Thread: Immigrant "amnesty" roils 8th CD race

THURSDAY, Sept. 28, 2006, 6:02 p.m.
By Steve Schultze

Immigrant "amnesty" roils 8th CD race
The issue of immigration reform roiled the 8th Congressional District contest today, with Republican John Gard attempting to put Democrat Steve Kagen on the defensive for purportedly favoring amnesty for illegal immigrants.

"My opponent supports a plan to give illegals amnesty," Gard says in a new TV ad, which features pictures of people appearing to climb over a border fence. The ad emphasizes costs to taxpayers for illegal immigrants for social services and other costs.

Gard also released a more detailed plan on immigration that emphasized deportation of immigrants who commit crimes, longer detention of "dangerous" immigrants who can't be deported and a "crackdown" on immigrants who overstay their visas.

Kagen said Gard had misstated his views and that he emphatically opposes amnesty. Kagen said he favors a "pathway that leads to earned citizenship," in a May 27 article.

Gard said that quote justified his claim that Kagen supports amnesty, but Kagen said the two aren't the same.

It's an argument that's played out at the national level, with conservative Republicans breaking with President Bush on the matter. Bush has endorsed the idea of "earned citizenship," while House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner has said that that amounts to amnesty.

In an interview, Kagen said he does favor a "pathway" to citizenship for illegal immigrants, but also said "if you've broken the law there should be consequences.... There should be no cutting in line, no amnesty."

Illegal immigrants also should not be able to be considered for citizenship ahead of other immigrants who did not enter the country illegally, he said.

"I did say and have said all along that everyone should obey the law," Kagen said. He called for a focus on rooting out employers breaking the law by hiring illegal immigrants.

Kagen accused Gard of supporting illegal immigration, through Gard's receipt of $3,500 in campaign donations over the past six years from the owner of a Green Bay meat processing plant raided by immigration officials a decade ago. The same charge was issued Wednesday by Democratic Party officials in Washington D.C.

Gard has said he was proud to have the donations from the meat plant owner, Carl Kuehne, and that Kuehne wasn't aware the 77 workers arrested at his plant may have been illegal immigrants.

Kagen, an Appleton physician, and Gard, the state Assembly speaker, are running for the House seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Mark Green, the Green Bay Republican running for governor.

http://www.jsonline.com/watch/?watch=22 ... genumber=6

In an interview, Kagen said he does favor a "pathway" to citizenship for illegal immigrants, but also said "if you've broken the law there should be consequences.... There should be no cutting in line, no amnesty."

Translation: He favors changing their status from illegal worker to legal worker....while they wait "in line".

Originally Posted by greyparrot

In an interview, Kagen said he does favor a "pathway" to citizenship for illegal immigrants, but also said "if you've broken the law there should be consequences.... There should be no cutting in line, no amnesty."

Translation: He favors changing their status from illegal worker to legal worker....while they wait "in line".

YUP!
Do they really believe that we're that stupid? They still think that their doublespeak will confuse us?