Posted on 07/18/2006 8:12:32 AM PDT by BerlinStrausbaugh
The war over immigration reform among conservatives continues, and, as in most wars, truth has been one of the first casualties.
Those who disagree with the hardening positions of people who would adopt more restrictive policies or with people who favor less restrictive measures are attacked as know-nothings, traitors or handmaidens of evil forces out to destroy the America we live in.
Many conservatives reacted angrily to the way the Bush administration tried to demonize opposition to the president’s quasi-amnesty and guest-worker proposals when they were first introduced. Critics at the time were characterized as racists or “nativists” more interested in trashing Mexicans than in a rational approach to immigration reform. Rep. Tom Tancredo (R) of Colorado was semipublicly horsewhipped by White House officials and told never again to darken the president’s door.
It was a foolish way to begin an important debate and was quickly abandoned, as even the most ardent supporters of the Bush approach realized that the critics were speaking for millions of Americans who were troubled by the president’s plan. Since then, while sticking to its guns in advocating what it likes to call a “comprehensive” solution to the immigration problem, the administration has moved border security up as the first and most important element of any plan.
The problem is that rhetoric won’t do it, for the simple reason that, having been there and done that in 1986, people want to see results. Whether they might support other elements of a “comprehensive” plan, that support won’t materialize until they see evidence of a real commitment to gain control of our borders.
As the debate opened several years ago, those seeking more restrictionist or rational policies were unequivocal in acknowledging the importance of legal immigration and rejected as farcical the charge that what they really want are not secure but closed borders and a massive national effort to round up the illegals here today and send them packing. But positions have hardened in the days since.
I count myself among those who believe that we must first secure our borders and that we should make it uncomfortable for those here illegally to work or take advantage of the perks that go with being a U.S. citizen. I oppose nonresident tuition for their children and would change the law so that those born of illegals on U.S. soil wouldn’t automatically become eligible for citizenship. I support strong employer sanctions, and I oppose the sort of amnesty proposed by Sen John McCain (R-Ariz.).
At the same time, I recognize, as do most Americans, that we benefit from legal immigration and should continue to serve as a beacon to those seeking a better life because in doing so they can improve our lives as well as their own. The problem is not where immigrants come from but whether we require those seeking citizenship to learn and commit to what it means to be an American and whether we welcome those we need without overwhelming our ability to assimilate or absorb them.
The vehemence of the recent attack on Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) for trying to come up with a plan that would mandate border security first, impose heavy sanctions on employers who hire illegals and require them to leave the country if they ever hope to work here legally shocked me. Tom Tancredo attacked Pence before he could know what was in the plan, Pat Buchanan says that his disagreement with him and his friends signals the end of Pence’s career, and some of Pence’s colleagues whom he counts among his strongest friends and supporters are looking at him these days as if he’s some sort of traitor.
Actually, that’s exactly what Buchanan thinks he is; a traitor to the “cause” and a part of the secret plan to grant amnesty to illegals. Those of us who actually had kind things to say about Pence’s approach were cited in his attack as indicators that “the fix is in.”
Pence’s approach is not perfect, and he has been modifying it to answer legitimate substantive criticism. That’s the way things are supposed to work. It’s the way serious public figures go about the business of solving problems and developing sound public policy.
It’s too early to say whether Pence’s willingness to tackle one of the most serious and politically dangerous policy questions facing the nation from a conservative perspective will lead to an acceptable solution, but, unlike many of his critics, Mike Pence must be counted among Washington’s most serious public figures.
Mr. Keene is the chairman of the American Conservative Union and a managing associate with the Carmen Group, a Washington, D.C.-based governmental-affairs firm.
The above op-ed is also available at http://www.conservative.org/columnists/keene/060718dk.asp.
It's a dirty word when the compromise in question makes matters worse, not better.
The fact that the OBL are screaming that it will not work leads me to believe they think it MIGHT, so they want to do their level best to discredit it so it will not be tried.
susie
BerlinStrausbaugh Since Jul 11, 2006
Love the way supposedly "Conservative" Freepers fall for the DNC's "Virtual Campaigner" keep the Conservative fractionalized Election year program Funny how quick you all to actively work for the DNC. This is really funny to watch. What a server case of Projection the Antis suffer from! Utterly absurd for those who have done NOTHING but scream hate and bile at anyone who disagrees with their "Shoot all the Illegals" dogma to complain when people return their fire at them.
How about you all reign in your inflamed purple prose and hysteric ranting and actually offer some SOLUTIONS? What most of us Freepers object to is this habit by the Freeper Fringes to scream hate and bile in place of any SERIOUS solutions. Screaming "Deport them Now" "Amnesty" Open Borders Crowd" are SLOGANS, not solutions.
If you the Ultras so object to be mocked, quit throwing hysteric tempertantrums and acting like petulant children.
We offer quite a few. If you stopped screaming and started reading, you might know that.
Funny, you sound like Obrador.
..haha....I know that all too well....in fact, sometimes I don't even post anymore on some threads taken over by the intolerant, narrow minded, my way or the highway bunch.. I still have my principles, but there are times for compromise like you said
LOL. It is you with the inflamed hysterics. Just look at your post.
As far as solutions, many have been offered... you just don't like them because it's not exactly what Bush says.
Have a nice day.
Oh yeah -
MNJohnnie
Since Feb 18, 2004
Solutions....
-End anchor babies.
-End all government support for illegals at the federal, state and local levels.
-Build a wall on the border.
-End chatch and release, if you're caught here illegally you're immediately deported.
-Make it illegal for any state to give drivers licenses to illegal aliens.
-Illegal for any business, or anyone else, to accept matricular consular cards as a means of identification.
-Make it illegal for banks, or anyone else, to offer mortgages to illegals.
-Clamp down on workplace enforcement.
-Share all duplicate SS information with federal, state and local authorities to allow arrests for identity theft at all levels.
These are but a few solutions.
This administration wants amnesty.
Pence’s approach is not perfect, and he has been modifying it to answer legitimate substantive criticism. That’s the way things are supposed to work. It’s the way serious public figures go about the business of solving problems and developing sound public policy.
Yes, the people don't want amnesty, so we'll try to trick them.
It’s too early to say whether Pence’s willingness to tackle one of the most serious and politically dangerous policy questions facing the nation from a conservative perspective will lead to an acceptable solution, but, unlike many of his critics, Mike Pence must be counted among Washington’s most serious public figures.
He wants amnesty so we must take him seriously! Da, comrade!
Mr. Keene is the chairman of the American Conservative Union and a managing associate with the Carmen Group, a Washington, D.C.-based governmental-affairs firm.
I wonder how many illegal aliens live in his neighborhood.
My my my, Don't like people telling you the truth about yourselves do you?
Name-calling from both sides has resulted in a lack of any real solution to this problem; both sides would rather hurl mud at each other than address one another's genuine concerns.
The people who want tighter border controls are mostly *not* racists or nativists-- but nor are the people who want more open borders and opportunities for immigrants necessarily "unpatriotic" or out to undermine American culture.
Get rid of the welfare state, forced bilingual education, and immigrants' trespassing on private land-- and then open the borders, leave employers alone, and *let people make money in peace*. If both sides look past the name-calling, they might recognize this as a rational solution.
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http://www.panasianbiz.com
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"almost identical" is a stretch to say the least.
Being insulting in a call to stop insults probably wont work very well.
Gee.
That's quite a mouthful.
Did your parents scold you today?
One can only wonder why you would rant and rave at me while pointing out that I have joined the forum seven days ago as if that would discredit someone.
You've been around a long time and I suppose you've been dishing out despiteful rhetoric like this all the while.
My friend, you need to take some serious time off!
Actually they are quite different plans, but I'm sure you know that.
It's apparent you never read one of those plans. My guess would be Tancredo's, which was quite different then Pence's.
Did he feel the need to stake out the far right position on immigration reform because he needs the issue?
That's what I think.
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