Posted on 01/29/2005 7:38:39 PM PST by bayourod
LITTLE ROCK - Gov. Mike Huckabee Thursday denounced a bill by Sen. Jim Holt that would deny state benefits to illegal immigrants as un-Christian, un-American, irresponsible and anti-life.
Holt, R-Springdale, replied later that Christian charity does not include turning a blind eye to lawbreaking.
Senate Bill 206, filed Wednesday, also would require proof of citizenzhip to register to vote and would require state agencies to report suspected cases of people living in the country illegally.
"Somebody needs to ask Sen. Holt what welfare this bill would stop," Huckabee said in a question-and-answer period with reporters on Thursday morning. Many aid programs are state-administered but federally funded and are mandated to be available to people in need, Huckabee said.
Even if benefits to people who are in the U.S illegally could be stopped, "I don't understand how a practicing Christian can turn his back on a child from this or any other state," Huckabee said.
Holt replied, "I think the politically correct movement has misconstrued what compassion really means. They think compassion means that any person can disrespect our laws and that we're supposed to be tolerant and let them get away with it.
"True compassion is correcting them so in the future they can be law-abiding citizens," Holt said.
Holt said he would seek a state attorney general's opinion on what the bill would do if passed. He said he would delay further action on it, at least temporarily, to allow the attorney general to respond.
The bill is modeled after a similar law in Arizona and supported by the newly formed group Protect Arkansas NOW. The group's chairman is Joe McCutchen of Fort Smith. "I know Sen. Holt and Mr. McCutchen say they're pro-life," Huckabee said. "We're trying to preserve the life of someone who, when born, will be an American citizen with his first breath. We can spend $900 on pre-natal care when the mother is pregnant. Instead, this bill would have us take a chance and spend $2,000 a day at Children's hospital if the baby's born and something has gone wrong. That's anti-life."
Huckabee said he took exception to characterization of immigrants in the bill and by its supporters as exploiters of social programs. "They pay sales taxes on their groceries," Huckabee said. "They pay fuel taxes. If they're using a fake Social Security number, they're paying Social Security taxes and will never receive any benefit. It would be closer to the truth to say they're subsidizing Joe McCutchen and Jim Holt more than the other way around.
"Something that's not worth sharing is not worth celebrating," Huckabee said. "This is the kind of country that opens its doors. This bill expresses an un-American attitude."
McCutchen, reached by telephone at his home in Fort Smith, repeated some of Holt's arguments, including the one that the people referred to in Holt's bill are in the United States illegally.
"They broke the law," he said. "My angst is not with them, though. My angst is with the state and federal government for not enforcing our laws."
People living illegally in the United State has "overwhelmed our school and welfare system," McCutchen said. As for whether the bill reflects un-Christian attitudes, McCutchen said: "Jim Holt is as good a man and as good a Christian as any man walking this Earth."
"Doggone it, the rule of law is not being upheld, and that's wrong," McCutchen said.
McCutchen joined Holt in a news conference last week to announce the forming of Protect Arkansas NOW and to discuss plans to file SB 206. Since that news conference Friday on the state Capitol steps, McCutchen was featured on the web page of the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks membership and activities of groups such as the Ku Klux Klan. One group tracked by the center is the Council of Conservative Citizens, which claimed McCutchen as a member, according to the law center's article. The article is available at: http://www.splcenter.org/index.jsp
"To anybody who will listen, I'll make a speech at my own expense," McCutchen said. The CCC "asked me to come up and make a talk on illegal immigration. The talk lasted 15 minutes and I drove myself to Virginia to give it. I financed that thing by myself."
A letter of McCutchen's was reprinted in a magazine owned by the CCC, according to the law center website. "I did buy a list of donors from the American Immigration Council. I sent out a letter to about 200 people telling what I was doing," McCutchen said. "I suppose one of those letters went out to this magazine.
"That was the end of that, I thought," McCutchen said. "I'm just astounded by the attention this has received. CNN (Cable News Network) was at my home Tuesday afternoon. The very next morning, the Southern Poverty Law Center sent this out and the segment on CNN is on hold."
Admin moderator, I could not find the list of copywrite protects. Please check this for me. Thanks.
The Governor is UN-AMERICAN.
This govorner along with the rest of our SO called Representatives must understand that screwing the AMerican Citizen is UN American
What's "un-American" about this, Governor?
The same could be said of abortion. Should we all be quiet now?
Bookmarked. Thanks.
The elite want to let the cheap labor in (and pay off the politicos to do so); the workers and taxpayers want the laws enforced, and to not have to support the crowd that will be competing with them for jobs and social services.
Holt, R-Springdale, replied later that Christian charity does not include turning a blind eye to lawbreaking.
Wanna-be-king Huckabee is clearly FOS.
Mr. Holt acknowledges his responsibility to the truth AND the law, and to the citizens of Arkansas -- who have spoken.
You will have to excuse bayourod. He has absolutely no respect for the law. His "barren border" attitude is only driven by his desire to profit from the illegals and keep the Mexican in a subservant role.
..So Noted.
yup........they've got everyone but the American people
I don't think so.
The President is against abortion
The Cabinet is against abortion
>50 Republican Senators are against abortion
All Republican Congressmen I know of are against abortion .
All Republican Govs I know are against abortion (cept California of course)
Most Democrat officials are for choice, not abortion.
And most importantly, I'm agin abortion.
My 4 Mexican-born U.S. citizen friends in Arizona ALL voted in favor of Proposition 200. They came here legally, played by the rules and paid their dues through tough times to get where they are today. And they are mad as hell at the open-borders "amnesty" crowd.
GROWING in numbers daily! And will continue to grow and get stronger. What is unAmerican are people who refuse to uphold the law who are putting Americans and America in jeopardy thats unAmerican.
Not protecting our borders thats unAmerican!
Thanks, for your input. :))
The issue is not that practicing Christians would turn their backs on someone in need; it is that money is take by FORCE from everyone to support these programs.
And of the many immigrants that pay money to the coyotes that help them get across the border, them shelling out $1000 or more to get across doesn't exactly mean we are dealing with homeless people here.
But of course you knew that.
That's why we have a republic instead of a democracy.
The public has only heard one side so far, that of the professional con artist and cheap demagogues who have to rely on racism.
When the Bush/Rove machine starts rolling the real facts about our economy will come out and the President's guest worker program will pass easily.
Hey, don't even say it...next thing Huckabee will demand is a law requiring all Americans to feed, clothe and house illegals indefinitely after they cross the border. After all, it's the "Christian" thing to do, right? Under Huckabee's logic, Communism itself is the ultimate "Christian" system.
They weren't alone. 40% of Hispanics in AZ voted to deny services to illegals. I guess they are part of bayourod's "nobody" who supports Tancredo.
My wife's parents immigrated from Mexico in the late 1950's. They absolutely hate the border jumpers. My F-I-L has talked about pushing for a proposition similiar to Arizona's here in Texas.
I see Huckabee is just one more politician to be bought and paid for. Sad. I thought he was a hero, but then, so few are. So few care about what the American citizens want.
Good for him! I will support that bill!!
So the 40% of Arizona Hispanics who voted for a nearly identical Proposition (200) are all racist against Hispanics? What a fascinating web you weave, bayourod.
"The President is against abortion
The Cabinet is against abortion
>50 Republican Senators are against abortion
All Republican Congressmen I know of are against abortion .
All Republican Govs I know are against abortion (cept California of course)"
Yeah..I can tell be all the Legislation they've passed. They talk a good game and do NOTHING.
Like the Bible says, "Faith without works is dead."
Than join President Bush in changing the laws to conform to economic reality and provide the necessary labor force to keep our economy expanding.
Remember the population only grew 1% last year including illegals, and in many geographic/business sectors we have severe labor shortages that are forcing companies to out source and relocate over seas.
Correction: 47% of Hispanics in AZ voted to deny services to illegals.
Do you knpow what the Bible says about how one should treat people from other countries?
Ummmm, actually the Christian thing to do would be to pack them a lunch, buy them a bus ticket and tell them to go home and apply to come here legally next time. Learning a little English and respect for American culture wouldn't hurt either.
thanks. And according to bayourod, they are all racists who hate Hispanics!
According to his post #23 they are racists.
"President Bush in changing the laws to conform to economic reality"
Neither Bush or Rove would know what economic reality is if it slapped them in the face.
Bayroud you need to go and take care of the homeless legal Americans if you are so liberal.
I don't believe this is true. Every major outsourcing announcement I've seen includes a layoff announcement for US employees. Companies outsource because it's cheaper than paying wages and benefits to US employees.
"Remember the population only grew 1% last year including illegals, and in many geographic/business sectors we have severe labor shortages that are forcing companies to out source and relocate over seas."
So in fact you're simply saying you want the Mexicans here for cheap labor only. How kind of you.
If you're talking about abortion, I hope you are wrong.
let all who support the illegals, truly support them via sponsorships.
You personally be responsible for their room, board,education,legal and medical bills. Apparently you feel there are enough of you to each take on at least one family.
Leave the rest of us that uphold the law and entered this country legally--- alone . We received nothing for free , and as U.S.citizens still don't.
why all this sympathy and scatology for the lawless ?
I have been living in the US now for over 6 years and finally got my Greencard last Friday. It has been a long road and battle to get this card and it cost the company I work for over $25,000 to secure it for me. I love this country - that said I don't understand why illegal immigrants aren't being sent back to Mexico after illegally crashing the US border? Does an illegal alien simply reaching Chicago, Detroit, LA or any other major city in America mean they are homefree and not able to be sent back home? Seems only the border patrol sends them back? Why are they not being pursued? Seems a big joke to me and other legal immigrants who spent a lot of time and money trying to do things the legal and correct way.
I'll let them know. I'm certain they will consider themselves severely chastised and will mend their politically incorrect behavior.
..I understand, even if, he doesn't. America has almost always open its arms to people yearning to be free, prosperous and welcome those, who are willing to assimilate into our vast population and share our unique traditions...and not usurp our laws and traditions, per instruction from foreign government(s) seeking the Looting of U.S./State Treasuries and/or Reconquest of the SW portion of the U.S.
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