GOP Moves to Force Immigration Vote

[Terri]

By JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS
Associated Press
March 11, 2008

WASHINGTON (AP) -- House Republicans are trying to force action on a Democratic-written immigration enforcement measure, the latest GOP attempt to elevate the volatile issue into an election-year wedge.

Republican leaders hope that by pushing the bill -- endorsed by 48 centrist Democrats and 94 Republicans -- they can drive Democrats into a politically painful choice: Backing a tough immigration measure that could alienate their base, including Hispanic voters, or being painted as soft on border security in conservative-leaning districts.

The plan is fraught with political risks for both parties. A full-blown immigration debate could call attention to Republicans' divisions at a time when their expected presidential nominee, Sen. John McCain, is fighting to gain the trust of the GOP base.

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[welder4]

the majority of the 44 million Latinos here and legally are opposed to granting legal status to the 12 million or so that are here and not a citizen or with a visa. If this bill passes into law it will benefit both sides of the ticket and then the American people will see it is nice to have an order of business for the house to deal with that is honest and forth right and not political by any means. 80% of the electorate want the borders closed and they also want the illegals sent back to where they came from . Why are the Democrats blocking any bill that has sense to it and passing ones that are political , they cry being political , the democrats have been nothing but political since they took so called power. It will be interesting to see if they get their dream of having a full democrat house , I have a feeling they will get their feelings hurt come November.

[1workingmom1]

At last, a hard-to-deal-with issue for the Presidential candidates!! Whether they be of the Democrat, Republican or Independent (fence- sitters) party, this is an issue that must be dealt with - out in the open for all to see!! The candidates have all been allowed to "suggest" plans and thoughts on this immigration issue in the hopes they can twist voters arms into supporting them, but I think voters are much smarter since they've had to deal with Bush this last time around. Telling us one thing and then doing another will no loonger be acceptable. The candidates will have to play their hands before they get to see the other players cards!! Great!!

Immigration SHOULD be our most important issue this election and yet it's been pushed aside, swept under the carpet and ignored in the hopes the public will be distracted by some other issue. Problem is this issue is what's driving all the other ones and the candidates that don't realize it don't deserve to be our President.

I'd like to see just one of these candidates step up to the plate and talk about what the people want and why it makes sense to reverse a process gone bad in this country before it's too late!!

If economics and/or job loss in this country are a concern, then know too that a lot of these problems are a result of illegal and out-of- control immigration.

70% of this nation who support immigration REFORM by reducing immiigration and deporting law breakers to their country of origin should be supported by our politicians!! I too have a dream . . .

[TWM1942]

It is about time Republican leaders take a pro-active role on an issue that is important to their base.

[sashamom]

1workingmom1, You are 100% right. Illegal immigration is causing or affecting many of the other issues. The economy, education, national security (the porous border), health care cost, the future of social security. Who is illegal immigration benefiting? Some business owners and the illegal immigrants. Everyone else is paying their expenses. I don't know why this is not obvious to the American people. Or maybe it is, but for fear of being called a racist, they keep quiet. I know both Dems. and Reps. who want this problem fixed and not through any amnesty. They want the laws enforced and employers fined if they hire illegals. They do not want illegals getting government benefits. Period! They are struggling to pay their bills and are tired of taxes that are wasted on these people through entitlements that sometimes their own children cannot access. The MSM and Dem. leaders like Harry Reid are fueling this issue through 'feel sorry for me' stories. Well, I know lots of American Citizens who also have 'feel sorry for me' stories, that are not getting assistance from the government, because THEY are not qualified. If we do not get these people out of our country we are going to crumble from within. Social security is already in jeopardy and we want to adopt more people into this country as dependents. Ignorant!

[phillyfanatic]

Schuler is in a close race in NC believe it or not since this was a 'safe' Pub district. So let's put the pressure on and push this bill. After all, illegal immigration is just not an issue for Pubs. It affects Dem districts too especially in the SW and the SE. It is a national security issue so if the Dems were smart, they would not listen to Menendez, Pelosi or Reid, and push this so that the public would be 'fooled' into thinking that the Dems really really believe in national security!! LOL Put the Dems in a bind; it works for me.

[Thundercat505]

PUSH IT GOP!!! WE the people have no choice now as to who our candidate is, but this needs to be brought up and finished before one of these three can get in and do away with it.

it may help the gop win this race but will it send a message to mclame that WE don't want them here and will do what ever we can to stop him from granting amnesty????

don't think so but some of the people in the senate and congress get weekly letters from me and millions of others that OUR SOVEREINTY is more important than a better life for illegals.

[Chief Cockeye]

RIGHT ON!, TWM1942

We had to go to the emergency room for something that turned out to be not as bad as we feared; as a result we spent about six hours waiting to see the ER Doctor. While there we observed several patients, who from their appearance (and language) appeared to be illegal aliens. It further appeared that these folks were uninsured.

I'm sufficiently compassionate so as to not begrudge them the free emergency care that they apparently required; however, the bottom line is that this costs us, the American Citizen/Taxpayer, a lot every year and places a heavy burden on our health care system as well as other social services systems. If the 12 million were not here, our social services capabilities would not be so overwhelmed and we could provide improved services to those that really need it and are American Citizens.

In addition, if we deport and/or coerce the 12 million that are here illegally to leave, we will need to dramatically increase the numbers that we allow in legally just to maintain the workforce. Most of these new, legal, immigrants would probably still come from south of the border, but at least it would be OUR choice.

I like the tactics being used by the Republicans in this case and am glad to see that they have finally found the intestinal fortitude to do what the vast majority of American CITIZENS want done! Finally.

My $0.02 worth.

[USA4ever]

I'd love to see these presidential candidates, all of whom advocate amnesty of one kind or another, put on the 'hot seat' about the illegal issue. I refuse to call it an immigration issue because I do not recognize those people who are in MY country illegally as immigrants. When I think of immigrants I think either of those who filed the paperwork, paid the fees and waited their turn to enter MY country or those who have been allowed by my government to claim some type of refugee status. I look upon those who are here illegally as home invaders. The USA is MY home and if you are in MY home illegally you have invaded it! I thought Congress (and the current administration) would realize last year after the 'shamnesty' bill defeat that the majority of the American people, regardless of their ethnicity, are OPPOSED to any kind of amnesty or 'path to citizenship' for illegals. To me it is just beyond belief just how dense our elected officials seem to be.

[plainolcitizen2]

my golly...it is about time the republicans got some backbone and started raising h*ll about "getting it done". the border and the immigration plan are soooo long overdue that the republicans wll probably loose the 2008 presidential election. IF bush had acted and started erecting the fence as quick as the money became availiable, the republicans would have been a "shoe in". but his "love" for the latino "government" made him default this election to the demos who will screw up this country so bad, it may be impossible to ever fix. pray for forgiveness and vote for mc cain....