Posted on 03/28/2006 5:16:51 AM PST by FerdieMurphy
GOP Senators Side with Dems on Illegal Immigration Jim Kouri
The Republican-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee approved election-year immigration legislation Monday that is far different from what most Americans had in mind. The bill, which goes to the full senate, paves the way for millions of undocumented workers to become US citizens without having to first leave the country or pay a fine. After days of protests led by left-wing groups masquerading as rank-and-file illegal aliens the Senate committee's GOP members folded like cheap cameras and voted to strip away proposed criminal penalties for residents found to be in this country illegally. The bill which passed the House of Representatives called for such penalties.
The panel's vote now allows the bill to go before the full Senate for debate on Tuesday.
"All Americans wanted fairness and they got it this evening," said Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, the Massachusetts Democrat who played a pivotal role in drafting the legislation along with Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), approved 12-6.
Of course, Sen. Kennedy's sense of fairness has always been questionable. In fact, what he calls fair is unfair to American citizens and legal immigrants who had to endure the pain of dealing with the immigration bureaucracy.
Committee Chairman Arlen Specter (R-PA) voted for the bill but signaled that some of the provisions could well be changed by the full Senate, but most observers don't buy that for a moment. Conservatives knew Sen. Specter was a liberal and therefore urged the GOP not to give him the chairmanship. Once again, he's shown the conservatives to be right.
In general, the bill is designed to strengthen border patrol, but with more of the same, which means the borders will remain vulnerable. While polls have shown that a majority of Americans support the use of the US military on US borders to backup the Border Patrol, this will never happen even if the entire congress were Republican. However, the senators, many preparing for the November elections made great inroads with the so-called Hispanic block-voters and the new bill is passed will "create new opportunities for so-called guest workers and determine the legal future of the estimated 11 million immigrants living in the United States illegally."
At several critical points, committee Democrats were united while Republicans splintered. In general, GOP Sens. Lindsay Graham of South Carolina, Sam Brownback of Kansas and Mike DeWine of Ohio, who is seeking reelection this fall, sided with Democrats. These backstabbing, spineless liberals posing as conservatives during elections gave Democrats a majority that allowed them to shape the bill to their liking.
A SWIPE AT THEIR BASE
During this entire debate, President Bush and many GOP leaders treated the conservative base of their feckless party as a pariah. While spouting conservative talking points, these political leaders took a huge swipe at their base and at many moderates on this issue.
For instance, just after the Senate Judiciary Committee announced their vote, a Time/Warner push poll discovered that the majority of Americans will not be happy when they discover what was really passed as opposed to what these senators and the media say they passed.
Here are the questions posed and the results of the push poll:
1. Would you support a temporary worker program? NO 58% YES 42%
2. Would you support a security fence on the border? YES 81% NO 19%
3. Should those who sneak into the country be treated as felons? YES 78% NO 22%
4. Should those already in the country illegal have a path to citizenship? NO 69% YES 31%
5. How big an issue is illegal immigration? Very 86% Somewhat 10% Not at all 4%
One of the organizers of the California protest appeared on Fox News earlier today and stated, besides the usual litany of lies and half-truths, that the US is a terrorist country and that the Mexican illegals will make the US a better place.
The head of the so-called Border Angels also demanded a national healthcare program and other freebies, thereby revealing his socialist agenda.
He also lied and said illegal immigrants do not commit crimes but that American citizens go to other countries and torture and kill innocent people. And the feckless GOP is rewarding this man.
Remember that this November.
Not quite all. We have all of eight senators who vote 100% of the time conservatively. The rest are leftist traitors who crawl in bed with their DemocRAT pals after the sun sets.
If it passes the Senate. The House leadership may "certify passage" without the House ever voting on the final bill?
I predict that the Republican party will one day no longer exist. What's the point of having it around? Does it really stand for anything that you can't get with the Democratic party? We'll have one party and one candidate to "vote" for.
If any type of amnesty passes in the Senate DeWine will lose his job in November.
Ohio is not fond of illegals.
I live in Iowa too. McCain and Graham are DOA here. I thought Brownback would have a shot, given his strong pro-life stance. But he has ruined his chances with this move. Frist's stock, however, could be rising.
I disagree. Having a panic attack over this committe vote might be just what it takes to convince the rest of the senate and house that we are deadly serious about this - just as serious as those who marched in the streets. It's just that we, the silent majority, don't leave our work responsibilities and let our children skip school to go create hate in the streets.
That can't happen we have to find good conservative politicians who have Republican values and vote them in.
President Bush has changed the political landscape and he has taught us what a real conservative looks like by not being one and by demanding amnesty (oh excuse me worker program) and supporting criminals by not protecting our borders. And allowing a defiant act by the illegals who sneak in to defiantly demonstrate and make demands.
I thought Frist was not going to let this get to the floor.
Same here!
Every fax that goes out of my office to my elected officials contains the following PS at the bottom of the letter:
We will work tirelessly to defeat ANY elected official who votes against the best interest of the American worker, US border security, US sovereignty or that sponsors or supports any amnesty scheme disguised as a guest worker program.
I no longer support Bush or the cowardly republican party. They have caved to a bunch of open border activists and it will cost them dearly in the next election.
As much as everyone here hates Specter, he did offer a compromise bill that was quite bit less loathsome than Kennedy-McCain. His compromise got nowhere in committee. K-McC may not even reach the floor if it can't get GOP support. I think it is entirely possible that Frist will gut K-McC as it is and replace it with his enforcement bill. The Judiciary action yesterday was a mere charade.
We see where that got Europe. The point of no return.
[[Doesn't this legislation violate the U.S. constitution? I'd like to see a class-action lawsuit filed against the members of the Senate committee by a citizens group with the case ultimately making it to the Supreme Court.}}
When prop 187 passed in CA, the open borders lobby immediately filed a lawsuit and had it declard unconstitutional.
That's DeWhine!
Well said. Thanks.
Actually I've never considered Bush a conservative.He is as his father before him was, an east coast moderate Republican,That said, given the choice between a moderate and a raving lunatic fringe wacko like Al Gore or a proven traitor like Kerry I'll take my chances with the moderate every time.
...I've had it with the Republicans...
Same here!
That is a good way to win political battles: Condemn and cede loss even before anything actually happens because it might happen.
Pandering to the second largest voting block. Expect Je$$e and $harpton to do something $oon to draw attention back to themselves. The lack of attention must be killing them.
This single issue will cost the GOP control of congress this year. That is what happens when you thwart the will of the people and pander to people who have no damn business being in the great country.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.