Posted on 05/29/2007 10:15:03 AM PDT by Rb ver. 2.0
GLYNCO, Ga. (AP) - President Bush attacked opponents of an immigration deal Tuesday, suggesting they “don’t want to do what’s right for America.”
“The fundamental question is, will elected officials have the courage necessary to put a comprehensive immigration plan in place,” Bush said against a backdrop of a huge American flag.
He described his proposal—which has been agreed to by a bipartisan group of senators—as one that “makes it more likely we can enforce our border—and at the same time uphold the great immigrant tradition of the United States of America.”
Bush spoke at the nation’s largest training center for law enforcement.
He chose the get-tough setting as conservative critics blast a Senate proposal as being soft on people who break the law. Hoping to blunt that message, Bush emphasized that any new options for immigrants and foreign workers would not start until tougher security is in place.
The presidential stop came during a congressional recess, with senators back home and facing pressure from the left and right on the immigration plan. Bush’s aim is to build momentum for the legislation, perhaps his best chance for a signature victory in his second term. The Senate expects to resume debate on it next week.
“A lot of Americans are skeptical about immigration reform, primarily because they don’t think the government can fix the problems,” Bush said.
“And my answer to the skeptics is: give us a chance to fix the problems in a comprehensive way that enforces our border and treats people with decency and respect. Give us a chance to fix this problem. Don’t try to kill this bill before it gets moving,” Bush told students and instructors at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.
Bush repeatedly cast the matter as one of political courage.
“Those determined to find fault with this bill will always be able to look at a narrow slice of it and find something they don’t like,” the president said. “If you want to kill the bill, if you don’t want to do what’s right for America, you can pick one little aspect out of it.
“You can use it to frighten people,” Bush said. “Or you can show leadership and solve this problem once and for all.”
The bill would give temporary legal status to millions of unlawful immigrants, provided they came forward, paid a fine and underwent criminal background checks. To apply for a green card, they would have to pay another fine, learn English, return to their home country and wait in line.
The plan also would create a guest worker program. It would allow foreign laborers to come to the U.S. for temporary stints, yet with no guarantee they can eventually gain citizenship.
Both the new visa plan and the temporary worker program are contingent on other steps coming first. Those include fencing and barriers along the Mexico border, the hiring of more Border Patrol agents and the completion of an identification system to verify employees’ legal status.
The legislation would also reshape future immigration decisions. A new point system would prioritize skills and education over family in deciding who can immigrate.
Georgia’s senators both played leading roles in producing Bush’s deal with the Senate. Yet they have also said they may not support the final bill, depending upon how it is amended.
Bush chastised those who say the proposal offers amnesty to illegal immigrants. He called it empty political rhetoric.
Agreed
Can’t say that I blame you. The gov’t is itching for revolt. How do they expect taxpayers to put up with this garbage?
Bush probably has illegals at the White House. It wouldn’t surprise me.
Bill Clinton is great compared to this clown in the White House.
I don’t understand how he blew it. Bush was great after 9/11 and went straight into a nose drive. He forgot how to fight a war and seems hell bent on destroying this country. Bush might as well surrender to the terrorists at this point.
This is shameful of the President.
“Read my lips: no amnesty.”
And I’m the King of France.
This bill is so bad that the status quo is better.
I’m extremely disappointd in the kinds of smears that Bush and his supporters on this issue are using. Frankly, they sound like liberals when tehy do that. And tehy should be ashamed, for that reason if no other.
Amen!
Not INS anymore, but maybe ICE.
You aren't doing what is right for the country, you are siding with the country's most determined internal enemies. You picked this loser issue, frontally attacking the only people who have ever supported you. We have no further reason to. You are a lame duck has-been who has sold out the cause of conservatism, for a fleeting inner glow at what you imagine is your high mindedness, by the standards of the Washington Post.
But those standards would wreck this country, and as far as they have been applied, have.
The Republian party is vastly bigger than you and no longer needs you, and conservatism is higher and more important than the party. It is on a mission over entire generations for the whole human race, and you are an ant compared to the scale of its efforts and importance.
So take your defeat like a man, shut up, and move on.
>> suggesting they “don’t want to do what’s right for America.”
Wrongo Dubya. We do want what’s right for America and that’s why we’re called Conservatives. Too bad the liberals aren’t chastised to the same degree. Perhaps we’re not as patriotic.
Instead of leading he has tried, unsuccessfully, to be “the President of all the people”.
Remember a long time back, when essentially there wasn’t a dimes worth of difference between the parties. We may be headed back that way. I think some of the party big-heads have decided that there is too much political divisiveness going on and that conservative values just don’t really pay that well.
They can pass this bill and a certain number of conservatives will split off and wander in the political wilderness, but likely more conservatives will shrug it off and continue to support the party on some level. It may mean minority status for a time, but there will always be openings to gain power again.
For many Republicans at the top of the food chain bringing the social conservatives to heel would be worth a passing minority status. Labor gets cheaper. Profits go up. The hell with values.
Perhaps that’s by design. This bill gets defeated, they think conservatives will shut-up and the invasion continues apace.
The answer to that question is very important and should be fully investigated. He doesn't represent the average American citizen. We must find out who he does represent.
Ummmmm..... This is Bush's policy, hence the blaming of Bush for the policy. Who else should we blame?
I disagree. It's Bush experience in Texas and his brother's marriage to his mexican wife that causes Bush to be so enamored of mexicans. Or, his first "experience" was with a mexican maid.
My guess is that one of them was his first "experience", too.
Do you talk as you type? :^)
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