Bush’s Push on Immigration Tests His Base (FR Mentioned)

NY Times ^ | June 3, 2007 | JIM RUTENBERG and CARL HULSE

[nj26]

President Bush’s advocacy of an immigration overhaul and his attacks on critics of the plan are provoking an unusually intense backlash from conservatives who form the bulwark of his remaining support, splintering his base and laying bare divisions within a party whose unity has been the envy of Democrats.

It has pitted some of Mr. Bush’s most stalwart Congressional and grass-roots backers against him, sparking a vitriol that has at times exceeded anything seen yet between Mr. Bush and his supporters, who have generally stood with him through the toughest patches of his presidency. Those supporters now view him as pursuing amnesty for foreign law breakers when he should be focusing on border security.

Postings on conservative Web sites this week have gone so far as to call for Mr. Bush’s impeachment, and usually friendly radio hosts, commentators and Congressional allies are warning that he stands to lose supporters — a potentially damaging development, they say, when he needs all the backing he can get on other vital matters like the war in Iraq.

“I think President Bush hurts himself every time he says it is not amnesty,” said Senator Tom Coburn, Republican of Oklahoma, referring to the bill’s legalization process for immigrants. “We are not all that stupid.”

This week, in discussing Mr. Bush’s recent comments accusing conservative critics of the immigration legislation of fear-mongering, Rush Limbaugh told listeners: “I just wish he hadn’t done it because he’s not going to lose me on Iraq, and he’s not going to lose me on national security. But he might lose some of you.”

Such sentiments have reverberated through talk radio, conservative publications like National Review and Fox News. They have also appeared on Web sites including RedState.com and FreeRepublic.com...

[Plutarch]

The lefties at Media Matters reviewed this "Path to Citizenship" claim last year. Bush's proposals had not previously included a "path to citizenship".

Hume falsely claimed Bush proposed "path to citizenship" for illegal immigrants

Cite your source for Bush's message on immigration including a "Path to Citizenship" in 2004. So, Bush has lied, because he ran for re-election on "No Amnesty", and now it is Christmas for Illegals.

[LFOD777]

[Plutarch]

White House proposal in 2004. Temporary status only, no advantage for illegals to gain permanent residence.

_____________________________________________________

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
January 7, 2004

Fact Sheet: Fair and Secure Immigration Reform

  En Español

Today's Presidential Action

• Today, President Bush proposed a new temporary worker program to match willing foreign workers with willing U.S. employers when no Americans can be found to fill the jobs. The program would be open to new foreign workers, and to the undocumented men and women currently employed in the U.S. This new program would allow workers who currently hold jobs to come out of hiding and participate legally in America's economy while not encouraging further illegal behavior.
• President Bush also asked Congress to work with him to achieve significant immigration reform that protects the homeland by controlling the borders; serves America's economy by matching a willing worker with a willing employer; promotes compassion for unprotected workers; provides incentives for temporary workers to return to their home countries and families; protects the rights of legal immigrants while not unfairly rewarding those who came here unlawfully or hope to do so. This legislation must also meet the Nation's economic needs and live up to the promise and values of America.

Background on Today's Presidential Action

America is a welcoming nation, and the hard work and strength of our immigrants have made our Nation prosperous. Many immigrants and sons and daughters of immigrants have joined the military to help safeguard the liberty of America. Illegal immigration, however, creates an underclass of workers, afraid and vulnerable to exploitation. Current immigration law can also hinder companies from finding willing workers. The visas now available do not allow employers to fill jobs in many key sectors of our economy. Workers risk their lives in dangerous and illegal border crossings and are consigned to live their lives in the shadows. Without harming the economic security of Americans, reform of our Nation's immigration laws will create a system that is fairer, more consistent, and more compassionate.

• Principles of Immigration Reform -- The President's proposal is based on several basic principles:
  • Protecting the Homeland by Controlling Our Borders: The program should link to efforts to control our border through agreements with countries whose nationals participate in the program. It must support ongoing efforts to enhance homeland security.
  • Serve America's Economy by Matching a Willing Worker with a Willing Employer: When no American worker is available and willing to take a job, the program should provide a labor supply for American employers. It should do so in a way that is clear, streamlined, and efficient so people can find jobs and employers can find workers in a timely manner.
  • Promoting Compassion: The program should grant currently working undocumented aliens a temporary worker status to prevent exploitation. Participants would be issued a temporary worker card that will allow them to travel back and forth between their home and the U.S. without fear of being denied re-entry into America.
  • Providing Incentives for Return to Home Country: The program will require the return of temporary workers to their home country after their period of work has concluded. The legal status granted by this program would last three years, be renewable, and would have an end. During the temporary work period, it should allow movement across the U.S. borders so the worker can maintain roots in their home country.
  • Protecting the Rights of Legal Immigrants: The program should not connect participation to a green card or citizenship. However, it should not preclude a participant from obtaining green card status through the existing process. It should not permit undocumented workers to gain an advantage over those who have followed the rules.
• Temporary Worker Program

  President Bush does not support amnesty because individuals who violate America's laws should not be rewarded for illegal behavior and because amnesty perpetuates illegal immigration. The President proposes that the Federal Government offer temporary worker status to undocumented men and women now employed in the United States and to those in foreign countries who have been offered employment here. The workers under temporary status must pay a one-time fee to register in the program, abide by the rules, and return home after their period of work expires. There would be an opportunity for renewal. In the future, only people outside the U.S. may join the temporary worker program, and there will be an orderly system in place to address the needs of workers and companies.

  • American Workers Come First: Employers must make every reasonable effort to find an American to fill a job before extending job offers to foreign workers.
  • Workplace Enforcement of Immigration Laws: Enforcement against companies that break the law and hire illegal workers will increase.
  • Economic Incentives to Return Home: The U.S. will work with other countries to allow aliens working in the U.S. to receive credit in their nations' retirement systems and will support the creation of tax-preferred savings accounts they can collect when they return to their native countries.
  • Fair and Meaningful Citizenship Process: Some temporary workers will want to remain in America and pursue citizenship. They should not receive an unfair advantage over those who have followed the law, and they will need to be placed in line for citizenship behind those who are already in line. Those who choose the path of citizenship will have an obligation to learn the facts and ideals that have shaped America's history.
  • Reasonable Annual Increase of Legal Immigrants: A reasonable increase in the annual limit of legal immigrants will benefit those who follow the lawful path to citizenship.
• Benefits to America of the Temporary Worker Program
  • A more prosperous economy -- for America. The program would allow workers to find jobs and employers to find workers, quickly and simply.
  • A more secure homeland -- to improve the efficiency and management of all people who cross our borders. It is in the interest of the Nation, and each community, to identify foreign visitors and immigrants and make clear the nature of their intentions.
  • A more compassionate system -- to protect all workers in America with labor laws, the right to change jobs, fair wages, and a healthy work environment.
• Homeland Security and Border Enforcement
  • Border Patrol has increased from a strength of 9,788 on September 11, 2001 to 10,835 on December 1, 2003. Between ports of entry on the northern border, the size of the Border Patrol has tripled to more than 1,000 agents. In addition, the Border Patrol is continuing installation of monitoring devices along the borders to detect illegal activity.
  • The Bush Administration's Operation Tarmac was launched to investigate businesses and workers in the secure areas of domestic airports and ensure immigration law compliance. Since 9/11, DHS has audited 3,640 businesses, examined 259,037 employee records, arrested 1,030 unauthorized workers, and participated in the criminal indictment of 774 individuals.
  • President Bush announced the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), an internet-based system that is improving America's ability to track and monitor foreign students and exchange visitors. Over 870,000 students are registered in SEVIS. Of 285 completed field investigations, 71 aliens were arrested.
  • This week, the US-VISIT program began to digitally collect biometric identifiers to record the entry and exit of aliens who travel into the U.S on a visa. Together with the standard information, this new program will confirm compliance with visa and immigration policies.

###

[LFOD777]

[Kozak]

You may wish to read post 195...

Don't confuse him with facts.

[LFOD777]

The Base wants elected officials to pursue employers who hire illegal immigrants and prosecute them for violation of federal laws and vigorously enforce our current immigration laws and prosecute illegal immigrants.

[LFOD777]

[AmericaOne]

BTTT

[Merlinator]

That is Bull! He mentioned a path to citizenship numerous times in his 2004 campaign stomps. The word amnesty is being used very conveniently to label this bill as something it is not. Amnesty would be to grant instant citizenship, something that this bill does not do. It gives otherwise law abiding people that have been working here and want a better life a chance to come out of the shadows, pay a fine and taxes and legally be here. It puts them on a path to citizenship if that is what they desire, but does not grant it to them, or even give them an advantage over other applicants.

[LFOD777]

[LibertyRocks]

(o: LOLOL

[Nam Vet]

I am so p*ssed about this whole idiotic episode I can't see straight! The 'Country Club Republicans' are at it again. They can all kiss my fanny. I want nothing to do with them anymore.

One thing I do know for sure, Jeb hasn't a chance in hell of getting my vote in any future presidential primary. I'm sure he would prove to be the same as dad and bro.

Nam Vet

[LibertyRocks]

Amnesty has nothing to do with citizenship. Amnesty is allowing those who break the law to avoid punishment. I’d like to understand how those who have committed Identity Theft, and Tax Evasion are going to be punished? If it’s not the same punishment as American CITIZENS receive for these criminal acts then it is amnesty.

From Merriam-Webster:

amnesty
One entry found for amnesty.
Main Entry: am·nes·ty
Pronunciation: ‘am-n&-stE
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -ties
Etymology: Greek amnEstia forgetfulness, from amnEstos forgotten, from a- + mnasthai to remember — more at MIND
: the act of an authority (as a government) by which pardon is granted to a large group of individuals
- amnesty transitive verb

From Cambridge Online:
amnesty
[Show phonetics]
noun [C/U]
a decision by a government to forgive people who have committed particular illegal acts or crimes, and not to punish them

[sageb1]

“Jeb hasn’t a chance in hell of getting my vote in any future presidential primary. “

An explanation for Papa Bush’s tears?

[LibertyRocks]

Oh, and as for the term ‘otherwise law-abiding’ — who are you kidding? Do you have any idea how many laws illegal immigrants must break on a daily basis just to get by while being in this country illegally? And, what about those who aided and abetted them in committing these crimes (i.e. Businesses who hire them without proper paperwork, and thereby have also committed Social Security Fraud by not paying taxes for them) — no mention of any punishment for them, either...

As for advantage over other applicants — I’m sure the hundreds of thousands of would-be immigrants who have waited decades just for the chance to come here would disagree with you...

[LibertyRocks]

Thanks for posting that LFOD777... As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.