Privately, Bush Says He Favors Citizenship (for Illegals)

AP ^ | April 26, 2006 | DAVID ESPO

[West Coast Conservative]

President Bush generally favors plans to give millions of illegal immigrants a chance at U.S. citizenship without leaving the country, but does not want to be more publicly supportive because of opposition among conservative House Republicans, according to senators who attended a recent White House meeting.

Several officials familiar with the meeting also said Democrats protested radio commercials that blamed them for Republican-written legislation that passed the House and would make illegal immigrants vulnerable to felony charges.

Bush said he was unfamiliar with the ads, which were financed by the Republican National Committee, according to officials familiar with the discussions.

At another point, Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada and other members of his party pressed the president about their concern that any Senate-passed bill would be made unpalatable in final talks with the House.

Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the second-ranking Democrat, said the lawmaker who would lead House negotiators, House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner, had been "intractable" in negotiations on other high-profile bills in the past. Bush did not directly respond to the remark, officials said.

The Republican and Democratic officials who described the conversation did so Wednesday on condition of anonymity, saying they had not been authorized to disclose details.

Bush convened the session to give momentum to the drive for election-year immigration legislation, a contentious issue that has triggered large street demonstrations and produced divisions in both political parties. Senators of both parties emerged from the session praising the president's involvement and said the timetable was achievable.

"Yes, he thinks people should be given a path to citizenship," said Sen. Mel Martinez., R-Fla., a leading supporter of immigration legislation in the Senate.

[marron]

Secure the borders. Don't talk to me about anything else, I don't want to hear any new whizbang immigration policy proposals until you secure the borders. If you can't secure the borders, why should I trust you with anything else?

[varon]

Privately, Bush Says He Favors Citizenship (for Illegals)

If anything, all illegals should be barred from ever qualifying for citizenship just because of their lawbreaking in gaining entry.

I'm getting really p*ssed off at the man for whom I voted twice and based on his performance lately I'm beginning to think that perhaps the Democrats are justified in considering impeachment.

[walford]

"...but does not want to be more publicly supportive because of opposition among conservative House Republicans..."

This is a mischaracterization. The opposition is among the MAJORITY OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. And Bush knows this. [I knew that he was soft on immigration when he was running for the GOP nomination in 2000. That's why I wanted to draft Sen. Fred Thompson at the time.]

For every demonstrator that turned out on the streets in favor of illegal immigration, there are ten who are against it. The difference being, the latter group is too busy WORKING.

The house Republicans are indeed voicing opposition to swallowing whole 11 million illegal aliens and leaving the door open for more. They know that more of their base will stay home if they feel betrayed by the president. In other words, the American people will abandon the party if the party continues to abandon them.

If the Demos are smart, they'll keep their mouths shut on this issue and watch the GOP self-destruct.

[underwiredsupport]

President Bush generally favors plans to give millions of illegal immigrants a chance at U.S. citizenship without leaving the country, but does not want to be more publicly supportive because of opposition among conservative House Republicans, according to senators who attended a recent White House meeting.

Bush's infatuation with 12-20 MILLION illegal aliens is beyond just the need for a cheap labor pool...please read on.

I work in the California Produce Industry.  I received a call from a client today, who stated that the Yuma, Arizona lettuce deal, which just finished was a real challenge.  His company harvests lettuce.

(Here is a brief recap about how this works.) We use large harvesters, which move through the lettuce field, at a speed of about 2-3 mph...and there are a "crew" of about 40-45 workers who makes these rolling harvesters function.  About 15-20 walk the field.  These are the cutters.  It is tough work, "stoop labor" and after cutting the lettuce, it is bagged and then placed on a conveyor.  The conveyor brings the lettuce to the center area of the harvester, where 10-12 ladies wrap the lettuce, tape the bag shut, and place in a box.  Then, another conveyor moves the full box forward where another 6-8 men stack the boxes on flat-bed trucks or trailers, which move along side the harvester.  It is a very efficient process.  One of these crews can cut and wrap almost 15,000 head of lettuce per day.  It is an amazing process to see in action.

The point of the story, is that there is a huge shortage of workers.  What has happened, is that for many years (30+) it was an accepted fact that illegal aliens would work primarily in the fields, exclusively.  But, as Border Patrol enforcement within the states has subsided, to a level approaching zero...the workers have moved away from agricultural jobs, and into better paying construction jobs. 

A "stoop harvester" can earn around $7-8 per hour.  But a framer can earn $15-20 per hour.  It was an easy economical decision for the illegal's.  Now, the result is a tremendous shortage of workers to harvest lettuce, vegetables and other "stoop harvested" crops.  Now, even tree fruit and citrus pickers are difficult to find, again for the same reasons.  Simply better money in other job markets in the US economy.

The big lie being told is, "These folks are doing the jobs Americans refuse to do."

The truth is, the illegal's are doing jobs Americans refuse to do, for the wages being offered.

Market conditions will prevail.  If construction labor goes back where it belongs, more like $25-30 per hour, then Immigrant Labor will be steered back to the "stoop labor" jobs that they performed for so many decades.

But, for any of this to work, it requires a full REBOOT of the system.

Apprehension of Illegal's.

Detention and processing.

Deportation back to Mexico.

And then...legitimate and legal migration, to fill the jobs which require the labor force.

We have exported our manufacturing jobs to China.  We have moved the factories, the tools and dies and the entire process overseas.

Are we all going to get jobs as web designers?  I think not.

Perilous times are now upon us!

Shame on you President Bush...

[ARCADIA]

Bush ran on the Iraq war. He won on the Iraq war. Whatever other babble he may have uttered had no relevance, and he never did come out and demand a mandate to legalize illegal aliens; whatever you are smoking, please keep it to yourself and don't blow it in my direction.

[A Citizen Reporter]

"But posters on this forum will take this piece of crap report and run with it.

You can always count on that.

[Conservative Actuary]

Bush never says anything he doesn't mean.

How true Liberals claim he is to stubborn on the war Conservatives claim he is to stubborn on immigration. It's time to wake up and realize Bush IS A MODERATE, and in the end no one wants a moderate leader.

[Mo1]

But posters on this forum will take this piece of crap report and run with it.

Amazing they would take the word of the Washington Post

And who exactly were these Senators??

Reid and Durbin maybe ????

[stopem]

Sounds to me like the libs were lying about the President to try to anger Conservatives.

The title gave it away.

[onyx]

The Washington Post: "Even our weather reports come from anonymous sources."

Nailed.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the second-ranking Democrat, said the lawmaker who would lead House negotiators, House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner, had been "intractable" in negotiations on other high-profile bills in the past.

Just what we like to hear Durbin. Here's hoping in the coming negotiations he rolls over you again like the scum you are.

[CWOJackson]

"Amazing they would take the word of the Washington Post>"

Not so amazing for that crowd.

[diogenes ghost]

Wow, who'da thunk?

[tobyhill]

Are you saying President Bush is committing treason?

[VOA]

Privately, Bush Says He Favors Citizenship (for Illegals)

Looks like The Washington Post managed to plant a microphone at
Vicente Fox's love-shack.

(just being facetious)

[Mo1]

You're correct .. it's not and I'm seeing a pattern more and more

[mad_as_he$$]

No $hit!