Posted on 05/25/2006 11:24:43 AM PDT by 300magnum
WASHINGTON - Call it an early, conservative rehearsal for the 2008 campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, four senators supporting a chance at citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants, one opposed.
"Some call it amnesty. I call it probation and parole," says Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback (news, bio, voting record), willing to push back against conservatives — many of whom presumably will vote in primaries and caucuses in 20 months' time.
"In poll after poll after poll, Americans support earned citizenship and a comprehensive solution," adds Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record) of Arizona, echoing Brownback's view as well as the one espoused by President Bush.
But Sen. George Allen (news, bio, voting record), seeking re-election in Virginia as well as maneuvering toward a White House bid, begs to differ.
"There are a lot of practical, principled problems with this and I am not voting for this," he said recently as the Senate plodded toward a final vote on the bill. "It rewards illegal behavior."
On track for passage Thursday, the Senate bill includes provisions to enhance border security, create a new guest worker program and give millions of illegal immigrants a path to citizenship as long as they meet certain conditions.
The president has spoken in favor of the Senate's general approach, stirring opposition from some conservatives who insist the borders be secured first and deride the bill as an amnesty measure for millions of lawbreakers.
At this early date, immigration is one of a few high-profile issues that divides GOP presidential hopefuls. Most are sticking with Bush on the war in Iraq, for example, and all generally support his call for spending restraints.
Among Democrats, potential presidential candidates appear in agreement on immigration. They are all expected to vote for the bill, with its obvious appeal for Hispanics, the fastest growing segment of the electorate.
Republicans, too, court Hispanics. But they also must contend with conservatives who have spoken out forcefully against the Senate measure.
Their dilemma: Vote for the Senate bill, in line with overall national opinion, thus risking a backlash from conservatives who make up a large part of the party activists and will play a significant role in picking the party's nominee. Or, side with conservatives, oppose the bill and risk alienating the broader electorate.
Four of five potential GOP presidential candidates — Brownback, McCain, Sen. Chuck Hagel (news, bio, voting record) of Nebraska and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee — are betting the wiser vote is in favor of the bill.
They use the same term, saying the measure reflects a "comprehensive" approach that the country wants — that is, legislation that focuses on securing the borders as well as dealing with the millions of illegal immigrants currently living within them.
McCain, whose GOP maverick streak masks his conservative credentials, pointed to public opinion.
Hagel, a Midwesterner, said the bill is "a responsible resolution to a difficult problem" and more than border security and immigration reform.
"It's also a job generation bill. It's an economic development bill. It's a social fabric bill. It says something about our country," the Nebraskan said on the Senate floor Wednesday. Ironically, the state's Democrat, Sen. Ben Nelson (news, bio, voting record), criticized the bill in his own floor speech earlier in the day.
Brownback acknowledged a certain political risk in his position and said going against the conservative grain could hurt him.
Still, he said, "I believe as an economic conservative, as a social conservative, the right stance on this is to have a comprehensive immigration policy."
It wasn't clear until this week how Frist would vote. He told CNN's "The Situation Room" late Tuesday: "I expect that I will be supporting that bill coming out of the Senate."
That leaves Allen as the lone declared opponent among presidential hopefuls.
Voters in Virginia are "overwhelmingly opposed to this," he said of the Senate bill. "They see this as amnesty. Until the borders are secured, this flood, this flow of illegal immigrants is down to a trickle, they don't think we ought to be rewarding illegal behavior."
Then there's another possibility, that the issue will fade.
"People are going to cast their votes this fall based on amnesty or legalization," said Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley, who hails from Iowa, the site of the first presidential contest in 2008.
"Who knows about two years from now?"
I am now an official George Allen fan!
I'm watching the Senate debate an Amendment by Jeff Sessions to deny the Earned Income Tax Credit to anyone receiving amnesty. Sessions made an excellent case, but McCain backhandedly accused Sessions of being racist but saying the amendment would tell "legal workers" (those he would grant amnesty) to "go to the back of the bus".
McCain has told so many lies that he's beginning to believe them himself.
We need to take a look at Mike Pence's immigration plan.
Pence's bill will do the following
1 Pass HR 4437
2 The border will be secured
3 Interior laws will be enforced
4 NO path to citizenship will be granted
5 Anchor baby citizenship will end
6 Removes all 10 to 12 million illegal aliens for United States
7 There will no longer be “undocumented workers”
8 Private Sector
9 Secures the border first.
10 We will control our border
Pence's bill only gives guest worker status after they have returned home and he gives them no path to citizenship.
"Some call it amnesty. I call it probation and parole," says Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback
Allen/Pence 2008
I hope we choose someone from outside Washington who can connect with conservatives for a few months before he joins the dark side.
A Senator will never win the presidency. Besides, all the Senators we have are wimps. It will either be a Governor or a person outside of Washington.
I might become one, too. Anybody who wants to grant amnesty to criminals will NEVER get my vote.
Sessions for President!
I saw Sessions on Neil Cavuto and he was pretty good.
Sorry for the typos above. Any one other than Sessions figure out that the welfare bill alone will be $29 Billion, including the earned income credit? Sessions pointed out that the money is more than enough to build a fence, hire enough BP agents etc and have money left over.
As far as building a fence along the border and the nay sayers...
How many Frenchmen does it take to defend Paris?
No one knows, It has never been done.
LET'S TRY THE FENCE BEFORE WE SURRENDER.
God bless George Allen! He is a true conservative. I am proud that he is my senator. I will be proud to support his re-election this year and (hopefully) his presidential candidacy in 2008.
Check out the latest issue of the American Spectator for more info; you can also go to his official web site at www.georgeallen.com.
Like Reagan was with the Panama Canal Treaty, Allen stands with the majority of Americans and against the congressional limp wristers.
"Sessions for President!"
I could go for that. Not fancy, but a decent man.
I think this will impact the 2006 elections more than the 2008 elections. Alot can happen before 2008 (2 whole years) - another attack, catastrophy either natural or otherwise will pull our attention for weeks on end and this will fade just like everything else that captures our attention as soon as the bill is passed and then the American people (not Freepers) will go on. We are a small group of people here on free Republic and most Americans are not into this stuff. Hardly anyone I know cares about this that much that it will effect their vote in 2008 because they are not as politically motivated as we are. The American people are not going to carry this in their minds for 2 more years - they will move on (I hate to say it but the attention span for most Americans is very short).
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