No he didn't. He signed the amnesty willingly.
This wonderful site is no longer reflective of Reagan's vision, of hopefulness and opportunity.
Instead, it is turning to the narrow, cramped, inward-looking pessimism of Buchanan.
I never thought I'd see it.
LOL...
Reagan's amnesty was intended to be a one-time thing, and was supposed to be accompanied with enforcement.
Surprise, surprise, it didn't quite turn out the way the politicians promised...
How in the world can you create 'a shining city on a hill' when you're making policy that creates second-class 'semi-citizens' who are working for slave wages?
If you folks have your way, America will be a gray city on a garbage dump.
And we'll all be living there, except a few special folks who can afford to live behind gates.
He signed it, because he had to work with a Liberal Democrat controlled congress to get anything done. Congress promised Reagan it would be the last amnesty.
Buchanan was part of Reagan's administration.
Reagan wouldn't have hired 'W' to empty the waste baskets.
This site is certainly reflective of Reagan’s vision of hopefulness and opportunity. If we get control of our nation’s borders and obey the rule of law, we can truly have America become a shining city on a hill that provides millions of Americans and LEGAL immigrants with the opportunity to prosper and succeed in the American dream.
>> Instead, it is turning to the narrow, cramped, inward-looking pessimism of Buchanan. I never thought I'd see it.
Nonscene. If all the people bashing illegal aliens on this board (and in the conservative movement in general) agreed with Buchanan’s platform, he would have gotten FAR more votes than his paltry 0.4%. Just because we agree with Buchanan on IMMIGRATION, it doesn’t mean we support or endorse the REST of his views. I would never vote for an isolationist, neo-confederate, anti-semetic, cut-and-run platform exposed by Buchanan. His main “issue” in 2000 wasn’t even immigration, it was his so-called “America First” opposition to free trade like NAFTA, GATT, etc. I’m a Tancredo man – NOT a Buchanan man.
>> If you folks have your way, America will be a gray city on a garbage dump. That's the Buchanan view. You always have the Buchanan view. Have the Reagan view. <<
What he said IS the Reagan view. Here is the OFFICIAL Republican statement on immigration during Reagan's two campaigns, when the platform was tailored to his campaign and dominated by Reaganites:
“The United States immigration and refugee policy MUST reflect the interests of the nation's political and economic well-being. Immigration into this country must NOT be determined by foreign governments or even by the millions of people around the world who wish to come to America. The federal government has a duty to adopt immigration laws and follow enforcement procedures which will fairly and effectively implement the immigration policy desired by American people… the immediate adoption of this policy is essential to an orderly approach to the great problem of oppressed people seeking entry, so that the deserving can be accepted in America without adding to their hardships… We pledge a system that will… end aid to illegal aliens”
--1980 Republican Party Platform
“We affirm our country's absolute right to control its borders. Those desiring to enter MUST comply with our immigration laws. Failure to do so not only is an offense to the American people but it is fundamentally unjust to those in foreign lands patiently waiting for legal entry… with the estimates of the number of illegal aliens in the United States ranging as high as 12 million and better than one million more entering each year, we believe it is critical that responsible reforms of our immigration laws be made to enable us to regain control of our borders…the flight of oppressed people in search of freedom has created pressures beyond the capacity of any one nation.”
--1984 Republican Party Platform