Republican to Lead Immigration Revolt Against Bush

Reuters ^ | Jan 12, 2005 | Alan Elsner

[GOPXtreme20]

Republican to Lead Immigration Revolt Against Bush

By Alan Elsner

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Republican member of the House of Representatives vowed on Wednesday to lead a revolt against President Bush (news - web sites)'s immigration reform proposals and predicted that up to 180 party members would support him.

Bush in an interview with the Washington Times published on Wednesday said he plans to force a debate in Congress this year on his proposal that would allow some illegal immigrants to obtain legal work permits in the United States.

Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo, who heads the House Immigration Reform Caucus, said he was determined to block the legislation. The caucus, which had 71 members in the last Congress, argues for stronger action to stop illegal immigration and a reduction of legal migration.

"Why is this so important to the president?" Tancredo said. "Is it just the corporate interests who benefit from cheap labor? Do they have such a strong grip on our president so that he is actually willing to put our nation at risk, because open borders do put our nation at risk?

"Is it petulance, because we were able to stop it in the last Congress? Why is it so important to give amnesty to people who have broken the law?" Tancredo said.

"I'm willing to lead a fight against this and I would say there are at least 180 members of our Republican caucus who are willing at least to stop amnesty for illegal immigrants," he told Reuters in a telephone interview.

Bush has repeatedly said he views immigration reform as an important issue for his second term. In the Washington Times interview, he said it was near the top of his agenda.

"Look, whether or not you agree with the solution or not, we have a problem in America when you've got 8 million undocumented workers here," he said.

BUSH CONFIDENCE

Bush expressed confidence he could win over opponents, as he did in passing tax reform during his first term. "Initially out of the box, some people said, over my dead body would they pass tax relief ... If I listened to all that, I'd just quit, you know. But that's not the way I think."

But analysts agree that immigration reform could be much more divisive for Republicans since growing numbers of rank-and-file voters are becoming concerned at the continued influx of illegal immigrants across the Mexican border.

"No issue, not one, threatens to do more damage to the Republican coalition than immigration," said David Frum, a former White House speech writer in Bush's first term.

"There's no issue where the beliefs and interests of the party rank-and-file diverge more radically from the beliefs and interests of the party's leaders," he wrote in the National Review last month.

Bush insists he is not offering amnesty to illegal immigrants but Tancredo said that was a "manipulation of language, the kind of thing (former President) Bill Clinton would have done. There is an issue of integrity here and an issue of honesty," he said.

[rdb3]

I've thought long and hard about this illegal immigrant issue with the way Hillary! is trying to triangulate on the issue.

Our President wants to lead us down a path that we don't want to follow. I'm sure he's confident that he could get his proposal through if the GOP members in the House (forget the Senate) don't fight him on it. There's one issue that Bush wants dearly, and that's to fix the Social Security disaster.

Okay. Fine. House Republicans should attach a provision in any Social Security bill that includes strong measures against illegal immigration. They should also attach this same provision along with any spending or tax reform proposals.

Thoughts?

[Stringfellow Hawke]

We put the wrong man in the Oval Office. We should have voted Tancredo for president, rather then Mr. 'Compassionate Conservative" weenie.

[areafiftyone]

This could be the issue that puts Hillary in the White House.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

[Dane]

illegals taking jobs (who says we don't want them?)

I surmise you will be the first in line tomorrow morning to take a janitorial or housekeeping position.

[airborne]

Looks like President Bush has give a potential 2008 Presidential candidate an issue with which to build a candidacy upon.

[cassie22]

I voted for Bush but I agree with Tancredo on this issue.

[ZULU]

"What special treatment? They aren't going to get citizenship, just the privilage to pick vegetables or clean toilets, that native born Americans on welfare refuse to do."

Its OUR fualt if we permit people who can work on welfare not to do so.

As for the special treatment, WHO do you think will pay for their education, their medication, their hosiptal bills, etc????? Their employers??? Think again. YOU will, and so will I.

Further, creating a special underclass of exploited slave labor is hardly in the American tradition - at least recently anyway.

If we need more workers, raise the immigration quotas, but don't reward people who sneak across our borders with American jobs and free social services paid for by American tax-payers.

Bush is out of his head on this subject.

[cassie22]

They're doing more than just picking veggies and cleaning toilets.

[Dane]

I've thought long and hard about this illegal immigrant issue with the way Hillary! is trying to triangulate on the issue.

Could anybody post hillary's solution.

Anybody? Bueller?

[RKV]

We can fix the part about Americans not being willing to work. End welfare. Thats about all it takes.

[Mamzelle]

re: My personal feelings on this is that Bush is trying to lay the ground work for Jeb Bush in the future by catering to the Hispanic vote. )))

That's as plausible a theory as any. Frankly, I'm so perplexed by his disloyalty that I'd at least find a little comfort in your theory.

My own theory is that it's a Rich Guy's Servant Guilt. GW has probably had Mexican servants wiping his nose when he grew up. I see it among the golf set--they love to have cheap servants, but feel guilty about making someone else clean their toilets and generally act the slave, so their answer is to try to force everyone to Say It's OK.

These golf wives all say, "They're so sweet. It breaks my heart, how much they want work and how willing and humble and grateful they are...Oooo! I just love being queen of the manor, Scarlett O'Hara with all her grovelling servants! But I know other people disapprove, so I'll pass laws to make them approve."

Anyway, that's my own theory, based on the enraging condescension of the rich folks I happen to know...

[COEXERJ145]

Looks like President Bush has give a potential 2008 Presidential candidate an issue with which to build a candidacy upon.

Outside of this forum and others like it, you will find most people are not obsessed to the point where they're about to keel over from an aneurysm when it comes to immigration.

Its funny, dozens of self professed "conservatives" on this site have already announced that they will vote for Hillary Clinton for President as long as she promises them she'll follow their agenda on immigration. Maybe these so called "conservatives" should switch to the Democrat party and get it over with or go join Pat Buchanan in the Reform Party.

[Dane]

If we need more workers, raise the immigration quotas, but don't reward people who sneak across our borders with American jobs and free social services paid for by American tax-payers

I agree, I would have voted for Proposition 200 in AZ., but face it these people are doing jobs most Americans snub their nose at, and I think it is better to try to bring sanity to the system and bring these people above ground instaed of the insanity we have now.

[hushpad]

I surmise you will be the first in line tomorrow morning to take a janitorial or housekeeping position.


If I were a high-school drop out, or had lost my job and could not find anything, had kids to feed, etc..I sure as heck WOULD take one of those jobs!

It's honest work for honest people that want to work..get Americans OFF WELFARE and into some of those jobs "no one wants"!!!

[tophat9000]

Agreed I supported Bush.... but on illegal aliens Bush is wrong!

[Dane]

My own theory is that it's a Rich Guy's Servant Guilt. GW has probably had Mexican servants wiping his nose when he grew up. I see it among the golf set--they love to have cheap servants, but feel guilty about making someone else clean their toilets and generally act the slave, so their answer is to try to force everyone to Say It's OK

Whew, cue twilight zone music.

BTW, when are you going to apply for a dishwashing job at a restaurant or housekeeper at a hotel.

[Mr. Mojo]

They aren't going to get citizenship, just the privilage to pick vegetables or clean toilets

And a disproportionate number of them will commit violent crimes. 25% of American prison inmates are illegal aliens, in fact.

And of course we haven't addressed the issue of border security in a time of war -- tens of thousands of "special interest aliens" - aliens from Islamic nations with terrorist ties - have been apprehended at the borders since 9/11/01. Even if the apprehension rate is 30% (a very high estimate), the number of those that actually make it across is staggering.

[rdb3]

Could anybody post hillary's solution.

Like any other Democrat, she doesn't have any solution. And, like any other Democrat, she wants the issue. One would be totally stupid to believe that Dems would do anything with illegals that would prevent them from coming. I also believe that this is one issue where one-issue "conservatives" would foolishly vote for her because she said she hates illegal immigrants.

Hillary! should not be allowed to take this issue. We, since we are in power, should take this on and fix it.

[Dane]

It's honest work for honest people that want to work..get Americans OFF WELFARE and into some of those jobs "no one wants"!!

And the new political messiah to some on FR, hillary is going to get these people off welfare?

[teenyelliott]

Now, hold on a minute. History will look back on George W. Bush and see him as one of the most important presidents we have ever had. His vision for democracy in the world and having the guts to pull it off will change our future for the better, as well as millions of people in the Middle East. As for his immigration stance, he is dead wrong. I don't care if illegals have to live in the shadows forever. That is what they chose. No sympathy at all for those who disregard our laws and then want us to educate their children at the expense of our own.