Another culture war awaits over immigration reform
If President Obama genuinely believed that he could tamp down the hyper-partisanship that has come to dominate American politics, he had quite the education over the summer. He now knows better. Talk show hosts, well-paid lobbyists and political hacks managed to ignite a vicious culture war over health care, of all things. If they could do that, then the more familiar fights can only get bloodier.
So Obama probably isn’t looking forward to a return to immigration reform, which, when last discussed, revealed an ugly resentment of “the other” that our melting-pot nation hasn’t outgrown. But return he must. Like health care and climate change, immigration reform is an area where solutions have been put off for too long.
Last month, Obama pledged to push for the introduction of a bill implementing comprehensive immigration reform before the year is out, while cautioning that the overhaul won’t be easy. Speaking at a presidential summit in Mexico, he said, “Am I going to be able to snap my fingers and get this done? No . . .There are going to be demagogues out there who try to suggest that any form of pathway for legalization for those who are already in the United States is unacceptable,” according to The New York Times.
On Wednesday night, Obama got a taste of the extremism that will greet immigration reform from U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, (R-S.C.), who yelled out, “You lie!” when the president noted that his health reform initiative will not cover illegal immigrants. That was a nadir in even our crass culture, and Wilson later apologized for the outburst.
But the notion that health care reform would extend benefits to undocumented workers had been making the rounds during the summer’s town hall meetings, a falsehood ginned up not just by talk show hosts but also by a paranoid suspicion of illegal workers. (For the record, there is no health care bill in Congress that would extend health insurance or other health-care related benefits to illegal workers. Their health-care status would not change: They are currently eligible for emergency room treatment, but they are not eligible for Medicaid, Medicare or the Children’s Health Insurance Program.)
The resentment and suspicion of illegal immigrants linger though illegal border-crossings have dropped off since the recession. Many undocumented workers went back home when they could no longer find work.
But many are still here, stuck in the shadows, struggling to hold onto jobs with employers who can get away with paying them less and working them harder. Countless workers from all over — Mexico, Guatemala, Ghana, Kenya, India, Ireland — have lived here illegally for years, paying taxes, buying homes, having children and making their lives here, all the while stuck in a netherworld that leaves them open to exploitation.
As President George W. Bush understood, that doesn’t make sense. Though some countries — Saudi Arabia comes to mind — blatantly exploit their immigrant workers, that’s not who we are as a country. Since we’re not going to round up all undocumented workers and send them home, we need to end a system that winks at their second-class status.
This may be Obama’s most difficult battle yet. Given that Bush couldn’t get it done, imagine the hysteria that will greet the proposal when it comes from a president named Barack Hussein Obama.
Am I suggesting that all those who oppose immigration reform are racists? Absolutely not. But it is the sort of cultural issue that will provoke a frenzy from the fringe — the birthers, the tea partiers, the Obama-is-the-anti-Christ crowd.
And you thought this August was hot.
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141 comments Add your comment
Beast
September 11th, 2009
6:46 pm
Why should those who broke the law be rewarded? How do you explain that to those who legally migrated here?
Tank
September 11th, 2009
6:50 pm
Chirp….Chirp….Chirp….Chirp….Chirp
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
w b
September 11th, 2009
7:16 pm
The article might make sense if the President or Congress actually cared what we thought about any issue that is important to us. They do not. They consider themselves royalty, and above us. They are the elite, and oh so much better then us to decide our lives, and our fate, and how we should spend out earnings.
The author forgot the 9/11 conspiracies, the Bush is anti-christ, and so on. That is how partisan hacks operate though, all bias, no substance.
Garrett Reynolds
September 11th, 2009
7:58 pm
During the campaign, candidate Obama promised a new tone to Washington’s debates, and an end to the infighting. As President, he has relied upon the Democratic majority. If he hopes to actually implement his ambitious agenda, including reforms of health care, immigration policy, energy policy and deficit reduction, he is going to need significant bi-partisan support. I do not know if there is any chance that the minority party in Congress will ever cooperate with this President, but I think he could try harder to win some of them over. Some of their ideas actually have merit and deserve to be heard. I truly hope he succeeds, for all of our sakes.
Marc
September 11th, 2009
8:06 pm
Cynthia you socialist stooge! There are no provisions in Obama socialist health agenda to verify (documented) ones citizenship! Since that is the case illegals can be covered!
jt
September 11th, 2009
8:19 pm
Health care is FAR from over.
While the intelligent people of America are fighting, let us go ahead and get rid of medicare and medicaid. (phase it out over time).
Then, and only then, should we deal with the other problems caused by our dysfunctional and corrupt federal government.
tom givens
September 11th, 2009
8:31 pm
When the Congressman yelled that Obama was Liar(very disrespectful) he was saying the truth.
Obama worded his reply to this often asked question correctly. When he answered that in this health bill that illegals are not covered he was right. He knows the bill hr3200 if passed would allow the illegals in this country when granted amnesty to then become eligible(12,000,0000 million). If he would have stated that all illegals in this country would never be eligible for Government health care then he would be telling the truth. He will not make that statement because his next agenda is to make all illegals US citizen. This has never been done before. YOU SHOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED THE HONOR TO BECOME US CITIZEN IF YOU ENTER ILLEGALLY!!!!!!!.Therefore he is a LIAR.
Dale Manguno
September 11th, 2009
8:35 pm
Cynthia-
Surely you missed Congressional bills that failed in the effort to strictly exclude 1. healthcare for illegals 2. funds for abortion.
You are as polarizing as the annointed one when it involves issues of national soverignty and racism. I’ll bet that you think that ACORN is doing a splendid job too!
Brittancus
September 11th, 2009
8:39 pm
The incident that occurred in Congress by Rep. Joe Wilson R-NC, illustrates the consequences of a blurring line between illegal immigration and health care. Our politicians have been alerted to the angry voices of the American people. For once they have disregarded the business campaign contributors and all the cloaked gifts given for services rendered by special interest lobbyists. Millions of US citizens are enraged with the status quo buying favors from our representatives that has led to our wilting economy. Today speaking on behalf of Washington committees on health care, the lawmaking emphasized that illegal aliens cannot access the new health reform package, that any person applying will be checked through government databases.
E-Verify might be implemented for this very issue, that it has shown in the majority of cases remarkable successes in remove illegal alien workers from the working environment. E-Verify can solve this problem and bring sanity back to immigration enforcement. E-VERIFICATION OF EACH AND EVERY AMERICAN WORKER MUST BE MADE PERMANENT? NOT JUST VOLUNTARY POLICY, BUT AS A FULL FORCE OF OPERATION CARRYING STRICT PENALTIES. This operation will work under federal policies? But what about state laws? California as an example is a Sanctuary state for millions of illegal immigrants and their families? Other border states are also occupied by large proportions of unlawful populations of foreign nationals?
This last year has culminated in huge financial losses in California caused by millions of low income illegal aliens, which has created a third world community within the United States. There must be federal measures to bring under control, massive spending benefits for people who have no right from benefiting from those who come here legally or were born here. How can any public health care option work at a state level, when states like California ignore federal law, regarding financial refuge to indigent people? Our own people remain homeless and in many cases without hope, when legislators have prioritized, health care, education an overloaded jail system and easy welfare money for illegal immigrants?
The once golden state has been using taxpayer money, to support illegal aliens, when the same expenditures should have been adopted for a collapsing infrastructure. Highways, schools, tunnels, bridges and dams in a dangerous state of disrepair? Our legislators in many cases have been seduced by lobbyists and should be banned from any contact with our politicians. This will never happen, but something must be done? Millions have been spent on derailing the health care reform currently and in the past, as has immigration enforcement. Rescinding 287(g) federal training for local police enforcement of immigration laws, the NO MATCH LETTER and the cutting back on ICE raids on obnoxious businesses using foreign workers.
The order to crush E-verify was given to Sen.Harry Reid, Speaker Pelosi, Janet Napolitano, but narrowly survived in the Senate chambers. Both political parties are equally to blame for not enforcing the 1986 Immigration Control & Reform Act that was inundated with fraud and a desire to weaken the laws. Now they want to rescind that law, offering yet another reform package that will never function? Let’s not kid ourselves! Huge veiled forces are at work to import as much cheap labor as possible with no restraints, lowering wages and an unconscionable burden on taxpayers.
DON’T LET THE POWERS IN WASHINGTON WHITEWASH THE FACTS! DEMAND THE ORIGINAL DESIGNED FENCE AND THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF E-VERIFY, 287 (g), THE SAVE ACT AND AS WRITTEN, THE 1986 SIMPSON/MAZZOLI BILL AND AMEND THEM IF NEED BE? NO MORE IMMIGRATION REFORM? DO THE JOB THEY WERE VOTED FOR? CALL YOUR POLITICIANS AT 202-224-3121 AND DEMAND THESE LAWS BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE? MORE ANSWERS FOUND AT NUMBERSUSA & JUDICIAL WATCH.
Bernadette
September 11th, 2009
8:52 pm
Cynthia made one good point. Many of those people who are here illegally do have houses and it’s very probable they do have mortgages on those houses. If they all get deported, who is going to pay those loans? Do we need another house market disaster. All of you with loans on your houses, just think how much the value of your houses would drop…I think the problem is very complex and deportation of 12 million people ( I think there are way more) is simply impossible.
Jack
September 11th, 2009
8:53 pm
Poor Obama! Even Tucker’s feeling sorry for him.
Bettybb
September 11th, 2009
9:02 pm
No, the pro illegal immigration advocates are the racists.
The Pew Hispanic Center estimates allmost all illegals are Hispanic. Why should lawbreaking Hispanics have a greater right to live in the USA than law abiding immigrants from all other races and ethnic groups?
Why should Hispanic Americans have a greater right to family reunification with their law breaking relatives, than Americans of all other races and ethnic groups have for their law abiding relatives?
Dems have started a new policy of deleting citizenship verification in social benefit bills, so illegals can get benefits. Then they can say that their bills don’t cover illegals, but of course, since there is no checking, in reality they do. In CA, the citizenship verification was deleted for Medicare and it is estimated taxpayers are spending over 1 billion a year for illegals health care.
Don’t forget, our immigration law says employers cannot hire illegals…but there is no verification and no enforcement. So… 12 millions illegals are using document fraud and stolen ids to work illegals. Don’t you think they will use these same fraudulent documents to get social benefits, since the Dems are ensuring no one will check?
In fact, in some states that have pulled coverage for illegals, hospitals are reporting an increase in document fraud in attempts to get taxpayer subsidized coverage.
LD
September 11th, 2009
9:04 pm
First, don’t be dishonest, Cynthia. A woman as seeming smart as you very well knows house democrats have now voted down twice in committee attempts to place provisions in the Obamacare bill for citizenship checks. Yours is not the only news outlet and that fact is easy for anyone to find out. There’s only one reason why they’re doing that. Even my eight year old can figure that one out.
However, there’s is a trick to the whole ‘will illegals be covered?’ question. If Obama grants them amnesty and instant citizenship per his plan, then congrats, there’s 20 million new citizens to insure legally. So in essence he was telling the truth. It’s why liberals are better at playing the political game: they always have a ace up their sleve they think people won’t see coming. If this anti-Constitutional abomination of law gets passed, you can bet amnesty won’t be far behind. They just can’t approach that until they get Obamacare solidified into law.
But of course as we heard the other night this is all not going to cost us a dime extra nor bring on extra debt…right. So nothing to worry about, government’s still on track to save us all, regardless of whether we need it or not.
Hasta Lavista Baby!
September 11th, 2009
9:06 pm
TWO WORDS – Tom Tancredo!!
Jim
September 11th, 2009
9:27 pm
Obama and his minions like you, Cynthia, are do one thing well. You are actually getting the majority of Americans energized. THose who don’t want to see this country overrun by illegal aliens and socialist idealogy. THose like yourself that are so naive and arrogant to take on all the worlds meek, tired, hungry etc etc and solve all the worlds problems. Of course you want to do that just lke Mr Obama, with other peoples money.
I have no problem with guest workers (as needed) and legal immagration based on the level that is appropriate for our country. How you and your colleagues can expouse support for illegal and uncontrolled immigration is beyone me. I guess you are looking to create more voters for your block.
Americans are actually beginning to wake up to the agenda that Mr OBama has (which for those of us actually reading the bills and knowlegdable of the issues…..is no surprise) He has become a master of misinformation, just as he did in his speech saying that illegals would not benefit from his health care bill. He is lying. None of the bill in congress (he actually doesn’t have one by the way in case you don’t read either) have provisions to prevent and enforce that it will not be used by illegals. Currently our emergence rooms are overflowing with illegals and the uninsured using them for any and every type of free day to day medical care; from colds to stomach aches. THey are even going there to get prescription filled so they don’t have to pay for them.
It is also interesting that the president has been unwilling to look at the greatest issue in health care cost which is onerous punitive damages for medical lawsuits. Everyone with half a brain realized taht these drive the huge increase in medical cost. They like to talk jsut about malpractice insurance which is the tip of the iceberg. They drive the beaurecracy associated wtih record keeping, and more importantly an incredible number of unnecessary procedures the Dr must do to protect himself from predatory legal action from the MR OBama’s # 1 political support donor……….the American Trial lawyers association.
Obama is a socialist (if not actually communist) charleton and you are either the same or incredibly uniformed. But thankfully more people are getting educated and waking up to this debacle.
Are you going to be at the National Tea Party on the 12th in Washington. Maybe you could learn a little about the founding principles of this country and what made it great. And if you don’t like them, the economy is really doing well in Cuba……….why don’t you try it. If you go there you can preach this socialist garbage all you want…….in fact that is all you can preach
Rand
September 11th, 2009
9:42 pm
For the record, there is no health care bill in Congress that would extend health insurance or other health-care related benefits to illegal workers.
For the record how long will it be before PresBO redefines “illegal worker” or grants them amnesty, thereby extendinf health insurance to them —- thought so!!
Change (and flip-flopping) we can believe in!!
Ponder
September 11th, 2009
9:57 pm
a pathway for legalization for those who are already in the United States…
Ponder this — I actually would be in support of legalization of those who are already in the US IF we can export those generational government dependents who look to the government for their care and feeding.
Isn’t it amazing how legal immigrants come to this country with essentially nothing and better themselves/value education, and contribute to society?
Isn’t it amazing how the illegal immigrants from Mexico are so willing to work, learn a trade, and are able to send money back home to their families?
Isn’t is amazing that generations here in the US can do nothing but seek and expect entitlements, reproduce like rabbits (many offspring, each by a different man), have no sense of responsibility, contribute zero to society, and, only want more of my “fair share”…
Sure, let’s legalize those already in the US…one of them for the export of 10 or 100 of ours….
Amazed
September 11th, 2009
10:12 pm
“Barack Hussein Obama”
Ms. Tucker, surely you realize we dare not speak his name! (I am not worthy, I am not worthy…)
Birther or Bust
September 11th, 2009
11:12 pm
…”the birthers, the tea partiers, the Obama-is-the-anti-Christ crowd”
Sorry, Cynthia these are fringe anymore. BTW, Where is your ACORN apology? Hookers/underage sex slaves? Yeah, I thought so.
wolf
September 11th, 2009
11:27 pm
100% agree.Just move on people!
Americans r selfish
September 11th, 2009
11:40 pm
It’s unbelievable how selfish, egoist you guys are. You know what? Everything happens for a reason and that’s why USA is in the big black hole. An egoist people with no love in their heart. Unhappy and bunch of hypochondriac, that’s your life and that’s why you are so worried in destroy other’s dream and the right to have a fair life. The only thing the americans need is have GOD in their hearts not on their money so they can be happy and think more about FAMILY. Why you are so afraid? Are we more capable than you, more intelligent and happier? Sorry, we just have love in our lives and we just want to have a chance to live a better life. Do you think one of the 12 millions immigrants would come here if they had the choice to stay in their country and have a job and a house to better live? NOOOO, we love our countries and our people, but the nest politicians make us do whatever we have done.
Any of you are bigger than GOD, AND YOUR JUSTICE IS NOT HIS. IF ALL THE IMMIGRANTS HAVE TO RETURN TO THEIR HOME, IT MEANS GOD IS SAYING THAT THIS LAND IS NO LONGER THE “DREAM LAND” BUT THE FAILED ONE.
YOU HAVE A NICE LIFE!!!!!
Koon Gone Wild
September 11th, 2009
11:41 pm
These kooks are everywhere now!!! These are the same hypocrites that are decendants of immigrants. I love to hear how they built this country. Your kooky grandfathers and mommas didn’t build ish! Slaves built this country while you kooks raped, murdered, and established Jim Crow laws to keep blacks from earning a living. You’re only concerned with greed, division, hate, and ego driven power. Your world is all in your head.
What if the Indians imposed immigration laws before the Vikings and Spaniards hit the Americas? Oh they did, forgot. That’s why their all dead or sent to reservations with “Keep quiet Casinos”.
Americans r selfish
September 11th, 2009
11:42 pm
Ms Tucker, your commentary sounds really racist.
Davo
September 11th, 2009
11:44 pm
“Talk show hosts, well-paid lobbyists and political hacks managed to ignite a vicious culture war over health care”
To borrow a phrase from a bygone decade…EXCUSE ME!….
How far removed are YOU from these people? Your recent postings show me that there is ‘zero’ degrees of seperation, Cynthia.
Give me a break…what an ego.
Americans r selfish
September 11th, 2009
11:58 pm
PONDER YOU ARE GREAT!!!!!! I BET YOU ARE A HAPPY PERSON.
David
September 12th, 2009
12:00 am
If we can put men on the moon and return them safely to Earth, then I believe we can round up illegal immigrants and send them back to their country of origin. Of course, we have to first secure our border with Mexico (and I am all for using armed federal troops, land mines, whatever it takes. We are at war and we should act like it. We should have positive control over who is coming in and leaving this nation.
Americans r selfish
September 12th, 2009
12:01 am
WHY AMERICANS CAN HAVE ANYTHING THEY WANT BUT THEY ARE SO UNHAPPY? I THINK THEY ARE MISSING GOD AND THE MEANING OF THE WORD F A M I L Y!!!!! SO THEY WOULD HAVE , FOR SURE, A DIFFERENT IDEA ABOUT ALL OF THIS.
CAN’T YOU SEE THAT YOU MAKE EVERYTHING MORE DIFFICULT?
Renwa
September 12th, 2009
12:47 am
OMG!! I relocated from Atlanta to Seattle this past spring and for personal reasons am likely to return to Atlanta. Just reading these comments has reminded me of the ignorant heathens in that part of the country. Do the majority of ignorant white and black people live in the Atlanta metro area? I have never encountered so many ignorant people. So far, I’ve lived in different cities in Indiana, California…and now in Seattle. Atlanta is the most stupid place I’ve ever lived. I wish circumstances did not dictate that I return there. Seattle just voted out their current mayor in their recent primary. He may not be perfect but he is a far cry better than anything Atlanta has seen. Wish he would go there and run, but he probably wouldn’t want to. Atlanta doesn’t want good public transit or education or healthcare. Nor does anyone give a rat’s ass about the environment. And, everything including the drought is the fault of the damned illegals. Ugggghhhh. God help us.
Madison
September 12th, 2009
12:52 am
Want to see Obama choke. Tell him we don’t mind giving the illegals citizenship but without the right to vote.
Renwa
September 12th, 2009
12:53 am
Oh yeah…Kudos to Ponder. Could not agree with you more!
immagrant rights
September 12th, 2009
1:36 am
It’s unconstitutional. Why would you want to get rid of the people who helped build this country, who took the dirty filthy jobs, who accepted the low pay, always in fear of getting deported feeling that your always in war with the law. It’s not EVERY Hispanics fault why others are ignorant. Have you noticed that ever since the economy went down it was when they started deporting an enormous amount of immigrants? They left houses, cars, and rents unpaid and businesses lost clients and employees . The US didn’t realize how big the role of the Latino population was and is(the people that are left anyways) but this also goes for immigrants form other countries. For me it’s violating the 14th amendment. I mean come on what kind of person would separate a family?!
AND PLEASE OPEN YOUR EYES AMERICA YOU GUYS ARE THE REAL IMMIGRANTS! THIS LAND AND THE TRUE TITLE OF BEING CALLED AN AMERICAN GOES TO THE NATIVE AMERICANS. REMEMBER? THE PEOPLE THE EUROPEANS KICKED OUT AND MOVED THEM TO RESERVES. HOW KAN YOU TELL SOME ONE THEY CANT DO OR STAY SOMEONE WHEN IT DOESN’T EVEN BELONG TO THEM TO START WITH
right wing extremist / veteran
September 12th, 2009
1:44 am
I think government should force the public to pay for all Health care for all people within the borders of the U.S. It is the governments job to make sure those who come here illegally and refuse to work and don’t want to pay for coverage are covered. We all know that we are a rich country and want rich tax payers to pay their fair share. It is time for Obama to make sure we get ours. We also know our great Senate Leader The Honorable Harry Reid never caslled the president a liar and a loser. I want Obama “The Great Divider” to break the backs of the working man and give it away. And if we can’t afford it ….borrow it and give it away.
right wing extremist / veteran
September 12th, 2009
1:51 am
Hey immagrant rights… read some history. It’s called military superiority that’s been going on since the beginning of time. It may not be right BUT it is the way it is. It is not unique to the United States there bubba. It has happened on every continent on the earth since the beginning of recorded history. We are a nation of laws. Voted on and policy as to how we run our country is passed in congress. They set forth immigration laws. Obey these laws or suffer the consequences. Just like seatbelts and every other law. Go to a 6th grade civics class.
La raza killer
September 12th, 2009
2:37 am
Let’s annex Mexico.
Delaware Bob
September 12th, 2009
4:09 am
I think obama and his thugs better learn that the American people DO NOT want amnesty for these illrgal aliens! We have been there and had our voices heard. Let’s not go there again.
I can’t say the ILLEGAL ALIENS are completely to blame for the shape of our economy, but they are a BIG part of the problem. The ILLEGAL ALIENS send BILLIONS upon BILLIONS out of this Country every year, money we will NEVER see again. Does this help our economy?
How about the BILLIONS the American taxpayers fork out for the ILLEGAL ALIEN BABIES, the schooling of them, the medical care and the list goes on, and on, and on.
How about the MILLIONS upon MILLIONS paid to jail ILLEGAL ALIENS for the crimes, then the cost to deport them. Does this help our economy?
Then you have these activist groups, the Catholic Church and the ACLU that want AMNESTY for these ILLEGAL ALIENS. It would be absolute suicide for this Country if AMNESTY were granted to the 20 million or so ILLEGAL ALIENS. We have more and more people out of work everyday and they want to add another 20 million to this Country? I say, “NO”!
If AMNESTY were ever granted to these 20 million ILLEGAL ALIENS, you can bet big money that 3 years from now, there would be ANOTHER 3-5 million ILLEGAL ALIENS demonstrating on our soil for AMNESTY.
An end MUST come to this illegal immigration. The perfect tool we have so far is E-Verify. It MUST be used by ALL businesses and Government Social Services. EVERY employee must be checked! If they are illegal, they are to be dismissed!
I believe it is time for all 50 States to pass a State law, like Arizona, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Missouri, South Carolina and a few others. It is time for these ILLEGAL ALIENS to go back to their home Country and get out of this Country. The problems they are causing will not go away until the ILLEGAL ALIENS are out of this Country. I think that is plain to see.
It’s time for ZERO TOLERENCE with these ILLEGAL ALIENS. It’s time for them to get back to their own country where they belong.
xxxxxxxxxxx
September 12th, 2009
5:51 am
No Body wants to brake the law, it is just too hard to make it easily , people just need chance and hope in life , people needs opprotunity to a good life , people need trust ,
Please help
Joey
September 12th, 2009
6:20 am
I support Immigration Reform, but amnesty is not reform.
We need to fix the way that we treat Legal Immigrants. We don’t need to make life particularly easy for them, but we should not make life more difficult for them either.
We need to fix the procedures that track the people who here on a student visa, a work visa, and any other visitor visa. We need to know where these people are as their visa expires. What are their plans to leave or remain a legal visitor? We don’t need to abuse them, but we do need to know where they are and what they intend to do to remain legal or leave.
We need to fix everything about Legal Visitors, then and only then do we began the debate about what to do with the Illegal Residents.
Unfortunately every action from congress or our Presidents (past and current) is about Illegal Residents. They are illegal. Waving a wand and declaring them legal is not a way to discourage the next wave of Illegals.
mike
September 12th, 2009
7:02 am
Tucker whines about “hyper-partisanship” and then goes into a one sided partisan rant against conservatives.
This blog is such a fountain of hypocrisy.
hryder
September 12th, 2009
7:06 am
These people should be in the shadows. They are here ILLEGALLY! Not at all difficult to understand. They have illegally butted into the country and morally placed themselves over the desires of those following our countries established procedures and laws. The illegals should be actively sought, arrested, and deported along with their children, including any born here, as they were born here due to illegal acts of their parents. I say this as one discriminated against due to my race, sex, and age. I am white, male, and was thirty-three when the age discrimination occured. All three incidents of discrimination are now illegal and have been recognized as such by the Supreme Court.
John S.
September 12th, 2009
7:17 am
Question: Will immigration issue(s) derail health care reform?
Donovan
September 12th, 2009
7:44 am
Please get off your communist soap box and leave this country to the unique Americans that we are.
fromatl1
September 12th, 2009
7:45 am
This week Georgia lost three young men in a war protecting our most vital resource, OIL. Bring our troops home!!! Don’t let the news mongers and politicians lie to us any longer. Demand that this war be stopped!! Forget about Health Care Reform, immigration until we get our young men and women home safe. Dem/Rep unite on this cause! Let your voices be heard. We could have funded several health care packages with what we have spent in this war.
Eddy
September 12th, 2009
7:50 am
Are there laws on the books against illegal immigration? If so, enforce them. Every other country does for their country. E-Verfy should be mandatory for hirng, to signup for any benefits, etc. If you go to the emergency room for treatment, E-Verify there as well. For those who are here illegally, deport them and let them get in line to follow the legal process to enter this country. If employers hire illegals without E-Verify, levy a very heavy fine. Then have the employer go through the entire company and E Verify. If we don’t want to have laws that are on the books to prevent illegals from coming here, vote to remove them and allow anyone and everyone free access to the US and all of its services and benefits without constraint. Sounds like a good Democrat plan to me.
ken
September 12th, 2009
8:00 am
It’s all about votes. ( for democrats )
BitterEXdemocrackkk
September 12th, 2009
8:03 am
Hey Thickus (southern for Cynthia) …why dont you write about ACORNs prostitution advisories and how to cheat the government on taxes?
Course, if the White House Communist grants amnesty for 11+Million, then healthcare for ILLEGALs becomes a moot point, right?
STRIVE to be SMARTER than the ORIGINAL party of SLAVERY wants you to BE!
BitterEXdemocrackkk
September 12th, 2009
8:04 am
Thickus, do you have the NERVE to show your face at the 9/12 March today?
BitterEXdemocrackkk
September 12th, 2009
8:10 am
Any bets on when Obama will be REMOVED from the district of criminals?
jconservative
September 12th, 2009
8:41 am
Immigration will not be on the official agenda in 2009. If Bush could not get it through congress, the Kennedy-McCain bill, then Obama will not get it through. Many of the same people who push hard for health care reform will push just as hard against immigration changes. Add to that the historical fact that this country is slow to take on new challenges. We have only seriously looked at immigration, bills in congress by congressional leaders, less than 10 years. It will take more time.
So we will continue with illegal aliens going to public schools, going to ER for free health care etc, etc, etc. And when enough people get fed up with supporting the illegal population we will do something in Congress.
Georgia3
September 12th, 2009
9:07 am
Hi Cynthia, I’ve long admired your writing, and read you in “Working For Change” before moving here. I’m a native Chicagoan, who has lived in South Florida, Raleigh, N.C., and now here. I must say that from the comments I read here, and what I hear in social situations, many Georgians are some of the most hard-hearted, anti-inclusionary, jingoists I’ve ever seen. They seem to be against anything progressive – the first time I visited my son and his family here, my bumper sticker was torn off my car and left shredded on his front lawn. It said “COEXIST.” The person who did this probably figured it was a Socialist word! Oh…and one more thing – to all you ranters out there, Jesus was a Liberal!
ctucker
September 12th, 2009
9:17 am
I think we can do better than calling those with whom we disagree “morons” and “thugs.” Let’s try to elevate the discussion a bit.