Posted on 06/03/2007 12:01:36 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
The issue of illegal immigration has been a red-hot topic in my hometown community of Newport Beach/Costa Mesa, Orange County, Southern California.
Sincere and heart-felt arguments have been made on both sides of the issue.
However, many of those who write letters to the local paper in support of illegal immigration make it sound like Costa Mesa is the only place in the nation whose people favor the enforcement of our immigration laws.
They suggest that those elected officials supporting these laws are just a small local band guilty of meanness, bigotry, and racism.
Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact the facts suggest something entirely different.
There is a new coalition across our land called State Legislators for Legal Immigration (25 states) that has announced an "unprecedented and historic effort to secure borders and cut off all economic attractions for illegal aliens."
Pennsylvania state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe demanded "full cooperation" from all levels of government to "secure America¹s borders against unlawful invasion." This would include elimination of all attractions such as welfare and taxpayer-funded benefits such as education.
Metcalfe accused Washington of being "AWOL on fulfilling its constitutional responsibilities to secure our nation¹s borders against foreign invaders."
According to CNSNews, the new coalition, he said, "represents a 21st century Declaration of Independence from property theft, drug running, human trafficking, increased violent crime, increased gang activity, terrorism, and the many other clear and present dangers directly associated with illegal immigration."
In the neighboring state of Arizona, a small crowd of Sen. Jon Kyl supporters positioned themselves and their signs behind the speakers so as to be clearly visible from all camera angles. Sen. Kyl's office has reportedly been deluged with calls from Arizonans accusing him of breaking a campaign promise not to support amnesty.
A vote on the new Immigration Reform Act of 2007 has been delayed until after Memorial Day, as a grass-roots movement to stop the bill gains force.
Opponents say that the bill constitutes a silent amnesty.
In a Reuters story, U.S. Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff acknowledged that there is a "fundamental unfairness" in legislation that allows illegals to remain, but that forcing them to leave would be impossible. The bill is "bowing to reality."
Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan agrees that we can¹t tear sobbing immigrants from their homes and put them on a bus. We should debate at length what to do with illegals who are here, but we should do "whatever it takes to close [the borders] tight and solid."
"Naturally I hope the new immigration bill fails," she writes. "It is less a bill than a big dirty ball of mischief, malfeasance and mendacity, with a touch of class malice."
Notes writer Craig Cantoni, "I've done something that few reporters, pundits and members of Congress have done. I've read all 347 pages of the Secure Border, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Reform Act of 2007." He suggests renaming it the Secure Economic Opportunities for Lawyers, Consultants, and Bureaucrats Act of 2007.
Provisions include:
Complicated mandates for employers to verify the immigration status of potential employees
A commission to set the wages of guest workers at union scale for wages that would otherwise be covered by collective bargaining
Sharing of Social Security numbers and tax information between various agencies
There are apparently no requirements for schools that will cost taxpayers nearly half a million dollars per family of four children over 12 years, nor for hospitals, emergency rooms, or clinics.
Those in my hometown of Newport/Mesa favoring illegal immigration have every right to express their point of view. However, there is no need for them to resort to name calling against individuals who support the law.
Securing our nation¹s borders against foreign invaders is a constitutional requirement — not a symptom of meanness or racism.
At least 25 other states and localities (and counting) and the vast majority of our citizens (poll data) are opposed to illegal immigration because of the wide spread clear and present dangers directly associated with illegal immigration.
‘Hispanic’ is a culture, not a ‘race’. Mexican is a nationality, not a ‘race’. Illegal immigration is a crime. Maybe someone can explain why the ‘Hispanic’ culture in Spain has been successful and the ‘Hispanic’ culture of Mexico has always been a miserable failure. The race card doesn’t apply when it comes to criminal Mexicans and Central Americans. They need to be removed and that’s that
Bump
ping!
If you add the missing qualifier "illegal" I have no problem at all with putting them all on buses. I don't even give a damn if they're sobbing or not.
>>”Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan agrees that we can¹t tear sobbing immigrants from their homes and put them on a bus.”
GATOR NAVY: If you add the missing qualifier “illegal” I have no problem at all with putting them all on buses. I don’t even give a damn if they’re sobbing or not.<<
We can’t tear them away and put them on a bus...BECAUSE?
Ms. Noonan should see how far “sobbing” takes her when the IRS comes to impound her home for back taxes.
ILLEGAL is ILLEGAL.
Anyone have a list of the 25 states? How do we make it 50 states?
KEEP THE PRESSURE ON!
Amazingly, I think Bush (and his cabinet members) thought implying (and in some cases flat out accusing) racism would actually, really convince us that we were wrong and should step in line. Furthermore, questioning our patriotism is not only transparently manipulative and exploitive, it’s just flat out not going to work.
They’re still in the Mexican Revolution (per se)....many interest groups fighting over idealogue, and not trying to make the best for all.
Spain isn’t great. Very left...very. Although it would be easier if they were south of us.
Agreed!
The problem we have is NOT immigration - we DO welcome people of other nations!
What the President does not seem to understand it the ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION that we all have a problem with!
THAT is what this nation is against - People cutting in front of the line and getting more benefits than you and me!
I wish I could only have to pay a fine and get those benefits for my extended family and me!
Why on earth would they get union scale wages? It is hard enough for an American high school graduate to get a decent job paying anything above minimum wage, and their going to pay illiterate so called guest workers union scale. That alone is like another stab in the back to LEGAL American citizens. Why do all the foreigners coming into our country get more monetary benefits than the LEGAL American citizens. Anybody ever call Aol about a problem with your internet? You get a foreigner speaking bad english, if you ask to speak to an american because you cannot understand them they will tell you that you can call back and try again but you will just get somebody else who talks just like them, or they will just hangup on you as soon as you ask ask for an english speaking american. I will never use AOL again.
They used that during the Dubai port flop.
>>Amazingly, I think Bush (and his cabinet members) thought implying (and in some cases flat out accusing) racism would actually, really convince us that we were wrong and should step in line<<
He thought it would intimidate us by making us feel guilty. If he thought that would be effective to stop criticism, the man is every bit the fool he has been accused of being.
Another cheap smear Bush said in the last couple of days is that we must not “fear diversity.” You see, it is the racism in your heart that is at the root of your criticism. You are a bad, racist person, and if only you were a better person, you would agree with him.
I despise people who resort to such tactics as that.
Like when Laura Bush said you were a sexist because you opposed Harriet Miers, and George Bush stood silently by and let that attack go unchallenged.
The Bushes are much like the Clintons in that if you don’t agree with them, it is because you are a bad person, and must be demonized.
Most of the opposition to illegal immigration are being called names for opposing ‘poor’ Mexicans for trying to have a better life at our expense. Mexicans and other members of Hispanic nations are not the only ones coming here illegally. Asians are also coming in illegally, as are other nationalities (such as jihadists). Why can’t we enforce our own laws?????
Some one needs to ask these idiots exactly when did Mexico become our obligation rather than the obligation of the Mexican people and it’s government.
Most of the opposition to illegal immigration are being called names for opposing ‘poor’ Mexicans for trying to have a better life at our expense. Mexicans and other members of Hispanic nations are not the only ones coming here illegally. Asians are also coming in illegally, as are other nationalities (such as jihadists). Why can’t we enforce our own laws?????Because the rich people that own our government and politicians are making a lot of money?
Its getting pretty close to the point where calling someone a “Racist” is losing all its effectiveness. What will all the race-baiters do when they no longer have this weapon in their arsenal?Tell that to Don Imus.
Speaking strictly for myself, it certainly didn't make me want to "toe the line" (or is that "tow the line?"
It made me angry. Very angry. And I've let the republicans know it. It's certainly reinforced the term "the stupid party" for me. There you go... Insult the people who are your supporters, defame them, call them names. Make sure that you tell people who have respect for the "rule of law" that they're suckers for actually being stupid enough to believe that you should follow the rules, and obey the laws. My question to the republicans is "what other laws can we ignore?"
One other thing... If they do that "tax forgiveness" thing, where the illegal aliens don't have to prove their income and pay back taxes on it, I believe that a massive class action law suit should be filed on behalf of EVERY tax payers, suing over "equal protection" to either force a huge refund (yeah, right), or to sink that "tax amnesty."
Mark
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