The Meaning Of The Word "Amnesty" (Meet President Bush, The GOP Clinton Alert)

World Net Daily.com ^ | April 26, 2006 | Joseph Farah

[goldstategop]

We had a President in the 1990s who didn't always mean what he said and didn't always say what he meant.

Once he even questioned the meaning of the word "is."

Now we have another President who tells us he opposes "amnesty," but his definition of that term has little to do with what it says in the dictionary.

Just for the record – and to spare you the time of looking it up – Webster's New World defines amnesty as follows: 1. a pardon, especially for political offenses against a government; 2. a deliberate overlooking, as of an offense;

Asked at a recent press briefing what the President means by amnesty, White House spokesman Scott McClellan explained it is anything that "put someone on an automatic path toward citizenship."

Maybe now we can see why the President is speaking a different language when he says he opposes amnesty.

He is clearly not against pardoning millions, even tens of millions, of illegal aliens who broke the law by entering this country, and who continue to break our laws by living and working here. President Bush doesn't consider such a blanket pardon "amnesty."

He only considers a blanket decision to put those people on an "automatic path toward citizenship" amnesty.

Personally, I'm sick and tired of Presidents who can't speak or understand plain English. I'm sick and tired of Presidents – Democrats and Republicans – who choose to obfuscate and confuse issues rather than execute the laws of the land and heed the will of the people. I'm sick and tired of Presidents – and other elected officials – who twist and bend not only our duly enacted laws to suit their own agendas but even the meaning of simple words.

I'm also sick of hearing this President tell the American people that we would never be able to deport all the illegal aliens in this country.

"Massive deportation of the people here is not going to work," he said again this week. "It's just not going to work."

Now, I have to tell you this sounds a little strange coming from a man who says we can and will defeat terrorism, that we can and will bring "democracy" to the Middle East, that Islam is and can be a religion of peace.

To further confuse the issue, Bush went on to say the following: "I know this is an emotional debate. But one thing we can't lose sight of is that we are talking about human beings, decent human beings."

Can I ask how we know that, given that these people, we are told, are "undocumented"? We don't know who they are, but we are certain they are all "decent human beings." Do I have this right?

But Bush's obfuscation gets even worse.

After telling us how wonderful these people are and how we don't want to deport them and can't, he then boasted that 6 million have already been captured and turned back since he took office.

Now, which is it? Are you as confused as I am?

Then, he shifted gears again: "You can be a nation of law and a compassionate nation at the same time."

In other words, as I read this quote, laws are not meant to be enforced uniformly because that wouldn't be compassionate. Instead, we should enforce them arbitrarily in order to be compassionate.

All of this leaves me with a few questions:

If we can capture and deport 6 million illegals since 2001, why can't we capture and deport another 12 million to 20 million with no time limit – no statute of limitations?

If it is compassionate to capture and deport 6 million illegals since 2001, why is it not compassionate to do the same to the 12 million to 20 million illegals who have taken up permanent residency here in violation of our laws?

If we can send a man to the moon, if we can overthrow Saddam Hussein, if we can defeat international terrorism, why can't we get control of our borders? Why can't we prosecute lawbreakers?

If we can identify the "undocumented," if we can make provisions for them and bring them into the system, why can't we deport them?

Won't amnesty, no matter what you call it, only encourage millions more to come to America illegally?

If President Bush can't be trusted to define amnesty honestly, can we continue to trust him with the security of the country? Can we trust him any more with the lives of Americans? Can we trust him to serve the people and the Constitution in other ways for remainder of his term?

[F.J. Mitchell]

Even if it is only a dream, it's still something I can stomach more easily than ever buying the propaganda that tells us America has no choice but submission to a world of rapists determined to have their way with her over and over and over.

Over my dead body, they will!

[quadrant]

As a supporter of President Bush, I am appalled by his statements.
I, as do almost all Americans, welcome legal immigration, but I cannot tolerate the flouting of our immigration laws. One difference separates the United States from Latin America: a inbred and organic respect for the law that stems from before the founding of this country. As a general rule, in Mexico and in the rest of Latin America the law is evaded or ignored by those who have power and those who don't.
While it is true that at times during the history of this country the deliberate flouting of the law has been approved, that approval is the exception that proves the rule. Martin Luther King, Jr violated state laws that sanctioned de jure segregation but was careful to adhere to federal law and court decisions. More importantly, King violated the law in the name of a higher law: his rights as an American citizen for equal treatment under the law.
Those who enter this country illegally make no such lofty claim; in fact, they make no claim of rights at all. They enter this country for the crassest of all reasons: to make money.

[F.J. Mitchell]

NO, Sink, I am painfully aware of the reality that the Dems see 12 million amnestized illegals as 12 million registered new votes for democrats.

I am sickeningly aware that Republican politicians are convinced that by smooching on enough illegal alien butts, they can be amnestized right into the Republican party as genuine conservative voters-not RINOs.

Obviously we can't fire all our RINOs and dumbarse Republicans at once, but if we can replace a good number of these critters with more conservative Repubs; it could just possible send a message to the other yellow bellied, traitorous, skunk, Republicans.

[zook]

My only advice, for what it's worth, is to pick your battles wisely.

[MBB1984]

It is rather easy to resort to name calling when you can't argue the facts. With your position in favor of open Borders and Bush's massive federal spending and bureaucracy, I would think that your beliefs are far more closer to DU's than mine.

I understand that the truth hurts. And it is indeed true that the we have spent approximately 320 billion dollars and solders and civilians are still dying, despite Bush's proclamation of victory some time ago.

[sinkspur]

And it is indeed true that the we have spent approximately 320 billion dollars and solders and civilians are still dying, despite Bush's proclamation of victory some time ago.

Bush didn't proclaim victory. You're reading DNC talking points.

[butternut_squash_bisque]

It's being used for something it wasn't intended for. It needs repealing and the 'anchor baby' crap stopped.

What other choice is there?

[F.J. Mitchell]

I try to do just that Zook, Lord knows I do try.

[raybbr]

You don't care about anybody but yourself.

Ooohhhh! What a stunning retort from an OBL.

[mthom]

Bush didnt run on giving illegals an automatic path to citizenship, which is exactly what he is promoting now.

[dagnabbit]

Two un-serious men cruising on famous family names.

[dagnabbit]

On immigration enforcement, I don't this Bush - Clinton comparisson is fair...to Clinton

Under Clinton, worksite immigration-violation arrests weren't great, considering the size of the problem, but they were about 20 times greater than under Bush, who has basically stopped worksite enforcement.

Worksite Arrests (immigration violators):

Clinton Presidency, first four years, :
1993 8,027
1994 7,630
1995 7,554
1996 10,014
Total 33,325

Best year was 1997 with 17,554 worksite arrests

Bush Presidency, first four years:
2001 735
2002 485
2003 445
2004 159
Total 1,824

Best year was 2001 with 735 worksite arrests