Posted on 04/26/2006 5:20:12 PM PDT by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
What are you people talking about who doubt this report? Bush himself has said this week he favors "earned citizenship":
Mr. Bush said that although an illegal immigrant "should never be granted automatic citizenship," there should be an opportunity for citizenship over time.
"What I do think makes sense is that a person ought to be allowed to get in line," Mr. Bush said. "In other words, pay a penalty for being here illegally, commit him or herself to learn English, which is part of the American system, and get in the back of the line."
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/25/washington/25bush.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
He's quoting directly the provisions of the Senate plan. Hello, wake up people- Bush is with the Dems and RINOs on this.
I didn't make the accusation so show me in the constitution where he committed treason.
ping
"I don't think I can take this guy anymore. This issue is one of the main reasons we've supported him through all the bad."
Then you must not have been paying attention. The very first thing the man did after winning re-election was to announce his commitment for amnesty for illegal aliens. The very first thing.
His advisor Bartlett was just on TV. He seemed clueless on the border issue. Its as bad as we think. They always couch their response in economic terms. We dont care! ITS AN INVASION!! It amazes me that they dont get it. OReilly told him that they were headed toward Jimmy Carter status. If they dont turn on a dime this country could split right down the middle.
Most of us are woken up.
Obvious? How the heck do you know what the President is thinking?
I think Bush is destroying America. And we're sitting around watching it happen while we play on the Internet.
"We need another graphic; they've passed bashing, and are now into out and out calling him a traitor "
Someone who opens the gates to invaders is by definition a traitor.
I guess you haven't been paying attention to the news
They are well away about the border issue
Yes it was
All this "political capital" and what does he blow it on?
A sure loser.
*shaking head*
What I meant by that was that Bush didn't run on the Iraq war in 2000, as you claim, since the Iraq war didn't even start until 2003.
Mol..we have a big problem. This presidency is circling the bowl. I live in a sea of illegals. Its time for some action orse he will lose his entire base.
You look like an idiot posting crap like that.
He hasn't OPENED any borders.
Lies really help your cause.
"I think Bush is destroying America. And we're sitting around watching it happen while we play on the Internet."
Judging by recent polls (including Rasmussen), a majority of Americans are comfortable with the idea that any third world person can break our laws to come here and be rewarded with citizenship.
It's not just Bush- nationalism is a dirty word now in the minds of many people. Globalism and quick economic fixes are the order of the day. It really doesn't mean much to be an American these days. Anyone can join the club as long as they physically cross our borders, legally or not.
You ain't kidding.
It's called a typo
Just wait and see what happens if amnesty goes through. California alone will have 75 to 100 million people in a generation or two.
Some call it Freudian.
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