Posted on 03/28/2006 5:16:51 AM PST by FerdieMurphy
GOP Senators Side with Dems on Illegal Immigration Jim Kouri
The Republican-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee approved election-year immigration legislation Monday that is far different from what most Americans had in mind. The bill, which goes to the full senate, paves the way for millions of undocumented workers to become US citizens without having to first leave the country or pay a fine. After days of protests led by left-wing groups masquerading as rank-and-file illegal aliens the Senate committee's GOP members folded like cheap cameras and voted to strip away proposed criminal penalties for residents found to be in this country illegally. The bill which passed the House of Representatives called for such penalties.
The panel's vote now allows the bill to go before the full Senate for debate on Tuesday.
"All Americans wanted fairness and they got it this evening," said Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, the Massachusetts Democrat who played a pivotal role in drafting the legislation along with Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), approved 12-6.
Of course, Sen. Kennedy's sense of fairness has always been questionable. In fact, what he calls fair is unfair to American citizens and legal immigrants who had to endure the pain of dealing with the immigration bureaucracy.
Committee Chairman Arlen Specter (R-PA) voted for the bill but signaled that some of the provisions could well be changed by the full Senate, but most observers don't buy that for a moment. Conservatives knew Sen. Specter was a liberal and therefore urged the GOP not to give him the chairmanship. Once again, he's shown the conservatives to be right.
In general, the bill is designed to strengthen border patrol, but with more of the same, which means the borders will remain vulnerable. While polls have shown that a majority of Americans support the use of the US military on US borders to backup the Border Patrol, this will never happen even if the entire congress were Republican. However, the senators, many preparing for the November elections made great inroads with the so-called Hispanic block-voters and the new bill is passed will "create new opportunities for so-called guest workers and determine the legal future of the estimated 11 million immigrants living in the United States illegally."
At several critical points, committee Democrats were united while Republicans splintered. In general, GOP Sens. Lindsay Graham of South Carolina, Sam Brownback of Kansas and Mike DeWine of Ohio, who is seeking reelection this fall, sided with Democrats. These backstabbing, spineless liberals posing as conservatives during elections gave Democrats a majority that allowed them to shape the bill to their liking.
A SWIPE AT THEIR BASE
During this entire debate, President Bush and many GOP leaders treated the conservative base of their feckless party as a pariah. While spouting conservative talking points, these political leaders took a huge swipe at their base and at many moderates on this issue.
For instance, just after the Senate Judiciary Committee announced their vote, a Time/Warner push poll discovered that the majority of Americans will not be happy when they discover what was really passed as opposed to what these senators and the media say they passed.
Here are the questions posed and the results of the push poll:
1. Would you support a temporary worker program? NO 58% YES 42%
2. Would you support a security fence on the border? YES 81% NO 19%
3. Should those who sneak into the country be treated as felons? YES 78% NO 22%
4. Should those already in the country illegal have a path to citizenship? NO 69% YES 31%
5. How big an issue is illegal immigration? Very 86% Somewhat 10% Not at all 4%
One of the organizers of the California protest appeared on Fox News earlier today and stated, besides the usual litany of lies and half-truths, that the US is a terrorist country and that the Mexican illegals will make the US a better place.
The head of the so-called Border Angels also demanded a national healthcare program and other freebies, thereby revealing his socialist agenda.
He also lied and said illegal immigrants do not commit crimes but that American citizens go to other countries and torture and kill innocent people. And the feckless GOP is rewarding this man.
Remember that this November.
The communists are alive and well and are flourishing in the USA!
Unfortunately they're abetted by the entire DemocRAT Party and a portion of the GOP!
That's three too many!!!!
These socialist scumbags have sold us down the river again. Old FOX is just happier than hell that we are so dumb to allow this to happen. Once the Senate votes this thing into law we are totally screwed.
Republicans have just proved they are as defiant and turncoat traitors as their comprade democrat liberal progressives.
I thought that having a Republican majority was going to be the saving grace for America. Silly, naive little me!
The full Senate will have its say. And the House has its say.
To have a panic attack over a committee vote is ridiculous.
this bill is going nowhere in the house.
I agree .. but this reporter is trying to make it out that it was the whole republican party that voted on this bill
That is misleading
This is measured by the ACU's ratings whereby the following have voted conservatively 100% of the time:
Jim Bunning (KY)
Conrad Burns (MT)
John Cornyn (TX)
James M. Inhofe (OK)
John Kyle (AZ)
Don Nickles (OK)
John E. Sununu (NH)
Craig Thomas (WY)
The rest are in the form of Specter, Collins, Snowe, etc. etc.
The list of DemocRATs in the zero to 10% range include ALL DemocRATs in the Senate and in the House!
Not surprising.
Our nation is in deep trouble.
Oh yes, I believe the bill they approved was presented by Dick Durbin.
I live in Iowa. I will remember this when these two slimeballs come through.
As I stated above, three are too damned many.
The Republican Party (as a whole) could literally screw up a steel ball with a soft rubber mallet.
I said it was misleading .. I didn't say it was a lie
There is a difference and the media is doing that for a reason
Don't know when Graham is up for reelection, but I hope the good citizens of South Carolina send him packing. Maybe he can move in with his buddy, Teddy Bare (D-Mass.).
Well I just wrote both my Senators to tell them vote for this, and you can kiss my vote goodbye... not only from you personally, but your party as well... I've had enough.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.