http://newsblaze.com

Minutemen Cause Chertoff to Back Off Endorsing Pence Immigration Plan

White House reportedly 'scrambling' to get immigration reform passed
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff told reporters on Friday at the Mexican border in Harlington, Texas, the White House was "in no position to endorse" any one immigration reform proposal, including the "Ellis Island Center" plan advanced by Rep. Mike Pence, R, Ind., and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson, R-Texas.

The Minuteman Project reported Wednesday the Bush administration had intended to utilize Chertoff's border visit to endorse the Pence-Hutchinson proposal.

Pence's Washington office told MMP the trip to Texas had been planned "for some time" and the date "just fit into the calendar of Secretary Chertoff."

But Jim Gilchrist, founder of the Minuteman Project was skeptical.

"Why fly all the way to the Texas border just for a dog-and-pony show that doesn't amount to anything," Gilchrist said. "The American public is tired of being made out to be fools by the relentless head-fakes from a Bush administration that has no intention of preserving the sovereignty of the United States of America."

Gilchrist contends the administration was not being fully forthcoming as to the purpose or message of the Chertoff trip to Texas.

"This could all have been done by a conference call," Gilchrist said. "Why did the administration spend all this money to send Secretary Chertoff all the way to the border to be with Congressman Pence and Senator Hutchinson and then not support their plan?"

Gilchrist added, "The American public wants results, not more empty rhetoric, insincere promises, and lies. This press conference is just another public relations gimmick from a Bush administration whose idea of border security is to hold a photo opportunity."

Pence's office confirmed to MMP that the Pence-Hutchinson plan was right now "nothing more than a proposal." No actual bill has been written up or submitted to Congress at this point.

The congressman's office agreed that a Pence-Hutchinson bill was unlikely to be submitted before the scheduled Sept. 30 recess prior to the November mid-term elections.

"We offered the proposal as a way to break the log-jam," Pence's Washington office told MMP.

Washington sources again confirmed to MMP that the White House "is scrambling to get some type of immigration reform bill passed before the November elections."

With only 15 legislative days before the scheduled break, experienced Washington observers doubt there is time for a compromise.

"Congressmen do not want to be arm-twisted at the eleventh hour to change their votes," a source explained, "when only a few days later they may have to face angry voters who won't understand why a compromise was made."

It is likely the Senate and House will still stay in deadlock over immigration reform, possibly until the 110th Congress convenes in January, despite the president's apparent enthusiasm to force through a compromise.

Sources continue to confirm to MMP President Bush and Karl Rove remain concerned that Republican incumbents will be at a disadvantage without a signed bill.

"The president would take the Pence-Hutchinson compromise, or any bill," a source explained. "Facing voters in November without this Republican-controlled Congress passing immigration reform is not a prospect the White House will arm-twist to avoid."

alan@newsblaze.com