Posted on 06/14/2007 11:16:52 AM PDT by 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
Maybe it's high time the President read comments like these. Maybe it's time he hears what the ordinary people are thinking and saying.
I think he's been shielded too much by elitist advisors and protectors that have been surrounding and protecting him from the peasants for too long a time.
This is how we speak when we're passionate, Clancy. We're not using high-falutin' language. We are what we are.......strong people who express strong opinions.
Are the President's ears so tender that he has the vapours if some of us climb all over his derriere when we open our thoughts to him?
I think it's high time the President hears and reads the vox populi, pungent or not.
.....and here it is.....the Americans posting here on Free Republic are a cross-section of this nation unequalled in any media anywhere.
We're letting it all hang out, brother.
Leni
If you haven’t seen this, you MUST!
http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/11/new-vent-the-first-open-borders-oscar-awards/
Plus, even though Geraldo is persona non grata in my house, you may want to watch Michelle Malkin debate him on this issue tonight on O’Reilly.
duh. al quaeda can sneak into the US under the guise of being a maid or a landscaper. Chertoff has no knowledge of disguises and that aq take latin names before they get here.
Long live the United States. (the admin says "America".) Why can't W say United States?
thank you.
(I need to get a ‘Deport Pedro’ T-shirt.)
I would remind everyone that though the Mr Thompson posted ONCE, he has NOT replied, nor answered any of the replies and that thread, nor this thread.
I respect the WHite House’s (so far, one-time) appearance on FreeRepublic: NOW ANSER THE QUESTIONS RAISED.
This guy I know spoke to “James Campbell” in John’s McCain’s office. OMG!
It is not the 14th amendment but a liberal ruling of the 14th amendment that gave us anchor babies and it should be challenged in the Courts. No baby born in the US in 2007 that does not have at least one American parent should be an American citizen. Simple — doesn’t make any difference where you are born but what country your parents are from. This notion that a baby has a right to be a US citizen with parents from another country is ludicrous. You are not an adult until you are 18 and at that time you chose between which parent’s country you want to be a citizen. So that means a child born to parents from two different countries would have three countries to choose from if born here. No way was that intended in the 14th Amendment. Bad ruling on anchor babies and Sen Inhofe is working to see the ruling overturned.
Wouldn’t it be funny if this Nick guy were a TEMP? Ironic if he was. He’s doing the work the American people won’t do. Defend a bad bill!
Well Freepers better grow up a little if they ever intend to be anything other than computer whiners.
I have fought hours on threads defending this administration from such and I am highly ashamed that this site is being so demeaned by their inability to do anything but rant.
Do they really expect the President of the United States to pay any attention at all to pages of trash talk?
This man deals with the leaders of nations - do you really think your views will be heard couched in insane rants?
They are wasting a prime opportunity and cheapening FreeRepublic beyond repair in my humble opinion.
BTW, tell the elitists to stop calling the patriotic, tax-paying American citizens derogatory names over this issue.
Don't be naive. Did you really think that George and Laura were going to be reading this thread tonight? Some very low level whitehouse operatives were asked to "engage the blogosphere" i.e. try to spread some propaganda.
DFU: You da man.
EXECUTIVE BRANCH: ENFORCE THE LAW!
Until you've done that for 4+ years, STFU!
bttt
I agree. I have not been able to read all either but the first few made me start typing.
We need to remember we are discussing important views here and we all deserve our members to not ruin our opportunity to be heard.
I must point out though that this forum is similar to a town meeting where the entire town shows up. Some will try to discuss issues, some will lash out, some will shout slogans and some will just listen.
Some here have spoken with forethought and insight, some haven't but all get a chance to voice their opinion.demands however they can. The first amendment gives us the right to express ourselves, education gives us the means to do so and JimRob give us a place.
Close the border to illegals, now!!
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