Bush Pushes Congress to OK Immigrants

AP on Yahoo ^ | 3/30/06 | Nedra Pickler - ap

[NormsRevenge]

CANCUN, Mexico - With Mexican President Vicente Fox at his side, President Bush gave Congress a long-distance push Thursday to open the United States to immigrant workers who have been sneaking across the borders to fill low-paying jobs.

"We don't want people sneaking into our country that are going to do jobs that Americans won't do," Bush said at the end of a private meeting with Fox, where the issue was on top of the agenda. "We want them coming in in an orderly way, which will take pressure off both our borders."

The meeting between the Mexican and U.S. leaders came on the first day of a two-day North American summit that also includes Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Harper, meeting with Bush for the first time since taking office two months ago with the promise of building stronger ties with Washington, said the two countries are moving past their "tension" over Iraq.

Still, he took a combative stance on their long-standing dispute over U.S. tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber, saying Canada would "pursue all its legal options" if he and Bush can't work out an agreement.

But it was the immigration debate, which has dominated the U.S. Senate this week, that took center stage in talks conducted in a beachfront resort surrounded by bikini-clad spring breakers. A new immigration law could affect as many as 6 million Mexicans living illegally in the United States — about half of all those who are estimated to have sneaked in from other countries seeking new opportunities they can't find at home.

Bush is pushing for a guest worker program that would let foreigners in low-paying jobs stay temporarily, which Fox says is a good first step toward some form of legal status for all Mexican illegal immigrants.

The issue has united the two leaders, whose friendship dates back to Bush's time as Texas governor but was strained over Fox's objections to the war in Iraq. But immigration has divided Bush's Republican party, with business interests who want cheap labor battling conservatives who want a get-tough policy against illegal immigrants.

Fox suggested the issue is largely out of their hands now.

"The matter is in the Congress of the United States and that is where the decision will be made," Fox said. "It is no longer between President Bush and President Fox."

But both leaders were clearly trying to sway the debate.

"I told the president there is a legislative process that's going forward," Bush said. "And that it may look cumbersome to some, but that's how our democracy works."

Bush added, "I'm optimistic that we can get a bill done."

The summit included plenty of time to be neighborly. The three leaders dressed casually in open-collared shirts and strolled together among the ancient Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza before sitting down for more intense one-on-one meetings. Fox planned a lavish dinner for his guests.

After spending the morning sightseeing, Bush had a few hours off before the formal meetings began. He used part of the time to work up a sweat in his hotel's gym.

There was tight security despite the fun-loving atmosphere generated by college students who have flocked to Cancun for spring break. Gunboats patrolled the turquoise waters off Bush's spa resort, and fencing kept out all but hotel guests. "I'd like to make sure you work more than you play," Bush joked to reporters.

The trilateral meeting was expected to be Fox's last, since he is set to leave office this year because of term limits. Bush lauded Fox for stabilizing the Mexican economy and improving the net worth of his people.

"That's important for the American economy as well," Bush said. "The more net worth there is in Mexico, the more likely it is the Mexican may be wanting to buy a U.S. product. And vice versa, by the way."

In his meeting with Harper, Bush sought to make the newly elected leader look good at home, making it a point to stress how hard the Canadian leader had pressed him on the softwood lumber issue. Harper "made an emphatic case," Bush said.

"I appreciate his steely resolve to get something done," the president said. "I appreciate your pushing."

But Bush didn't give Harper much of substance, saying only that "my intent is to negotiate in good faith and a timely fashion to resolve this issue."

___

On the Net:

U.S. Trade Representative: http://www.ustr.gov

White House: http://www.whitehouse.gov

[sinkspur]

By the way, I hear he has a real tough election coming up. Supposedly the other guy (his opponent) is a real nasty character.

Fox is term-limited. He can't run again.

[Supernatural]

"They hurt, rather than help, any kind of compromise on a immigration reform bill".

And we should compromise with the illegals why? Do you think we own them something for breaking the law and being here illegally?

[clawrence3]

Same here.

[RHINO369]

Americas culture is the best in the world. Mexicos culture is a pile of dog S#%&. Why is Mexico poor, dirty and dangerous when the only thing that seperates California and Mexico is a line in the sand. So its either the people or the culture. I'd like to believe its the culture, so excuse me while I try to keep my culture.

[dagnabbit]

George W. Bush, said today in Mexico, “Nationalism is a dangerous thing.”
What could he have meant by that bizarre statement?

Good question. Perhaps he's annoyed by Americans' desire not to live in Amerexico.

[antceecee]

(...chuckle).

[beyond the sea]

Nationalism, nativism, same thing.

Not really.

Nativism

1.A sociopolitical policy, especially in the United States in the 19th century, favoring the interests of established inhabitants over those of immigrants.

2. The reestablishment or perpetuation of native cultural traits, especially in opposition to acculturation.

****

Nationalism

1. Devotion to the interests or culture of one's nation.

2. The belief that nations will benefit from acting independently rather than collectively, emphasizing national rather than international goals.

3. Aspirations for national independence in a country under foreign domination.

[sinkspur]

If he has been here 25 years illegally he deserves nothing but to be shipped back to Mexico or where ever he came from.

It's that kind of thinking that prevents any rational immigration reform.

[clawrence3]

"Facts" won't sway them - just like the DPW deal - it's mob-mentality now at FR - we already had one person call the President of the United States an "arrogant psychopath who deems himself King, Lord, and Master" - I probably won't stay at FR (or donate $) much anymore.

[beyond the sea]

Thanks for that.

I heard this morning that the next guy is supposed to be sort of a hostile figure.

[sangoo]

Illegals do absolutely shoddy homebuilding.

What would you expect? One day a painter, next day drywall, then concrete, then framing. Most really don't do anything well except perhaps tile work. Day labor, that's all.

[yarddog]

I know you enjoy seeing thousands of Mexican nationals carrying the most insulting and despicable signs while demonstrating in the country they are trying to steal.

They make no secret of what they are doing. You are a traitor, if you are in fact an American, a Quisling at best.

[NJ_gent]

"Please cite for me the "wage" paid to African slaves."

Their 'wages' went to their previous owners and their overseers. They also went to their housing, meals, etc. Modern-day slavery has eliminated the initial outlay for purchasing and transporting your slaves. They now come to you. The elimination of this initially large outlay has opened the doors for smaller businesses to take advantage of modern slavery. No longer are the financial resources of a large plantation required to finance purchasing of new laborers when you've worked the old ones to death. Overhead such as housing and overseers has also been eliminated. Slaves now 'care' for themselves, finding small shelters where they pack as many of themselves inside as possible for shelter from the elements so they can save drastically on housing costs. This also gives modern day slave owners the formerly unheard of ability (under the old pre-1860s slavery) to trade in their weaker, sick, or lazy slaves for new ones who've just arrived at no expense. This then allows modern-day slave owners to split up the money that would have otherwise been spent on these ongoing expenses to pay ridiculously small 'wages' to their slaves, who then send much of that money home to keep their families alive.

And that, folks, is the replacement for the whip-wielding overseer: work for me, as long and hard as I tell you, for whatever I feel like paying you, or your family will starve. In some ways, modern slavery is worse than what we abolished 150 years ago.

[antceecee]

LOL!!!

[clawrence3]

Not necessarily - those doing it for years under competent project managers or, God forbid, going through a real journeyman or apprenticeship program, do real well. If the developer wants it done right, it gets done right.

[P-40]

the unwillingness of these employers to pay a fair wage

There is a history of that...

http://www.cis.org/articles/1999/back1299.htm

Given this climate, Farm Security Administration officials came under continuous fire, despite their willingness to reconstitute the FSA as a sort of federal crew leader. So, while the agency faced fiscal dismemberment on the floor of Congress, Secretary of Agriculture Claude Wickard left quietly for Mexico City to initiate negotiations with the Mexican government on the importation of Mexican farm workers. Evidently, FSA officials concluded that it would be easier to supply growers with labor from a foreign source than it was to cajole them into doing what was necessary to attract local labor. The Mexican government agreed to let the United States transport Mexican citizens to the United States for work on American farms and, in return, the Farm Security Administration got a six-month lease on life.

[sinkspur]

And we should compromise with the illegals why? Do you think we own them something for breaking the law and being here illegally?

You're not going to ship 12 million people back across the southern border.

You are not compromising with illegals. You are doing something that will work.

Mass deportation won't work.

We should secure the borders first, then worry about what to do with those in the country later.

IOW, turn off the water, let it cool, then talk about what to do with the water.

[org.whodat]

Oh, I forgot my mom told me to never play in the mud with pig's.