Amnesty Opponents Are Not Un-American

Ron Paul's Texas Straight Talk ^ | 06/11/2007 | Ron Paul (R-TX)

[NapkinUser]

Although action in the United States Senate this week has slowed passage of the amnesty bill, it is not yet dead as President Bush remains committed to this approach. That is why the President recently suggested that those of us who oppose amnesty for illegal immigrants are unpatriotic. Those of us who strongly oppose the new immigration reform bill before the Senate don't want to do what's right for America, the president said. I reject that assessment as unfair and inaccurate.

Supporters of the amnesty bill like to claim that border protection is their first priority. But if enforcement of our borders is the highest priority, certainly a much shorter bill could have been written. Even better, why not enforce existing laws? According to our Constitution, Congress makes the laws that the executive branch is to enforce. The rush to pass this new law seems to obfuscate this simple fact. There are plenty of laws already in place, so it seems sensible to largely solve this problem without new laws.

To make matters worse, as I wrote in a recent column, some 120 of our best trained border guards are going to be sent to Iraq to help them with border enforcement! In addition, National Guard troops participating in Operation Jump Start on the Mexican border are scheduled to also be sent to Iraq and Afghanistan .

This legislation purports to crack down hard at our borders, but as we have learned time and time again, you cannot address enforcement until you address incentives. That is why you cannot have border security with an amnesty program in place: the incentive of amnesty undermines any crack-down on border protection and in fact just makes work for our Border Patrol all the more difficult. Incentives in place to those who would come to the United States illegally will remain in place if this legislation is passed. Illegal immigrants will still receive federal assistance and free medical care and their children will still gain automatic citizenship after this bill is passed. We need to face the fact that securing our borders means more than legislation, or fences, or even more Border Patrol. It means removing incentives for people to come to the US illegally in the first place. That is why I will once again introduce an amendment to the Constitution to end birthright citizenship this coming week.

Although the "reform" of immigration in the amnesty bill is enough to cause alarm, other highly troubling provisions are tucked away that will serve to undermine our sovereignty and weaken our civil liberties. According to the most recent version of the Senate bill, the misnamed Security and Prosperity Partnership for North America is to be "accelerated." It seems ironic that a project aiming to actually weaken US borders with Mexico and Canada would be added into a bill that purports to toughen border controls.

Also, this bill will bring us closer to a national ID card, which without a doubt runs counter to American values and history and will punish American citizens without doing much to counter those who would come here illegally.

I strongly disagree with the president that opposing this legislation is unpatriotic. I believe we have an obligation to reject any legislation that promises amnesty to those here illegally, and that undermines the sovereignty and privacy of American citizens.

[Wolfie]

Paul gets it.

[cripplecreek]

And here’s one of those things that I agree with Ron Pail about.

[samtheman]

RP is definitely right on this issue.

[Obie Wan]

Build the damn wall and DEPORT illegals when they get caught !!!

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

The idea that we Americans don't have a right to say who can enter our country is an outrage.

I own my house and I decide who enters it.

There have been restrictions on immigration to this country from the time it was established.

A country refusing to control its borders will soon cease to be a country.

We are on a path to become a no-man's land of endless chaos, ethnic violence, bankrupt public purse and, ultimately, civil war.

It's that simple.

There isn't an organized nation on Earth where squatters just wander in and take up permanent residence as they please.

We Americans are not going to surrender our country to squatters without a hell of a fight. Our ancestors bled and died to establish and maintain this country under the rule of law.

The U.S. is heading toward being another Mexico, ruled by unaccountable elites, and consumed by public corruption at all levels. Our future is on a direct path toward payoffs, favoritism and lawlessness.

[blam]

"That is why the President recently suggested that those of us who oppose amnesty for illegal immigrants are unpatriotic."

Americans can't be trusted to do 'the right thing.'

[Al Gator]

Let me turn this logic around so that it correctly reflects reality.

AMENESTY PROPONENTS ARE TRAITORS.

There, this sh!t about being on defense all the time is why we get clubbed.

ATTACK, ATTACK, ATTACK.....

[dforest]

I agree with him. Totally. So we are going to secure Iraqi and Afghan borders, but not our own.

There are no words to describe my disgust for Bush.

[TommyDale]

"There are no words to describe my disgust for Bush."

How about "increasing"? LOL!

[Dick Bachert]

With Bush fighting this never-ending “War on Terror,” sending more people to Iraq (many of whom are attempting to seal the borders of IRAQ for God’s sake!) and extending duty tours at the same time really bad people are doing all they can to get really bad stuff (chemical, biological and nuclear) into this country (it’s probably already here) to do really bad things (probably worse than 9-11), why in the hell has he ignored borders that leak like sieves?

Bush obviously thinks securing IRAQ’S border and IRAQI citizens from incursion by and death at the hands of murderous thugs is more important than securing OURS.

In a saner, more aware time, that sort of behavior would have produced charges of treason.

Alas, those times — like this country’s greatness — are far behind us, never to return.

The man is either delusional, schizophrenic at best or just plain stupid at worst.

Or part of some plot to alter America forever.

Bush’s name will be mentioned along with Carter’s when the worst presidents in history are discussed.

[Dick Bachert]

With Bush fighting this never-ending “War on Terror,” sending more people to Iraq (many of whom are attempting to seal the borders of IRAQ for God’s sake!) and extending duty tours at the same time really bad people are doing all they can to get really bad stuff (chemical, biological and nuclear) into this country (it’s probably already here) to do really bad things (probably worse than 9-11), why in the hell has he ignored borders that leak like sieves?

Bush obviously thinks securing IRAQ’S border and IRAQI citizens from incursion by and death at the hands of murderous thugs is more important than securing OURS.

In a saner, more aware time, that sort of behavior would have produced charges of treason.

Alas, those times — like this country’s greatness — are far behind us, never to return.

The man is either delusional, schizophrenic at best or just plain stupid at worst.

Or part of some plot to alter America forever.

Bush’s name will be mentioned along with Carter’s when the worst presidents in history are discussed.

(Excuse me. Some large folks in ninja outfits at the door...never mind they just battered it down and are...

[George W. Bush]

There are no words to describe my disgust for Bush.

I disgust me too. Just kick me. Please.

[TommyDale]

This would be a great time to consider changing your screen name.

[George W. Bush]

Great weekly speech from RP.

He said last week that he'll be introducing his anti-anchorbaby legislation this week too.

Ron Paul Weekly Podcast. Ron Paul's website with indexed text of his weekly messages
Same message offered toll-free at 888-322-1414. Audio is 5 minutes, fresh every Monday.

[dforest]

This would be a great time to consider changing your screen name.

I think a request like that could not be denied! LOL

[TommyDale]

"I think a request like that could not be denied! LOL"

Unless we misunderestimate his strategery.

[dforest]

LOL, Smartallic!

[NavyCanDo]

Nearly every facet of this bill has flaws. Major flaws.

Here’s one. To qualify they would have to be in the country prior to Jan 1.

So the people selling the phony drivers licenses, and social security cards today, will have something new to sell. Phony Affidavits, utility bills, phone bills, or whatever other document that will state they were here in December.

[billbears]

Also, this bill will bring us closer to a national ID card, which without a doubt runs counter to American values and history and will punish American citizens

Unfortunately Dr. Paul, 'good' citizens of the respective states will willingly accept a national ID card. At least according to St. Rudy, and by proxy his lap boy Sean Hannity.

Of course this also shows St. Rudy's disdain for federalism as several of the states have already refused to go along with the national ID card. I suppose Fox will start a campaign here shortly (probably through that blowhard O'Reilly) telling us we all need to write the legislatures in those states to ask them why they 'hate America'.

[George W. Bush]

Unfortunately Dr. Paul, 'good' citizens of the respective states will willingly accept a national ID card. At least according to St. Rudy, and by proxy his lap boy Sean Hannity.

Rudi (and Romney) are both pretending the new national ID (RealID) will be only for foreigners. They both know better on this one. Yesterday when pressed, Chrissy Matthews got Tony Snow to admit the Bush agenda is for a national ID by roundabout methods including the new Betray America Zamnesty Bill of 2007 now in the Senate.

Opponents of national ID have always had a champion in Ron Paul.

"Your papers please."

[George W. Bush]

BTW, isn't Ron Paul going to be on The Colbert Report this this week? And I think he's addressing the national Right To Life convention in Missouri around the 15^th. He always gets a warm reception from the pro-lifers, just like with the gun folk who rate him #1 in Congress regularly.

[billbears]

He’s on the Colbert Report tonight

[rottndog]

Amnesty Opponents Are Not Un-American

Yes, but Amnesty Proponents ARE Un-American!

[rockinqsranch]

“Or part of some plot to alter America forever.”

There ya go.

[mtntop3]

The learned Dr. Paul unfortunately did not mention a few other considerations:

1) Mexico is the second highest source of petroleum for the U. S. (Canada is first);

2) Mexico has always had a possibility of going hard-left - as the recent election there most visibly showed; any political destabilization in Mexico will impact the U. S. severely, not only the possible loss of petroleum but, moreover, the creation of terrorist cells; and

3) Mexico is critically dependent upon earnings from workers in the U. S. sent back to their families in Mexico -for one thing, the political stabilization of Mexico.

If Mexico were destabilized, it could most easily become a raging source for funneling terrorists across the southern border into the U. S., besides shutting off the oil to the U. S.- which would, in turn, destabilize the U. S. and literally shut it down.

What this means is that any successful and appropriate policy must take account of these factors, and that it should not result in making an enemy of Mexico. That policy must be reasonable - it should show respect and concern for Mexicans and their nation, including the fact that their labor does play a significant role in agriculture production in the U. S. including keeping prices down.

If anyone thinks that having a national roundup of illegals, raiding sheltering churches to bring families out, and throwing them across the border is going to accomplish this, they are badly mistaken - this will only create immensely more problems than it “solves”.

There has to be an ordered way to solve the problem. If Congress can come up with a compromise solution that will do this, more power to it.

[CJ Wolf]

Wow, 25 posts on a Ron Paul thread with out someone bashing him. What’s going on?

[George W. Bush]

He’s on the Colbert Report tonight

That's what I thought. But TitanTV (online TV guide) says it's someone else (journalist Josh Wolf). There's supposed to be a rally at the studios too.

[George W. Bush]

Ron Paul's page for requests and his calendar, a place to organize to meet up for RP rallies and his events.

Eventful - Ron Paul - Tour Schedule, Event Calendar, Demands

[sauropod]

This time.

[gracesdad]

You’re being way, way too rational on this topic. Please add some hysteria to your posts. ;-)

[NapkinUser]

Oh man, where was this picture three or four months ago? Some Rudy supporter (can't remember the screenname, think he's gone now anyways) posted that picture of Reagan and Giuliani shaking hands and said something like: "I dare anyone to show me one photograph of Ron Paul and Reagan together. Just one". I searched at the time for a Reagan-Paul picture and came up empty. Wish I could find that thread now.

[radioman]

He said last week that he'll be introducing his anti-anchorbaby legislation this week too.

How un-American of him! /s

[radioman]

Our future is on a direct path toward payoffs, favoritism and lawlessness.

I think we're already there.
.

[George W. Bush]

Oh man, where was this picture three or four months ago? Some Rudy supporter...

Probably it was in RP's photo albums. Anyway, we have fewer supporters of that crossdressing mayor here these days. But that is a great RP/Ronnie picture.

[OPie, you might want to bookmark that photo for your opening banner post on RP threads. It makes the RR/RP connection very visually.]

[DesScorp]

"And here’s one of those things that I agree with Ron Pail about."

Ron Paul is a lot like Louis Farrakhan; Calypso Louie preaches that black people should work hard, get an education, be honest, avoid drugs, get married, be good parents, etc. 90 percent of what he says makes a lot of sense. The problem is that the other 10 percent is so over the edge, it makes him a whackjob.

[George W. Bush]

How un-American of him! /s

I know. I'm just bristling, bristling I say, with self-righteous indignation!

[George W. Bush]

Never missing a chance to libel RP’s long record of conservative values, eh?

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

Done.

[mimaw]

I agree amnesty opponents are not un-American but I also believe some of the proponents are not either. I’m not including the dems who see it as a power play.

[AFreeBird]

What this means is that any successful and appropriate policy must take account of these factors, and that it should not result in making an enemy of Mexico. That policy must be reasonable - it should show respect and concern for Mexicans and their nation, including the fact that their labor does play a significant role in agriculture production in the U. S. including keeping prices down.

So essentially what you're telling us is; we are being blackmailed into accepting this. That pretty much cover it?

As far as I'm concerned Mexico has already made themselves an enemy to us. And the US has turned a blind eye to the "culture of corruption" that has been running it since, well, since Cortez first visited it.

We can send troops half way around the globe to stabilize and change a corrupt and dangerous regime, but we can't do anything with our southern neighbor? And no, I'm not suggesting that we invade mexico - yet -, I'm just saying maybe mexico needs a little tough love (for the touchy feely crowd). And if we have to take a hit to get mexico right, then so be it. Cause I don't see the situation getting better. I don't see the mexican elites changing their ways because we take their "undesirables". I don't see mexico suddenly becoming a first world country because of a union with the US and Canada.

In fact I see them exporting their corruption to the whole NAU.

Someone here on another thread had a pretty good analogy for what mexico could/should be, now - today.

A larger version of Florida. Two coasts, lots of beachfront, tons of natural resources... that what it should be today. But it isn't, it's a third world cesspool run by corrupt politicians, police, drug cartels and the like.

[samtheman]

I don’t quite follow you.

For me, it’s simple: if you don’t believe in securing the border you’re either anti-American or highly deluded.

[phillyfanatic]

Yeah but so did millions of other Americans who complained, called, wrote. Paul is just one guy in the House who thought the same thoughts that bloggers, Talk Radio adherents and just good ole common sense Americans got. So what? He is still not going to be the Pub nominee.

[cva66snipe]

The man is either delusional, schizophrenic at best or just plain stupid at worst.

Couldn't have said it better. How can anyone dislike and even hate Carter and like yet Bush? I despise both for their gross incompetence and arrogance. Bush is indeed the the Republicans Jimmy Carter and LBJ rolled into one wishing to make himself in the mode of FDR. He should have never made it past the 2000 primaries as he was the least qualified man in terms of knowledge and good old fashioned common sense that the Republicans had.

He is ruining our nation with both his misguided and trade centered foreign and domestic policies. His sole reason for wanting the job to start with seems now to be to serve and protect the interest a few elitist globalist corporate shareholder buddies. And again on those issues the best interest of our nation take a back seat.

The American people in the eyes of a Bush can go pound sand. That family is as every bit arrogant as the Kennedy's and every ounce as liberal as them as well. The are making us their serving class and as such in their eyes we have no voice. GW Bush is setting us on a course for a cultural war that will make the 1960's riots seem very tame and civil before this is over.

[jacknhoo]

If we build it they won’t come
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230142006609

[George W. Bush]

I often refer to BushCo as the Second Coming of Lyndon Johnson.

If I'm feeling uppity, I go Latin: Lyndon Redivivus.

[Cacique]

This is not over yet. Bush refuses to give up this easily. It's his stubborn character. He will try to resurrect it and call it something else. We have to keep our guard up. We need to keep the pressure up.

STAGE TWO is to go after the people who hire illegals. Start giving them fines and arresting them. Just catch ten or 100 of them on the nightly news. The magnet will dry up and most of the 12 million will go home by themselves.

As an addendum, we should anonymously call the IRS, people working "off the books" means taxes ain't being paid. Make anonymous fliers and hang them around the neighborhood, name names. It's time to embarrass these bustards, whether they give to the GOP or Rats, we don't need them.

CALL! CALL! CALL! CALL! AND KEEP CALLING TILL THE LINES FRY!

WRITE! WRITE! WRITE! WRITE! TILL YOU RUN OUT OF INK IN YOUR PEN!

Bombard the Democrats as well, especially the ones that ran on an anti illegal immigration plank and the ones in marginal districts who could be vulnerable. keep pounding on them. This is a bipartisan issue not a Conservative or Liberal issue BUT AN AMERICAN issue.

STOP AMNESTY NOW!! WE CAN DO IT!!

The best way to stop Shamnesty

[Regulator]

it should show respect and concern for Mexicans and their nation

I give up; WHY?

A nation that has dumped 1/5 of its population into ours, that harbors bitter and seething resentment over the very existence of our nation, that works day and night to undermine the U.S. in every international venue, that has zero history of any positive contribution to the world at large, on and on, ad infinitum....and you give us this dimbulb lecture about how we're supposed to respect them?

You are seriously deluded.

[Heartland Mom]

I think that AMERICANS who are against this travesty are infinitely more American than those kiss-a$$es who are for it.

[BillyBoy]

http://www.friendsofmccain.com/images/reagan_mccain.jpg

http://www.nationalreview.com/images/RonaldReaganandRudyGiuliani.jpg

You can find photos of all the GOP presidential candidates with Reagan if you look hard enough. I’m still searching of one of Reagan with Tommy Thompson. Thompson was Governor of Wisconsin in the 80s, so it would make sense that they’d meet.