Posted on 08/30/2006 4:50:28 AM PDT by RKV
The New York Times front page profile on my friend, Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN), "Star of the Right Loses His Base at the Border," is really all about the anti-immigration, far-right group led by Tom Tancredo of Colorado to oppose any broad-based immigration reform whatsoever--and to label any proposals for temporary workers, or even Pence's 17 year citizenship path, as "amnesty."
This word "amnesty" is being used to attack absolutely any conceivable immigration compromise. I could go on forever on this subject. I have written several columns on it. But at the end of the day, the Tancredo crowd, which includes Pat Buchanan, just wants border security to keep out immigrants.
They also want to deport all illegal or undocumented immigrants. "Border security" and "deportation" are their watchwords. They manage to completely ignore the economics of the problem, whereby Mexicans seeking higher paying jobs in the U.S. rather than the faltering Mexican economy can produce are coming here to work. After all, living conditions in the U.S. are a lot better for all but the richest people than they are in Mexico.
If we ever deported the 10-15 million undocumented workers, then the U.S. economy would be severely damaged. New studies show the Mexicans actually help the U.S. economy and wages actually rise overall, (though there are small losses in border town wages). Even unskilled American workers benefit from lower priced goods and services generated by these new Mexican worker-immigrants.
Pat Buchanan attacks me as "worshipping at the church of GDP." But in a CNBC Kudlow and Company interview, I reminded him that I also worship at the church of Catholic Mass, as do the vast majority of the Mexican immigrants. These faith-based folks would create a new blue-collar middle class that is sorely needed in this country if we let them.
They would also finance Social Security over the next fifty years. Though it should be noted that academic research shows that 2/3rds of them pay Social Security with phony ID cards and will never receive the benefit as matters now stand. And, of course, they pay the sales tax on whatever purchases they make in stores.
The problem will never be solved unless we legally permit roughly 400,000 per year to fill the demand for U.S. jobs that are currently available. This resembles the Bracero Program and it must be part of any solution. It's just plain common sense that at any given productivity rate, a larger labor force generates more GDP growth to the benefit of the U.S. economy. During the high tide of immigration, over the past twenty years, the U.S. has enjoyed unrivaled prosperity at low unemployment. So, again, I ask, if immigration is so bad, then why are things so good?
Yes, there should be tough border security. Yes, there should be foolproof ID cards, with biometrics, for Social Security and employment purposes. Former Sen. Alan Simpson of Wyoming, the co-author of the 1986 Simpson-Mazzoli immigration reform bill, has said the failure of that bill was a function of the lack of an ID card system.
But the intransigence of the Tancredo-Buchanan crowd is a remarkable political event which is all out of kilter with poll after poll that shows a substantial majority of respondents favor broad based immigration reform.
If these guys win, the Republican Party loses, and the nation loses. Unlike the big countries of Western Europe and Japan, the U.S. benefits from immigration that keeps our population rising. (In fact, harking back to the Catholic Mass, roughly 45 million unborn children have been killed since the abortion wave was launched by Roe v. Wade in the early 1970's. We have an opportunity to replace this extraordinary loss of human life with hard headed but compassionate and economically sound immigration reform).
Incidentally, I wrote the article for Human Events when that newspaper awarded Congressman Pence its "2005 Man of the Year" award. I know Mike. The man is a wonderful, Reagan-thinking conservative. His life is governed by religious values, a belief in a strong national defense, and a pro-growth approach to low taxes and less government spending.
This Tancredo-Buchanan backstabbing does this rising GOP star a great disservice. If allowed to go unanswered, it would represent another devastating blow to the Republican Party.
While the Pence-Hutchinson immigration reform idea is not perfect, it does represent a useful discussion point for future action. As diplomatically and kindly as possible, with all the greatest respect for differing points of view, let me just say that the Tancredo-Buchanan attack on Mike Pence is nuttier than a fruitcake.
Farmers Branch Texas is a perfect example of what the illegals headed by extremist dangerous groups like LULAC and LARAZA can do to destroy PROPERTY VALUES and destroy communities.
LULAC is BLOCKBUSTING in FB TX which is an illegal practice and I wish Federal authorities that handle that would look into it.
Lulac decided they would buy 150 homes to house hispanic illegals which is lowering property values in that area, the crime rate increased, (this was reported on local news station) BLOCKBUSTING is ILLEGAL!
But why should that surprise anyone ILLEGALS flooding into this country have no respect for our laws!!
Don't even get me going on "jobs Americans won't do." My first job was hoeing weeds in a vineyard 55 hours a week in the 100 degree Fresno County weather when I was 14 years old. I spent a whole summer at it and was happy to get back to school.
Victor Hansen has a great book called "Mexifornia" on what is happening here in the People's Republic of Kalifornia. Sounds like it could happen in Texas too.
My own take is Lawrence Kudlow is at least 50% libertarian and is the kind of libertarian who trends toward open borders and unlimited "free trade". He is putting free markets above US sovereignty and cultural cohesiveness. In the circles he moves I doubt there is much anguish over illegal immigration. That's for the little people who just coincidentally fight wars and die for America
Kudlow ain't too bad. I just realize his limitations.
Mike Pence is a snake. I have only contempt for him. He is squishy soft on other matters too.
Yeah we saw how it passed. When are your new glasses coming in sink?
Pence amnesty is still amnesty.
What else does Tancredo talk about? He's a one-issue candidate because that's the issue he wants to champion.
It's either Pence-Hutchison, or nothing.
It appears that the status-quo is acceptable to you.
Whether you like it or not there is a large, vocal, and active group in this country who want the border closed and teh illegals out. And I agree with them. Yes we do need immigrants but we can see to that after the border is closed and the illegals are on the way out. And we certainly do not need to get all of them from south of the Rio Grande. I am sure there are other hard working people ready to come here from other parts of the world. But before we even discuss this we need to get the lawbreakers out and seal the borders.
The Tancredo/Buchanan attack on Pence riled up a lot of people here in Indiana, even talk show host Greg Garrision, who had been very supportive of Tancredo.
What's wrong with saying about Pence, "I understand he is trying to get a bill passed, but I disagree with some of his ideas." Why does he have to immediately be labelled a "snake?"
Do you want some sort of immigration solution, or do you just want to gripe and hurl insults?
"The Save Our State group held an anti-illegal immigrations protest in Maywood, California earlier today. According to various posts in their forums (1,2) there were allegedly a few incidents, including: - An elderly couple being swarmed and having to go into an auto parts store and then be escorted out by police to avoid the crowd... (picture at one of the links) - One of their female members being roughed up... - Several of their cars being vandalized with spray paint and given flat tires. And, at this link you can see a picture of the Mexican flag being raised over the Maywood Post Office, as in United States Post Office," the Lonewacko blog reported this weekend.
Since the status-quo is that illegals may be deported under the law, that would be a pretty good guess
you are a snake and a joke
Hey, Kudlow: Maybe you'll see the massive immigrant invasion in a different light when one of your illegal, uninsured, drunk, Hispanic buddies crashes into you and then takes off.
Just-here-to-improve-their-life-my-foot BUMP.
And whose fault is that Larry?
The Mexican people need to get motivated and change their corrupt system. If they put as much energy into that project as they do on our construction jobs, they'd solve their own problems without breaking our laws.
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