It can be an election issue of "minor proportion" in a close election. GW doesn't need to inject issues into the race that few people care about, except past supporters in critical states. Word to the wise.
No more so than in 2000.
I don't remember GW proposing amnesty in his 2000 campaign. Here's what the 2000 platform said with regard to immigration:
"As a nation of immigrants, we welcome all new Americans who have entered lawfully and are prepared to follow our laws and provide for themselves and their families. In their search for a better life, they strengthen our economy, enrich our culture, and defend the nation in war and in peace. To ensure fairness for those wishing to reside in this country, and to meet the manpower needs of our expanding economy, a total overhaul of the immigration system is sorely needed.
The [Clinton] administration’s lax enforcement of our borders has led to tragic exploitation of smuggled immigrants, and untold suffering, at the hands of law-breakers. We call for harsh penalties against smugglers and those who provide fake documents. We oppose the creation of any national ID card.
Because free trade is the most powerful force for the kind of development that creates a middle class and offers opportunity at home, the long-term solution for illegal immigration is economic growth in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. In the short run, however, decisive action is needed. We therefore endorse the recommendations of the U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform:
Restore credibility to enforcement by devoting more resources both to border control and to internal operations.
Reorganize family unification preferences to give priority to spouses and children, rather than extended family members.
Emphasize needed skills in determining eligibility for admission.
Overhaul the failed Labor Certification Program to end the huge delays in matching qualified workers with urgent work.
Reform the Immigration and Naturalization Service by splitting its functions into two agencies, one focusing on enforcement and one exclusively devoted to service.
The education reforms we propose elsewhere in this platform will, over time, greatly increase the number of highly qualified workers in all sectors of the American economy. To meet immediate needs, however, we support increasing the number of H-1B visas to ensure high-tech workers in specialized positions, provided such workers do not pose a national security risk; and we will expand the H-2A program for the temporary agricultural workers so important to the nation’s farms.
Now I didn't necessarily agree with everything in this platform, but on balance it promised a reasonable approach to the immigration crisis.
What we got instead were efforts by GW Bush to come to a sweetheart amnesty deal with Vicente Fox even before the end of his first year in office. And now we have the atrocious---some have termed it "treasonous"---January 7 proposal, which even if you don't want to call it an "amnesty," far exceeds anything even hinted at by Bush and the GOP in 2000---in fact, I would say it's in flat contradiction of what we were promised.
That's why I and others need to hear GW repudiate this proposal before we vote for him again. If he doesn't need our votes, fine. But I've never known a politician with any brains to trade off actual present votes for potential future votes.
He believes what he believes.
Your vote, notwithstanding.
During the run up to the 2000 election he said much the same thing.
Your assertion is incorrect.
Another excellent post. Thank you for your input.
I'm one of the some. It's treason.
Come November, we get to choose from among two enemies of Americans.