Bush Aides Condemn Birthright Citizenship Reform (Compassionate Conservatives Support Invasion)

Frum Forum ^ | August 11th, 2010 | David Frum

[GOPGuide]

Politico reports on Bush-era staffers who are condemning the latest rhetoric on ending birthright citizenship:

The push by congressional Republicans to deny automatic citizenship to the children of illegal immigrants has opened up a split in the GOP, with several former Bush administration officials warning that the party could lose its claim to one of its proudest legacies: the 14th Amendment.

For Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C) and other conservatives, the solution to what they regard as one of the greatest flaws of U.S. immigration policy is obvious: Amend the amendment, which grants citizenship to anyone born on American soil regardless of whether their parents are legal residents.

But in recent days, former aides to both Vice President Dick Cheney and President George W. Bush, who pushed for comprehensive immigration reform, have condemned the calls by top Republicans to end birthright citizenship.

Cesar Conda, who served as domestic policy adviser to Cheney, has called such proposals “offensive.” Mark McKinnon, who served as media adviser in Bush’s two presidential campaigns, said Republicans risk losing their “rightful claim” to the 14th Amendment if they continue to “demagogue” the issue.

“The 14th Amendment is a great legacy of the Republican party. It is a shame and an embarrassment that the GOP now wants to amend it for starkly political reasons,” McKinnon told POLITICO. “Initially Republicans rallied around the amendment to welcome more citizens to this country. Now it is being used to drive people away.”

Enacted during Reconstruction by a Republican Congress, the 14th Amendment officially overruled the Supreme Court’s infamous Dred Scott decision and defined citizenship not only for newly enfranchised blacks but for all Americans.

For more than a century, it’s been interpreted by the courts to include children whose parents are not U.S. citizens, including illegal immigrants.

“That is the wisdom of the authors of the 14th Amendment: They essentially wanted to take this very difficult issue — citizenship — outside of the political realm,” Washington Post columnist Michael Gerson, a former Bush speechwriter, said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week.” “They wanted to take an objective standard, birth, instead of a subjective standard, which is the majorities at the time. I think that’s a much better way to deal with an issue like this.”

But for a growing number of Republicans who believe the children of illegal immigrants should be denied birthright citizenship, the 14th Amendment needs to be fixed.

Graham has become their somewhat unlikely spokesman. In recent months he has faced increasing anger at home from members of his own party who have derided his support for President Barack Obama’s two Supreme Court picks, the bailout for financial institutions, and comprehensive immigration reform, including a path to citizenship for the 11 million illegal immigrants already in the country.

[TopQuark]

I thought Bush is a patriot. But I cannot name one conservative thing he did. The government grew bigger (by 56%), and the borders remained unsecured. Like Dems, he was buying Hispanic vote.

[eleni121]

see post 23

That’s the answer to your question.

[july4thfreedomfoundation]

And every time an illegal alien drunk driver crashes into an innocent American, George W. Bush, I’m sorry to say, has blood on his hands.

[Altura Ct.]

Bush-era staffers who are condemning the latest rhetoric on ending birthright citizenship:

Well of course they are. Hell they did everything but yell "all in, all in, free" for 8 years.

[dcwusmc]

Nope, no fiddling with the 14th needed. Read the last sentence. The one that says “Congress shall have the power to enforce this with appropriate legislation,” or words to that exact effect.

It means just what it says.

[Kimberly GG]

Progressive Republicans at it again.

[DustyMoment]

Cesar Conda, who served as domestic policy adviser to Cheney, has called such proposals “offensive.” Mark McKinnon, who served as media adviser in Bush’s two presidential campaigns, said Republicans risk losing their “rightful claim” to the 14th Amendment if they continue to “demagogue” the issue.

Cesar, huh?? No. No self-serving allegiance to the invading horde of illegals that I can see (/sarc). And, Mark? You need to take some of the taxpayer dollars you were paid to "advise" the president, and go buy a clue!!

I'm beginning to see how Bush allowed himself to be misled on the amnesty issue by clueless, useless idiots like these. And, I'm guessing that being out of the WH spotlight hasn't reintroduced them to REAL life outside the beltway - they still spout liberal dogma.

FWIW, IMO, life inside the beltway is a mental disease. These folks need to go visit the heartland, sometime, and see what real Americans are talking about - NOT hand-picked rent-a-crowds!!