Posted on 01/12/2005 12:50:36 PM PST by GOPXtreme20
Republican to Lead Immigration Revolt Against Bush
By Alan Elsner
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Republican member of the House of Representatives vowed on Wednesday to lead a revolt against President Bush (news - web sites)'s immigration reform proposals and predicted that up to 180 party members would support him.
Bush in an interview with the Washington Times published on Wednesday said he plans to force a debate in Congress this year on his proposal that would allow some illegal immigrants to obtain legal work permits in the United States.
Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo, who heads the House Immigration Reform Caucus, said he was determined to block the legislation. The caucus, which had 71 members in the last Congress, argues for stronger action to stop illegal immigration and a reduction of legal migration.
"Why is this so important to the president?" Tancredo said. "Is it just the corporate interests who benefit from cheap labor? Do they have such a strong grip on our president so that he is actually willing to put our nation at risk, because open borders do put our nation at risk?
"Is it petulance, because we were able to stop it in the last Congress? Why is it so important to give amnesty to people who have broken the law?" Tancredo said.
"I'm willing to lead a fight against this and I would say there are at least 180 members of our Republican caucus who are willing at least to stop amnesty for illegal immigrants," he told Reuters in a telephone interview.
Bush has repeatedly said he views immigration reform as an important issue for his second term. In the Washington Times interview, he said it was near the top of his agenda.
"Look, whether or not you agree with the solution or not, we have a problem in America when you've got 8 million undocumented workers here," he said.
BUSH CONFIDENCE
Bush expressed confidence he could win over opponents, as he did in passing tax reform during his first term. "Initially out of the box, some people said, over my dead body would they pass tax relief ... If I listened to all that, I'd just quit, you know. But that's not the way I think."
But analysts agree that immigration reform could be much more divisive for Republicans since growing numbers of rank-and-file voters are becoming concerned at the continued influx of illegal immigrants across the Mexican border.
"No issue, not one, threatens to do more damage to the Republican coalition than immigration," said David Frum, a former White House speech writer in Bush's first term.
"There's no issue where the beliefs and interests of the party rank-and-file diverge more radically from the beliefs and interests of the party's leaders," he wrote in the National Review last month.
Bush insists he is not offering amnesty to illegal immigrants but Tancredo said that was a "manipulation of language, the kind of thing (former President) Bill Clinton would have done. There is an issue of integrity here and an issue of honesty," he said.
The "political tsunami" I spoke of and this character quoted was the anti-immigration populist wave sweeping over the entire developed world.
His response was characteristic of the moral and intellectual level of OBL types. It's hard for them to put lipstick on pure greed and selfishness.
Stop firing. He's dead. Check his account.
Actually, I think the FROBL's never got over being beat up by the working class kids after school and this is their revenge.
They also want the taxpayers to provide for medical care for their imported labor, to provide schools, subisidised housing, food stamps etc ... They also use the perspective of the future American citizenship as a compensation for the wage lower than the living cost. In addition they cause a large expense by the government and by the families to support displaced American workers.
"Actually, I think the FROBL's never got over being beat up by the working class kids after school and this is their revenge."
LOL! You may be onto something there. Or sort of like how the wimpy boys were always jealous because the football players always got the girls? :)
This was an excellent post! Thank you!
What do you smoke in the morning?
Anyways you all can continue with your mutual admiration society and trying to declare victory on this thread running out of steam and try to cover up the cogent points made on this thread.
Bearing in mind that there IS a difference between Xenophobia and simply wanting the LAW to be enforced, I think that it is Xenophobic to oppose all immigration at all times.
Note that Japan, the reigning XenoChamp, is likely to disappear as a nation before 2150. Oh, well.
OTOH, PJB has made the point (back in 1992) that immigration policy MUST take into consideration the cultural aspects--that is, that the first consideration should be the culture of the immigrant(s).
PJB kinda likes the Judeao-Christian culture as a starting point. This makes a lot of sense to me, although it's likely to offend. Tough.
As to plans: go with Tancredo's. I still have no idea what GWB is attempting to do.
The borderless, corporate plutocrats are waging economic warfare against our entire society, from the Middle Class on down, NOT just the blue collar demographic.
Poker believes that he is a servant of Bush not the other way around.
It seems that the usual illegal labor employers/lobbyists haven't logged in yet.
Was there a full moon on the Rio Grande last night ?
or, they have been humiliated by illegals all their lives and now have fully capitulated to them.
Three or four days ago, a Milwaukee priest was struck by a car while he was unloading groceries from his own car on the street.
The priest's leg was amputated due to his injuries.
This priest is an immigrant from Mexico, where his life was threatened by the drug-cartel types for his vocal and passionate opposition to the drug runners/crime syndicates.
Surprise!! The perps were apprehended--they were illegals.
Some think that they were connected to the drug trade and had targeted the priest. Others think that it was a typical result of the way illegals usually drive. Makes little difference to the priest.
And ANY way you cut it, they were illegals.
Why the hell should we put up with this?
The OBL crowd arguement is under Bush's plan the illegals will register and PAY $1500 to do so and start paying taxes and give up social benefits. That's supposed to be the "carrot"? An incentive? WHY would they do that instead of what they're doing now? I can see them lining up now, can't you! They will not give up one dime to comply. LOL!
oops....sorry...
my select fire switch was temporarily locked on to "fully automatic"
heheheheh
Remember, too, Sam, that it is absolutely CRITICAL that the USA's population grows--to support the future SocSec tax burden.
The situation today is, granted, out of control. But unadulterated opposition to any immigration is not going to be good for the USA in the long term.
Was there a full moon on the Rio Grande last night ?
Yawn, this thread is detioriating, some very cogent points were made and I would say to lurkers of this thread who may read back, that if they want to see real and intellectual debate they should look at the thread before reply #800, everything after reply #800 is hyperbole trying to mask the real debate that went on last night.
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