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.

[Mo1]

BTW ... Tell me .. do you all get emails with the talking points of the day from your spokesperson

[mickie]

Oh boy, are you going to get 'roasted'.....LOL!

[nicmarlo]

Real shocker..

Well I'm shocked, I tell ya!

[Thunder90]

Is this (Citizenship for illegals) the "Compramise deal" that Bush made to the Democrats when he want to war in Iraq??? (Even though the Democrats have now reniged on the original deal and stabbed Bush in the back over Iraq)

[FastCoyote]

"Since you think Bush doesn't care and isn't doing anything, do you believe he should disband the Border and Customs Officers for money savings reason? With the border out of control, do you believe the Border and Customs Officers should be disband for dereliction of duty?"

I don't see the Border Patrol advocating a guest worker program as a subterfuge meant to lead to amnesty. I think Bush cares too much, as part of the country club Republican elite he believes he can give away other peoples money for his pet charities (so he can feel good and compassionate while berating us). As head of the executive branch, it is Bush who has put the reins on enforcement of the law, slowing the fast deportation of illegals.

[LK44-40]

Many, but not all, of the Bush bashers signed up either recently, meaning just before the 2006 elections, or shortly before the 2004 elections. Coincidence?

~~~~~~~~Twilight Zone music~~~~~~~~

[Thunder90]

Bush may yet succumb to the Democrats and Cut and Run from Iraq (IE succumb to poll numbers) just to get a majority of republicans elected in the House and Senate. I won't be happy if this happens.

[acapesket]

What is this? The troll thread?
Like Rush said.
It looks like the 5th column is finally rearing it's ugly head ( actaully he used the words "shadow Government")
You folks been planning this A long time!
Now Shove off!

[nopardons]

What I'm saying, yet again, is that it is completely invalid to claim that so and so could be true and then proceed to trash the person, in this case President Bush, over AN IMAGINED SUPPOSITION.

Let me try to show you, as simply as possible, what you are doing...............

Bill Clinton is a 60 year old man. He was the governor of a Southern state and a ( gag ) two term president.

President George W. Bush is a 60 year old man. He was the governor of a Southern state and is into his second term as president of the USA.

Clinton and President Bush know each other and have talked with one another. So, it is in the realm of possibility that they hold exactly the same views about just about everything, because they have so much in common.

Of course, all of that last bit is just nuts; however, that is what you are doing.

[joesnuffy]

World Net Daily : Treasonous Agenda of the Council on Foreign Relations (guess whose in it)

CFR's Plan to Integrate the U.S.,Mexico and Canada-Phyllis Schafly July 13,2005 column

[Reaganwuzthebest]

That's the first I heard of it. It would be quite a deal if true since Bush was really in favor of citizenship himself. He would probably have needed to make deals with the House conservatives instead but on this issue I doubt they'll budge, especially the congressmen from the western states.

[stockstrader]

Great. Another bonanza of future democratic party voters. Just great.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Remember, Clinton and Carter were also from outside the beltway.

Good point. Let me add this: "Outside the beltway" with intelligence rooted in a belief that America and her ideals are the last best hope of all on Earth.

Both Clinton and Carter were anomalies. ----

Carter was the "anti-Nixon" and Clinton was ...well, truth be told, all Clinton had when he ran in 1992 was youth.

Really, that was it. Nothing more. America needed a change after 12 years of "old" Republicans...Dole didn't fit the bill...Clinton did. (We'll talk about Perot later)

In 2008, Americans are going to be beyond weary with the Beltway icons (thank you MSM). This time it will be up to us to choose an "outsider" with credentials and vision.

I think we're up for the game.

[nicmarlo]

FYI, this was posted by Spiff some time ago, as well:

Employer Investigations Conducted by
U.S. Immigration Authorities, 1997-2003

Year 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Arrests 17,554 13,914 2,849 953 735 485 445

Investigations Completed 7,537 7,788 3,898 1,966 1,595 2,061 2,194

Number of Fines Levied 778 535 297 180 78 13 124

Source: Dept. of Homeland Security, 2003 Yearbook of Immigration Statistics, (pdf file)
September 2004. Table 39.(1997-2003)

[ncphinsfan]

Remember, Bush is a uniter not a divider. And who is he uniting with on this subject?
Kennedy
Schumer
Reid
Hagle
Spector
McCain

Give me a divider any old time thank you.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Thanks.

[FastCoyote]

"BTW ... Tell me .. do you all get emails with the talking points of the day from your spokesperson"

Wow, another post to me devoid of any reference to the immigration issue. No facts, just innuendo that I am "one of them". It's that kind of mindless crap that makes me remember posters to avoid.

I stated my background in immigration issues in an earlier post, and the best you could come up with is that I get email talking points? Whooeee, you are another vacuum like Howlin.

Here, if you are such a Bushbot, tell us what percentage of illegals will really sign up for Guest Worker program? Make it a high number, so we can all laugh at you.

[texastoo]

IIRC,Carl Rove told Republicans not to talk about illegal aliens during the 2004 election. It was pretty much a hush up subject on FR. and other places. This is one of the reasons his poll numbers are down so low now. People didn't stop talking about illegal aliens,welfare, food stamps, and the fact that nobody was enforcing our laws. People were always talking in small groups about this. Now, these same people are furious having the Mexican flags, ugly signs directed at the American people on television shown all over the world. Archie Bunker was not effective in stifling Edith Bunker and neither will Bush nor Rove be effective in stifling the American.

[JustPiper]

Damper sounds liek you Lucy ;)

[samadams2000]

Hey, Mr. President,,kick us when we are down. Raise our taxes to pay for the invaders. Thanks in advance. Keep up the solid work.