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Posted on 05/19/2007 11:07:43 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush on Saturday acknowledged lawmakers' doubts about a U.S. immigration proposal, but argued it will help resolve the status of 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States.
With the proposal taking fire from both Republicans and Democrats, the Senate is expected to begin debate on immigration next week.
Bush used his weekly radio address to open what is likely to be an intense effort to persuade Americans to support the plan as the answer to long-simmering U.S. immigration problems.
"It will help us resolve the status of millions of illegal immigrants who are here already, without animosity and without amnesty," said Bush, who is spending the weekend at his Texas ranch.
The president, in need of a victory to brighten a second term dominated by the chaos in Iraq, wants to resolve the immigration battle before it gets swept up by the presidential campaign to replace him in 2008.
The immigration deal was reached on Thursday between U.S. senators and backed by both Bush and Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (news, bio, voting record) of Nevada.
The legislation will have to navigate some perilous shoals if it is to become law.
Conservative Republicans fear it would lead to an amnesty for illegal immigrants who they say are already weighing heavily on America's social fabric.
At the same time, many Democrats think the elements of the worker program are too tough on immigrants. Labor unions fear the deal will drive down wages.
STRONG WORDS IN NEGOTIATING ROOM
"I realize that many hold strong convictions on this issue, and reaching an agreement was not easy," Bush said.
The Washington Post reported on Saturday that Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record) got into a shouting match with Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn (news, bio, voting record) in the final negotiations that led to the deal.
The Post, citing several unnamed Republican and Democratic sources, said words were exchanged when Cornyn voiced concerns about the number of judicial appeals that illegal immigrants could receive, and that it got really heated when Cornyn accused McCain of being too busy running for president to take part in the immigration negotiations.
"Wait a second here," Cornyn said to McCain, according to The Post. "I've been sitting in here for all of these negotiations and you just parachute in here on the last day. You're out of line."
McCain was said to have used an expletive and shouted at Cornyn, "I know more about this than anyone else in the room."
McCain's presidential campaign spokesman Brian Jones denied his boss claimed to know more about the bill, but acknowledged to the Post that "there was a spirited exchange" amid the tense negotiations.
The Republican president sought to reassure conservatives who stymied an immigration push last year by fighting for tougher border security measures.
He said the immigration proposal would require that strong border security and enforcement benchmarks - such as doubling the number of Border Patrol agents on the U.S.-Mexico border -- are met before the temporary worker program and other pieces of the legislation would be implemented.
In another move aimed at conservatives, the White House circulated a "Myth/Fact" document seeking to answer critics who contend the agreement amounts to a reward for the thousands who sneaked into the United States.
What the hell does he care? He ain't running for office again, and the GOP loss of Congress has made his pet immigration "reform" bill possible. Signing that bill could make 2006 seem like happy days by comparison.
BS! There's nothing to resolve! They're illegal! He said it himself. Now deport them, all of them!
I've never said it before, but I'll say it now.
President Bush is a liar.
L
The Liberals hate him because of the war, and the Conservatives will hate him for selling out the Country.
Well, let's see, he's concerned about the lawmakers, and the aliens....let me know when he gives a fig about the American people, will ya?
Islam is a religion of peace.
MYTH: We need new laws to deal with this illegal immigration calamity.
FACT: The federal government needs to pursue its Constitutional responsibilities and enforce current laws.
MYTH: The White House tells the truth.
FACT: The Globalists have sold out America, and do not enforce the law.
MYTH: Rove is a genius.
FACT: The Administration’s policy on the borders is insane.
MYTH: The GOP and Pres. Bush did not know this was coming.
FACT: The GOP certainly will, and America may, die because of El Presidente
MYTH: Pres. Bush cares about his conservative base
FACT: Americans are in danger from illegal aliens
who foster 40,000 murders a year,
40,000 hit and runs a year, and they are coming with
infectious hepatitis, incurable tuberculosis, typhoid,
cholera, plague, measles, mumps, Chagas disease, leprosy,
incurable Morgellons disease, Dengue fever, and
polio from which America was free before El Presidente.
MYTH: The President is conservative.
FACT: The White House cares more about La Raza than FRepublic
Guess he doesn;t care about the peoples concerns. Domestic Policy Failure.
I feel like those war protesters must have felt leading up to the Irag war. They constantly said that Bush doesn’t listen. Now I know how they feel- He doesn’t listen. To quote Clinton “I can feel their pain” Does he not know about the gangs, costs just everything? What is his problem?
Their status IS resolved. They are illegal and subject to deportation.
No need to resolve that - just enforce it.
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Same here. Except he is just ‘Bush’ to me now. He has dishonored the office by intentionally failing to secure the borders against invasion.
Right—He listens to the Mexicans.
In 1986 we were promised secure borders and amnesty, we got amnesty but not secure borders. Betrayal!
In 1996 there was a small immigration reform effort effort, no secure borders. Betrayal!
In 2006 they promised 700 miles of fence.
Now in May 2007, a mere 7 months later, they will only build 370 miles of fence before they start handing out amnesty. Betrayal!
And Bush & Co can't understand why we don't trust him or the federal government on immigration reform.
We've been strongly telling Bush "secure the borders first" but that's just too difficult for Bush to understand.
As I said on an earlier thread it can now be truthfully said "Bush lied, people died", pertaining to the citizens killed in this country every year by these illegal scum.
“Bush acknowledges lawmakers’ concern on immigration”
If some lawmakers and US citizens have concerns, maybe this might have
something to do with it.
Bush Removes Provision Requiring Back taxes From Illegal Immigrants
Boston Globe ^ | May 19, 2007 | Michael Kranish
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1836227/posts
It is a sure-fire recipe for generating “concern” when you appear to
ready to let ILLEGALS get a free pass from the IRS, while siccing
the IRS on US Citizens.
(Some tax-bidness friends tell me the IRS is going after folks
with Schedule C and employee business expenses really hard this
year, often opening reviews of returns back to TY 2004).
“In 1986 we were promised secure borders and amnesty, we got amnesty
but not secure borders. Betrayal!”
And a red-headed Muslim that participated on the first World Trade Center
attack as well.
Tell me why CONgress & this man can even have 20% approval - I’ll go with 6% for both - that’s their family voting for them.
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