Posted on 09/03/2005 4:08:28 PM PDT by Constitution Restoration Act
Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., dismissed the suggestion of prominent columnists to introduce a bill of impeachment against President Bush for lack of border enforcement, saying his immigration reform bill will do what is necessary to stem the flow of illegal aliens into the U.S.
This week, WND columnists Patrick Buchanan and Joseph Farah called for legislation to begin the impeachment process due to, as Buchanan wrote, Bush's "conscious refusal to uphold his oath and defend the states of the Union against 'invasion.'"
Wrote Farah: "President Bush has had nearly five years in office to honor his oath of office and enforce immigration laws in this country.
"He has not only failed, he has intentionally neglected this sworn duty, instead claiming he prefers to promote a vague immigration 'reform' plan that involved a 'guest worker' program that has served as an encouragement to the most massive influx of illegal immigration this country has ever seen. "
Despite Tancredo's consistent criticism of the president's record on border enforcement, he says a better solution is to pass legislation instituting more stringent regulations on employers of illegal aliens and thus reduce the demand for illegal workers.
"The best thing to do is to see what we can accomplish," Tancredo told WND in a telephone press conference. "There are great many factors playing on our side," stressing the pendulum is swinging toward those who seek definitive action to deal with the nation's porous borders.
Said the congressman: "Right now, I'm kind of hopeful. Things are moving our way, and I don't think anything like [an impeachment bill] is necessary to keep this momentum going."
Tancredo says if Congress passes stringent legislation, the pressure will be on the president to enforce it.
The Colorado lawmaker told reporters Republican leadership in the House has indicated an immigration bill will be considered this year. The question is what form it will take.
Long an outspoken leader on the issue of illegal immigration, Tancredo is offering his own bill, H.R. 3333, the REAL GUEST Act of 2005. Besides stepping up enforcement at the border, the congressman's bill includes a provision requiring employers to use a now-voluntary "insta-check" program to verify the legal status of potential employees. A bill by Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., also makes the program mandatory, but, unlike Tancredo's measure, only for those newly hired.
Besides Tancredo's legislation, there are two prominent reform bills in the Senate – Kyl's and the McCain/Kennedy bill – and Bush has indicated he will have a detailed plan ready for consideration at the end of this month. The president has focused on a guest-worker program that critics say amounts to amnesty for illegals.
"My bill is a comprehensive piece of legislation that takes into consideration the needs of labor by creating a guest-worker program," Tancredo explained, "but that program can only go into effect once certain requirements are met in terms of securing our border and reducing the number of people in the country who are here illegally."
Tancredo says the key to solving the problem is cracking down on employers who hire illegal aliens.
Explained Tancredo: "If we can stop the employment of people who are here illegally, a huge part of this problem goes away."
The congressman says his approach will remove concern about the high cost of rounding up and deporting those illegals currently in the U.S.
"You will find people by the millions, frankly, will return to their countries of origin," Tancredo said. "If they do not have a job and do not have access to social-service benefits, there really aren't any option."
Tancredo noted the issue of illegal immigration "is reaching critical mass in this country. Something will happen … to force this nation to come to grips with this problem."
Referring to Bush as having an "open borders" approach, Tancredo decried the fact that current immigration laws regarding employment are not being enforced by the executive branch.
"The laws are on the books," he said. "Is there anyone out there that believes there are no aliens in this country working illegally?"
He says the laws not being enforced should either be repealed, or the government should "actually enforce them."
Related stories:
Tancredo backing off presidential candidacy
Tancredo visits with sympathetic Muslims
Tancredo talk too offensive? Too bad, says congressman
CAIR to GOP: Repudiate Tancredo
Tancredo clarifies 'ultimate response'
Tancredo talking White House bid
White House covered up immigration study?
Employers shun service to weed out illegal hires
Tancredo asks for border official's head
Rep. Tancredo considers White House bid
That's all Pat is talking about.
Buchanan's been off the conservative-GOP reservation on several key issues for years now. On the issue of serious immigration reform, Pat's right on target.
Bush can handle FatTeddyK.
Alright, here's a test for that assumption: Let's see how many MSM news stories over the coming weeks give prominence to Buchanan's and Farah's suggestion. When the coverage fails to materialize, will you then be willing to publicly answer your own question?
Tancredo has been the lone voice in DC on the border issue for quite some time and it would seem that there are others who now are coming around to admitting that he's right. I do believe that he would rather work with the administration and fully realizes that it would be the wiser way to pursue his goals, unlike the extremist way that Pat would seem to want to go.
From what I've read and heard the Congressman say up to this point I'll be seriously considering him.
awwwww....did I hurt your feelings?
LOL
Seriously, Tancredo can get some serious support for his immigration bill if he continues down this road and ignores morons like Farah and Buchanan.
Also, getting kicked out of the White House for ANY reason doesn't really endear him to anyone. You have to work with the system to work the system.
What kind of self destructive fool would do what Nixon did as President to earn himself the impeachment, in the middle of a war?
Touche and congrats to you Reagan Man for coming up with what everybody has ignored. What Pat actually said. He disagrees with W on a lot and makes his case and I respect him for that. All he was doing here is exactly what my sentiments have been, so I can understand his position. He's tring to put pressure on W to act TO SHUT DOWN THE INVASION...PERIOD, no more and no less.
To those who disagree and say it's not his responsibility I continue to pose the question:
If we suffer another terrorist incident and their entry can be proven to have been via one of our porous land borders...On whose head do we THEN hang the responsibility?
The President is the leader of this Nation and should LEAD on this issue.
Did you know our government supported the Khmer Rouge when Vietnam tried to stop this killing?
Anyone arguing with that truth is obviously in favor of open borders. To do otherwise is insanity.
Tancredo's proposal is heads and shoulders above all the others. The worst bill is McCain/Kennedy (strange combination). Rewarding lawbreakers with amnesty doesn't solve anything when a nation is up to its eyebrows in illegal aliens already.
No, I'd be opposed to Tancredo committing political suicide at any point in the process.
As a seperate issue, the notion of Republicans (or anybody) trying impeach President Bush is absurd.
But I particularly don't want Tancredo to do it because I have hopes for him to keep raising issues I care about.
Wait a minute. I thought all the quislings on Free Republic said that Tom Tancredo was just a Pat Buchanan puppet. Hmmmm...
Buchanan got ahold of him and they formed a fund raising partnership called Team America and Tancredo became Buchanan's sock puppet.
He broke his term limit promise and since hooking up with Buchanan has been spewing extremist anti-Hispanic hate speech for the purpose of soliciting contributions.
Most of the FReepers who support him are just the old Buchanan Bush-hating third party losers.
41 posted on 09/02/2005 9:06:40 AM PDT by bayourod
Oops! Wrong again!
Bush is no sumo wrestler and I bet Mr. Chappaquiddick could maintain the balance to guarantee not a drop from his drink is wasted while wrestling.
Why do you think that ..??
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