Posted on 06/30/2007 2:06:10 PM PDT by MplsSteve
“Several months ago, I met with President Bush at the White House to discuss our out-of-control problems with illegal immigration. He asked me if I would help him push immigration reform through Congress and I gave him my word I would. I support President Bush and admire his leadership. I will be forever grateful for his work to try and solve this difficult problem.
“President Bush and I made it clear we would not compromise on our guiding principle that securing our nation’s borders must be our first priority. Our plan made unprecedented efforts and provided over $4.4 billion in funding to secure our nation’s borders and deal with immigration in a comprehensive manner.
“The legislation first and foremost secured our border. It also established a new comprehensive employee verification system for all workers to ensure people are in the country legally and eligible to work. We were going to break the cycle of chain migration and institute a new merit-based immigration system to attract the best and brightest from around the world. And we were instituting a temporary guest worker program to meet our nation’s labor needs.
“If the bill’s failing leads to Congress finding a better solution, then the American people will have won. If the status quo and broken immigration system continue to go unaddressed, then the American people lost. I do fear our failure to act will only allow the problem of illegal immigration to grow worse and the anger felt by some Americans will grow more intense.
“I worry that local and state governments will begin to act more aggressively and create a hodge-podge of laws. While the President’s legislation was not perfect, it was honest, realistic and an improvement over current law. Secretary of Homeland Security Chertoff, who is responsible for enforcing our nation’s immigration laws, made it clear that in some cases the tools he needs to control illegal immigration are either non-existent or very weak. I’m disappointed some of the tools he wanted and desperately needed to control illegal immigration were left on the Senate floor.
“The American people have a historically low view of Congress. We seem unable to do the public’s business and find consensus on difficult issues.
“Finally, I want to say a few words about my friend and colleague Jim DeMint. We found ourselves in an unusual situation. While we usually agree, President Bush and I have very different views from Jim on the best way to address this contentious issue. Jim held firm to his beliefs and was a very strong advocate for his position.”
An interesting statement. Not quite as defensive as Mel Martinez's was. Compared to statements made by the Senator before and during the vote, this is quite mild.
Nonetheless, I'm interested in hearing what fellow Freepers have to say about one of least favorite GOP senators.
Comments or opinions - anyone?
Typical CYA statement.
Only comment is I hope the good citizens of SC throw this bum out.
Bullsh/t! If it were a top priority then it already would've been achieved. ....immediately after 9/11, preferably.
Lindsey Gramnesty ... How would AMNESTY have helped secure our borders?
Don't let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya.
>>Several months ago, I met with President Bush at the White House to discuss our out-of-control problems with illegal immigration. He asked me if I would help him push immigration reform through Congress and I gave him my word I would.<<
Is it just me or is Lindsey blaming Bush? “It’s Bush’s fault!”
No one who enters this country illegally must ever be granted legal residency, let alone any form of citizenship. Violate that principle at your political peril.
And the best way to attract the "best and brightest" from around the world is to maintain a society where the law is respected and lawbreaking is not facilitated and rewarded.
Lindsey Ping
"Republican by day, Democrat by night."
Translation: He's worried that much of the welfare-addicted slave labor will get the boot and that the GOP's big biz donors will be po'd.
“I worry that local and state governments will begin to act more aggressively and create a hodge-podge of laws.”
Which is what a lot of people say is really pushing people like Kyl to flip - flop - the fear of actual enforcement.
Lindsay isn’t too smart. This is a sentence he should not have mentioned. Or if he had to, he should have knocked it down...but what can he say? Local LEOs are yahoos? They will be cruel to “immigrants.”
Clearly this was a slip on Lindsay’s part, a inner look at his real feelings — no to enforcement.
I’m glad we sent their phone system into meltdown.
Amazingly, he didn’t use the word ‘bigot’ once.
Any hope for a primary opponent yet?
but but but what if frankenstein again arises out of his grave....will you join us in driving another stake thru it’s chest senator?
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