Posted on 04/20/2007 2:28:13 PM PDT by Ultra Sonic 007
Mayor Giuliani takes center stage today as the champion of immigrant rights during a two-day conference that brings mayors from across the nation to Manhattan.
"Politically it's good to be on the side of immigration if you're mayor of New York, but that's like saying politically it's good to reduce crime," Giuliani said yesterday.
He said seizing the national spotlight on an issue that will help his reelection bid in a city where more than half the population is either an immigrant or a child of immigrants combines good politics with good government.
The mayors of Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Miami and Seattle highlight the conference, which will push for changes to the landmark 1996 welfare reform laws, which cut off a variety of benefits to legal immigrants.
After sessions today at the Sheraton New York Hotel, the forum moves to Ellis Island tomorrow for release of a statement calling for treating legal immigrants the same as citizens in applying for benefits, and speeding up naturalization so immigrants can become citizens.
Even Giuliani critics give the mayor credit for standing up for immigrants in the face of cutbacks orchestrated by conservative Republicans in Congress working with a Democratic President.
"Of course it's a useful thing to do, but he takes polls like every one else," Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer said at yesterday's Puerto Rican Day Parade.
Dominican-born City Councilman Guillermo Linares (D-Manhattan) applauded Giuliani's defense of immigrant rights but said the new city budget does not contain money to offset the effects of welfare reforms.
"Maybe, just maybe, this conference reflects precisely a first step towards that," Linares said.
Giuliani's defense of immigration has taken him to Boston, Washington and Minneapolis for speeches.
He has filed two suits against the federal government, one demanding that the city be allowed to keep its executive order giving illegal immigrants access to schools, police services and hospitals, and a second arguing that denying benefits to legal immigrants who pay taxes violates constitutional guarantees of equal protection.
Mayoral aides reject critics who complain that the conference brings together people who already agree with their boss.
"I don't know that is preaching to the converted as much as letting the country know there is a very significant group of people who believe the new welfare laws treat immigrants unfairly," said senior mayoral adviser Anthony Coles.
"It's an important message to get out."
Rudy is putting his hand in the illegal cookie jar, hoping to come up with a fistful of votes, and he is wasting no time about it.
Of course, because they DON’T CARE about social issues or illegal immigration. Most of them want open borders.
Many of them live in the NE and think that what’s was good for New York City is good for the USA.
I don’t, but Rudy’s supporters are nothing more than the old Rockefeller supporters in another guise.
Makes me dislike Rudy Julie Annie even more. If it’s between him and Hillary, God help us.
And for all you Rudy supporter, I DON’T TRUST HIM TO APPOINT STRICT CONSTRUCTIONISTS TO THE COURT.
Of course, because they DON’T CARE about social issues or illegal immigration. Most of them want open borders.
Many of them live in the NE and think what was good for New York City is good for the USA.
I don’t, but Rudy’s supporters are nothing more than the old Rockefeller supporters in another guise.
So basically Rudy wants people that have snook in through the borders to have access to our taxpayer funded police force and education system. I realize that if they were ill the hospital should take them because it would be immoral to let someone die. I understand them having access to police, education, and hospitals if they came in the legal way but not illegaly. Ole’ Rudy has struck out so many times that there is no way I would ever vote for him.
If someone were to hold a gun to my head and say vote for Hillary or Rudy, I’d vote for Hillary. If we have to have evil in the WH, let it be of the other party.
I will never vote for turning the party over to the likes of Rudy Guliani.
I’m not willing to go that far. They’d have to shoot me before i vote for Hillary.
Hillary is not ‘worth dying for!’
LOL
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