A Republican member of the House of Representatives vowed on Wednesday to lead a revolt against President Bush's immigration reform proposals, according to Reuters.
Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo, who heads the House Immigration Reform Caucus, said he was determined to block the legislation. The caucus, which had 71 members in the last Congress, argues for stronger action to stop illegal immigration and a reduction of legal migration.
"Why is this so important to the president?" Tancredo said. "Is it just the corporate interests who benefit from cheap labor? Do they have such a strong grip on our president so that he is actually willing to put our nation at risk, because open borders do put our nation at risk?
"Is it petulance, because we were able to stop it in the last Congress? Why is it so important to give amnesty to people who have broken the law?" Tancredo said.
"I'm willing to lead a fight against this and I would say there are at least 180 members of our Republican caucus who are willing at least to stop amnesty for illegal immigrants," he told Reuters in a telephone interview.
Mighty harsh words. I don't agree with the Right-wing on immigration, but I do agree that Bush's reform proposal is little more than another gift to corporations looking for legalized cheap labor. And personally, I will welcome Bush falling flat on his face with these proposed reform to Social Security and immigration. The fool thinks he is in charge. It's the Republicans in Congress that control the agenda now, and he better wise up quick or the only thing he will be doing during his second term is watch Iraq fall further into the abyss.
4 comments:
Nobody openly attacks their party's own president unless they've got some serious balls or are going to run for president themself. In this case, probably both. There's nothing that can rouse the conservative base more than immigration, and think about it, now they can tie it to their favorite issue: terrorism! They can make the argument now that illegal immigrants are a threat to national security (and are). It's the perfect package for conservatives. And it's exactly the kind of things that can split Republicans between someone like John McCain who supports a guest-worker program, and a far right-wing guy like Tancredo in 2008, which will be very good for the Democrats.
I'm not sure where I stand on the immigration debate, but I welcome any discussion that sows division among the Republicans. One of these days they'll realize the only thing that unites them is their desire for political power.
Well, a liberal federalist would say it should be left up to the Southwestern states it effects.
I always thought it made the most sense to increase border security but at the same time make it easier for people to become legal immigrants.
Some political pundits have said immigration might be *the issue* in 2008, and have made hay over some recent Hillary Clinton remarks suggesting she's trying to "run to the right" on it. Of course, that'll only work for her if the Republicans choose another neocon.
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