Posted on 05/29/2007 10:15:03 AM PDT by Rb ver. 2.0
GLYNCO, Ga. (AP) - President Bush attacked opponents of an immigration deal Tuesday, suggesting they “don’t want to do what’s right for America.”
“The fundamental question is, will elected officials have the courage necessary to put a comprehensive immigration plan in place,” Bush said against a backdrop of a huge American flag.
He described his proposal—which has been agreed to by a bipartisan group of senators—as one that “makes it more likely we can enforce our border—and at the same time uphold the great immigrant tradition of the United States of America.”
Bush spoke at the nation’s largest training center for law enforcement.
He chose the get-tough setting as conservative critics blast a Senate proposal as being soft on people who break the law. Hoping to blunt that message, Bush emphasized that any new options for immigrants and foreign workers would not start until tougher security is in place.
The presidential stop came during a congressional recess, with senators back home and facing pressure from the left and right on the immigration plan. Bush’s aim is to build momentum for the legislation, perhaps his best chance for a signature victory in his second term. The Senate expects to resume debate on it next week.
“A lot of Americans are skeptical about immigration reform, primarily because they don’t think the government can fix the problems,” Bush said.
“And my answer to the skeptics is: give us a chance to fix the problems in a comprehensive way that enforces our border and treats people with decency and respect. Give us a chance to fix this problem. Don’t try to kill this bill before it gets moving,” Bush told students and instructors at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.
Bush repeatedly cast the matter as one of political courage.
“Those determined to find fault with this bill will always be able to look at a narrow slice of it and find something they don’t like,” the president said. “If you want to kill the bill, if you don’t want to do what’s right for America, you can pick one little aspect out of it.
“You can use it to frighten people,” Bush said. “Or you can show leadership and solve this problem once and for all.”
The bill would give temporary legal status to millions of unlawful immigrants, provided they came forward, paid a fine and underwent criminal background checks. To apply for a green card, they would have to pay another fine, learn English, return to their home country and wait in line.
The plan also would create a guest worker program. It would allow foreign laborers to come to the U.S. for temporary stints, yet with no guarantee they can eventually gain citizenship.
Both the new visa plan and the temporary worker program are contingent on other steps coming first. Those include fencing and barriers along the Mexico border, the hiring of more Border Patrol agents and the completion of an identification system to verify employees’ legal status.
The legislation would also reshape future immigration decisions. A new point system would prioritize skills and education over family in deciding who can immigrate.
Georgia’s senators both played leading roles in producing Bush’s deal with the Senate. Yet they have also said they may not support the final bill, depending upon how it is amended.
Bush chastised those who say the proposal offers amnesty to illegal immigrants. He called it empty political rhetoric.
I have said some very strong things here - and believe me -they are tempered.
This will be the end of conservatism as a political force in America. Shading and parsing of socialism will be the only differnece b/t the two political parties.
The American experiment will be officially OVER!
The question I would like to ask the President is why are we having men die to defend our country from a group of murderous thugs when he is so willing to leave the back doors wide open to any slob willing to break in here.
The president is totally loosing me on this immigration issue and I have been a supporter of his during the numerous fiasco’s that have occurred.
I just hope he wakes up and see’s the light.This immigration bill is No good for the American People or the United States of America.
We won’t be doing this again. IMO, The life of the republican party hinges on how this issue is handled. Amnesty = republican party death, just like the issue of slavery in the territories killed the Whig party.
PLUS one other Hispanic American and two other non-Hispanic Americans.
This morning on A.M. radio news, they were reporting that President Bush is trying to stress the “border enforcement” areas of this bill in “an attempt to win over Conservative opponents.”
So, how did we get from needing a “Guest Worker” solution to what our Presidente and most of Congress are now proposing??? These guys are truly giving away the Farm, all in the hopes that these new residents will get a driver’s license and sign up to vote (because no one will bother to check out citizenship). Then there are the Socialists in Congress who are actively working towards making the USA just another “member” state. Nothing would make them happier than to take away everything that makes this country Numero Uno - we’re just so arrogant, y’know....
As for anyone who would even think about another Bush as Prez (Jeb!), check out the background on his wife, Columba. Jeb met her while on some some trip to Mexico when he was in college. She says she was from a poor family and her father was a “migrant laborer.” After meeting Jeb, she chucked her life in Mexico and took off for Texas. Was she in the country legally when she married Jeb? No one seems to ask those questions and actually get answers. Recently, Jeb & Columba issued a public statement about how “hurtful” all this anti-immigrant talk is. That’s ridiculous seeing how none of this is about legal immigration -— just the lawbreakers need be offended. There has to be more to this story, and why George is so out front on this issue. Out of his own lips: “America is an idea, not a place.”
I’m afraid of getting another “conservative” republican that ends up governing like Bush.
This is the same POTUS who thought the monstrous Dept. of Homeland Security was a good idea.
The man loves BIG !!
***I’m beginning to wonder - why support a PC war ‘over there’ to keep them from fighting us ‘over here’ when we won’t even protect our own borders?***
With so many of our troops, including the National Guard, “over there” it would certainly be hard to defend our unprotected borders from an invasion.
Oh, wait... we are already being invaded.
I’m glad the Second Amendment is intact (for now).
Time for a third party.
Like I have been saying people. Bush is a liberal. The only exceptions is taxes and the War. That’s it...
Yep - I do hear you.
The problem here is that Bush and some “Republicans” are acting like Democrats on this issue. The DEMS are outspoken supporters of this carp themselves.
Like I said, tell the RNC leadership they get no more money directly from you. Form now on, you contribute to individual candidates who are supportive of a genuine Republican agenda, or independents when the choice is a liberal Rat or a RINO.
Well, just as an individual's direct experience and/or exposure with illegal immigrants colors their view...any Hispanic reading posts here would come away thinking we're for deporting and imprisoning them.
Are you? Do you want to see them all rounded up and help in detention until their Z visas are processed?
There are 36 MILLION Hispanic illegals among the probably 37 MILLION total. That's a helleva majority.
No, Mr. President, the fundamental question is will elected officials have not just the courage, but also the integrity and honesty to honor their solemn oaths to uphold and defend the Constitution and to enforce the rule of law.
He has had almost 2 full terms and then has the nerve to throw that BS at us?
He makes me sick.
It’s not only Bush that’s saying all of these things, but also many Democrats and many Republicans at every political level who are pro-amnesty for illegal immigrants and who are also saying the exact same things that the President is saying! Arrgh! If conservatives are supposed to vote out all of these “pro-amnesty for illegals” Republicans from political office, then who are they supposed to vote for instead to replace them if no “pro-law enforcement towards illegals” politicians are running to replace them!?!
True on all points. This is so bad, it may not be enough just to stop this bill. After this is over with, whichever way it goes, we need to seriously look at the people who are in office and the GOP as a whole. I think a big purge may be in order. How can we even look at defeating democrats, when so many of our own republicans aren't worth a damn!
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