Posted on 06/07/2006 7:46:22 AM PDT by Reaganwuzthebest
LAREDO - In a parking lot of the Border Patrol headquarters three miles from the dividing line with Mexico, President Bush on Tuesday accused his opponents in the immigration battle of stirring up fear with false claims about amnesty.
"Look, if you're one of these types of people that basically say, you know, throw them out, then you just use the word 'amnesty,' just toss it around," Bush said. "In order to frighten people, you just say 'amnesty.' "
Standing with Gov. Rick Perry after a tour of the Laredo Border Patrol Sector's video surveillance program, Bush stepped up his criticism of lawmakers back in Washington balking at his call to create a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants who have lived in the country for years.
It was a fine line Bush tried to walk. Earlier in the day, at a tour of the Border Patrol training facility in New Mexico, Bush struck conciliatory tones and said both sides in the debate have more common ground than differences.
"I know when you watch your television or listen to the radio it seems like there's nothing but disagreement on immigration policy in Washington," Bush told Border Patrol agents in Artesia, N.M. "Yet there's a growing consensus ... that fundamental reforms are needed."
Looking for middle ground
Bush was in Laredo as part of a two-day trip highlighting immigration issues, as Congress prepares to iron out the differences between somewhat contradictory measures passed in the House and Senate.
"There's no question this is a difficult issue for some in Washington, D.C., but my job is to continue calling people to account," Bush said.
He supports a Senate bill that includes a guest worker program, tougher border enforcement and a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants who have spent years in the U.S., with a requirement that they pay fines and back taxes and show a proficiency in English.
Both of Texas' Republican senators, Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn, voted against the legislation.
"The failures of the 1986 amnesty live on today, and we will need to work very hard to avoid a repeat of those mistakes," Cornyn said Tuesday as lawmakers returned to Capitol Hill. "My hope is that this summer we'll find a middle ground solution that controls illegal immigration and addresses the 12 million illegal immigrants without granting amnesty."
Last December, the House passed a bill that would make it a felony to enter the country illegally or to help those that do. The bill would also increase border security and strictly enforce immigration laws.
To build support for his guest worker and citizenship proposals, Bush has taken a tough stand on the law and order aspects of border enforcement, including calling for more walls and fencing along heavily trafficked areas of the border.
Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Democrat from Laredo, said residents in his community want protection — but not a wall.
"I think people feel that, when it comes to border security, we say 'heck yes,' " Cuellar said. "But when the discussion turns to building a wall, that's a big no."
Chatting with the locals
Laredo, with a population that is 94.9 percent Hispanic, is the most Hispanic city in the United States, according to the Census Bureau.
Cuellar said that generally, he hears support from his constituents for a requirement that new immigrants learn English. There is also concern, he says, about a threat to jobs from continued illegal immigration.
"They want a guest worker plan, but with controls," he said. "They want security, but they don't want to see Minutemen."
While in Laredo, Bush made two unscheduled stops, pulling the motorcade over on a main commercial street to visit briefly with schoolchildren, and stopping at a Mexican-style barbecue joint to meet with residents and border guards.
"¿Como estas?" Bush greeted patrons at Cotulla's, a restaurant decorated with deer heads. "You know your governor?" he asked, gesturing at Perry.
"Howdy," Perry said, greeting a family having dinner.
Such encounters, carefully planned but unannounced, are part of a larger White House strategy to remind Americans why they once liked him so much and use his personal popularity to help sell a controversial immigration program.
Ray Keck, president of Texas A&M University International in Laredo, said he supports much of Bush's plan, but thinks more economic help for Mexico also would ease illegal immigration woes.
"We are heartened by the president's plan. We must look for a policy that would allow these people to become legal, tax-paying residents, a profitable part of our national workforce," Keck said.
I wish he'd pursue 'comprehensive immigration reform' as lustily as he did SSI reform. Which is to say not very.
But somehow I think his heart really is in this debacle he's trying to bring on this nation.
Why he's so damn dead-set on this particular initiative I'll never understand.
One very troubling statement the president made yesterday was that he was going to issue an Executive Order to create a 'council' for teaching civics to Americans. Now, sustainable development came to us through an EO created 'council' as have many other freedom-destroying ideas. I am very very worried at the type of 'civics' an unelected council with the force of the federal government behind it will promote. I am very very worried that the borderless president will have something different in mind, than what we citizens consider civics.
Busby's defeat at the hands of Bilbray was especially sweet----since McCainiac cancelled a fund-raiser for Bilbray b/c of the latter's anti-amnesty postion.
And Busby had that fatal nmeeting w/ Latins telling them they didn't need "papers" to vote for her.
I thought he was trying to do it via a law, not an amendment. I don't think a law will do it.
I'll defer to those who know him best but I don't see any Pubs I like for 2008.
Same here. He's been pursuing this since he got into office, one of his first policy initiatives was inviting Fox over to talk about a guest worker program. So far his plans have gotten nowhere and this may be his last stab at it so I expect him to go all out though ultimately failing again, at least as far as the amnesty goes.
It wouldn't have suprised me if McCain was secretly hoping Busby had won. :)
Another primary race to keep an eye on is Cannon in Utah. He may still win because of his opponent's lack of name recognition but just the fact this long-term incumbent is forced to fight it out over immigration proves the natives are getting restless.
Oooohhhh boy. The bots are spitting at their screens now.
We'll need Bilbray out there when McCainiac tries for 2008.
I hope Bilbray is vengeful -- and goes after McCainiac's head.
I'm thinking the anti-amnesty primary results also prove the illegal vote has been dampened (maybe just temporarily).
The fact that illegals are afraid to go to the polls proves the restless natives have effectively shown their political muscle.
Good news, I don't know if this was posted anywhere yet but McCain got his hat handed to him in Michigan by Tancredo:
Key GOP enclave sending message in backing Tancredo
"Tancredo won 60 of the 327 GOP delegates, about 18 percent, in the key Republican county, a suburb of Detroit, beating 13 others, including Sen. John McCain of Arizona, former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and even Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, son of former Michigan Gov. George Romney."
Tancredo needs to get in, I think he'll clean up at this point, people know who he is now and overwhelmingly agree with him.
At the very least he'll put all other candidates solidly on record on this issue, unlike the last couple of elections, maybe for the first time ever.
His presence might even encourage other pro-border candidates to get in, which isn't a bad thing. It sure beats having only open border hacks like McCain, Hagel, and Frist.
Saw that vote breakdown on FR----thanks for reposting.
McCainiac had his head handed to him by Tanc who is one powerful anti-amnesty figure.
Tanc's entry will dramatically refocus the debate----especially for Dims (smirk).
First off, we need to get an anti-amnesty plank in the Repub platform.
Then we have to get a comprehensive anti-amnesty position that covers all bases, and have Tanc force the issue.
The failure is the failure to enforce the laws that were part of the 1986 legislation, specifically the one about going after the employers of illegals. This reminds me of the Clinton's when they would get caught doing something illegal they would say, "you know you are right, there should be a law." Why should I believe that the new law will be enforced? The part will be the amnesty and forgiveness of back taxes and any crimes committed. No thank you.
Exactly, and in the meantime we've got to stop any amnesty from passing. 2008 is going to be the make it or break it year for this country.
It won't be, no one believes it. The House has it right, enforcement first and I hope they stick to their guns.
:) Amnesty talk tends to do that.
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