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.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Enough of this idiocy on the part of Kerry and the Democrats, and Bush won't have to "Bring It On" or spend a dime.

[My2Cents]

Kerry finds himself bucking a President who is touting a plan that does not feature any sort of classic amnesty...

This kind of statement is red-meat to the Immigration Hawks. Anything short of rounding up everyone here illegally at gunpoint and dropping them back into Mexico (preferrably from an altitude of about 10,000 feet) is "amnesty."

[gatorbait]

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

Well, unless the Bush Bashers windex their navels, none of their hate rhetoric will change.They'll just find something else to support Kerry with.

[onyx]

Yep, "WE" are all on the same page.

[Howlin]

Here's ALL you need to know about John Kerry:

In the first days of a Kerry Administration, I will appoint a Presidential Ambassador to the Peace Process who will report directly to me and the Secretary of State – and who will work day-to-day to move that process forward. There are a number of uniquely qualified Americans who I would consider appointing, including: President Carter, former Secretary of State James Baker, or, as I suggested almost two years ago, President Clinton.

[nopardons]

No kidding. It's beyond the pale, that some here are working so hard, to claim,on the one hand, how "CONSERVATIVE" they are are,and on the other,how much better it would be, to get rid of President Bush.

[onyx]

CHEE-IT --- James Baker would NEVER work for Kerry.

[nopardons]

Great find, ETOM. Boy, oh boy, is Kerry a disaster!

[nopardons]

Your tinfoil is wrapped far too tightly and has completely cut off the blood from your brain.

[onyx]

Hey, ETOM. Really good to see you at such a decent hour for both of us. :)

[nopardons]

Unusual for me,I know, and I really should be elsewhere, but oh well. LOL

This thread has some really eye opening info.

[Sabertooth]

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.”

< -snip- >

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.

The differences between the Kerry Amnesty and the Bush Amnesty are largely cosmetic and semantic. Both would legalize millions of Illegals, and enable them to eventually get green cards and citizenship. Kerry's initial proposal would legalize more than Bush's, but the differences would probably narrow as either passed through Congress.

Kerry does seem to be a little more comfortable than Bush is in honestly calling his Amnesty for what it is.

Both the Kerry and Bush Amnesties are bad for the country, and need to be defeated.

[Sabertooth]

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

Nah, both parties are malfeasant on Illegals, and all of the Presidential candidates from both sides were pro-Amnesty from the start of the race. No surprises here.

The best chances of defeating Amnesty remain in maintaining a solidly GOP House. The Senate, limpwrists will probably go along with the Bush Amnesty, and I am not of the mind to see Kerry elected and hope for gridlock that way.

[Sabertooth]

This kind of statement is red-meat to the Immigration Hawks. Anything short of rounding up everyone here illegally at gunpoint and dropping them back into Mexico (preferrably from an altitude of about 10,000 feet) is "amnesty."

That's nonsense, of course.

Legalizing Illegal Aliens = Amnesty.

To suggest otherwise is as dishonest as saying that "is" isn't "is," and Lewinskies aren't sex.

At some point, I fully expect to see posters on this forum saying:

"So? Everyone lies about Amnesty."

[NittanyLion]

Good posts.

[NittanyLion]

This kind of statement is red-meat to the Immigration Hawks. Anything short of rounding up everyone here illegally at gunpoint and dropping them back into Mexico (preferrably from an altitude of about 10,000 feet) is "amnesty."

Similarly, to the "Immigration Doves", anything short of a 3000 square foot home and $250,000 welcoming gift is "a crackdown on illegals".

That statement makes about as much sense as your original. Surely you know better than to spread this kind of hyperbole around.

[gatorbait]

Kerry does seem to be a little more comfortable than Bush is in honestly calling his Amnesty for what it is.

Thanks again for your always erudite thoughts on this subject. Obviously Kerry is a paragon of honesty and should be supported. After all, we all know Bush is a RINO and must be flogged into submission .

Absolutely, Kerry is a man of principle and moral clarity. Thanks for calling that to our attention.

[EllaMinnow]

[onyx]

What is that "thang" on that child's head?

[EllaMinnow]

It's his "thinking cap" so he can grow up to be a REAL conservative.