President Bush Proposes New Temporary Worker Program [Transcript]

The White House ^ | Jan 7, 2004 | President George W. Bush

[Beck_isright]

"And if they don't register? They going to be on DOUBLE secret probation?"

Classic! Maybe they'll lose their counterfit Social Security card.

[Age of Reason]

The other thing for conservatives to watch out for, will be the liberal media spinning the meaning of this speech in such a way as to to alienate Bush from his conservative base, to cost him conservative votes in the election.

Just you watch--the liberal media will spend a lot of time on this speech, telling the public only the parts it wants the public to hear, and those will be the parts that make Bush look bad to conservative voters.

And remember, I'm posting this--and I am more against any form of immigration than most Freepers (country is too crowded), and yet I say let's not be hasty in judging Bush just yet.

The true purpose of this speech might actually serve to reduce Mexican immigration and to tighten the border.

[Southack]

"Can you show me where in the President's speech a fine was mentioned? All I saw was reference to a fee for those illegals already in the US who wish to apply for a blue card."

Semantics. The "fee" is for those illegals who remain in the U.S.

Those who deport themselves back to their home countries can apply for the blue card without the "fee" because they are treated as legally being in the other country.

Thus, paying the "fee" is essentially admitting (read: pleading guilty) that they are here illegally.

[alnick]

Thanks for posting the transcript. I read the first few hundred posts on the live thread and there was a lot of lying and venting of emotion, a few lone voices of support for the president, but no debate. This thread, for the most part and up to this point, actually has both sides debating.

[CWOJackson]

"The other thing for conservatives to watch out for, will be the liberal media spinning the meaning of this speech in such a way as to to alienate Bush from his conservative base, to cost him conservative votes in the election."

That started right here yesterday. The anti-Bush press just needs to check out some of our threads to get the ammunition they seek.

[Age of Reason]

And include so-called conservative talk radio among the media that will use this speech to inflame conservatives.

So-called conservative talk radio is more about ratings than anything else.

And nothing generates more listeners and phone calls than stirring the pot to get listeners worked up.

[mathluv]

Dubya has not broken a pledge. He has always talked about a guest worker program. Where has he broken a pledge?

Anyone who will vote for ANY dim, is voting in favor of the terrorists. That is who/what the dims support.

clark is as big a weasel as any of the others, if not more so. He has flipped so many times, (as have the others) that he has rug burns.

I may not like all aspects of this plan. But the actual implementation is up to Congress.

[CaptBlack]

especially with increased fines and jail terms for those who continue to employ illegals.

That sounds great except you haven't dealt with how they are going to enforce a new proposal when they can't seem to enforce the current policy. Who is going to hand out all these jail terms and fines and so forth?

[cardinal4]

So you think this amnesty is a good idea?

That is not what the poster said.

[Southack]

"You have to be registered with the government to get a green card as well. I don't see your point."

You don't see my point only because you choose not to. If your mind is already made up, then why waste anyone else's time "debating" it?

The difference is that President Bush is providing both an *incentive* for illegals to register as well as new punishments for those who don't. One strike and you are out, for illegals, for instance. If they get caught after this plan is passed *without* having Registered, then they are forever ineligible for our system/Country. Likewise, employers face heftier punishments for employing such people.

What illegal would choose to pass up this opportunity?! If what President Bush is proposing isn't a good deal for them as you claim (read: no incentive for them to register), then why would you be against it?

On the other hand, those who register will have to pay a fine for their illegal beahvior, remain employed and on good behavior, and then they have to go back to their home countries after working and paying taxes here after 3 years.

[Beck_isright]

"What do you think this guest worker permit is all about?"

An invitation to 13 million more Latin Americans to cross the border and overwhelm our inept government.

A disaster of the remnants of our culture.

The beginning of the end of the American era and the foundation for the North American Union.

[Arioch7]

It is because of partisan hatred.

I did not like Pres. Clinton but I did not attack his reduction of the capital gains tax. I liked it. Why the hell would I attack law I like because Clinton is a dem?

I myself am a partisan but I am not consumed by partisan politics like the Left. It seems that ANYTHING Pres. Bush does is to be condemned by the dems regardless of the actual policy.

It is indicative of the hatred, zealotry, and insanity that has become characteristic of the Democratic party. They do not even care about their OWN issues anymore, they just have to stop Bush.

As far as the actual proposal goes, I despise it. 80-90% of the people of the US don't want illegal aliens here. The Dems are playing politics because this is NOT about buying hispanic votes. It is all about payback for Rockefeller Republicans and Corporations.

I am surprised the lunatics on the left did not see this but I can't say that perceptive insight is one of their strongpoints.

The Wall Street Journal (Which I read daily.) just loves all of these Mexican workers. When I see such people being so shortsighted as to the future of this nation, it makes me wonder.

I wonder why the frontpage of the Journal today HAD NOTHING on this. IBD did, as did every other major publication.

The RNCC called me the other day asking for my donation. It was a standard scripted donation call. I interupted her and asked...

"Well, that's nice but the Supreme Court just ruled CFR legal and they voted on it. The President signed it, and it was written into law and upheld by the Supreme Court." This is what she said...

"Oh, we are definately fighting that one and wont stop!"

I cut in and said it can't be stopped. The Supreme Court made it the law of the land. You didn't STOP it, you let it PASS!!!

No donation. The GOP is pissing me off!

[BenLurkin]

Michael Medved and Hugh Hewitt are behind this initiative. Say someone is "crazy" for wanting to enforce our laws and deport the millions of illegals. Medved even compared one caller to the Nazis!

The sad thing is that, taking a long view historically, the amnesties and accommodations won't stop the illegal invasion and probably only encourages it.

It's apprarent that we as a nationhaven't the manhood to resist the invasion. But, after all maybe it will be more "humane" this way. At least America will die with a whimper instead of a bang.

[Southack]

"That sounds great except you haven't dealt with how they are going to enforce a new proposal when they can't seem to enforce the current policy. Who is going to hand out all these jail terms and fines and so forth?"

Wrong question. It is not "who" will enforce it but "how," and the difference between the new Bush plan and the old status quo is that 8 million illegals will have *registered* with the government...something that they have not done so far to date under the old system.

Once registered, they will be tracked and punished should they offend our country's rules.

[Arioch7]

I would like to add that if President Bush does ALL of what he said he would do in his speech, then I will be happy.

Sis says that Pres. Bush has not done anything that he siad he wouldn't do. She is right. Although I disagree with Pres. Bush on a lot of things, he always said he would do them and he did.

Just a clarification to my rant. :)

[Revel]

" Some temporary workers will make the decision to pursue American citizenship. Those who make this choice will be allowed to apply in the normal way. They will not be given unfair advantage over people who have followed legal procedures from the start. I oppose amnesty, placing undocumented workers on the automatic path to citizenship. Granting amnesty encourages the violation of our laws, and perpetuates illegal immigration. America is a welcoming country, but citizenship must not be the automatic reward for violating the laws of America. (Applause.)"

Now get stop thinking about fluffy statement and consider the truth about what his proposing. What it is really going to do.

[Revel]

"Once again, FReepers have underestimated President Bush and freaked out before his plan was layed out. He has said all along that he wanted to implement a "guest worker" program, and that he was against Amnesty. And once again, he is doing what he said he would do."

Yes it is Amnesty. No Amnesty would be a trip back to the border.

[anymouse]

After reading the text of President Bush's speech, it doesn't look as bad as first perceived. That said, the success or failure of this plan is in the implementation.

[Biblebelter]

Bush the senior's tax program was really a combination punch. Not only did he expose himself as an outright liar, he showed that he was an impostor in that, his conservative credentials were always suspect, when he signed a tax increase no real conservative would have signed, then many not only felt they had been lied to, but they had been duped as well. His son has always had to defend his conservative posture, not only because of his family's liberal republican roots, but because his education bill, his inability to rein in pork barrel spending in his own party, and always his stance on illegal immigration. His speech today will make his conservative claims more suspect than ever. The gut punch today is that once again a Bush appears not to be the conservative that he claimed to be.

[Tempest]

I kind of like your assumptions in that post. Although I would speculate that employers attempting to hire completely non-documented workers in an attempt of trying to circumvent wage increases as being rather unlikely. There is too large of an established illegal workforce already in the farming community. And I don't suspect that some of these farm workers who would have just recently recieved a document that allows them the status to legally work within the US would take kindly to anybody trying to undercut them.

It's all rather ironically funny the more I think about it.

Here we are with illegal immigrants under cutting American wages in what is typically an undesirable job. Suddenly they'll recieve legal work status which will allow them more leverage and more freedom to voice their demands to their employers. Either (A.) Forcing the employer to increase wages making the job more competative (also making the produce more expensive) or (B.) Cause the employer to try to hire completely undocumented workers whom would most assuredly be retaliated against by their recently documented counterparts.

The newly documented worker will be trying to protect their new found interest while the program will subconciously allow them to understand the unfairness of people attempting to circumvent the system and of employers who try t undercut their employees.

A rather harsh yet sweet lesson.