Dems may take hardline on those who hire illegal immigrants

The hill ^ | 12-7-2006 | Cameron Joseph and Bob Cusack

[doug from upland]

I just phoned the congessman's office and left a message for his point person, Javier Martinez. I left my number and asked for a comment regarding whether the congressman would do something if he discovered that illegal aliens have worked on Nancy Pelosi's wine vineyard.

Here's his number --- 202.225.4831. Have fun.

[wildbill]

Traditionally the Dems were against having non-citizens come into the country to work because of their ties to AFL_CIO. That's why the Bracero program--which started because of the labor shortages during WWII--was ended during the Kennedy-Johnson years.

Now the labor movement is still against illegal labor imports--but the touchy-feely wingnuts of the Left want to embrace the 'undocumented workers' and their kids and then their relatives 'to rejoin families'

They didn't take a stand on illegal immigration because they could force the GOP to do it. Now they are in control and will have to reconsile the two wings of their party.

Lots of (bad)luck.

[oldbill]

Democrats will outsmart Republicans on the issue of illegal aliens.

Reyes can support these enforcement options because they will be meaningless. Reyes is also for amnesty. With amnesty, enforcing other laws is useless - there will be no one to prosecute.

So the Dems can go to the voters in 2008 and say they fought hard to enforce the borders and passed the laws Republicans couldn't. Meanwhile, 20 million grateful new American citizens and their multiplying families will be added to the Democrat voting roles.

[Ieatfrijoles]

"May?" take a hard line. Maybe my earwax will turn into gold.

[Ben Ficklin]

"Start with Tyson"

The Justuce Dept alredy tried that and the jury said not guilty.

Tyson was volutarily participating in FedGov's employee verification system and was hiring only employees that FedGov confirmed as having legal status.

[Prokopton]

"I might do it. I understand the frustration of the voters and they have a slim lead in congress... A lot of red districts voted for dems.."

The Republicans, who did nothing when they were in power, should jump on any chance to solve the illegal immigration problem, whether a Democrat proposal or not. If the Republicans would immediately support this, a position many have mouthed before, and couched their support in the terms of bipartisanship, the Democrats might actually have to support it and pass the bill. The problem is that too many Republicans do not want immigration reform, as their masters want cheap labor, and will find reasons for not supporting legislation that makes sense.

[Moonman62]

Makes sense. The Democrats will rather have them on welfare anyway.

[Old_Mil]

What if they actually do?

For six years, the Republicans had the opportunity to do this, and dropped the ball. What if the deal that the blue dogs and liberals have struck is trading illegal alien enforcement for abortion and gay marriage?

[Sharks]

If Dems start to dance and speak LIKE convervatives, Republicans wont stand a chance in 08. They are migrating to the center and have been sucessful so far in doing it.

[Rakkasan1]

"hardline" in this instance means a .01% reduction in freebies they shouldn't get in the 1st place and a .05% increase in the media usage of the word "illegal", rather than "undocumented". that'll learn 'em.

[Sharks]

You have a point old_Mil

[navyguy]

Democrats... enforcing immigration law...

That's funny!

[Azzurri]

If Dems start to dance and speak LIKE conservatives, Republicans wont stand a chance in 08. They are migrating to the center and have been successful so far in doing it.

You are right on. Unfortunately, the Republicans appear unwilling or unable to prevent the Democrats from out-flanking them on the right on this issue.

[Prokopton]

"If Dems start to dance and speak LIKE convervatives, Republicans wont stand a chance in 08. They are migrating to the center and have been sucessful so far in doing it."

The conservative Republicans should jump at any chance to actually get something done about illegal immigration, regardless of what the motives of Democrat supporters might be. If the bill makes sense it should be supported. The Republicans couldn't, or didn't want to, get anything passed when they held power, maybe they can assist in getting something real passed when they're out of power.
Sadly, they might be looking at a liberal veto, by the President, of a conservative bill.

[Sharks]

They understand the nature of the issue. Unlike Republicans, Dems listen to the voters. That will make a big different in the next two years.

[television is just wrong]

I won't believe it til I see mass deportations taking place here in Los Angeles...

[Antoninus]

Of course they will. They want to unionize the Illegals so bad they can taste it...

[Mamzelle]

I think there's still a chance to defeat amnesty--for starters, the Dems wouldn't want the Bush admin to get "credit" for passing it.

I'm thinking the Dems are going to sit on their agenda until 2008.

[Sharks]

A liberal veto will be disasterous for the Rep party for years to come because that will in conflict of its base.

[Sharks]

A liberal veto will be disasterous for the Rep party for years to come because that will be in conflict with its base.