Bush’s “Amnesty” Gaffe

The New York Times ^ | June 26, 2004 | Jim Rutenberg

[Baladas]

This morning President Bush tried to take on critics of his stance on immigration while casually dropping by (along with a big press contingent that set up long before he arrived) a meeting among his key officials dealing with the issue.

And, in defending the bill pending in the Senate, he said:

“I’ve heard all the rhetoric — you’ve heard it, too — about how this is amnesty. Amnesty means that you’ve got to pay a price for having been here illegally, and this bill does that.”

At first blush, it looked like some clever political trickery: redefine your opponents’ argument on your own terms, then get behind it. So, by this definition, when all of the talk show hosts slam your plan as “amnesty,’’ you can say “yup, you got me, this is amnesty, meaning you’ve got to pay a price for having been here illegally.” Who cares what the word really means?

[Baladas]

Well, I really care what the "word" means.

At "first blush", it's amnesty. At "second blush", it's still amnesty.

"Significant punishements", my ass.

[vetsvette]

I can’t figure out if he’s dishonest or just ignorant.

My fear is that he might be both.

[EagleUSA]

“Significant punishements”, my ass.
:::::
The man is sick and suffering from some utopian form of globalism. If you took his title away, you would never know he is the President of the United States. No way.

[supercat]

"Significant punishements", my ass.

If I steal $1,000,000 and the government fines me $10,000 but lets me keep the money I've stolen, is that really any sort of punishment whatsoever?

[TomasUSMC]

Cheney must replace him.

[TomasUSMC]

The man is sick and suffering

---

Reason enough for the VP to take over.

[Soul Seeker]

Everyone check out Hot Air...

http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/hot-air-video-rnc-refund/

Transcript of ad...

They just don’t listen.

You’ve called, you’ve faxed, you’ve e-mailed your objection to the Illegal Alien Amnesty Bill. But they didn’t listen.

Instead, they did the bidding of Big Business.

Big Business lobbyists pour cash into politics and fund grand advertising campaigns. Most Americans are limited to small donations and have no voice in the media.

But if you’re a conservative fed up with Republican scheming on this bill, you can do something about it. If you gave to the party in the past year, you can demand your money back. Call the Republican National Committee today and demand a full refund.

If you gave to any senator or congressman in the past year, call their office and demand a full refund.

Money seems to be the one thing our politicians understand.

Maybe they’ll listen if we speak their language.

202-863-8743

we may not be able to get our money back from this amnesty enforcer, but we can get it back from the others if you donated to any of the amnesty supporters in the last year. contact them at the above phone number and demand it back from Senators, Lott, Kyl, and any other duplicitous politician involved.

[BuffaloJack]

I don’t want to see amnesty.
I would like to see the Illegal Alien Deportation Funding bill instead.

[ottersnot]

There is only “punishment” if the lawbreaker chooses the
path to citizenship. If they just choose to stay here, legally at the point of this bills signing, then there is
NO PRICE TO PAY.

[indcons]

He is a liar and a unscrupulous one at that.

[se_ohio_young_conservative]

I wish I knew why he is pushing this. It makes me sick. Our President is taking sides with Ted Kennedy against the American people.

This is not what I voted for in 2004.

[jwalsh07]

President Bush is accomplishing in one fell stroke what the MSM and Teddy Kennedy's of the world have been attempting for years, the destruction of the Republican Party. When guys like me refuse to donate a dime to the RNC and rip BUsh bumper stickers off my cars, the RNC has a big problem.

I can only imagine the celebrations that will take place at Teddy's place if this bill ever passes.

[Mr. Mojo]

I can’t figure out if he’s dishonest or just ignorant. My fear is that he might be both.

He is indeed. But his mental deficiency isn't just due to just ignorance.

He's a bit short on watts as well.

Combine that with his near fanatical transnationalist outlook and we've got ourselves quite a problem.

[Lokibob]

Illegal aliens would not go home if WE gave them $5,000; what makes the President think they will pay us $5,000 and then go home? Stupid logic.

Illegal aliens get to stay here when this law passes, while the legal green card folks, the ones who applied and got green cards legally, will have to go home after their cards expire, and the immigrants who have waited in line for who knows how many years will now, never be admitted. In other words, it rewards the law breakers while punishing the ones who obey the law. That is the the national shame of it.

.....Bob

[Cementjungle]

Reason enough for the VP to take over.

I'm not aware of any resistance to amnesty from him either.

[Shermy]

Gee, New York Times can’t figure out why Bush just doesn’t say “yes, it’s an amnesty”

Because he can’t.

His campaigns, his State of the Union speeches, all specifically said “No Amnesty.”

He uses the word games to avoid his father’s fate, “Read My Lips, No New Taxes”

[Anvilhead]

"Significant punishments", my ass.

Funny, that's the same place they tell you to stuff your concerns as an American.

At this point I almost think it's time for rebellion.

After all, this was exactly what the founders had in mind when they wrote the second amendment.

It's time to get a government that serves the people. We're almost past the time of trying to reason with our "public servants".

After all it's quite apparent that they stopped serving us in deference to the "nobles". We are rapidly reaching a point where we, as a free people, will need to enlighten them on the depth of their mistake. By force if necessary.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

"I’ve heard all the rhetoric — you’ve heard it, too — about how this is amnesty. Amnesty means that you’ve got to pay a price for having been here illegally, and this bill does that."

Bush to USA: "F*CK YOU, I'LL DO WHAT I DAMNED WELL PLEASE!"

[Hoosier-Daddy]

If this isn't taxation without representation, I don't know what is. The legislators are handing us the bill, knowing full well that on their fat pensions, which we also pay for, they'll never be affected by this abomination of a bill.

[popdonnelly]

“Amnesty means that you’ve got to pay a price for having been here illegally”

Amnesty doesn’t mean that at all. It means that you’ll forget that some people are here illegally. That’s what this bill does.