Bush's Support Of Immigration Bill Tests Republican Unity

Published: Jun 9, 2007

Breaking With Bush

Regarding "Immigration Reform Pushes GOP Base To Breaking Point" (Nation/World, June 3):

A real backlash is in progress. I have supported President Bush ever since he took office in 2001, but I will have to break away from him because of his stand on immigration reform.

He has joined Sen. Edward Kennedy, liberal Democrats and the spineless Republicans in our Congress to give our country away to illegal aliens. There is no loyalty to the American taxpayer, even though we vote for them and pay their salaries. It does not matter how you slice the pie; the illegal aliens will win with the current immigration reform bill.

According to the Heritage Foundation, this bill will cost the American taxpayers $2.3 trillion. Illegal aliens are sending over $24 billion to Mexico and other countries, which is taking money from our economy. American taxpayers have no idea of the hidden costs of having these illegal aliens in our country.

To think that President Bush and members of our U.S. Congress want to legalize these people who have broken our laws is outrageous. This whole immigration reform bill needs to be scrapped.

BETTY DOBSON

Brooksville

Party Must Stay United

For a diehard conservative, it is very hard for me to think of myself not being a Republican. Yet, the internal debate over immigration within the party unfortunately may lead to a split within the party.

It is too drastic for anyone to say that they regret voting for Bush two times, but the reality is that we needed him to lead us through 9/11 and initiate the war on terror.

I may not support President Bush on his immigration bill, but I would never change my vote to be for Al Gore or John Kerry. Imagine the fear that we would be living in under either of them.

The Republican Party must stick to its core values and beliefs and not let the loud, vocal critics lead them down the wrong path.

AMANDA MONTGOMERY

Tampa

They Voted For Him Twice

I find it laughable that Republicans around the country are decrying President Bush's stance on illegal immigration. Didn't they, after all, elect this man to the office of president in the first place? Now it seems that all they want to do is whine and complain about their decision!

If the current immigration bill passes, those who voted for Bush will have nobody else to blame for the demise of our country but themselves!

This is a good lesson for all of us to learn - never choose a political candidate based solely upon party affiliation.

WALTER TAYLOR

Grand Rapids, Mich.

Compromise Is Key

Everyone seems to be passionate about immigration no matter which side of the issue they fall on.

The majority agree the immigration system is broken and badly in need of a fix. That seems to be as far as opposing sides can agree. This issue remains too important to leave unresolved. That is why the Senate compromise engineered by conservatives and liberals and endorsed by President Bush is a measure worth supporting.

Compromise here is the key word. The proposed immigration reform bill is not perfect, but it certainly is the best alternative anyone has offered. This is an extremely complex issue and a complex compromise.

Anyone who thinks this is an amnesty bill doesn't come close to understanding what is involved. When you get a speeding fine and pay it that is not amnesty. When you are given permanent work status after paying a fine and other fees plus fulfilling other conditions, that is not amnesty either.

The issues are much more serious than amnesty, however.

We are talking about the survival of Florida's economy.

HUGH M. GRAMLING

Plant City

Why Not Let Them Stay?

Much is being said and printed about how to solve the "immigration crisis," yet what is coming out of Washington seems to be unconscionable.

Due to security issues today, we do want to close our borders and more carefully select valid immigrants. So what do we do? Let's be serious; if someone has been in this country for five years, has worked, pays his or her taxes and has not been arrested, why not let them stay? Less than five years and it is shown that we have a need for their skills they can stay; otherwise, time to ship out.

We should continue to have VIP visas and green cards for scientists and academicians.

TED PUCKORIUS

Avon Park

It's Still Amnesty

I'm confused. I thought our representatives in Congress, our senators and our president all took an oath to defend our country, uphold our laws and honor the Constitution. What I'm seeing on both sides of the aisle is a desperate attempt to give amnesty to people who have already shown a disregard for our laws and by doing so, disrespect for our country.

Amnesty is nothing less than a reward for illegal behavior. I'm insulted when our president - a man I supported in both elections and still believe was the better choice - has the nerve to try to make excuses for his desire to grant amnesty by claiming that Americans won't do the jobs these illegals do. They are here illegally, and that makes them criminals by definition. We can call it a "guest worker program" or any other catch-phrase in an attempt to hide what it really is.

JOSEPH RICHTER JR.

Dover

Corporate Conspiracy

The immigration bill justifies corporate crimes. It justifies the illegal hiring of cheap labor to avoid paying our citizens a living wage. Corporate greed has exported the good jobs to Third World cheap-labor camps and continues to import more cheap labor to do the jobs that are still here. This is a conspiracy against our citizens' economic rights to good jobs and wages. This must be stopped ASAP.

NANCY ABLER

Largo