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.
Yep and they will peacefully be streaming across our borders if W gets to sign this monstrosity.
How? By giving them a green light to live here? Liar!
Remember The Alamo
A. 1. No blue dress.
2. (Gulp!) No stain, either.
NO to amnesty.
Send that to Rush, Coulter, Levin, Savage, Hannity, Ingraham, Medved, and O'Reilly.
Iran, spitting in our face. Check
High gas prices. Check
Stagnant real estate Check
Auto Makers floundering Check
Feeling that our great Nation is declining Check
Add the relentless attempted sellout of our Country to the mix and you have a whole new level of despair.
Looks like Bush is challenging Carter for the title of "Worst President in US History."
Great graphic! It fits
And we don’t have an effective congressional vice squad to bust the con-men. Nor a presidential one for the con-man-in chief. We are the government’s “vice squad.”
IMNSHO, this mess is part of a deal to get the money appropriated for the war.
We shall see.
Hey, elPresidente Boosh, screw the illegals. How about being concerned with AMERICANS for a change.
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.
Do not forget the first immigration legislation written by none other than that drunk murderer, Ted Kennedy in 1965. THAT is what caused the immigration problem we have today, and now that fat@ss has written another one that will lead to the destruction of America. I wish he would drop dead by hanging, and take some of the other traitors with him. I'll furnish the rope, IF I can find enough to hang them all. ;o)
Yes. Blackbird.
He’s Just Working on Estabishing A Fairer and More Leveller Amero-ica for All. His Daddy was out front about that and other things after all. ;-)
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