While GOP dithers, (Hillary) Clinton tackles immigration threat

Providence Journal ^ | 5/15/05 | Froma Harrop

[nj26]

HILLARY GETS IT. Hillary Clinton says she's against illegal immigration. And she would fine employers who hire illegal aliens.

Pundits say the New York Democrat is using this hot-button issue to position herself for the 2008 presidential election. It's a way to hit Republicans from the right. Polls show huge majorities of both Republicans and Democrats oppose illegal immigration -- and are frustrated that President Bush won't do a thing to stop it.

But this issue does not belong to the right. Or it shouldn't. Illegal immigration hurts most liberal causes. It depresses wages, crushes unions and kills all hope for universal health coverage. Progressives have to understand that there's little social justice in an unregulated labor market.

"Liberals are so confused on this issue," says Vernon Briggs, a labor economist at Cornell University and self-described liberal. "Immigration policy has got to be held accountable for its economic consequences."

Many Democrats used to get it. In 1964, President Johnson abolished the Bracero program, which brought in "temporary" farm workers from Mexico. Its demise let Cesar Chavez organize U.S. farm workers. His union won some battles early on, but a new wave of illegal immigrants in the mid-1970s reversed that progress. The union barely exists today.

cut

Nowadays, the messages aren't even mixed anymore. A cheap-labor Republican, George Bush won't enforce the employer penalties. He has a new amnesty program. And he vows to "match any willing worker with any willing employer." Hence, the latest stampede at the southern border.

Sounds like the Democrats have an issue. And if Clinton can seriously address the problem in non-racial terms, she could march straight to the White House. Go for it, Hillary.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Things are heating up in SoCal:

Baldwin Park public artwork angers group opposed to illegal immigration

[Dad yer funny]

LOL , LMFAO , Sir Edmund Hillary Clinton D-NY ,she will fine them,hmmm , well lets go, get yer ticket book out ,...hope she has some comfy shoes , she could pound the pavement here in NYC giving out summonses from now until doomsday and not make a dent!! What a load o' BS

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

More:

controversy arises over baldwin park monument [la reconquista]

Thanks! Here is the wording on the monument.


One passage on the monument laments the presence of whites in America by stating, “It was better before they came.” The most offensive passage is a quote from Gloria Anzaldua, which reads:

“This land was Mexican once, was Indian always and is, And will be again.”

[Iscool]

That's your own personal thing. Ask how many really care who your vote goes to, okay?

I normally don't read your posts since the font is too small to bother with...But I made an exception this time...

YOU may care who a lot of votes go to when you are bowing down to Hillary as the next prez if you (all) keep pushing the 'party hacks' down our throats...

[WilliamofCarmichael]

Except for the "tax cut for the rich" swipe at Republicans it's some pretty good commentary, IMO. Though, given that ILLEGAL immigration is taxpayer subsidized labor it is kind of a "tax break" for the rich as the author states.

One other thing, if Clinton can seriously address the problem in non-racial terms, she could march straight to the White House.

True.

To wit, there is NO chance Clinton can get the White House because she cannot seriously address anything.

She's a liar. She lies. That's what she does.

If Steven Brill's proof that Senator Hillary Clinton made up stories about how she helped 9/11 families then there's the rest of the Internet for the proof.

[CyberAnt]

You're right .. we know we can't trust Hillary on anything .. because SHE WILL SAY ANYTHING to get elected .. and her statements have no basis in reality.

And .. the fact that she doesn't hold the govt responsible for keeping illegals OUT - instead she wants to punish the corporations who hire them.

While I might agree that this is part of it. If the illegals are prevented from coming in the first place - and the employers are levied overwhelming fines for hiring them .. we could put a stop to it.

But .. I'm curious why Hillary wants to attack the money resource paid to the govt by these employers - when they deduct SS money from the illegals and it ends up in an account where the SS will never be drawn against. What a great SLUSH fund - why would Hillary be willing to sacrifice that .. UNLESS .. she has other plans.

As usual .. I don't trust her motives for anything.

Newt thinks she's actually going to help him with healthcare .. she's not.

[La Enchiladita]

Thanks for the FRee promotion, Ernest! Folks, SPARC is the organization that "created" the monument and also the same folks who summoned their people to come out and counter-demonstrate yesterday, thereby injuring a patriotic American woman and necessitating police escort for SOS.

[backhoe]

Thanks for the info... that last pic, while rude, kind of gets your attention focused. Kudos to all the others.

[rdb3]

YOU may care who a lot of votes go to when you are bowing down to Hillary as the next prez if you (all) keep pushing the 'party hacks' down our throats...

Like I have power to push anything down your throat. Puh-leeze!

[ARCADIA]

It use to be said that the Democratic party represented the poor and dependent, while the Republicans favored the rich and corporate interests. We should ask ourselves whom the Republicans represent if these corporations are now owned and controlled by foreign nationals.

[international american]

I agree, now what do we do about Bush?? He wants too flood the country with welfare peasants who are committing an inordinate amout of violent crime. We have to stop him somehow, and aside from an insurrection from working class Americans, I don't have a clue as to how to stop him. 20,000 minutemen? That may be the only answer.

[nothingnew]

This newfound mutual admiration society between Bill and Bush I attests to that.

Probably the most insightful posts on this thread. One of my three rules to live by:

Never underestimate anyone.

FMCDH(BITS)

[international american]

"Hillary is doing nothing for conservatives. However, the Bush family is going all out to see that she will be elected in 2008. Whoever runs on the Republican ticket will be a sacrificial lamb."

Yep, just like his dad, who was a globalist,also pissed most of us off, and also threw the election.

[Zeroisanumber]

I know that the executive branch informed border guards NOT to arrest illegals during the Minuteman efforts to make the Minutemen look bad.

Are they trying to lose my vote, or do their actions just make it look that way?

[tailgunner]

I'm with you, Comrade!

2nd Anglico Marine

[tahiti]

Great post.

Here in Missouri, we call it the "Show me State."

If Hillary is serious about stopping illegal immigration, all she has to do is use her constitutional congressional enumerated power, to show us:

Article I, Section, Clause 15

To provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the union, suppress insurrections and repel invasions:

Article IV, Section 4

The United States shall guarantee to every state in this union, a republican form of government, and shall protect each of them against invasion;