Spokesman for President Bush Posts on Free Republic About Immigration Bill

Thursday, June 14, 2007 | Kristinn

[kristinn]

A spokeman for the Bush administration sent an e-mail to Jim Robinson and myself confirming the authenticity of a post on Free Republic this afternoon regarding the immigration bill currently before the Senate as having been posted on behalf of the White House.

The spokesman, Nicholas Thompson, works for the White House Office of Strategic Initiatives. The Politico reported yesterday that Thompson and Kerrie Rushton, associate directors in the Office of Strategic Initiatives who work under Karl Rove, would be engaging the blogosphere on the immigration bill.

Thompson's post is on the thread titled Penalty Mitigation in the Immigration Reform Bill, a vanity posted by philman_36. Thompson posted at comment #53.

Thompson's e-mail to Free Republic included a brief introduction and the text of his posted comment:

Hi,

I just wanted to let you know that I just posted a response to the post "Penalty Mitigation in the Immigration Reform Bill."

The White House appreciates the opportunity to respond on Free Republic.

Response:
I would like to point out that the Secretary is authorized to reduce or mitigate penalities against employers who in good faith are trying to comply with the law. Certainly, we understand that not all employers knowingly hire illegal immigrants; this will remain the case, especially before the bill’s new secure documentation requirements are fully phased in. We do not seek to wrongly penalize honest employers who unknowingly hire illegal immigrants, therefore we reserve the right to reduce or mitigate their penalties if the employer can show good faith compliance in following the law.

For those employers who do knowingly hire illegal immigrants, please know that we intend to penalize these employers strongly, and the Administration has already stepped up these penalties in the last couple of years. For example, a 2005 program, “Operation Rollback,” assessed $15,000,000 in civil fines to employers, an amount greater than the sum of administrative fines collected in the previous eight years and was the largest worksite enforcement penalty in US history. In the first quarter of FY07, criminal and civil forfeitures have totaled $26,700,000 for employers.

As a reminder of what’s in the bill, fines for hiring an illegal worker are $5,000 maximum per illegal worker for the first offense, $10,000 maximum per illegal worker for the second, $25,000 maximum per illegal worker for the third , and $75,000 maximum per illegal worker for the fourth. In addition, the bill increases the maximum criminal penalty for a pattern or practice of unlawful hiring twenty-five-fold, from $3,000 to $75,000, and would impose a prison term of up to six months. This represents a significant increase in fines for employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants.

Nicholas Thompson
White House Office of Strategic Initiatives

[ClancyJ]

We are the grassroots and should be credible just as the players are (the writers, the talk show hosts, politicians, lobbyists and all those influencing the government’s actions).

We need to be able to get people to listen to us and then not throw out our views as mere rantings from the masses.

[txhurl]

So glad to have you back.

[P-Marlowe]

But they will not put any credibility in trash talk.

BS. The president trash talked us. Do you forget. Frankly I don't care what Bush thinks at this point because he is so stinking tone deaf he couldn't hear a dump truck in a nitroglycerin factory.

He used to be loved on this forum. We all stood behind him 100% and what did that loyalty buy us? Nothing. He could care less what we think.

Right now we need to convince the Senators and Congressmen that we will turn them all out of office if they support this bill. We need to let them know that we, as Americans, are MAD AS HELL AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE!

What Bush does not realize is that we are trying to save his legacy, not destroy it. But he doesn't care. He is hell bent on destroying this country and his legacy. I for one am not going to sit idly and be all nicey nicey while he does it.

I suspect that Bush is now the most unpopular sitting president in history. It is an honor he deserves.

[CottonBall]

Excellent summary in 4 words.

(Does brioche mean cake in French?)

[ClancyJ]

I intend to rant about the ranters until someone explains to me that my rantings are being thrown in the trash as not credible views only the views of a ranter.

[GOPJ]

I think they’d be better served READING FreeRepublic than posting to it.

Good one!

[jedward]

Somebody HELP me...I’m being entirely too cordial with my posts right now (lol)

[mplsconservative]

Just called my Senators Coleman and (Yuck) Klobuchar demanding they enforce the laws already on the books and build the wall!

This is Groundhog Day, over and over again. No Amnesty!

[nutmeg]

Interesting... Thanks, kristinn.

[Travis McGee]

They will listen to a Rush Limbaugh, they will listen to powerful people but they will never pay any attention to a rabid ranter as they look at them as redneck, unprofessional ranters without the brains to handle problems.

Gee, in the last few months I've been hearing national talk hosts using the term "QUISLING" right and left. Today, I heard Malkin on Laura Ingraham use 4:4 of the Constitution as a reason to demand border enforcement now.

Gee, I wonder where they might have picked up those memes????

U.S. Constitution, Article 4 Section 4:

"The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government,

and shall protect each of them against Invasion;"

---

Invasion: \In*va"sion\, n. [L. invasio: cf. F. invasion. See Invade.] [1913 Webster]

1. The act of invading; the act of encroaching upon the rights or possessions of another; encroachment; trespass.

QUISLING: a synonym for traitor, someone who collaborates with the invaders of his country.

[Lijahsbubbe]

Someone from the WH was shilling for amnesty on FreeRepublic? It really is time to hit the shower. I feel dirty now. Let me know how it all pans out.

[ClancyJ]

Gee, I’m afraid to go view your link. I’m having trouble handling irate posters here - are you trying to kill me?

[GinaLolaB]

If this amnesty bill gets passed, I, my family, and my friends will disassociate ourselves with the Republican Party forever. This includes no more contributions, no more voting for Republicans, and no more campaigning for them.

Why are you trying to destroy America for multinational corporations? Why don't you concentrate on winning the war that you started in Iraq? Stop importing poverty into this country.

[Travis McGee]

It’s great to be back, esp. when it’s such a critical time in our national history.

[txhurl]

Rush + Sean + Savage + Gallagher + Ingraham et al = 30 million + listeners. That's uh... us.

What, you think they listen to your emails and phone calls?

[airborne]

I intend to rant about the ranters until someone explains to me that my rantings are being thrown in the trash as not credible views only the views of a ranter.

LOL! You, dear lady, are a ranter!!!!

I had my suspicions. ;^)

[ClancyJ]

Then make those views be heard and respected - not ignored as mere ignorant rantings of the uneducated masses. Not talking about you - just in general.

[sageb1]

Who is sneering at us?

[DennisR]

If you fine/prosecute employers for breaking our laws, you will not need to deport illegals. Just tell employers there will be five years in jail if they hire anyone not registered with the Federal government. Then tell the illegals they have 30 days to exit the country. Do not be anywhere near the Mexican border lest you get trampled by the stampede!

[CottonBall]

We are the grassroots and should be credible just as the players are (the writers, the talk show hosts, politicians, lobbyists and all those influencing the government’s actions).

And should we be just as credible as the tens of thousands of illegals in our streets with Mexican flags and Spanish signs? We're supposed to be sitting here, politely sipping tea with our pinkies out and discussing everything oh so sweetly and respectfully? Bush only listened to those 3rd world mobs, not us - the ones that went door to door for him, sent him money even if we couldn't afford it, wore a 'Security Moms for Bush' T-shirt all over, and plastered our cars with 'W' stickers. Now, we've been dismissed as "irate constituents" that "don't know what's good for America." And you expect me to be polite? (And to who? pssssss - nobody from the WH is listening...)