(Taken from the Washington Post: Privately, Bush Says He Favors Citizenship [FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS])
By DAVID ESPO
The Associated Press
Wednesday, April 26, 2006; 9:22 PMWASHINGTON — President Bush generally favors plans to give millions of illegal immigrants a chance at U.S. citizenship without leaving the country, but does not want to be more publicly supportive because of opposition among conservative House Republicans, according to senators who attended a recent White House meeting.
. . .
Bush convened the session to give momentum to the drive for election-year immigration legislation, a contentious issue that has triggered large street demonstrations and produced divisions in both political parties. Senators of both parties emerged from the session praising the president’s involvement and said the timetable was achievable.“Yes, he thinks people should be given a path to citizenship,” said Sen. Mel Martinez., R-Fla., a leading supporter of immigration legislation in the Senate.
Martinez said it was implicit in Bush’s remarks that many of the immigrants illegally in the U.S. would be permitted to remain during a lengthy wait and application period.Under the Senate bill, immigrants in the U.S. longer than five years could apply for citizenship without leaving the country. Those in the U.S. for more than two years but fewer than five would be required to go to a border point of entry, but they could return quickly as legal temporary workers.
Several senators said Bush had spoken in favorable terms about the overall bill, but made it clear he will not issue an endorsement.
The president has spoken repeatedly in favor of legislation that includes stronger border protection and a guest worker program, but has been vague on specifics.
[Ed: I’ll believe that when I see it passed into law!]On Monday, Bush said “massive deportation isn’t going to work,” and that the Senate “had an interesting approach by saying that if you’d been here for five years or less, you’re treated one way, and five years or more, you’re treated another.”
Bush did not mention that measure would allow millions of illegal immigrants to remain in the U.S. while waiting for citizenship _ a provision sharply criticized by some conservative lawmakers.
I suspect this is true given REPUBLICAN IN NAME ONLY GWB’s HORRIBLE HORRIBLE HORRIBLE record on the domestic invasion of Mexico and all points south of the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo, but if this is confirmed (I give it 3 to 5 Las Vegas odds it will be in some form or another in a week or less) ALL FUND RAISING letters from the National GOP and President Bush’s folks will go in a big pile and be lit on fire.
I’ve been burned too many times by the Libertarian Party (my LP News letter to the editor, my 30 minute discussion with Michael Badnarik, and all other things since 9-11) the Republican Party (endless pointless fundraising letters and calls, all for what, MORE RINOs in office? Spare me the BS) and the Democrat Party (I’ve never given to them but I had voted in a few primaries here in Virginny) to deal with this party fund raising crap any longer.
America needs a real Conservative Party! A party that is interested in free trade on fair terms, not China’s way of doing things, and not the Pat Buchanan or Michael Savage way of trade tarrifs where the Poor, Women and Minorities were hardest hit
That’s my plan for a better America and I’m sticking to it!
Send me some hate mail if you so please, I enjoy reading it!