Republican Lawmakers Won’t Back Bush on Immigration

CNSNews.com ^ | 1/26/2004 | Susan Jones

[yoe]

Republican lawmakers who generally back President Bush are not backing him on immigration. In fact, they want their leaders to know they have "serious concerns" about President Bush's proposed immigration policy.

In a letter addressed to House Speaker Dennis Hastert, Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.) and several other members of the Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus said they won't go along with the president's plan because it "does not address the problem appropriately."

"In fact, in our view, it will further exacerbate the problem and create discontent amongst the Republican Party," the letter said.

Jones, in a press release, said he and other lawmakers would consider alternative guest-worker legislation, as long as it does not reward lawbreakers with amnesty.

Although President Bush insists his proposal does not include amnesty, Jones said he thinks it does - because it would make illegal aliens who work in the U.S. for a number of years eligible for legal status and citizenship. That is de facto amnesty, Jones and the other lawmakers said in their letter.

"Since the President's speech, our offices have been inundated with calls from dismayed constituents expressing vehement opposition to the Administration's proposal," the "Dear Mr. Speaker" letter said.

"If we do not listen to our constituents on this matter, our influence and effectiveness in Congress could be jeopardized. Simply put, we cannot continue to allow our immigration laws to be violated and ignored -- and illegal aliens are by definition criminals."

According to the letter, President Bush's immigration proposal has left many conservatives "dismayed, angry and confused."

"Mr. Speaker, it is our hope that you will recognize the problems the Administration's proposal has created for our constituents," the letter says.

It notes that "respect for the rule of law is a core conservative value," and it urges the Republican leadership in the House to find a solution to America's immigration problem "that is more in line with the principles of our Party and our national traditions."

Earlier this month, President Bush proposed a new "temporary worker program" that would offer temporary legal status to millions of undocumented workers who have jobs in the U.S.

Bush said his program would "match willing foreign workers with willing American employers when no Americans can be found to fill the jobs."

Temporary workers would be expected to return permanently to their countries after their work stint in the United States has expired. Temporary workers wishing to seek American citizenship would be allowed to apply in the normal way, according to the president's plan.

"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," Bush said.

"America is a welcoming country, but citizenship must not be the automatic reward for violating the laws of America," Bush added.

Bush's proposal drew immediate criticism from conservatives, who see it as a threat to national security and an affront to the rule of law.

[yoe]

I honestly believe our President was badly misled by his advisors on this issue. Tom Ridge and Condi Rice should have known just how bad the illegal alien problem is on our borders...they obviously didn't take the time to really find out. President Bush must ask the Congress to table his proposals until this mess can be sorted out.

Meanwhile continue the round up of aliens and visa abusers and deport them. Some one should tell President Bush that V. Fox is not his friend, nor is being politically correct about any of this; it is the wrong thing to do. The right thing to do would be to consult with Tom Tancredo (sp), regardless of Karl Rove's disapproval.

[glock rocks]

According to the letter, President Bush's immigration proposal has left many conservatives "dismayed, angry and confused."

Bonk!

[Action-America]

YES!

 

[sinkspur]

So, adopt Tancredo's plan. (It's not that much different from Bush's.)

It'll shut him and his rabid followers up, and save massive amounts of bandwidth on Free Republic.

[AGreatPer]

I am convinced this is all part of a "magic mirrors" plan to convince border line Rats that Bush is their man too. All a plan to get reelected.

Watch what happens during his 2nd term. Complete reverse. But to do that, you must get elected the 2nd time.

[Pubbie]

"Tom Ridge and Condi Rice should have known just how bad the illegal alien problem is on our borders...they obviously didn't take the time to really find out. President Bush must ask the Congress to table his proposals until this mess can be sorted out."

Be careful there - The Condi Rice in 2008 RINOs on FR are going to have you boiled in oil for goring their sacred cow.

And the 3 people who back Tom "Harder Vincente Harder" Ridge will also not be pleased...

[cripplecreek]

dont count him out yet. the president has developed a pattern of putting himself in a position where democrats say "gotcha", then dropping a bomb on them at the last second. he's suprised me too many times for me to get very upset with the illegal alien situation.

im obviously no fan of illegal immigration but im taking the wait and see attitude on this one.

[Sabertooth]

In a letter addressed to House Speaker Dennis Hastert, Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.) and several other members of the Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus said they won't go along with the president's plan because it "does not address the problem appropriately."

"In fact, in our view, it will further exacerbate the problem and create discontent amongst the Republican Party," the letter said.

Jones, in a press release, said he and other lawmakers would consider alternative guest-worker legislation, as long as it does not reward lawbreakers with amnesty.

Although President Bush insists his proposal does not include amnesty, Jones said he thinks it does - because it would make illegal aliens who work in the U.S. for a number of years eligible for legal status and citizenship. That is de facto amnesty, Jones and the other lawmakers said in their letter.

"Since the President's speech, our offices have been inundated with calls from dismayed constituents expressing vehement opposition to the Administration's proposal," the "Dear Mr. Speaker" letter said.

"If we do not listen to our constituents on this matter, our influence and effectiveness in Congress could be jeopardized. Simply put, we cannot continue to allow our immigration laws to be violated and ignored -- and illegal aliens are by definition criminals."

According to the letter, President Bush's immigration proposal has left many conservatives "dismayed, angry and confused."

"Mr. Speaker, it is our hope that you will recognize the problems the Administration's proposal has created for our constituents," the letter says.

It notes that "respect for the rule of law is a core conservative value," and it urges the Republican leadership in the House to find a solution to America's immigration problem "that is more in line with the principles of our Party and our national traditions."

"Although President Bush insists his proposal does not include amnesty, Jones said he thinks it does - because it would make illegal aliens who work in the U.S. for a number of years eligible for legal status and citizenship. That is de facto amnesty,"

President Bush has kissed his credibility goodbye, where Illegal Aliens are concerned.

[ilgipper]

maybe, just maybe this was his plan. Make the proposal, knowing full well it would never happen.

I don't like it, but it may make sense to people more politically savvy than me. It is so far before the election that it won't impact the vote...kind of like airing your dirty laundry long before election day to lessen the effect.

This way, the Dems can't call him on it to shore up their hispanic votes, though.

[sinkspur]

President Bush has kissed his credibility goodbye, where Illegal Aliens are concerned.

Plans are plans. They can be changed.

As I read Tancredo's plan, it differs from Bush's very little (times in the worker program and no amnesty). Is it acceptable to you?

[Moonman62]

I honestly believe our President was badly misled by his advisors on this issue. Tom Ridge and Condi Rice should have known just how bad the illegal alien problem is on our borders...they obviously didn't take the time to really find out. President Bush must ask the Congress to table his proposals until this mess can be sorted out.

I doubt they had any say in the matter. This proposal has Karl Rove's fingerprints all over it. His and GWB's, and probably Vincente Fox's.

[Pubbie]

"I don't like it, but it may make sense to people more politically savvy than me. It is so far before the election that it won't impact the vote...kind of like airing your dirty laundry long before election day to lessen the effect."

The fact that Bush announced this at the very beggining of the year is a strong (But not certain) indicator that Bush knew this wouldn't pass Congress, so it might just be a last ditch effort to get the Hispanic vote.

Of course, it won't make the Hispanic vote more Republican because no matter what Bush promises the Hispanics, the Democrats will always be able to promise more.

[Sabertooth]

So, adopt Tancredo's plan. (It's not that much different from Bush's.)

If Tancredo's guest worker plan is "not that much different" than the Bush Amnesty, why isn't Tancredo supporting the President's plan?

It'll shut him and his rabid followers up, and save massive amounts of bandwidth on Free Republic.

You think that Free Republic is the only place the Bush Amnesty is unpopular?

[sinkspur]

If Tancredo's guest worker plan is "not that much different" than the Bush Amnesty, why isn't Tancredo supporting the President's plan?

Ask him. He said he won't vote against Bush over this immigration issue.

[DumpsterDiver]

Jones, in a press release, said he and other lawmakers would consider alternative guest-worker legislation, as long as it does not reward lawbreakers with amnesty.

Translation: We have no intention of enforcing existing immigration laws. We will consider alternative guest-worker legislation as long as it ignores the laws the illegal aliens, et al have broken and as long as it doesn't call for deportation.

As Country Joe and the Fish once said... Gimme an F

[Pubbie]

I would support Bush's plan if he also promised to vastly increase the size of Border agents in order to completely stop any future illegal immigration.

That way, we won't have to issue any future Amnesties to handle future Illegal Immigration.

But since this plan doesn't do enough to seal the borders I can't support it (Not that my support means anything...)

[Sabertooth]

The fact that Bush announced this at the very beggining of the year is a strong (But not certain) indicator that Bush knew this wouldn't pass Congress, so it might just be a last ditch effort to get the Hispanic vote.

Of course, it won't make the Hispanic vote more Republican because no matter what Bush promises the Hispanics, the Democrats will always be able to promise more.

And Amnesty will lose more votes for the GOP than it gains anyway.

I'm not convinced at all that this is Bush strategery. Everything in this President's political career poiints toward a sincere belief in him that legalizing Illegals is a good idea.

I don't know if he doesn't care if he loses votes, or if he thinks he can roll America like he rolled the UN.

Either way, the defeat of the Bush Amnesty needs to be so resounding that no politician ever contemplates such nonsense again.

"Killed in committee" until next year will not be sufficient.

And then we have to reelect him, with a sizable majority in Congress.

[moehoward]

bumperoonie

[Map Kernow]

As I read Tancredo's plan, it differs from Bush's very little (times in the worker program and no amnesty). Is it acceptable to you?

It's a sin to tell a lie, and I know you don't mean to mislead anyone here.

So why don't you and everybody else go here to the official website for Tancredo's Four Point Plan and see just how it really differs from Bush's Plan.

[JoeGar]

In a letter addressed to House Speaker Dennis Hastert, Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.) and several other members of the Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus said they won't go along with the president's plan ..."

Walter B. Jones is my representative, and he is an excellent one. He also had the guts to vote AGAINST the Medicare drug boondoggle last fall.