Posted on 11/21/2014 9:38:28 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
To the Editor:
During a presidential debate in 1984, President Reagan said, “I believe in the idea of amnesty for those who have put down roots and who have lived here, even though some time back, they may have entered illegally.” As Republicans contemplate their response to President Obama’s immigration action, they should consider that Reagan and George H.W. Bush took unilateral action to protect undocumented immigrants from deportation. In both cases, their actions were eventually incorporated into legislation passed by Congress.
Congress, now led by Republicans, has the power to legislate a 21st century solution on immigration and the fair treatment of over 11 million undocumented aliens who live in this country in pursuit of the American Dream. The Senate has passed a bipartisan bill that would likely pass the House and signed by the president if John Boehner would just put it up for a vote. The bill has teeth for border control and discourages the hiring of undocumented workers and recognizes that we are not going to engage in impractical and unethical “ethnic cleansing” of millions of people.
Our country’s demographic trends overwhelmingly favor Obama’s initiative. The white population is declining. Deaths already exceed births among white Americans. By 2043 - less than 30 years hence - whites will be a minority. Ethnic and racial minorities now make half of the under-5 age group and whites are already a minority among babies. In five years, minorities will make up more than half of children under 18. A large part of these demographics trends are Hispanic and Asian immigrants and their first generation offspring. Prolonged legal battles on immigration by Republicans, focused on lawsuits, government shutdowns and impeachment will distract Republicans from demonstrating that they can govern heading into 2016 and further alienate Hispanic, Asian and other immigrant groups from the party.
And what of the longer term? If Democrats keep the White House in 2016, Obama’s executive order will likely stand even if no comprehensive legislation is forthcoming for another decade. If there is a Republican president, he will have four likely choices: (1) round up those that have come forward under the executive order and “resettle” them, (2) cajole Congress to pass legislation that recognize these immigrants are “out” and part of the fabric of society, (3) deprive millions of a livelihood by forcing them back underground, or (4) let the Obama order stand. The future plays into the Democrats’ hands - hence the reason why Obama is going with the executive order now.
Republicans have an opportunity to address immigration in a responsible and adult manner, or, they can take the Ted Cruz approach and entertain themselves through a ”reality-TV” show just for the ratings. But then again, Ted Cruz is no Ronald Reagan.
James Lalos
Portsmouth
Option (1)
They came here one by one, they can leave one by one.
That completely untrue “we can’t round them up” meme is nonsense.
If there is nothing here for them, they will go home.
System didn’t work so let’s keep repeating the same mistakes?
Ronald Reagan was backed by Congressional legislation that had passed both chambers and had been sent to his desk for signing.
Ronald Reagan was also blindsided and betrayed by the false promises of the pro illegal alien lobby.
Ted Cruz has the benefit of hindsight. Ted Cruz is also not concerned so much with illegal aliens as he is with subversion and corruption of the US Constitution.
We don’t need Reagan, we need someone who has an adress for the 2010s and 2020s, not the 1980s.
I have a different opinion of Reagan. Exactly how is some goober’s opinion from New Hampshire any more worthy of discussion?
Ted Cruz may surpass Ronald Reagan (he probably should take acting lessons, really helped RR). Seriesly.
And James LA Los can’t formulate a logical argument.
Ted Cruz sez BOO!
Ted Cruz is not Ronald Reagan, but he is a Reagan Republican.
“President Cruz” has the same ring to it as “President Reagan” did for me in 1981. Both mean “the country is saved & not a moment too soon”.
Claiming that “Reagan was OK with amnesty, why is it so wrong for Obama?”
Fact was, Reagan was only complying with the legislation which was passed by Congress, and he only agreed on the condition the border be properly policed and illegal entry was reduced to its absolute minimum. Then the funding for the enforcement at the border was stripped out, and made the original amnesty into a hollow mockery, only inviting even more illegal entries which found the border even more porous than ever, until we have arrived at the situation we find ourselves today.
Reagan came from a time in American history when one's honor was based in part on one's word of honor. There is no honor among progressives, because to them the end justified BAMN, and Cruz and the rest of us know that.
Hmmmmm ..?? It seems the only reason he mentioned “Ted Cruz”, was for the sole purpose of getting people to read his idiot statements.
Proving once again .. that the attacks upon Ted Cruz are being used to disparage him (exactly what they did to GW Bush for 8 years). The media worked the left into a frenzy for 8 years over Bush (because he dared to challenge their attempt to steal the election from him in 2000).
But, this article also shows how terrified they are of Ted Cruz.
I do agree .. Ted Cruz is not Ronald Reagan. He’s even smarter and more educated, and even more adamant about the greatness of America and her people.
We don’t need Reagan, we need someone who has an adress for the 2010s and 2020s, not the 1980s.
...
Exactly. The times have changed, and Ruling Class politicians are looking to change the country forever, better for them, but worse for everybody else. They want to flood the country with people who will vote for Big Government and turn a blind eye to corruption. We also learned from the 1986 amnesty that the promises of border security and enforcement are all lies.
Ted Cruz needs to strongly, come out for a return of American jobs.
That is the next big issue.
If he stands up for American jobs, he will get my vote.
Stand up Ted.
Option (2)
Fix the borders first.
Fix the borders first.
Fix the borders first.
The arrogance of the other side has blinded them to political reality: if they had been willing to fix the borders, most in the country might very well have agreed to support non-deportation of those already here.
Evil always overplays its hand, and the payback for yesterday, when it comes, is not going to be pretty—and it would never have had to happen in the first place.
I couldn't find the right key words to find this on google, perhaps someone hereabouts might have more success.
.
The bill has teeth that the president has the prosecutorial discretion not to use.
We are no going to engage in "unethical" “ethnic cleansing” ?
It is not unethical to repel illegal invaders. the invaders are not an ethnic group. They are coming from all over the world and are every color, race, and creed.
Perhaps but neither is he a John McCain or a Mit Romney.
Out of context, of course, but still pretty funny.
He has done so on multiple occasions.
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