Thread: In Case you missed it: Latin Lesson

In Case You Missed It: Latin Lesson

http://www.gop.com/Blog/BlogPost.aspx?BlogPostID=2884
Kimberley Strassel
The Wall Street JournalJune 1, 2007
Say what you will about George W. Bush's plans for immigration reform, you can't accuse him of failing to understand what it is that inspires such emotion in this debate. Sitting among the optimistic yellows of the Oval Office, the president is quick to zero in on what has caused so many in his party to reject his efforts. "I think people worry that this round of immigration will create two Americas," he says, simply. Or, in his further explanation: "E Pluribus Duum."
With that impromptu bit of engineered Latin, I get an answer to one big question I have at this Wednesday morning interview. Mr. Bush has been pilloried by his own followers in recent weeks, charged with everything from granting amnesty to 12 million illegal immigrants, to failing to secure the borders. He stands accused of throwing over his most loyal supporters to join with Ted Kennedy and liberals to ruin America. Can it really be that this president – who has previously identified so well with the Everyman in his party – is completely off the reservation on this issue?
The answer is no, although Mr. Bush is aware he'll have to work hard to prove it. In our 35 minutes together, he hardly comes across as blind to the fears and anger of his critics. "I think that some of the signals that people have seen are very disturbing to very patriotic Americans, such as people flying Mexican flags during immigration rallies," or "people here illegally straining the social services of different communities," or American towns wondering whether "the basic culture of their community is going to be affected negatively by people from, basically, a foreign land," he says.
Yet he also points out that "this isn't the first time our country has had to wrestle with waves of immigration" – noting Italians, Irish, Jews. He's enthusiastic in his belief that America still has the "great capacity" to continue to "assimilate" more cultures, which makes the nation stronger. Most notably, he's passionate that immigration is fundamentally a conservative cause, embodying core Republican values, and the issue is vital to his party's political future. "Part of the reason why I think it's important for me to be out speaking about it is it might cause people to say, well, wait a minute, the president supports it, let me find out why."
Explaining to conservatives why immigration reform is something they can and should believe in is his challenge in the coming weeks, and Mr. Bush's success, or failure, will help determine the fate of the massive immigration bill now wending its way through the Senate. Some outraged Republicans argue that giving 12 million illegal immigrants any path to citizenship is "amnesty." Others are opposed to a guest-worker provision, which they claim would allow temporary workers to steal U.S. jobs. All have vowed that any Republican legislator who signs up for this will face primary challenges and campaign-fund cutoffs. That's given many House Republicans the jitters. At least 70 would be needed to pass a law.
President Bush spends much of the conversation explaining why, in theory, those numbers shouldn't be impossible – why conservatives of every stripe should see the value of immigration reform. On the economic side, Mr. Bush points out that this is "a free-market question. Absolutely." Studies have shown that immigrants add some $10 billion annually in net economic output. Meanwhile, our unemployment rate is about 4.5%; we created an estimated 130,000 new jobs in May. The president notes that "most of the immigrants coming are doing jobs Americans aren't doing." "Our economy thrives based on capital investment, kind of an entrepreneurship, good fiscal policy, but also willing workers who do jobs that, oftentimes, Americans simply do not want to do."
What about security hawks, who worry about waves of future illegals, or terrorists? The president says his increased border enforcement is showing "good progress in stopping people from coming." But he notes that just as important are programs that discourage people from coming here illegally. That includes free trade, such as Nafta, which creates "good jobs on the other side of the border," as well as a U.S. temporary guest program that allows workers to come legally for short periods of time, and who are trackable.
Mr. Bush even has a few words for cultural conservatives, who have perhaps been most resistant to, and most emotional over, immigration reform. He talks of a belief in opportunity, which has defined conservatives for generations. "America is a country whose soul is constantly renewed by people pursuing what has been labeled the American Dream. It's an amazing country where people can come with nothing except for God-given talent and a deep desire to improve their family's lives and succeed." He notes his time in Texas, and how many Latinos he saw arrive, whose offspring "rose to positions of prominence and became significant contributors to our society." He also gets rolling on his hallmark theme, the compassion of Americans, a quality he believes should inspire them to look beyond the political fight to the harsher human realities of this mess. "A system that has encouraged the evolution of an underground network that treats people like a commodity, to be – in many cases, to be exploited – is not right, and it's not American." He sits forward, even gets a little, well, emotional. "We are a country of law, and we ought to uphold the law. But the system in place now has created a whole group of people who are evasive of the law and, therefore, people suffer – good, decent people suffer, whether they be people paying coyotes a large sum of money relative to their income in order to be stuffed in the bottom of an 18-wheeler, or guides that they pay that then drop them off in the deserts and wish them all the best, or document forgers or innkeepers that exploit these poor people, who are mostly looking just for a chance to feed their families."
I point out that many Americans recognize the economic and security benefits of immigration reform – who are compassionate and believe in opportunity – and yet who simply can't get their heads around a program that rewards law-breakers. "I don't like law-breakers either. But the problem is, we're addressing policy from, essentially, 1986 and before that failed to address the issue." He notes that "part of the reason why laws have been broken is because the federal government didn't do its job. … didn't enforce the border."
Which leads to a final, pragmatic point. Millions of illegals are here, like it or not. Even assuming a fence does its job, what to do with those present? It's impossible to send them home. Yet doing nothing means they stay underground, don't assimilate. Will the Republican Party, which has long boasted itself the creator of practical solutions to real problems, abdicate that responsibility here? "In politics it's easy to be against something … And they leave the solution dangling out there," says Mr. Bush. "But the question really is … the 12 million people who have broken the law, and what are you going to do with them. And my answer to them is, here is a solution."
While talk of principles energizes the president, he isn't averse to getting down to the nitty-gritty politics. The U.S. today is home to 36 million Hispanics, and even if the country were to stop immigration cold, that minority's share of the electorate is still on track to increase. It's a whole lot of new voters who won't be afraid to punish politicians that are hostile to their hopes and dreams of getting ahead in this world.
"If you're viewed as anti – in other words, if people think that a party is against somebody or some group of people, you'll pay a political price for it," the president says. "If you're viewed as anti-civil rights, in the past, the party paid a price," he adds, putting in a nutshell Republicans' continued lack of traction among black voters. "If you're viewed as anti-immigrant, no matter how innocent our people may be, or well-meaning our people may be, if you get labeled as a result of not being thoughtful and considerate and pragmatic, not dealing with the problem, it could cause serious long-term political consequences."
This is something on which the president can claim personal knowledge. He was elected in 2000 with 31% of the Hispanic vote. By 2004, as a result of his Latino outreach efforts, he'd increased that share by 13 percentage points. Had he not, I'd be sitting (well, OK, maybe I wouldn't) across from John Kerry. The Republican blow-up over immigration reform after 2004 conversely took a toll. Only 29% of Hispanics voted for Republicans last November, down eight percentage points from the 2002 midterm. Many anti-immigration GOP candidates were defeated. So I put the question to Mr. Bush more bluntly: Can the GOP win any elections in the future without real Hispanic support?
Mr. Bush is careful here, perhaps mindful of offending his white Republican base, but still gets to the same place: "Look, I won without 50% of the Hispanic vote, but I got a significant Hispanic vote. And the Hispanic vote is – it's Cubans, it is Puerto Ricans, it's Mexican Americans, it is Central Americans. I mean, it will be a significant vote. And I think it will – let me just say, it will be more likely the Republicans will win if viewed as sympathetic to immigration with a plan that upholds the rule of law and enforces the border."
He also admits that having this debate in the middle of a presidential election season hasn't exactly been helpful. "First of all, the general media loves combat, political combat. And immigration provides a convenient forum for combat. There's a lot of emotions, a lot of people express themselves in very strong ways that lend itself to good political theater. So, no doubt the '08 campaign is going to provide an interesting opportunity for people to express themselves, or exploit emotional issues, whether it be immigration or the war." He pauses and then mischievously adds: "I'm sorry we haven't been able to throw Social Security in the mix, too, because I've got some strong views on that, as well."
When I ask if Mr. Bush thinks any of the current GOP candidates are proving to be leaders on immigration, he again flips the issue around (while still managing to sneak in one candidate's name): "I would rather refer you to those in the Senate that are doing a standup job. Of course, that would be Jon Kyl and Lindsey Graham and [Mel] Martinez – I hate to name them because I'll leave somebody out – John McCain has been very strong in the Senate, Ted Kennedy." He goes on to praise Mr. Kennedy, noting that an "untold" story is just how many Democrats are against this bill, and that Mr. Kennedy's leadership will thus be necessary to get a bill through the Senate.
He also hits hard, again, on those politicians who he believes are distorting this debate. "This word 'amnesty' is often used to create confusion and doubt and anger. The definition of amnesty ought to be that you are allowed to become a citizen without paying any price, whatsoever. I strongly oppose that, and most of the authors of this comprehensive bill oppose that," he says. He adds that "if you're going to try to unwind immigration – the immigration bill – it's not right for the country. I'm not questioning anybody's patriotism of course, but I feel strongly that if one were to kill this bill … that there will be a consequence … from voters coming down the road, and more importantly, a consequence for the country."
As our time draws down, I ask Mr. Bush what he really thinks the chances are of this controversial bill becoming law, given all those who would like to unwind it. "I'm optimistic," he says, with a smile. That's another thing – like him or not – you could never accuse this president of failing to be.

This should have been broken into paragraphs.

Originally Posted by Bush

He notes his time in Texas, and how many Latinos he saw arrive, whose offspring "rose to positions of prominence and became significant contributors to our society."

So few rise to prominence, how many more don't?

Originally Posted by Bush

"good progress in stopping people from coming." But he notes that just as important are programs that discourage people from coming here illegally. That includes free trade, such as Nafta, which creates "good jobs on the other side of the border,"

Then why are even more Mexicans coming here since that diluting of US sovereignty?

Originally Posted by Bush

"Our economy thrives based on capital investment, kind of an entrepreneurship, good fiscal policy, but also willing workers who do jobs that, oftentimes, Americans simply do not want to do."

No investors are to lame and lazy to create wealth without lowering wages for their work force. I say it shows a lack of morals by the money changers, in a blood sport where people lives are destroyed.

I can't address all of the issues in the article but I'll address a few.

"He notes his time in Texas, and how many Latinos he saw arrive, whose offspring "rose to positions of prominence and became significant contributors to our society."

What these people actually because were political activists who held the door open for their friends, family, and fellow countrymen, to sneak into our country and steal our sovereignty. Politicians in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California who are the decendants of illegals. Who were themselves the anchor babies that their parents exploited.

"A system that has encouraged the evolution of an underground network that treats people like a commodity, to be – in many cases, to be exploited – is not right, and it's not American."

Yes, that's right the coyotes who exploit these poor people and the employers who hire them once they are here are guilty of creating a new slave class. Slavery it unAmerican and it should not be tolerated. Building a fence, enforcing the law, and deporting the illegals would dismantle the slave trader's system. I can't understand why anyone would think that legitimizing these "people in the shadows" would do anything to stop illegal human trafficing?

"He sits forward, even gets a little, well, emotional. "We are a country of law, and we ought to uphold the law."

Yes, I agree, let's enforce the law!

"But the system in place now has created a whole group of people who are evasive of the law and, therefore, people suffer – good, decent people suffer, whether they be people paying coyotes a large sum of money relative to their income in order to be stuffed in the bottom of an 18-wheeler, or guides that they pay that then drop them off in the deserts and wish them all the best, or document forgers or innkeepers that exploit these poor people, who are mostly looking just for a chance to feed their families."

Those who come here illegally take jobs and opportunities away from legal immigrants. We probably need to increase our quotas for legal immigration, but we can't because we are swamped with illegal aliens. So, those who play by the rules suffer. The legal immigrants are the good decent people in my opinion. Those who knowingly break our laws get no sympathy from me. If they don't want to be exploited by the coyotes, drug dealers, "guides", etc. then they should stay home. There are no coyotes smuggling people in and out of Mexican towns.

Originally Posted by domack

Originally Posted by Bush

He notes his time in Texas, and how many Latinos he saw arrive, whose offspring "rose to positions of prominence and became significant contributors to our society."

So few rise to prominence, how many more don't?

Originally Posted by Bush

"good progress in stopping people from coming." But he notes that just as important are programs that discourage people from coming here illegally. That includes free trade, such as Nafta, which creates "good jobs on the other side of the border,"

Then why are even more Mexicans coming here since that diluting of US sovereignty?

Originally Posted by Bush

"Our economy thrives based on capital investment, kind of an entrepreneurship, good fiscal policy, but also willing workers who do jobs that, oftentimes, Americans simply do not want to do."

No investors are to lame and lazy to create wealth without lowering wages for their work force. I say it shows a lack of morals by the money changers, in a blood sport where people lives are destroyed.

but what he's not pointing out is those "Latinos he saw arrive, whose offspring rose to positions of prominence and became significant contributors to our society." were legal immigrants.

So the bottom line is that this is all about 'hispanic' votes. I am glad that after granting amnesty to the illegal leeches, the 40 million hispanics will be voting Republican because I doubt anyone else will be.