

So, is this to be the new PC expression for ILLEGAL aliens?

Oh puke. More 'newspeak'.

[CheezyD]

A working link...

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2004/3/3/224520.shtml

[upchuck]

Sorry about the bad link. My screwup.

[sixmil]

Once again, the public will get stiff-armed on this issue. Skull and Bones for President.

[Guillermo]

So, I guess the Bush and Kerry positions on criminal aliens is the same?

[jtminton]

Looks like Bush just got trumped on the Hispanic vote.

[jocko12]

BUSH AND KERRY MAKE NADER LOOK GOOD.

[mortal19440]

The Dems can't allow the word illegal to be used because even we Republicans understand that illegal is wrong. These pukes make me want to puke.

[DustyMoment]

And this is a surprise to whom?

[Askel5]

Is there anything on which Kerry and Bush DO NOT agree?

[mhking]

undocumented immigrants

Call 'em what they are: ILLEGAL ALIENS!

[jordan8]

Don't worry, if you don't like Kerry's stand on amnesty you can always vote for . . . uh . . .hmmmmm . . . nevermind.

The almost universal use of phrases like "undocumented immigrant" instead of the traditional phrase "illiegal alien" is a good case to use when pointing out the liberal bias and totalitarian unity of the American press. Of course, few if any politicians or activists will use it as an example of press bias because doing so opens them up to a charge of racism.

[doberville]

Probably not.

[doberville]

Probably not.

[george wythe]

“ Anyone who has been in this country for five or six years, who’s paid their taxes, who has stayed out of trouble, ought to be able to translate into an American citizenship immediately, not waiting.”

Not even wait for a few years, like the people who obtained legal status in the 1986 amnesty.

Kerry 4 Prez.

[/s]

[onyx]

Here's the real amnesty candidate for president. How bad does Bush look now?

[Howlin]

Skull and Bones for President.

I take it you were blackballed from a fraternity/sorority in college.

[goldstategop]

Pinging Sabertooth. Somehow I think this stuff will have him upchuck his breakfast! ;-)