Posted on 01/26/2006 12:37:05 PM PST by new yorker 77
U.S. Senate candidate Ed Bryant said Friday he opposes one of President Bush’s key proposals on immigration policy.
“My criticism of the president is that, in effect, [he’s proposing] an amnesty, [which will] cause more people to come in illegally” to the U.S. in anticipation of getting American citizenship quickly and legally.
“It punishes people waiting in line” to become American citizens through current established procedures, Bryant said.
The president has proposed letting workers from abroad, as well as some illegal immigrants already in this country, legally take jobs in the United States as temporary workers.
Critics have said such a program would foster more illegal immigration and essentially provide amnesty for many immigrants living here illegally.
But President Bush, in a November speech in El Paso, Texas, said “we need to have a rational, temporary worker plan that is not amnesty.”
“Amnesty would be a mistake,” Bush said at El Paso. “Granting amnesty to the people who have come to our country illegally would invite others to come to our country illegally. On the other hand, a temporary worker program would take pressure off our border.”
Bryant, a former congressman from West Tennessee, said “illegal immigration is probably the number one issue I hear about” from constituents he has talked to on the campaign trail.
He made his comments in an interview Friday at The Greeneville Sun.
Bryant is seeking the GOP nomination to run for the U.S. Senate seat of Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., who has said he will not seek re-election.
Bryant is running against two other Republicans for the nomination: Bob Corker, a former mayor of Chattanooga; and Van Hilleary, a former congressman and Republican gubernatorial candidate who lost to Gov. Phil Bredesen in the 2002 gubernatorial election.
U.S. Rep. Harold Ford, of Memphis, and state Sen. Rosalind Kurita, of Clarksville, are seeking the Democratic nomination for the Senate seat.
NSA Eavesdropping
With regard to warrantless eavesdropping by the National Security Agency (NSA) on international calls to and from the U.S. as part of the war on terror, Bryant said he saw nothing wrong with Bush’s actions.
Congress is planning hearings early next month over whether the president overstepped his authority.
The Associated Press reported Friday that Bush will visit the NSA on Wednesday to reassert his position that he has the constitutional authority to let intelligence officials listen in on international phone calls of Americans with suspected ties to terrorists.
“There are some things the president has to do to protect the nation,” said Bryant, a lawyer and former U.S. attorney. “I understand that there was oversight by a few people in Congress.
“I think what the president did [in not seeking warrants prior to the eavesdropping] was appropriate under the circumstances, and not unprecedented,” Bryant said.
“I believe some of our other presidents have operated [similarly] under those laws as well,” he added.
Bryant cautioned, however, that “in the interest of the Constitution and privacy issues, we should always as much as possible have that protection” for citizens against warrantless “searches.”
Bryant said he taught constitutional and military law at the U.S. Military Academy for two years as part of his six-year stint as an Army Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer.
Torture Issue
In response to a question about when torture of detainees might be permissible, he said, “No, there are not any circumstances” when it should be allowed.
Allegations of abuse of prisoners in Iraq, as well as allegations of U.S.-run terrorist detention centers abroad, have sparked much debate on the use of torture in interrogations of terrorists or suspected terrorists.
Bryant added, however, that “There are times you can use something short of torture ... conduct that causes a person to become uncomfortable.”
He cited loud music and unspecified “deprivation” as two examples of acceptable interrogation techniques. But he added that he was against any physical torture of suspects.
“You have to look at things in balance,” Bryant said, adding that the U.S. government and military are “prepared to deal with it.”
“Our military is taught to honor the Geneva Convention, which prohibits torture,” Bryant said.
‘A Pivotal Time’
Switching topics, Bryant described both himself and his opponent Hilleary as “solid conservatives.”
Bryant said his three main areas of concern were national defense, the economy and traditional values.
“We’re not a ‘business-as-usual’ nation,” Bryant said, adding that he thought this is a pivotal time in the nation’s history.
“There are tremendous challenges on all three fronts now,” he added.
Bryant, who said he has his eyes set on becoming a member of the important Judiciary Committee in the Senate, said “probably the most important [issue] is the selection of federal judges” who respect traditional values, a responsibility which involves the Judiciary Committee.
A longtime practicing attorney and teacher at Union University in Jackson, Bryant cited his past experience as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Judiciary Committee when he was elected to that body in the 1990s.
Gay Marriage
In other areas, Bryant said “part” of his opposition to gay marriage was biblically-based.
He said another reason was “How far can you go to redefine” traditional, heterosexual marriage?
In reference to gay marriages, Bryant said “Our society doesn’t need to recognize such an arrangement.”
Bryant also said he opposed giving federal benefits to “domestic partners,” whether they be heterosexual or homosexual.
He admitted that, although he personally opposes such policies, as a U.S. Senator he’d not stop states or private companies that grant marriage-like benefits, such as health benefits, to “domestic partners.”
Abortion
Bryant, who has received the public endorsement of Tennessee Right to Life, said he favored a law making abortions illegal with the exception of when the mother’s life is in danger.
He said enforcement of such a law would not penalize the women having the abortions, but rather the doctors who performed them.
Other Issues
On other issues, Bryant said he favored:
• a two-year federal budget instead of the current yearly budget, with an additional “oversight” committee to eliminate unnecessary programs and therefore cut the federal deficit;
• term limits of 12 years for congressmen in both the Senate and the House of Representatives;
• line-item veto powers for the president;
• making President Bush’s tax cuts permanent;
• the restoration of a “guest worker program” for immigrants from Mexico and other countries; and
• temporary U.S. military enforcement of borders with Mexico and Canada to keep illegal immigrants from crossing over into the U.S.
Asked what his campaign slogan was, Bryant laughed, and joked, “We can’t afford one.”
He said his campaign has raised over $1 million of a minimum $2 million he believes will be necessary to run a winning campaign for the August primary election.
What are his chances. I have also heard that Van Hilleary is also tough on illegal immigration, so it could be a good one. Any thoughts?
very good. I am his campaign coordinator in my county.He has great name recognition because of the impeachment of Slick Willy.
ping
Ed will spank lil harrie. He'll beat him in middle and eastern Tennessee big enough to get past western Tn.
Done! http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/1565054/posts
This is a clear-cut case where the most conservative candidate and the most electable candidate are one and the same.
ED BRYANT FOR SENATE!!!
Van Hilleary is more conservative and knows not to let so many cats out of the bag at one time (i.e.: smarter). Other than that these guys are very similar and are actually good friends - either guy would be astronomically better than Junior and definitely an improvement over Corker (a classic TN Republican who has no problem dancing to the Democrat's tune).
We need to solidify on this soon or see a Senate seat held by "Tennessee's Obama" (barf).
Protect our borders and coastlines from all foreign invaders!
Support our Minutemen Patriots!
Be Ever Vigilant ~ Bump!
Van Hilleary would make a fine Senator, but political geography is on Ed Bryant's side. Hilleary is from Eastern Tennessee, which votes Republican anyway and already has a U.S. Senator. Western Tennessee is unpredictable and Bryant would bring those voters into the GOP fold.
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