Posted on 11/10/2006 5:06:54 PM PST by Mini-14
Washington, DC—The Democratic Party was swept to victory in yesterday’s election by voters who were fed up with President Bush’s inability to address issues of greatest concern to the mainstream of the American public: the progress in the war in Iraq, the steady erosion of the middle class, and the failure to implement meaningful policies to control illegal immigration.
In countless races across the country Democrats pointed to Congress’ failure to control illegal immigration. The administration’s refusal to back House Republicans on critical legislation undermined the party’s standing with the public. Many victorious Democrats ran on a platform of support for immigration enforcement.
Lost in the news were the five successful state immigration related ballot measures. Arizonans passed four by margins as high as 77 percent. Coloradans passed one measure that would require the State Attorney General to initiate a lawsuit against the federal government for not enforcing immigration laws. Another that bars businesses from claiming a state income tax business deduction for wages paid to workers who were known at the time of hiring to be undocumented immigrants is still in question, though it is expected to pass.
“While many contend the elections of 2006 were first and foremost a referendum on President Bush and the war in Iraq,” noted Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), “just beneath the surface was a cauldron of public discontent about the Bush Administration’s seeming disregard for middle class, working Americans. From globalist trade policies that export American jobs, to failed immigration policies that effectively import millions of low wage workers to fill jobs in the U.S., the American voters said loudly and clearly yesterday: Enough!”
FAIR is calling upon the newly elected Democrats and the new congressional leadership to honor the promises that they made to dissatisfied voters all across the country to implement effective policies against illegal immigration. “When candidates promised that they would ‘get tough on illegal immigration,’ voters understood this to mean that they would enforce our borders, crackdown on employers, and create real deterrents to illegal immigration. If there was a single newly elected Democratic legislator who ran on a platform of amnesty for illegal aliens and massive new foreign guest worker programs, we are not aware of it,” said Stein.
President Bush has become closely identified with the guest worker amnesty program, a position that has contributed to his unpopularity with the voters. Schemes to flood the labor market with countless millions of foreign workers are widely viewed by the public as a central component of the president’s anti-middle class policies.
“Yesterday’s election was an historic middle class revolt against the administration’s tin-ear policies that are undermining their security and interests,” said Stein. “The new Democratic majority has promised to change that and we look forward to working with them to craft immigration policies that respond to the real concerns of the American voters. Amnesty and guest worker programs will only compound years of White House policies that have harmed the middle class, and we are hopeful that the new congressional leadership, as promised, will take us in a new direction.”
Throwing out House Republicans is hardly the way the public could have sent a message to support enforcement.
The "open borders" concept won the election Tuesday.
Alas for the new illegal aliens who are going to be moving up here seeking work I have not yet built my little servant's quarter outside next to the backdoor, but I shall. They have excellent designs for these things in the public libraries here ~ I think they are filed under "S" for "slave quarters".
Yes, another phony stance by the 'conserva-liberals'. I can't believe that anyone would really think the Dems will take a harder line on immigration! What were these voters smoking??
People just don't like Bush. It's that simple.
We would do well to identify these House Democrats, who were elected by running to the right as "immigration hardliners." By bringing pressure to bear in their districts, they will either assist in maintaining the "firewall," or they will be exposed as liars and frauds in front of their constituency.
Okay, what is it with all these n00blets rushing to this thread?
Sadly neither the Dems nor their constituents will care that they lied. It was too important for them to regain power. All lies are ok, you know, the old 'by any means necessary'logic?
Who?
I can think of two, possibly three instances of this occurring in my home state, North Carolina. Heath Shuler ran as a co+��5{��������ng illegal immigration and favoring enforcement, defeating Charles Taylor in NC-11. In NC-13, incumbent Democrat Brad Miller morphed himself into a foe of illegal immigration and held his seat. And, in NC-08, incumbent Republican Robin Hayes faces possible defeat in an as-yet undecided race, to Larry Kissell, a complete neophyte who ran an anti-CAFTA and anti-illegal immigration campaign.
Can anyone else chime in, with other instances of Democrats running to the right on illegal immigration?
"Sadly neither the Dems nor their constituents will care that they lied."
They defeated a Republican incumbent, so it's not entirely about Democrats in those districts, now is it? Hold their feet to the fire, and we'll either get cooperation across the aisle, or expose them as lying shills very early on ... sounds like a win-win to me, either way.
Yep. This article is BS.
Dobbs will go silent on the immigration issue now that the Dems are in charge.
Since when ae exit polls regarded with anything other than disdain? They're no more valid just because you agree with them.
So the AZ-5 voters threw out JD because he wasn t against illegal immigration?
LOL!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.