Posted on 03/10/2006 10:20:01 AM PST by Reagan Man
President Bush has repeatedly said that he is not for providing “amnesty” to illegal aliens in the United States, but he has not always made clear exactly what he means by the word “amnesty.” White House spokesman Scott McClellan defined it this week, however, when I put the question to him at a White House press briefing.
Webster’s Dictionary defines “amnesty” as “the act of an authority (as a government) by which pardon is granted to a large group of individuals.” McClellan, however, said that the President believes “amnesty” would be anything that “put someone on an automatic path to citizenship.”
In other words, legislation that grants pardon “to a large group of individuals” for entering and/or staying in the United States in violation of our immigration laws while converting all, or most, of them to legal guest workers without even making them first go home would not be an “amnesty” in the President’s view.
This is in sharp contrast to the view of Rep. Tom Tancredo (R.-Colo.), chairman of the 90-member Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus, who gave Human Events a definition of amnesty that seems consistent with the dictionary definition. “If you let people stay here, who are presently here after having broken the law getting here, if you let them stay for six years or any other amount of time, that is amnesty, because you are not applying the penalty to the violation of the law that is on the books,” said Tancredo.
When McClellan was asked how an amnesty defined as the President defines it differs from the President’s own proposal that illegal aliens be converted into guest workers, McClellan explained that participants “in a temporary guest worker program get in line [for the process of achieving citizenship] like everyone else.” (He did not explain how being here already was not being ahead of others “in line” to become naturalized American citizens. )
McClellan went on to underscore that the President supported strengthening border security, that he supported greater funding for the Border Patrol, and that this would be paid for by an increase in the airport fees paid by travelers. “It [the airport fee increase] is in the President’s budget,” McClellan told us.
When Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff appeared before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, Sen. Judd Gregg (R.-N.H.) complained to him about being placed “in an extremely difficult place” by being asked to fund “an expansion of the Border Patrol … but being told that the funds to do that are going to be illusory.” Gregg argued that the funds are illusory because the increase in Homeland Security funding is tied to an increase in the airport fee, which Gregg said Sen. Ted Stevens (R.-Alaska) would not allow to go through last year and is unlikely to allow this year.
I also asked McClellan whether the reduction in funding that the President has requested next year for the AmeriCorps program—which uses federal funds to pay “volunteers” (and which the President has called for phasing out over five years)—could be used for funding the Border Patrol. “Well, we continue to act in a way to better secure our borders,” McClellan said. “We’ve greatly increased the number of Border Patrol agents. The President also believes we need to pursue comprehensive immigration reform and there’s a commitment in Congress to do so, and that’s where our focus is.”
Close the borders George....and kick out the illegals(and while your at it kick out all non-citizen Islamics)...make em come back in legally.
Ted Stevens and the rest of the Alaska Republican congressional delegation are a pork barrel embarrassment equal to Robert Byrd.
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
How about going to a flat tax, phase out the IRS and using those positions to fund a beefed-up Border Patrol?
IRS has, what, 100,000 employees? A small army.
Wait till the Gold Card b.s. starts hitting the ground.
This is an issue that is brewing, whether some want to admit it or not. (I just figure those that think it is not of concern to the American people never actually leave their house or go to their county or precint meetings, or a town-hall meeting where this issue is always in the top 3). Anyway, nothing may get done this year, but the time is coming where something will have to be done.
Amen. We're in agreement AGAIN! That's a first. ;^)
Why does Bush continue to ruin the Republican party and our country? He must want to compete with Jimmy Carter as one of the worst presidents of all time.
Bush, close the damn border, and stop being an accomplice to a criminal invasion. If you want their vote, go run for office in Mexico.
When when when when when when when when when when when when when when when when when when when when when is the man EVER going to learn?
I don't see how Bush&CompanyGOP can put this issue off anylonger. The wide open US borders and illegal immigration issue needs to be addressed, ASAP. Don't need any new enforcement laws either. Secure the borders and enforce the IRCA of 1986 NOW. The Feds need to prosecute, fine and punish employers who violate the law by hiring illegals. And they need to stop all the welfare handouts.
Bush's plan for his version of a massive amnesty must be stopped, period, end of story. America cannot afford his deviously crippling scheme. If Bush won't cease and desist in his grand scheme to bankrupt the American middle class then perhaps it's time to start considering outsourcing him by impeaching him. There, I said it. I never thought I'd say it but I'm beyond being fed up with him and his American anti-worker attitude.
Dubya Bush`s years in office might go down in history as the Jekyll & Hyde Presidency. On most foreign policy issues, a majority of people on the political right of center, agree and support the Prez. On domestic policy issues, most Americans oppose his agenda.
"the President believes 'amnesty' would be anything that 'put someone on an automatic path to citizenship'.”
Mr. Presidente, you have put yourself on an automatic path to a failed legacy.
You are not kidding, at this rate he will be pegged as an idiot who had a fortune in "political capital" and lost it all. How many times can one fumble the ball, before they peg you as a "fumbler," and a bumbler...
He is a lucky cat though, he will come out of this one I think, but ONE more stupid trick, and It will be curtains for his presidency.
Bingo on that! Rounding up illegals would be easy. Pay the local sheriffs $100 a head for every one they catch. Of course, this is assuming that ICE will get off their dead butts and come get them, but I digress.
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