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June 25, 2007
Public wants a crackdown, not 'comprehensive reform'
The establishment's quiet riot over the public's refusal to swallow "comprehensive" immigration "reform" continued over the weekend with California Sen. Dianne Feinstein suggesting the time had come for a crackdown on talk radio -- apparently for no other reason than the fact that talk-radio hosts largely oppose the "reform" bill before the Senate. Warnings of censorship are used so often and so wrongheadedly that I am leery of the term. Not buying a CD because you don't like the political views of the artist is not censorship. Denying government funding to an arts group is not censorship. But using government power to tell radio stations their government licenses are at risk if their political views don't change is censorship. Feinstein should be ashamed.

Meanwhile, a Washington Post story today perfectly illustrates how dishonest it is for supporters of "comprehensive reform" to claim that the public supports their efforts. Instead, the public wants a crackdown:

Frustrated with Congress's inability to pass an immigration overhaul bill, state legislatures are considering or enacting a record number of strongly worded proposals targeting illegal immigrants.

By the time most legislatures adjourned in May, at least 1,100 immigration bills had been submitted by lawmakers, more than double last year's record total, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. This year's total is expected to grow as the issue continues to dominate debate in statehouses still in session.

These laws limit illegal immigrants' ability to obtain jobs, find housing, get driver's licenses and receive many government services. They also empower state law enforcement agencies to inquire into an immigrant's legal status and hold for deportation those deemed to be here illegally. The idea is to make life so difficult for illegal immigrants that they will leave the state -- if not the country.

Oh, yeah -- there is a HUGE clamor among the public to adopt "comprehensive reform."

What will Feinstein do after reading the Post's story -- deny federal funding to these states?

Probably. The establishment is in no mood to put up with any back talk.

Posted by Chris Reed at June 25, 2007 02:45 PM | Send a comment


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