Hillary Clinton Blasts President Bush on Border Security

NewsMax ^ | 7/4/05 | Carl Limbacher

[wagglebee]

2008 presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton is blasting President Bush for lax enforcement of the nation's immigration laws, saying the White House has dropped the ball on border security and put the country at risk for another major terrorist attack.

In a statement posted to her newly revamped official Senate web site, Clinton charges: "The Bush administration is failing to meet what should be the basic requirements of immigration policy: continuing our American tradition of welcoming immigrants who follow the rules and are trying to build a better life for their families, while strengthening national security in a post 9-11 world."

In a potentially potent bid to win Red State support in 2008, the former first lady is playing the role of tough cop:

"Our current immigration laws need to be reformed," she urges. "We need a better solution to the question of illegal immigration which recognizes the conflict between the need to enforce the law, and the reality that too many employers are using undocumented workers today."

Clinton says that while "this administration has failed to provide the resources to protect our borders, or a better system to keep track of entrants to this country . . . I welcome the addition of more border security."

She pins blame for the failure directly on the Oval Office, saying, "President Bush refused to provide the necessary funding in his Fiscal Year 2006 proposed budget sufficient to hire all of the border patrol agents that had been authorized."

"Fortunately," Clinton adds, "during the Senate’s debate on the budget in March of 2005, we passed an amendment to provide increased funding for border patrol agents."

Then, in a none-too-subtle dig at GOP foot-dragging on the immigration issue, Clinton says: "I hope the Republican leadership will support the maintenance of this funding, to provide the resources necessary to properly protect our borders."

[bayourod]

Bill Clinton was going to seal the Mexican border. He started off with 66 mile section near San Diego. After a couple years it became obvious that we could not keep out men who were willing to risk their lives to come here to make money to feed their families so the project was abandoned.

SEALING THE BORDER HAS BEEN PROVEN IMPOSSIBLE

We tried to seal 66 miles of the border in 1994 in “Operation Gate Keeper” designed by the military. It incorporated double and triple fences (some concrete and steel), guard towers, flood lights infrared cameras, ground sensors, patrol roads, horse patrols, ATV patrols, 16 helicopters, fixed wing aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, trucks, and a ratio of 32 guards per mile.

If it was successful the plan was to extend it from San Diego to El Paso. It wasn’t successful at all. See Inspector General’s Report ”experienced agents were estimating it was only 5-10 percent effective”

About two hundred thousand are caught each year trying to cross, and another estimated 30 to 40 thousand make it across undetected. They dig under, climb over and break through the fences.

That’s an average of 454 to 606 per mile per year. Extrapolated just to the 2000 mile Mexican border that would be about 1.2 million border jumpers per year. And we would still have the ones who enter from Canada or by air and water or legally on temporary visas and don’t return.

[fatima]

Ok,You have me laughing:)

[Hugin]

Well, the Pat Buchanan brigade is well represented here.

By your logic the 70% the American people who want illegal immigration ended are all part of the Buchanan brigade.

The fact is the politicians of both parties are screwing the American people for the sake of their pet special interests. Mainstream convervatives know this. If Hillary is smart enough to take advantage of this it just could give her the White House.

[Melas]

Believe it. Worse, watch dozens of freepers who's sole interst is immigration jump on the Hillary bandwagon. We have some that would support the devil himself if he spewed enough venom south of the border.

[krunkygirl]

funny commentary on your homepage ;)

[johnmecainrino]

Look at the ag vote bill.

Almost all the democrats in the senate voted for permanent amnesty for illegals.

The republicans in the senate blocked that from becoming law.

Look at the fence on the border issue. Duncan Hunter is for the fence and for extending it while the dem down there in California is against it worried about the enviornment.

I can name many republicans in congress that are tough on illegal immigration. Duncan Hunter, James Sensennbrenner, Tom Tancredo, Senator Kyl has a new bill for 10,000 more border guards which Bush is for.

I can't name one democrat in the senate tough on illegal immigration. They want their votes, they love affirmative action, they are against the fence on the border worried about enviornment, they are with aclu.

Howard Dean bashed Arnold for supporting the minutemen.

If anyone thinks the answer to our problems is to see Nancy Pelosi as the speaker of the house then let them.

I want a dem congress with a dem president and then people will stop blaming the republicans.

This congress sucks democrats can fillabuster anything they want and nothing gets done and republicans get blamed.

Let Howard Dean, Dick Durbin, Ted Kennedy, Hillary, Nancy Pelosi run the show and see what it gets the people that are going after the republicans.

[Dad yer funny]

she is a shrewd shrew , she must think this is good timing,... here's hoping Karl and his guys know what she's got , The MSM wants her to score points

[wagglebee]

I am all for securing the borders, but at the same time I am also realistic enough to realize that many terrorists are already here. And we also need to remember that most of the 9/11 terrorists entered the country legally.

[krunkygirl]

I appreciate your tenacity.

[johnmecainrino]

Hillary voted for amnesty for all illegals that work for a year.

I want her to become president and make that law so people can really she who she is.

I want Hillary to continue to appoint ginsbergs to the supreme court then conservatives can jump in joy.

I want Hillary to continue pushing for in state tuition for illegals for colleges.Hi

I want Hillary to continue encouraging illegals to come here by signing into law permanent amnesty for illegals as she voted for in the ag bill.


I want Hillary to contine appointing judges that will uphold affirmative action for illegal anchor babies.

If Hillary were president the read id act wouldn't be law.

I want Hillary to become president and block Duncan Hunter from trying to extend the wall in California because of enviornmental reasons.


I want Hillary to become president and pass the law allowing all felons to vote.

I want Hillary to become president and appoint judges that will strip every state's parental notification laws for abortion.

I want Hillary to become president and push for the extension of the assault weapons ban law.

[Poser]

Bingo. She's right. Hopefully, this will get some of the Republicans off their lazy asses and they will do something.

[Iscool]

National Talk Radio hosts have been DEMANDING action on this issue for how many years now? You KNOW people in the administration listen and report to the president...... The fact that this groundswell has been ignored is actually quite troubling....in fact, the defining moment in my mind was when Bush called the Minutemen "vigilantes".

This issue is bigger than the presidency...BOTH Clintons, Fox, Sr Bush, Cheney and a host of others sit at the same table at the Council on Foreign Relations meetings while discussing and planning the new State of North America...No sovereignty, Wide open borders...

Bush has done well convincing Republicans that we need open borders...We now need Democrat leadership to convince the Dems the same thing...Doesn't matter that Hillary lies...The Democrats expect that...

[Soul Seeker]

Put up or shut up Hillary.

You're in the Senate. You aren't getting votes for rhetoric dear. If you're serious, support legislation with teeth in it.

So far your record is a disaster on the issue.

[MattinNJ]

Exactly. Allen will do something about our borders.

[commonasdirt]

Nice try Hillary.......But nothing less then a lobotomy would cause me to support you in any way, shape, or form.

[Iscool]

Senator Kyl has a new bill for 10,000 more border guards which Bush is for.

If Bush was for 10.000 new Border Agents, we'd have 10,000 more Border Agents...Right now...

[Colorado Doug]

Now, a smart politician would move right at her, just like you do with a Knight on a chessboard. Push her to sponsor an immigration reform bill. Offer to partner with her on it, along with Tom Tancredo. Make her run away. She and her friends in the media would drop this latest beard like it was afire.

You are exactly correct. I hope that this is how it's handled. Then I hope something is done about our border after she backs down.

[nj26]

"If we get hit by terrorists who snuck in through Mexico, 8 years of George W. Bush will go down the toilet for naught, and Hillary will be elected in '08 under the "See, I told you so!" campaign slogan."

I can't think of a campaign slogan that better fits her persona.

[Soul Seeker]

I'm curious.

Why do folks think Bush's record on immigration will give Hillary the edge in '08 when her record is far from stellar, and Bush isn't on the ticket?

Bush's record is irrelevant.

Hillary's will not be.

Both parties are a diaster on the issue and that has not altered. No advantage there.

It's simple enough to knock the chair out from under her. Nominate someone that has a decent track record on immigration. And, no, not Tancredo.

[nj26]

"Hillary won't be running against Bush in '08. So it'll be a debate between her and her opponent."

That's true, but she may be running against another advocate of open, unguarded borders like McCain.