[A Citizen Reporter]

I never presume to speak for the President, and I didn't in my post.

What I said is what I hear in Pat Buchanan's argument, and it's unmistakable. It's an argument that's been made against immigration in this country for time immemorial.

And as someone said on Brit Hume's show earlier this week, it was used against the immigration of Buchanan's own Irish heritage at one time. They were known as the Know Nothing party.

[Soul Seeker]

I haven't read Buchanon's statements on immigration.

I know he believes in secure borders but I could care less what "nuances" he brings to the discussion. Nor will I be drawn into making this about Buchanon. Certainly you know, most do, that Buchanon represents few. The fact the idea of border security is popular and he has capitalized on that? It's good for his pocket book, but it doesn't make him the voice of folks like myself. It simply means there are millions out there desperate to have someone conveying the message they want enforcement, and they'll take what they can get. Which doesn't reflect well on D.C., that voters are that desperate to convey a message to leaders that SHOULD give a damn what they think.

Tancredo, Hayworth, King and Sessions are more likely representatives of this issue. I personally prefer hayworth and Sessions.

I haven't watched brit's show this week and you have provided no transcripts for me to even begin to be able to address an argument. I can only assume if this follows the patterns of the past, that they were confusing the issue of bigotry towards people of different lands entering LEGALLY with those that are now entering ILLEGALLY. If so, they continue their pattern of dishonestry with this issue on brit's panel.

[BW2221]

At the risk of being called racist, there are some major differences between past immigration and the current one.

First, there was no welfare state as it currently exists. Most assistance came from relatives and charities, many church-related. Some cities, like NYC had a dole, but most didn't. The Feds had neither the funds or bureaucracy to sponsor a welfare program. Any assistance was to get newcomers on their feet until they got a job.

Immigrants came for a number of reasons. Some to get a better life, but others left because of religious persecution. Some had skills they brought from the old country (tailors, jewelery, craftsmen, etc.

The immigrants came from a number of countries and spoke numerous languages, so they had to learn English to get by. While immigrants kept their traditions, they became Americans. The Irish didn't talk of turning New England into "New Ireland."

There was no movement by a foreign government to get the U.S. to take its underclass so it could relieve some of its welfare burden.