Analysis of the President’s Speech
I have several comments on the President’s speech tonight.
First, I have not seen him so poised and confident in a very long time. He was once again stressing the themes that won him the Presidency twice – national unity, freedom, and patriotism. It was a superb performance and will do much to restore the image of strong leadership that he had until Katrina.
Second, the President’s speech was truly positive. He began by acknowledging that this is a divisive issue that causes strong opinions on both sides. He recognized the problems that illegal immigration problem cause on our streets and for our public services. He emphasized that this is a nation of laws, and that those who would be citizens must obey the law.
Third, the President has increased the Border Patrol from 9,000 to 12,000. He is calling for increasing that to over 18,000. That constitutes an increase of over 100% during this President’s Administration. However, the President is not stopping there. He is calling for the construction of high-tech fences and the use of motion sensors, infrared cameras, and unmaned aerial vehicles to prevent illegal crossings. Moreover, the President has supported providing more funds for state and local law enforcement that must confront the problems of illegal immigration. These are measures thave not been in any previous immigration reform plan.
Fourth, the President called for making sure that all those who enter the country illegal from now on are returned home immediately. In the past, a catch-and-release program often resulted in illegal immigrants failing to return for their court dates. Under the President’s plan, this practice will end because it calls for expediting the legal process, increasing beds, and requires foreign governments to accept their illegals.
Fifth, the President articulated a guest-worker program. It allows for foreign workers to enter the country for a limited time. All those who would receive such temporary permission must receive a criminal background check. It also requires those workers to return home when their program ends. Finally, his bill also would use modern technology to prevent the use of forged cards to circumvent the system.
Sixth, the President announced that he will oppose amnesty. In his own words, “It is neither wise nor realistic to round up millions of people, many with deep roots in the United States, and send them across the border. There is a rational middle ground between granting an automatic path to citizenship for every illegal immigrant, and a program of mass deportation. That middle ground recognizes that there are differences between an illegal immigrant who crossed the border recently — and someone who has worked here for many years, and has a home, a family, and an otherwise clean record. I believe that illegal immigrants who have roots in our country and want to stay should have to pay a meaningful penalty for breaking the law, to pay their taxes, to learn English, and to work in a job for a number of years. People who meet these conditions should be able to apply for citizenship — but approval would not be automatic, and they will have to wait in line behind those who played by the rules and followed the law. What I have just described is not amnesty — it is a way for those who have broken the law to pay their debt to society, and demonstrate the character that makes a good citizen.”
If you think that is amnesty, then you are either a moron or a liar. If you ar truly a Republican to begin with, if you are truly a conservative, then you will applaud this speech and support the reforms he has articulated. Otherwise, you are not a Republican. You are not a conservative. You are a LIAR. A LIAR
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