Posted on 05/26/2006 2:31:43 PM PDT by VU4G10
WASHINGTON - The White House on Friday said a Senate bill that would grant legal status to illegal immigrants is analogous to a traffic law that allows a speeder to pay a fine and continue driving.
"If you had a traffic ticket and you paid it, you're not forever a speeder, are you?" White House Press Secretary Tony Snow said in response to questions from The Examiner.
"So the fact is, you have paid your debt to society," he added. "And we have come up with a way to make sure that the debt to society gets paid. Then you move forward."
The "traffic ticket" analogy raised eyebrows on Capitol Hill, where many House Republicans regard illegal immigration as a grave crime.
"I don't know if Tony meant to trivialize it or not," said Will Adams, spokesman for Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo. "But it's certainly misleading."
"The penalty for a speeding ticket is a fine," he added. "The penalty for being here illegally is being removed from this country. But the president doesn't want illegal aliens to go home."
Snow emphasized that illegals would have to pay fines, learn English and wait years for a chance at full citizenship. But Adams called that "a slap on the hand" compared to deportation.
"Here's a more apt analogy," he said. "You get stopped for speeding, and you say to the cop: "Hey listen, you're about to give me a $300 ticket. How about we make it 20 bucks and just call it even?"
Snow predicted that House Republicans would eventually drop their opposition to the Senate bill, which passed Thursday. The bill, which includes a guest worker program that would grant legal status to aliens, is headed to a conference committee for possible reconciliation with a House bill aimed at beefing up border security.
Snow suggested the guest worker program could be sold to even ardent opponents like Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wisconsin, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.
"Chairman Sensenbrenner, who's got some real problems with various aspects, has said publicly that the temporary worker program has merit," Snow said.
"There are areas in which members of the House are going to agree with the president," he added. "I certainly don't want to be speaking for Chairman Sensenbrenner, but the fact is, you know politics."
But Sensenbrenner appeared unmoved.
"What's going on now, in calling it a pathway to citizenship or earned legalization, is not honest because it is amnesty," he said at a news conference.
The man gets a new job and this is what The President wants Tony to try to sell us on!
Good Grief Mr. President.
You think calling for Secure Borders with extreemly generous Legal immigration isolationism?
There's a huge difference between getting a ticket and being an illegal immigrant.
To get a ticket, you have to have a car, a license, an ability to understand and read signs, car insurance, and you have to pay a fine AND pay more for insurance.
To get picked up for illegal immigrant, you have to go up to a border agent the first few miles in, and moon him. He'll give you a stern warning and a ride back to the border.
A Freeper and a CFR member, that is unique. Do you have a link that documents Tony's CFR membership?
Excuse me, Coolidge was a great president. He was one of Reagan's favorite presidents - for good reason. Kept spending in control (unlike the modern GOP, which - under Bush - spends like Democrats) and kept taxes low. Also kept the country out of war, so government didn't grow. A great president.
A courageous and candid admission, Clawrence3. Maybe you could start a thread, "Freepers who support the Senate Bill, check in here", to show that you are not alone.
A disticntly minority view.
Which just proves you're a FROBL. And no, we don't need "all these immigrants". In particular, we don't need THESE criminals, with their law-breaking attitude. Send them all home, and for every two so sent, let in ONE person on the LEGAL immigration waiting list. Criminality should NEVER be rewarded.
A thread with the fewest posters in FR history.
What is "extremely"? The Senate plan calls for up to 3 million per year.
No thanks - with the Senate bill passed, my work here is winding down.
So, when are you going to start a movement to outlaw plea bargains too? As for me being a "FROBL", you are really saying every Senator that voted for it was too? This issue is a little more complicated than that.
LOL - very funny.
If I could, I would, but, not being in politics sort of prevents that. But yes, I'm opposed to "plea bargains".
As for me being a "FROBL", you are really saying every Senator that voted for it was too?"
Well, since I doubt that "every Senator that voted for it" was a member of Free Republic (FROBL=Free Republic Open Borders Lobbyist), I guess not. Treasonous, yes.
"This issue is a little more complicated than that.
Not really. They are here illegally, committing crimes just by their presence, and they should be deported. There's nothing "complicated" about it.
LOL - you know that MILLIONS of people break the speed limit EVERYDAY and a tiny fraction of those get ticketed - good luck catching all those lawbreakers too ; )
I am not sure how to take this.
Ego?
Do you think there are some Senators watching?
Or, simply a person determined to destroy the U.S?
Which is it?
What's the matter clawrence3, run out of people to debate with? Is that why you pinged me?
Go pi** in the wind.
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