Arizona GOP Defies Bush, Calls For Accountability on Illegal Aliens

MESA, AZ (Talon News) -- In direct response to President George W. Bush's recent call for a temporary worker program for illegal aliens in the United States, the Arizona Republican Party overwhelmingly supported a resolution that would protect Arizona taxpayers from the financial impact this would place on them.

During the Arizona Republican Party convention on Saturday, delegates voted 317-109 for the Protect Arizona Now (PAN) petition, which was drafted to help protect taxpayers against the consequences of granting amnesty to illegal aliens including overcrowded hospitals, increased crime rates, rise in prison populations and escalating health care costs, among other things.

The petition itself states that it wants to prevent "abuse or fraud" by illegal aliens of the government services paid for by Arizona taxpayers.

Supporters of the PAN petition are hoping to get the initiative on the November ballot. If the measure is voted into law by Arizonians, then it would require proof of citizenship to be shown prior to receiving government support and benefits.

However, despite the immense support for the PAN petition by most Arizona Republicans, it is not favored by either state or national GOP leaders.

Regardless, state Rep. Randy Graf, a PAN supporter, said voting for this measure equates to upholding the rule of law by ensuring the rights of all Arizona taxpayers and voters.

"This initiative protects the sacred right of voting in this state," Graf stated. "This has nothing to do with any federal law or guest worker program. It is simply about protecting citizens."

However, state Sen. Carolyn Allen expressed her concern that supporting PAN would ultimately be detrimental to the Bush campaign.

"We want to re-elect George Bush and Dick Cheney in this state," Allen explained. "If this passes, we will suffer."

"The White House is very concerned about this initiative," she said. "This is not going to help our president in this state."

State House candidate J.T. Ready said concerned Republicans should realize that PAN is a common sense approach to dealing with the problem of illegal aliens.

"Why shouldn't we pass this?" inquired Ready. "After all, Blockbuster Video requires two forms of ID to rent a video."

Ready is extremely concerned that Bush appears to be circumventing the law with his proposal to allow for a temporary worker program for illegal aliens.

"I support the president, but the question is if he supports the U.S. Constitution," Ready expressed.

Sen. John Kyl (R-AZ) told the GOP activists in remarks made early in the convention that his meetings with Bush, Vice-President Dick Cheney and U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft helped educate him on the proposed national Temporary Worker Program.

"My suggestion is as Republicans, we take a breath, gather the facts and not criticize the president other than in our opinions," Kyl instructed.

Kyl admitted that while "virtually all Americans oppose amnesty," Bush's proposal would actually help minimize the continued influx of illegal aliens by holding employers more accountable for who they hire.

"We try hard on the border to keep illegal immigrants out," Kyl stated. "We could do a better job, but we are winking at those hiring illegals. There is a disrespect for the rule of law. It's not good for everybody or the taxpayers who end up subsidizing lower wages."

Arizona Republican Party Chairman Bob Fannin even expressed his concern that the rift between conservatives and GOP leadership over illegal immigration should not be divisive and encouraged the state executive committeemen to support Bush's plan.

Yet Fannin's call for unity was met with criticism and disgust by the committeemen. They believe Fannin should be addressing their sincere concerns with the Temporary Worker Program with the Bush administration directly.

GOPUSA Arizona Editor Dennis Durband warned national GOP leaders to listen to the concerns of the base or else risk losing them as voters in November.

"The lesson to the story is that the Republican Party needs to take in opinions and information from below and give rank and file Republicans legitimate consideration -- as opposed to dictating unpopular policy on an unwilling constituency," Durband wrote.

He continued, "The White House had better start listening to the people and re-thinking its position, because a lot of Republicans are saying Bush will not get their vote as things currently stand. The White House can choose this day whom it will serve. If the White House gets behind PAN, Arizona is in the bag for the president's re-election chances. It's that simple."

Funny you should mention class; We spoke about this a couple months ago. My husband said that if you were lower class, or "poor", it meant that you lived in the street, had no home, and no job.

If you were middle class, that didn't necessarily mean you ate from day to day even if you worked a lot. Middle class also meant that your floor was dirt...no carpet, no tile, and crappy plumbing. Maybe you would have a car.

If you were wealthy, you had servants, and a detached house with tile on the floors. In his town, he was from a lower middle class family who for about 5 years was so destitute they had no food. Luckily, there were neighbors who would donate some beans or tortillas to them, but when his mother had a stroke, and father left when he was a kid, he had to drop out of elementary school to work to support the family.

But those years he was in school, there was no income. This is why he is such an advocate for prevention of poverty and hunger. He luckily had the brains to grow up well, and find mentors at an early age.

I suppose I didn't explain myself completely. His sisters only have one or two kids. We would like to have many. However, we are both excellent with kids, and regardless of the nationality of my husband, I have always wanted at least 3 kids (or more). Must be the German in me.

Yes --- the middle class there has it pretty rough but even some of the not-too desperately poor middle class have servants just because servants are so cheap. Mexicans from that middle class can be pretty bitter because they are the ones that realize the best the lost potential of that country. It didn't have to be that way.

The news here has been pretty interesting --- they're arresting police officers right and left --- I think there may be some real serious things going on --- hopefully some major changes. 13 police so far arrested in Ciudad Juarez, a hunt for a commander who has fled town. I think this might end up being a very serious shake-down and must have some high up officials shaking in their boots --- I wouldn't be surprised if many aren't boarding airplanes right now making their escape.

In part, the flow of illegal aliens suits the Mexican economy, with millions pouring into the United States and easing the burden at home. Additionally, there is a constant flow of dollars back to Mexico from the millions of illegals in this country.

In addition, more Mexicans in the US means more exports for Mexican companies to the US. Economically, the illegals are a huge boon to the Mexican economy.

"The White House is very concerned about this initiative," she said. "This is not going to help our president in this state."

Frankly, who gives a squat. Bush's proposal will not help taxpayers in that state so they are looking out for themselves. I lived in Arizona for several years and the schools and healthcare really are suffering from the influx there. Despite that they still manage with a cheaper state income tax than Ohio where I live now. Good for them for protecting LEGAL American citizens from the tax burden of the poor policies of the president. I can tell living in Ohio now how detached the rest of the nation is from the problem going on on the southern border.

Well said, but I see the same attitude up here in Ohio. Lived in AZ for several years and we got to see first hand the craphole many of the cities and RURAL areas have become. I won't go into details, I'm sure you know them, but anyone can imagine the kind of stain that a culture who encourages 3 or 4 families to live in one middle class home has on schools and surrounding infrastructure. We finally decided on the move to Ohio after a home around the block from us(and this was only a 5 yr old neighborhood) put a door in the garage and we would see a gaggle full of Mexican men file out of that GARAGE and wait for work on the corner(which was the side fence of our home)in the am(and yes, we would find beer bottles and all kinds of crap over there once this started). That was enough for us and I hated moving because the weather STINKS up here and I miss the thunderstorms in the summertime!

No kidding, nothing but emotion dreamland drivel in that post.
BTW, I'm a gal, but I've lived not only in AZ but South Florida. I've seen firsthand both positive LEGAL immigration to this country that is wonderful and negative ILLEGAL immigration to this country. What Bush is proposing to accept is the negative type of immigration. It is foolish to the nth degree. People like you and I have to counter the folks like you are posting to who see a token or two family of likely LEGAL hispanic immigrants who share the same dream as many of our own immigrant families. They have no clue as to what illegal immigration by those in terrible poverty looks like to a community when it comes here inmass.

Yours and my family both leprechaun9. My mother is a resident alien in fact from England. She just recently jumped through the hoops to get a new green card and it took 18 months for it to arrive. Her dad passed last year and she plans to start working towards her citizenship once his estate is finalized in England.
She has a British friend who had to wait nearly 2 years to be able to work in this country(she moved here with her husband). It is infuriating that while her family endures doing without her income, any border hopping Mexican will be working at Mcdonald's within a day or two of their ILLEGAL arrival.
What is being allowed currently and what is being proposed by Bush is an absolute slap in the face to people who came here legally and jumped the hoops. I'd also like to know how Bush justifies granting this amnesty while at the same time letting immigrants of other countries continue to wait for their LEGALLY filed paperwork to be completed.

Polly, did your husband come here legally or illegally?
You must differentiate between the two in this discussion with both the folks here and your husband's emotional talks on the subject. I don't think anyone has issue with Mexicans who come to this country legally--my godmother is one of them(Mexican and came to the US legally).

I'm curious, after suffering such terrible poverty in Mexico, does your husband have any concerns about massive poverty being imported to this country which could have an impact on your own children?

I know what you are saying, but I do read a lot of comments for people who just make general statements about hispanics in general. Although my husband refuses to live in an area where there are many hispanics, I still find myself trying to curb his prejudice as well. He is in the process of becoming a citizen...legally.

As far as fear of poverty affecting us, he is very leery of impoverished areas...moreso than I am. We spent about a month in Ciudad Juarez. I loved walking around town. The weather was beautiful, but he wouldn't let go of my hand, and made us walk unnaturally fast, to avoid anyone who might want to mug us. He also refused to go out after dark. He is extremely disgusted with why there are poor people in the world in general. He gives money to poor kids in many other countries, as well as Mexico and the US. He has no pity for poor adults, if they are capable of working, but kids have no choice. On the other hand, we have so many poor homeless white kids, and can't deport their parents. Tough situation.

Again, as far as poverty being imported, we have poverty here, and not just hispanics. He is disgusted with any government who doesn't do something to prevent homelessness and especially hunger for kids. Whether they come from another country, or are american citizens, he hates it. He is critical of all governments who ignore their hungry. I am a little less sympathetic about it, and shouldn't be. I believe that the responsibility of hunger resides in the family, then in the community.

My adopted little sister was living in a CAR when her parents were put in jail for shoplifting. They were starving as well. Poor white trash Irish family. It was not the fault of some distant hispanic immigrant.

There are many apartments near where I live that house thousands of illegal hispanics. They mix in and don't cause problems, with the exception of a drunk driving incident, or a living in their car incident. On the other hand, I know a white american government worker who lives out of his car. I would love to blame all of the poverty on just one nationality, but I see it everywhere. There are bad people in every race and religion. That is why it is so important to not dehumanize one group. There is beauty in all people, and just because they don't have as much money or food as we do, is no reason to not want to see them.

One thing that I have noticed here is that once an illegal comes here, they try to stick together, but the competition between them becomes so fierce....I have seen many do some really underhanded things done...out of fear that their job will be taken by another illegal, or that they won't be found by immigration...

My apologies. I have seen so much of both sides, and am ON the side against most immigration in general, but after experiencing and understanding VALID points from both sides, it is difficult for me to mix the two into a concrete solution for our country. All I can say is that once it comes together, I will send the idea to President, because it'll be a great one!!!!

Luckily, my husband's poverty took place in a town with 65 degree weather year-round, a safe, well-kept neighborhood with strong religious beliefs, and generally good morals. There were no whorehouses there either which is rare. As far as taking a neighborhood to raise a kid, he swears by it. He was lucky. His poor upbringing was also surrounded with people who cared, and he turned out strong and caring. Kids in his situation in an inner city are exposed to corruption before they know how to understand it, and learn all kinds of sneaky ways to get what they want.

About the police in CJ: There is so much really scary stuff in that town. I don't have a link right now, but a while back there was a bus driver who worked the busline from the maquilladoras to the residential areas at night. He took the female factory workers home after work. If there was only one woman left in the bus, he would drive into a deserted area, saying that his bus was breaking down. He would then let on some of his buddies, they would rape her, and murder her, then dump her body. Just awful stuff. Then these bodies that were just found supposedly killed by police officers. What a mess.

Here ya go.

Lucky me I already speak spanish. Do ya think all these guys are gonna vote republican? Fat chance.

The above map is of course the most interesting one. The under 18 population coupled with a birthrate of at least 5 + children per couple and anglos will be a very small minority by mid century. And of course we will impose our concept of caudillismo upon the nation. We will likely have a Hispanic president before then and we will have to change the constitution as it does not reflect latin culture, but rather antiquated anglo saxon concepts like private property and individual rights. Also, since hispanics are the largest segment of converts to islam we will of course have to include the sharia.

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