While GOP dithers, (Hillary) Clinton tackles immigration threat

Providence Journal ^ | 5/15/05 | Froma Harrop

[nj26]

HILLARY GETS IT. Hillary Clinton says she's against illegal immigration. And she would fine employers who hire illegal aliens.

Pundits say the New York Democrat is using this hot-button issue to position herself for the 2008 presidential election. It's a way to hit Republicans from the right. Polls show huge majorities of both Republicans and Democrats oppose illegal immigration -- and are frustrated that President Bush won't do a thing to stop it.

But this issue does not belong to the right. Or it shouldn't. Illegal immigration hurts most liberal causes. It depresses wages, crushes unions and kills all hope for universal health coverage. Progressives have to understand that there's little social justice in an unregulated labor market.

"Liberals are so confused on this issue," says Vernon Briggs, a labor economist at Cornell University and self-described liberal. "Immigration policy has got to be held accountable for its economic consequences."

Many Democrats used to get it. In 1964, President Johnson abolished the Bracero program, which brought in "temporary" farm workers from Mexico. Its demise let Cesar Chavez organize U.S. farm workers. His union won some battles early on, but a new wave of illegal immigrants in the mid-1970s reversed that progress. The union barely exists today.

cut

Nowadays, the messages aren't even mixed anymore. A cheap-labor Republican, George Bush won't enforce the employer penalties. He has a new amnesty program. And he vows to "match any willing worker with any willing employer." Hence, the latest stampede at the southern border.

Sounds like the Democrats have an issue. And if Clinton can seriously address the problem in non-racial terms, she could march straight to the White House. Go for it, Hillary.

[2ndreconmarine]

2nd Anglico Marine

2nd Anglico!!!

That's really cool!!!

Semper Fi

[rdb3]

I agree, now what do we do about Bush??

Think Florida in 2000 when they tried to go behind closed doors. In other words, people on the Right must get extremely active just like those brave souls did in Florida, 2000.

The House is a lock not to approve any amnesty, which is a great thing. The President is off the reservation on this subject. I don't understand him on it, either.

I'm proud of the Minute Men. They'll keep this issue in the forefront. Keep this pressure up before the elections of '06 and you can bet even money that this issue will be taken off the table by '08.

[rdb3]

You sound like some sort of cultist.

I give an historical quote, state my pride in being in this organization, yet I'm a cultist?

I would say what's really on my mind, but I'll leave it at that for the betterment of this thread and Free Republic.

[APFel]

Hey rdb3. I have read your responses here on FR often and I usually agree with you 100% of the time (mathematically impossible, but that's typically the case).

Just keep in mind that while GWB usually falls in line with our core conservative beliefs, sometimes he runs afoul of them. The immigration debacle is one of those times.

I don't think you are looking at a mass exodus of loyal GOP voters heading for the Hillary hills; we are merely expressing our dissatisfaction with the current White House stance on illegal immigration.

C'mon... W called the Minutemen "vigilantes". This says to me that he doesn't quite know what side his bread is buttered on. I'm not sure if he is trying to stroke the Fox kitten in order to improve international relations, but it is clearly irritating the base. The fact that we even NEED a citizen border patrol speaks volumes in itself. W needs to get serious on this issue, and fast.

APf

[2ndreconmarine]

Okay then. Go as you please.

If it ain't what it needs to be, then I will work to make it what it should. I am a proud REPUBLICAN. To hell with everyone else.

That's your own personal thing. Ask how many really care who your vote goes to, okay?

OK, rdb3, but here is a fair question for you.

Exactly how far to the left does the republican party have to move before you will change your mind?? How about huge deficits, wide open borders, ridiculous trade agreements, huge pork-barrel spending?? And finally, amnesty for illegal aliens.

How much? What does it take?

[rdb3]

Just keep in mind that while GWB usually falls in line with our core conservative beliefs, sometimes he runs afoul of them. The immigration debacle is one of those times.

Like I said in #122, the President is off the reservation on this issue. I can't pretend that I understand it because I don't.

[Amelia]

And .. the fact that she doesn't hold the govt responsible for keeping illegals OUT - instead she wants to punish the corporations who hire them.

The cheapest and easiest way to keep them out is to make it unprofitable for companies to hire them. If there are no jobs for them, they won't be nearly as interested in coming.

[Sam the Sham]

You can't pretend to understand it ? That's because you aren't listening.

The agenda is to make America part of Latin America. If that's okay with you, stick with El Presidente. If you care about your own interests use your head and open your ears.

[Kenny Bunkport]

then she can be held accountable

If we were talking about a normal human being, you'd be correct. But since when have the Clintons been held responsible for anything? This woman should probably be in prison, instead of as being consider the possible next president.

[Libertina]

Yeah, but if they got into the US Hillary! would want them to vote ;)

[calex59]

Blind, canine obedience is not an attractive trait in humans. The sovereignty, security, and prosperity of this nation is more important than ANY party.

If you vote, not just you anyone, votes for Hillary thern they are voting against sovereinty, security and properity of this nation. So, she runs on illegals, gets in office, passes more gun control laws to the point where guns are illegal, then the fun really begins. Illegals are not anywhere near the danger to our country that Dems are. If you forget that then you might as well just resign yourself to slavery because with a Clinton, or any Dem, back in the whitehouse then we will lose ALL our freedoms.

[Spirited]

It may be that the Republicans intend for the Dems to win this one just as Poppy handed it over to Billy (son).

Depends on what the puppet masters are intending.

[Amelia]

rdb3, some people here won't believe this, but I believe you've said you have liberal relatives too, so I think you will.

There are still people out there who think Bill Clinton was the best president we've ever had, and that if he'd still been in office we wouldn't have had 9/11 or the war on terror or any of this war in Iraq and Afghanistan. In addition, the rest of the world would still like us, the budget would be balanced, and the economy would still be better.

Note that I'M NOT SAYING those things are true, I'm saying there are lots of people out there who believe it, and to these people, if Bill Clinton can't be president again, Hillary! is the next best thing, and maybe even better because she'd be the first woman president.

One of the few things my liberal relatives and I agree on is that illegal immigration is a big, big problem for this country.

If Hillary acts as if she's seriously addressing that problem, I believe she'll get the Democratic base and a lot of the swing voters. If the GOP wants to retain power, it needs to be addressing this, pronto.

[Quix]

Great points.

[rdb3]

Yeah, I have more than my fair share of economically left-wing relatives. But take another look at the 2004 numbers.

The Democrats increased their numbers seriously, yet failed. We won't even go to the vote fraud.

What it hinges on is whether or not is the GOP responds forcefully to the illegal immigration issue. The House is not going to support the President on amnesty. That's out. I like the Minute Men and how they will keep this issue front and center. With the elections of 2006 looming, I'm hoping that this issue gets resolved in a big way.

Every incumbent who is waffling on this issue must have a primary challenger to force the incumbency's hand. They should not run unopposed.

November 2006 is make or break for Bush and his amnesty desires. People are hot about this, and the incumbents know it. And I expect the President's desire to fail miserably.

[puppypusher]

Hillary may loose by 3.5 million votes but I for one will not be voting for any Republicans unless I see a moratorium on new immigration legal or otherwise, an increase on fines people or corporations would have to pay for hiring illegal alians, and last but not least the military on or northern and southern borders.

[Bennett46]

"That's your own personal thing. Ask how many really care who your vote goes to, okay?"



But you do care, and most of us do care who his vote goes for.

When push comes to shove, posters on this forum will not vote for Hillary.

Meanwhile the only way I have been able to find in getting the attention of the RNC is to send back their solicitations for money with a post-it note saying 'secure the borders, then get back to me' on it. Same with phone solicitations; I harrangue the caller with questions about the border.

Eventually the RNC will get the message.

[Smartass]

THANKS FOR     THE PING!

[Luke21]

Nobody is talking about voting for Dems. But we aren't being served by the party we are voting for. If there is no one on the ballot who is pro-America, anti-illegals, pro-gun, anti-judicial activism, and pro-Christian to vote for, I'm not wasting my time voting for Kolbe's and McCain's. That's the type of putrid garbage we get here in Arizona.

[Smartaleck]

Good job AP...........now if only the MSM would catch on. LOL