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GOP Finds Hot Button in Illegal Immigration
Washington Post ^ | 23 October 2007 | By Jonathan Weisman

Posted on 10/23/2007 5:24:01 AM PDT by shrinkermd

On Tuesday, Ogonowski still fell short, but Tsongas's 51 to 45 percent victory was a shocker in a district where both John F. Kerry and Al Gore took 57 percent of the vote, and where liberal Democratic Rep. Martin T. Meehan served comfortably for eight terms. The underwhelming victory of the wife of deceased former senator Paul Tsongas has rekindled Democratic concerns about an immigration issue they had hoped had been put to rest.

"This issue has real implications for the country. It captures all the American people's anger and frustration not only with immigration, but with the economy," said Rep. Rahm Emanuel (Ill.), chairman of the House Democratic Caucus and an architect of the Democratic congressional victories of 2006. "It's self-evident. This is a big problem."

Republicans, sensing a major vulnerability, have been hammering Democrats, forcing Congress to face the question of illegal immigration on every bill they can find, from agriculture spending and housing assistance to the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

House Democrats are so concerned that they have resumed talks on a new legislative push, even though the collapse of an immigration deal in the Senate this spring has left virtually no chance that a final bill can be passed in this Congress.

But even in the early stages of this renewed effort, negotiations have only underscored the party's problems. Some Democratic leaders want what they call a "mini bill," emphasizing border control, penalties on firms that employ illegal immigrants and stronger efforts to deny illegal immigrants government benefits. But Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez (D-Ill.), the point man on the bill, said he will never accept a measure that does not include a pathway to citizenship for the 12 million undocumented workers in the country.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Politics/Elections; US: Massachusetts
KEYWORDS: aliens; illegal; immigrantlist; immigration; politics
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To: taxcontrol
GOP ... are you listening?

Illegal immigration is the win/lose issue of this election. What side will the GOP be on?


The trouble is that several of the wannabes are playing "I saw the light" and have voiced a new 'secure the border' mantra.

'Secure the border' makes a nice soundbite, but few of the wannabes are actually spelling out what they will do. Few have said they would not push for an amnesty bill. Few have said they would actually close the border to illegals.

They are giving lip service without being commital. 'Secure the border' sounds nice, but it doesn't commit them to actually doing anything.

Most of the wannabes (both Dem and Repub) are playing the same ole shellgame GWB did. Once one of them gets to the Oval Office, it will return to business as usual, push for amnesty, keep the border open, etc.


21 posted on 10/23/2007 6:51:52 AM PDT by TomGuy
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To: shrinkermd

Illegal immigration IMHO has cost President Bush dearly; his approval rating would be over 50% if he had enforced border security. Likewise, Senator McCain’s campaign tanked when he came out for what was called “immigration reform” when it was actually an amnesty bill.

***
You are exactly correct. And most in both parties still don’t get it. Duncan Hunter is the only presidential candidate who can lead us on this — and many other issues.


22 posted on 10/23/2007 6:54:57 AM PDT by Bigg Red (Duncan Hunter in 2008!)
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To: SMARTY

If THAT’S what they want to ‘capture’ all they have to do is come right here and read some of this stuff!

^^^
Shhh! Don’t give the Rats a clue!


23 posted on 10/23/2007 6:56:00 AM PDT by Bigg Red (Duncan Hunter in 2008!)
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To: Sybeck1
Rudy wants to give them biometric ID cards. There, problem solved. /sarc of course!

Huckster and mitt want to give them a house a car, and free heath care for life, but wait jorge is already giving them free heath care. Never mind. "sac off"

24 posted on 10/23/2007 6:57:00 AM PDT by org.whodat (What's the difference between a Democrat and a republican????)
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To: expatpat
Actually, biometric cards might be a very good thing. It would be advantageous if we knew exactly who was in this country illegally, and where we can find them, before we act. No-one knows right now.

LOL. And who will bell the cat? Why would the illegals argree to apply for a biometric card? And do you really believe that the American public would agree to it? How often would you need to get one? We can't even get the courts to approve the SS card match procedure.

25 posted on 10/23/2007 6:58:46 AM PDT by kabar
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To: Tennessee Nana

If our guy comes out strong and believable for America and REAL immigration and against illegal entry into our country....

***
DUNCAN HUNTER!!!!


26 posted on 10/23/2007 6:59:37 AM PDT by Bigg Red (Duncan Hunter in 2008!)
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To: Tennessee Nana

And if he is strong on national security, the military and the war on terror in Iraq and elsewhere....

***
DUNCAN HUNTER!!!!


27 posted on 10/23/2007 7:00:21 AM PDT by Bigg Red (Duncan Hunter in 2008!)
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To: Tennessee Nana
If our guy comes out strong and believable for America and REAL immigration and against illegal entry into our country, he’ll be a shoo in with the voters in EVERY state...

I agree. Except that I'm afraid it will be Rudy, who will fight with Hillary over who loves illegals more...
28 posted on 10/23/2007 7:01:00 AM PDT by CottonBall
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To: indylindy

Voters are looking for the person who will stand up for US citizens.

%%%
DUNCAN HUNTER!!


29 posted on 10/23/2007 7:01:58 AM PDT by Bigg Red (Duncan Hunter in 2008!)
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To: shrinkermd

The Immigration issue is HUGE. It has 72% of New Yorkers agreeing on something, amazing, all unified against Spitzer’s plan to give drivers licenses to illegal immigrants.

If the GOP were smart they’d be ALL OVER THIS.


30 posted on 10/23/2007 7:02:56 AM PDT by 1Old Pro
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To: TomGuy

‘Secure the border’ makes a nice soundbite, but few of the wannabes are actually spelling out what they will do. Few have said they would not push for an amnesty bill. Few have said they would actually close the border to illegals.

%%%
DUNCAN HUNTER!!


31 posted on 10/23/2007 7:04:52 AM PDT by Bigg Red (Duncan Hunter in 2008!)
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To: TomGuy
They are giving lip service without being commital. 'Secure the border' sounds nice, but it doesn't commit them to actually doing anything.

Exactly. Just prior to the 2006 elections, the Fence Act was passed overwhelmingly, including being supported by Hillary, to give the politicians of both parties political cover. In order for this to become a defining issue the Reps need to draw clear lines on where they stand on specific immigration issues, e.g., how to handle the 12 to 20 million already here, the Dream act, anchor babies, 287 [g] authority, drivers licenses for illegals, English as the official language of the US, etc. We already have Hillary on the record on the issue, including her votes on both the 2006 and 2007 comprehensive reform immigration bills.

32 posted on 10/23/2007 7:06:16 AM PDT by kabar
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To: shrinkermd
This is a hot wire issue for conservatives and on the fencers; it will not go away. Republicans ignore this at their own peril.

Which is exactly what many of them will do. First, there's no money in pleasing the conservative base; the money is in pleasing the corporate base. Result? Note that the top tier, Giuliani, Romney, McCain, and Thompson all have questionable records on immigration while Hunter and Tancredo can't get a dime.

We get what we pay for.

33 posted on 10/23/2007 7:06:21 AM PDT by Carry_Okie (The environment is too complex and too important to manage by central planning.)
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To: Bigg Red

Tancredo is even better than Hunter on this issue, but neither one stands a snowball’s chance in Hell of being the Rep nominee.


34 posted on 10/23/2007 7:08:16 AM PDT by kabar
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To: Bigg Red

Could you please tell the other candidates, with all the bucks and press, to turn over what they have now...to the best candidate...Duncan Hunter!


35 posted on 10/23/2007 7:08:20 AM PDT by dforest (Duncan Hunter is the best hope we have on both fronts.)
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To: expatpat

“Biometric ID” is just another expensive boondoggle. The CONCEPT of a secure ID card is fatally flawed.

A secure, centraliized employment eligibility database is the ONLY workable solution to not allowing illegal aliens to steal American jobs and benefits.

Stand-alone Secure ID is a technological IMPOSSIBILITY, and anyone claiming that it can be done is either misinformed or (more likely) lying through his teeth. The purpose of an ID “card” - whatever form it might take - is to provide a positive connection between the bearer and an IDENTITY, not just a name. To do this, it must be identifiable to the bearer by way of one or more biometric characteristics.

These characteristics might range from a list of simple physical traits, such as height, weight, eye and hair color, sex, and birthdate, to a picture, iris scan, fingerprints, or even DNA coding (when somebody starts selling the $50 DNA analyzer!) But shatever is used, the examiner must be able to obtain the descriptive data directly from the bearer, to compare to the data from the ID card, which MUST be retrievable by the examiner, as well.

That means that the ID fraudsters will have the same access, and the same ability to produce a FALSE ID with whatever name they might find of an appropriate age in the nearest cemetery. Whenever the new ID’s become available, the new FRAUDULENT ID’s will be available on the street within a few weeks.

But the other half of the problem is not the physical ID but the IDENTITY - the persona and the history represented, including citizenship (or other work eligibility), criminal history, and work record. ALL of these are legitimate
questions for a potential employer to demand of a job applicant, and none of us have any legitimate objection to providing this information on request by a potential employer, particularly for a job where employer liability attaches, such as caring for children.

In addition, we already know about “identity sharing”, where perhaps dozens of illegals are all using the same SSN. What do you know about a job applicant committing this obvious fraud?

THE ONLY VIABLE SOLUTION is to check against a database, matching both the personal ID - from the ID card, already matched against the bearer - and the IDENTITY in the database, to see that BOTH match the database files.

The database host should face severe penalties for EVER sending data out to ANYONE, except ICE. Otherwise, the only response to an inquiry should be APPROVE, CONDITIONAL, or DISAPPROVE, plus whatever is required to indicate what ID was submitted.

Yes, we used to be able to just go anywhere and do anything we were able to do, but unless you want ANYONE, including millions of illegals, to do the same, those days are over.


36 posted on 10/23/2007 7:09:00 AM PDT by MainFrame65 (The US Senate: World's greatest PREVARICATIVE body!)
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To: kabar

No liberal is going to tell me that I have to vote for a liberal.


37 posted on 10/23/2007 7:12:52 AM PDT by Haddit (Hunter)
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To: shrinkermd

“Some Democratic leaders want what they call a “mini bill,” emphasizing border control, penalties on firms that employ illegal immigrants and stronger efforts to deny illegal immigrants government benefits.”

Fred Thompson does not approve of employer penalties. Instead he argues for attrition whereby illegals would find greater enforcement, deportation threats and denial of benefits sufficient to force them to go home. So business incentive to continue hiring illegals will remain undiminished and without consequence.


38 posted on 10/23/2007 7:13:03 AM PDT by HockeyPop
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To: shrinkermd

Dumping Mel Martenez was a first step but I’m still waiting for Bush to wake up.


39 posted on 10/23/2007 7:14:08 AM PDT by Zathras
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To: HockeyPop

In other words, Fred Thompson thinks numb nut bureaucrats can do the job. But then Fred thinks we should be drilling for oil in the Everglades.


40 posted on 10/23/2007 7:15:00 AM PDT by HockeyPop
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