WASHINGTON, June, 10, 2007

Americans Want The Immigration Bill

Schieffer: Screaming On The Right And The Left Has Drowned Out What The Center Wants

  • Photo

     (CBS/AP)

  • News Tools Immigration Reform Plan

    President Bush lays out his vision for comprehensive immigration reform.

  • Photo Essay Immigration Rallies

    Demonstrators demand path to citizenship for estimated 12 million illegal immigrants.

(CBS)  Weekly commentary by CBS Evening News chief Washington correspondent and Face the Nation host Bob Schieffer.

Here's the "clean little secret" about immigration: For all the noise from the right side of the Republican Party and the left side of the Democratic Party, most Americans want immigration reform, want some kind of guest worker program, and want some way for illegal immigrants to apply for legal status.

Actually, it's no secret — those were the findings of a recent CBS News/New York Times poll.

But you'd never know it. The Right and the Left turned up the volume and drowned out the center. When the Democratic leader in the Senate was unable to cut off debate and bring reform to a vote, the blame game began.

Republicans said the bill could have passed with a few more changes. Democrats said Republicans were trying to kill the legislation with amendments. All sides blamed the President's poor relations with Congress.

Excuse me, but when has the President ever had good relations with Congress?

I've never been one to question motives, but I have to wonder: Is this what both sides secretly wanted?

As important as it is, no politician gains much by supporting reform. To the contrary, support guarantees well-financed attacks from both the Right and the Left. Doing nothing left senators in the best place of all — they could all blame each other and head for the next fundraiser.

The problem is, the problem is still there. The loudest voices prevailed and Congress demonstrated yet again that it could not muster the political will to confront a major problem head-on and resolve it.


E-mail Face the Nation.


By Bob Schieffer
© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Video and Galleries from Opinion: Bob Schieffer

Add a Comment See all 113 Comments
by duke1942 June 10, 2007 1:51 PM PDT
According to Bob Schieffer:

"Here's the "clean little secret" about immigration: For all the noise from the right side of the Republican Party and the left side of the Democratic Party, most Americans WANT immigration reform, want some kind of guest worker program, and want some way for illegal immigrants to apply for legal status.

Actually it's no secret %u2014 those were the findings of a recent CBS News/New York Times poll. "

Well here is another poll at http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/why_the_senate_immigration_bill_failed that shows something else:

"The last Rasmussen Reports national telephone poll found that just 23% of Americans supported the legislation. When a bill has less popular support than the War in Iraq, it deserves to be defeated.

There is no mystery to why the public opposed the bill. In the minds of most Americans, immigration means reducing illegal immigration and enforcing the border. Only 16% believed the Senate bill would accomplish that goal. "

Try to be fair in reporting your numbers and speaking for "most Americans". Most Americans want the problem solved - but not by giving immunity from prosecution for breaking the law (amnesty I think that is.) A $5000 fine for entering the country illegally and stealing someone's identity just does not cut it with those of us who have to live with these criminals.
Reply to this comment
by omega39-2009 June 10, 2007 2:03 PM PDT
Look, I believe most Americans want some form of immigration bill but it must be fashioned out in the open, with input from all concerned parties. The last one was fashioned in secret, behind closed doors, much like Cheney's energy policy. The fact that it was fashioned in secret, with no input from anyone other than big business, certainly suggests that it wasn't in the publics best interest. A "grand bargain" designed only by special interests amounts to a "grand scr/ewing" for the rest of us.
Reply to this comment
by KYJurisDoctor June 10, 2007 2:15 PM PDT
We won on immigration. More lipstick on the immigration "pig" is not going to make it any more palatable to behold!

http://osi-speaks.blogspot.com/2007/06/we-won-again.html#links
Reply to this comment
by reader42 June 10, 2007 2:25 PM PDT
I'd like to see some reform. But that doesn't mean amnesty or, in particular, a guest worker program. I think we need to look at our policies regarding who gets in, etc. etc. But I don't want amnesty or a guest worker program. I think a "guest worker" program just creates a lower caste of people, and we really don't need that in a functioning democracy. We don't need to legislate a lower caste regardless of timelines. If we need more people, we make more citizens, not a quasi-legal, half citizen who will probably stay anyway.

And as for amnesty? No way. It's been done and look where we are now. But I'd support some plan for those who have been here - and I'd make it painful because of the way in which people illegally moved in. I'd make it clear legal immigrants had a much easier path.

I think Bob got it wrong. If the policies need work; fix them. But no one I talk with likes the guest worker idea and everyone hates amnesty. Pragmatism suggests we make a pathway for illegals, but that's assuming they actually want citizenship and/or actually need it. It certainly seems as if many services are available without citizenship. So, why should they bother?
Reply to this comment
by clemenhagen1 June 10, 2007 2:31 PM PDT
I find the outrage over immigration amusing in this respect: look at all the anger directed towards the immigrants, most of whom had to pay thousands of dollars to make the perilous journey to get here in order to work jobs that many Americans simply do not want. Yet where should all of this venom be aimed? How about the business leaders, supported obstensibly by Republican administrations, who merely want cheap labor and who use the illegal worker pool to undercut unions and depress wages for working-class people. You want to vent a little anger? Good...just find the proper target for your outrage. Throughout the history of this country immigrants and freed slaves helped the wealthy elites exploit the working class; today's immigration fight simply reflects that same old-same old.
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by maryjessel June 10, 2007 2:42 PM PDT
The cluelessness of the MSM continues. They cite their own carefully slanted polls, with questions designed to elicit the responses they want, to support their inability to listen to the ordinary people of the US. The shamnesty bill would have cost us, the native-born taxpaying American citizens, a cool 2.5 trillion dollars (to add to the 10 trillion dollars of national debt we already owe). In exchange for what? For the "right" to have overcrowded schools, overcrowded hospitals, overburdened roads and infrastructure, soaring healthcare costs, lowered wages, and the continued attack on our language and culture. That's a good deal? Do you think that Americans or so dumb that we would make a deal like that?

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2007/06/10/activists_entered_immigration_debate_with_roar/

Here you go. This is what killed the bill. Millions of Americans rising up against the certain bankruptcy and destruction of our country.
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by omega39-2009 June 10, 2007 3:17 PM PDT
About those needed guest workers...

Nuking the Economy

By PAUL CRAIG ROBERTS

Last week the Bureau of Labor Statistics re-benchmarked the payroll jobs data back to 2000. Thanks to Charles McMillion of MBG Information Services, I have the adjusted data from January 2001 through January 2006. If you are worried about terrorists, you don%u2019t know what worry is.

Job growth over the last five years is the weakest on record. The US economy came up more than 7 million jobs short of keeping up with population growth. That%u2019s one good reason for controlling immigration. An economy that cannot keep up with population growth should not be boosting population with heavy rates of legal and illegal immigration.

Over the past five years the US economy experienced a net job loss in goods producing activities. The entire job growth was in service-providing activities--primarily credit intermediation, health care and social assistance, waiters, waitresses and bartenders, and state and local government.

US manufacturing lost 2.9 million jobs, almost 17% of the manufacturing work force. The wipeout is across the board. Not a single manufacturing payroll classification created a single new job.
http://www.counterpunch.org/roberts02112006.html
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by sparks224 June 10, 2007 3:18 PM PDT
"...soaring healthcare costs, lowered wages,..."
Posted by MaryJessel

If you are concerned about those things, why did you vote Republican?
Reply to this comment
by annie2you June 10, 2007 3:28 PM PDT

I don't know who CBS polled but I can tell you it was not people like me who have to live up close and personal with illegal immigration everyday. It would be very easy to have sympathy for the illegal immigrants if you never saw them, or was never not able to get a job because the employers like to use illegals, or if you can't afford health care and go to your local health clinic only to be told the money is gone, taken up by illegal immigrant's kids that need healthcare much more than anything I might need, if you didn't have to deal with crowded classrooms and also the fact your kids are not getting their fair share of the teacher's attention because there are the illegal immigrant's kids that need it so much more. I am not anti-immigrant. I'm anti-ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT. I do feel sympathy but not at the expense of THE UNITED STATES, our country. If there is a bill passed that gives amnesty (and it IS amnesty) millions of people would automatically become eligible for more social services than they already illegally get. And you can see from their rallys demanding to be given citizenship, they would have no problem demanding the services that suddenly became their right to have.
If Bob Schieffer, President George Bush, Ted Kennedy, etc. had to live in the real world for a month they would change their tune in a hurry.

Cont. below
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by annie2you June 10, 2007 3:33 PM PDT
Nothing radical or new, just enforce the existing laws. Heavily fine employers who hire illegals, ditto for landlords that rent to illegals. It is ILLEGAL, you know. Self deportation (attrition) would begin immediately. If you don't have a job or somewhere to live and you're not being given handouts thru social services, you would go home. No heavy handed round them all up and bus them back. You wouldn't have to do that. Just enforce our laws.
Our future and the quality of our children's lives depend on it.
Reply to this comment
by stokeybob June 10, 2007 3:40 PM PDT
The kind of reform, We the People", want is to have our laws enforced!

That should include arresting the criminals in the government, business, the illegal aliens themselves AND those that have been aiding and abetting them!
Reply to this comment
by sjc_1 June 10, 2007 4:01 PM PDT
They could just phase in a stronger enforcement of existing laws. Call it a shift in priorities. Tell the employers that over the next 6 months, we are going to check documents and if you have not verified their authenticity, you will be prosecuted.

That will give them time to verify and get rid of anyone with forged documents. If they know they will be arrested, they will not employ anymore people with forged documents, because they have the means to verify. If there are no jobs, there are no illegals...period.
Reply to this comment
by maryjessel June 10, 2007 4:06 PM PDT
"...soaring healthcare costs, lowered wages,..."
Posted by MaryJessel

If you are concerned about those things, why did you vote Republican?

IF you are concerned about those things, why do you support open borders with a Third World country, which will merely worsen them exponentially.
Reply to this comment
by teka10-2009 June 10, 2007 4:07 PM PDT
The Israel Lobby is having some kind of a fit over the USA public rejecting their selling amnesty. They help sell us the Iraqi War. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. No thanks, Bob. We are buying from you anymore.
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by teka10-2009 June 10, 2007 4:16 PM PDT
I would also point out that the Harris Poll of Feb.12, 2007 showed that the greatest fear USA citizens have is illegal immigration. The Rasmussen Poll--actually the last two polls, showed that around 60 percent of the USA public did not think illegal aliens should be put on any path to citizenship. The Zogby Poll showed the same results and they came out around the same time as the CBS Poll.The last Rasmussen poll showed that only 16 percent of those polled thought the bill would stop illegal immigration. 49 percent thought it would make it worse. The CBS Poll also used Poll Distortion. They gave respondents two choices on illegals--a criminal deportation or path to citizenship. And they put in all of the modifers --if they learn English, pay back taxes, have no record, (which if they did any of that now, there would be no problem or less of a problem)The CBS Poll never mentioned the option of Enforcement through Attrition. Which is put the employers of illegals in jail. That would stop it right quick. And all of this is a moot point. Bob is an Open Borders, Free Trade, Universal Citizenship for the USA type of guy. We want a fence. Just like the one Israel has. We want only a legal way to enter this nation. Just like only Jewish people can immigrate to Israel. We want our culture and language respected. Just like Hebrew is the offical language of Israel and Rabbis can over rule laws in Israel. We want what Israel has. No more. No less.
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by teka10-2009 June 10, 2007 4:25 PM PDT
Here is another dirty little secret about the 'Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill'. It was crafted in the shadows.Groups representating foreign nationals illegally in this nation had veto power over the bill. Commercial and business interests were in the shadlows writing that bill, but no Unions, No Public Watchdogs. Then It was brought to the Senate in the Shadows. It bypassed the Judiciary Comm. There were no public hearings. There was no imput of public opinion. There were no expert witnesses from the view of unchecked, unlimited immigration destroys the hopes and dreams of USA families. Leaving our S. Border wide open invites a disaster. We hear from repubtable MSM sources that 12 men gathered every morning in the Senate and in the shadows decided which Senator could give an opinion or not.(offer amendments).
Instead of listening to old men babble (and I too am old, I can say that) the American Legion and the Border Patrol Council which warned this bill was a threat to our National Security should be joined by USA citizens demanding the FBI investigate what did go on there in the Shadows.
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by teka10-2009 June 10, 2007 4:29 PM PDT
Sorry. Att. General Antonio Gonzales I think has authority over the FBI. Forget there ever being any investigation of what went on that secret room. I think it is about 586 days before President Bush is not President of the USA. Pray everyday. Be vigilant. Keep up with the news. Don't ever trust anyone in Washington D.C. again. Demand the border be secured with laws on the books now. They could do that tomorrow.
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by realityatb June 10, 2007 4:38 PM PDT
I would like to stress why we need a comprehensive immigration bill and have detail what some of the things that it should have in it.
I have noticed that some of people when they talked about immigration particularly illegal always say that business or corporation want them to stay here, but actually it is because that some business or corporation, and others realize that the country would not be able to compete financially in the future with other nations unless something is done for these people to come or stay here in a legal manner. Considering that we owe 2 to 3 trillions or more dollars in debts, it will be suicidal for our economy if we push legislation to hard on reducing trade deficit through yen, Yuan or other nation's currency appreciation. The only vital way to reduce the trade deficit is to be able to sell more to other nation while having enough national goods or products for ourselves.
Continue
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by teka10-2009 June 10, 2007 4:41 PM PDT
I am ranting. Here is why. I am going to have to leave my beloved Florida. Floridians are fleeing their state like never before for many reasons, the inability to get a job if you don't speak Spanish, illegal alien gang bangers, low-paying crime, drug cartels. kidnappings, violence that is unbeliviable, voodoo shops, politicans who pander to the illegals, schools where the children of USA citizens are overwhelmed by the children of illegal aliens, hospitals closed in South Florida and now closing in North Florida....Does Bob think we just sit around and make up these stories about Super Immigrants just because we are mean, evil liars
There are three main states where they're heading: North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georiga.


I read where someone said "Half-backs are people who moved to Florida from northerm states, lived there for years and now things are so bad in Florida that they leave and move 1/2 way back to where they came from and choose North Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia to live."
people who were born and raised in Florida who move to these states are called them "Evacuees".

And the irony--we have evacuees from California and New Jersey who are now evacuating to mid south states. We will go to Bama or Mississippi. God Willing and they don't close the borders to us.
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by realityatb June 10, 2007 4:41 PM PDT
In order for that to happen we will need lots of manpower, which lots of American won't do for long period of time. These goods, products or sometimes services must be at cost effective to business owner otherwise these goods or services will be going up, which will be bad for consumers or customers. Let's take health care for instance it has gotten very expensive to all of us since we are paying those health workers (physicians, nurses, CNAs, etc.) a lot more money than we used to.
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by realityatb June 10, 2007 4:43 PM PDT
If businesses are unable to compete with foreigners they will either close their doors or invest in foreign countries. I hope that we realized that most cars even those who carry US brand are not made in the US for the most part and these companies are shutting down their plants over here and that our furniture are not made in America anymore, which are two example that we can see right in our home. Should our foods come from someone else also, and how save will that be for us. The other major problem is that politically we have became less important to Latin America and the Caribbean; our only real ally so far is Mexico. Just a few days ago Costa Rica dismiss Taiwan, a protected nation from the US, as an independent country cause it wants to further its tie to China. Cuba and Venezuela are trying very hard to take Latin America away from us and with China, which could guaranty investment to these nations will put the US in a Continent by itself. It is true that some other nations have immigration laws stronger than us, but sending 12 millions people back will help Cuba and Venezuela propaganda against us not just to Latin America, but to the world. Our security depend not only on our ability to prevent new threat within or without, but also on how people living here view us.
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by realityatb June 10, 2007 4:43 PM PDT
Cracking down on illegal immigrant with full force will create prejudice toward certain minorities, which could change certain minorities mind on how to survive in this country since we are after all the richest nation of the world, and we might create an enemy within and a friend to extremist who are against us. This immigration proposal must carefully be planned for it is the root of our future. It must first entail the security of our border in full length, which means all border by land, sea and air. We must know who is coming in, for what purpose and when they intend to get out. We must also have to the best of our ability have tamper proof ID for all legal immigrant, whether is Visas, Work Permit, or Permanent Residency. It must also have a way of getting the current illegal legal, and must have a guest worker program. For the illegal there is two things that we can do reducing our current approach from having them leave the country (Which bear a 3 to 10 yrs band from returning to the US) by giving them temporary legal stay in this country for up to 5 yrs in order for them to find proper way to get permanent or other legal temporary stay with a 5000 dollars fines, which can be paid in installment or we can change the system altogether.
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by jolsonbear June 10, 2007 4:44 PM PDT
When this government gets out of the business of defining h.o.m.o.s.e.x.u.a.l.s as second class citizens with less rights than others, THEN, we can talk about what to do about these little brown roaches that have crossed our border!!!!!
Reply to this comment
by realityatb June 10, 2007 4:44 PM PDT
If we do choose the approach of the Z visa, we must require them to pay back taxes, hospital bill, government help that some of them may have taken, pass criminal background check (no felonies or higher, no gang affiliation, less than 3 misdemeanors) and repay the people whom identity might have been stolen. Let me say to the people whose identity have been stolen that once someone has been legalize that your identity will probably be safer cause there would not be such a vast demand for it, and the police job will be easier at catching those people who have stolen your identity. Illegal do not steal your identity since they don%u2019t even know you, but people who find a huge market for it does. But, the Z visa must not be giving to people in order for them to become a resident in the long run, residency must always be something that is very tough for people to obtain, because they will be the citizen of tomorrow. Z visa must let people go home and come back without application for permanent residency (only people who truly wants to become permanent resident should entail this process and be ready wait in line and follow the rule for permanent residency. People who did follow the rule of the country should also be able to apply for z visa or depending upon a point system apply for residency. All Z visa workers must not be entitle to social security unless they have spouse or children who are Citizen or resident
Continue
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by realityatb June 10, 2007 4:46 PM PDT
. The guest work program should be aiming at businesses who desperately need them and cannot find American or legal who can perform these services. We must also encourage people who have advance or bachelor degree and wants to be part of America to be part of America and to help strive our economy to new height. We probably need more foreign professional workers while we encourage our youth to be a voice to the world on Science, Math and even our common language, English. Our youth so far knows far to well how to speak the language, but many of them do not know how to write it. We must require all permanent resident to speak and write English, and must have a point system to determine who should get permanent residency. It is essential that our economy keeps growing so that we can pay our debt, advance our military might, keep our citizen above poverty level, be a champion in democracy throughout the world, and help other nation better themselves.
End
Reply to this comment
by jolsonbear June 10, 2007 4:48 PM PDT
When this government gets out of the business of defining h.o.m.o.s.e.x.u.a.l.s as second class citizens with less rights than others, THEN, we can talk about what to do about these little brown roaches that have crossed our border!!!!!
Reply to this comment
by teka10-2009 June 10, 2007 4:52 PM PDT
This is Lou Dobbs Five Dumbest Things about that Bill which I doubt Bob has read. Lou has read it. So have we. In bits and pieces because they were writing it as they went along. Thankfully, two Senators, bless them forever, would stand on the Senate Floor and read what they had to us until they were hoarse. Ok. Senator Sessions and Senator Dorgan. God Bless You both. You took a huge risk bucking the Powerful and the Elite to stand with us. When Senator Dorgan came out with a stack of papers and dared anyone sitting in that Senate to say they had read that bill because he just got it----that tood courage. When Sen. Session challened the Gang of 12 on their secret doings--that took courage. And Lou was our light during that dark night and many others. God Bless Him.
Lou's Top 5 List
Top 5 Dumbest Things in the Immigration Bill

5) Taxpayers will pay for the immigration lawyers for illegal aliens if working in agriculture.

4) Illegal aliens would be given legal status just one day after their application is filed even if a background check is not completed.

3) Gang members are eligible for amnesty if they renounce their gang status.

2) Borders do not have to be secure before the amnesty program begins.

1) $2,600,000,000,000 -- That is the cost the Heritage Foundation estimates to cover the retirement benefits of 12,000,000 illegal aliens if this amnesty bill becomes law.
Reply to this comment
by beckyal2 June 10, 2007 4:55 PM PDT
We were promised that our borders would be made secure in 1986. Why would anyone believe Congress when they say that they are going to secure the border again? We were promised that the amnesty is 1986 would be the last. At least this time they are asking the illegals to pay for the amnesty and they are not promising that there will never be another amnesty. Senators talk about $10 lettuce if the bill doesn't pass, but if it passed we would be paying $10 for a head of lettuce but part of it would be increase taxes and decrease social security benefits. I couldn't even refuse to buy the lettuce. Everyone says America is a land of laws, but criminals who have committed ID thief, social security fraud, and several other crimes will be allowed citizenship and amnesty while americans who have committed these crimes are sitting in jail.
Fair to americans, no way!!!!
Reply to this comment
by teka10-2009 June 10, 2007 5:03 PM PDT
One last comment and I thank CBS for letting us have a forum to comment. The years of 1926-1965 were years when the USA had very little immigration from anywhere. Our borders were tight. To Bob and the Elites, it was a racist, xenophobic, restrictionist, protectionist period of our history. What happened was:
1. Those prosperous years birthed the Civil Rights Movement. And Dr. King on Immigration? "they will hire the Immigrant and not the Black Native Citizen."
2. Hispanics succeded in getting a Farm Union. Cesar Chavez who fought illegal immigration tooth and nail even leading a March to the Mexican Border to protest illegal labor being used to break the backs of the USA working people.
3. A woman's rights movement was launche.
4. Public Schools were good and safe.
5. Crime was very low.
6. The USA grew to be the strongest and richest nation in the world.
7. Our vegetables and fruits got picked just fine. And no one ever heard of e-coli scares and poison food from China.
8. Labor Unions were strong and served as a check on Big Business. Most families only needed one wage earner.

Then in 1965, Senator Kennedy with the help of others changed our immigration laws to admit third world peoples instead of people from N. and S. Europe mostly. We had a point system before he changed it to 'Family Unification' or "Chain Migration'That is a fact. Not a smear.
Protectionism grows a middle class.
Reply to this comment
by susanhelit June 10, 2007 5:28 PM PDT
NO, we don't. I'm squarely in the middle - moderate Democrat, and I can tell you neither I, nor my husband (another moderate, independent), want anything close to what you propose.

NO AMNESTY
NO large guest worker program
Immigration reform only to help us bring in the best and brightest, rather than someone's 3rd cousin of Aunt Betty
NO AMNESTY OF ANY KIND

Some kind of guest worker program is nothing related to the wholesale giveaway of jobs the amnesty bill was proposing - the problem with that kind of open ended poll question.


NO AMNESTY, PERIOD.
Reply to this comment
by jguy1957 June 10, 2007 5:41 PM PDT
Schieffer needs to wake up (along with the rest of the MSM) the Immigration Bill was wanted by only select groups.

These groups were Democrats expecting surges in party rolls, Unions expecting to swell ranks (I checked the UAW and AFL web sites and could not believe they wanted it), and certain Republican and Democrats Senators getting kick backs from special interests.

These laws are on the books now (since 1986 we have had 12 Million +)and we need CBS and others to do what we want from our media - pressure on all parties equally and get them to do what is right for the USA and not non Americans.

CBS should not be saying "the polls say we really want illegals", but should be asking each Senator way can't they get the laws that were passed before working properly by the Executive branch. CBS also should be asking the Executive Branch why the cannot get the laws that were passed before working properly.

Reply to this comment
by teka10-2009 June 10, 2007 5:48 PM PDT
That same CBS/NY Times Poll that Schieffer quotes as saying the USA wanted a bill and legalization of millions of illegal aliens and guestworker programs also had a question the Elites DID NOT talk about. When asked what should be done with illegal aliens--69 percent of those surveyed in that SAME POLL he quotes said illegal aliens should be arrested and deported. A very unhappy picture of how USA citizens felt about illegal immigration was in that poll. They did NOT talk about the 82 percent of those surveyed who resented the refusal, the absolute refusal of Congress or the President to secure our Border. using the laws we already have.

The Border. Secure that border. Vote every one of them out who gets in your face and blah blah blah about that being a Berlin Wall. The Berlin Wall divided a city in a nation. It keep people IN--not OUT. A border fence seperates Nations. And with Mexico, a nation that was an ally of Germany's in WWI and neutral until the week the war was over in WWII. The FBI sought Nazi spies in Mexico after the war. Consult with Mexico? Why Senator Dodd? Could some Democrats pose that Question to him when he explains why English is not a language he wishes to see become our National Language? He wishes to be our President.
Reply to this comment
by teka10-2009 June 10, 2007 5:55 PM PDT
Rasmussen Reports says in their editorial (and they are time and time again the most accurate Independent Polling Group out there)
"polling found that 72% of Americans believe it%u2019s Very Important to reduce illegal immigration and enforce the borders. Just 29% said it was Very Important to legalize the status of those illegally living in the country today."
They nailed that one.

After ignoring the main point that voters were hoping to address, Senators should not have been shocked at the public reaction. But they were.

With all the polling data in the world today, how could they have failed to see this coming? While Rasmussen Reports was the only public polling firm to directly ask about support or opposition to the Senate bill, other polling data such as a recent CBS News/New York Times survey provided plenty of warning signs. Besides, the nation%u2019s politicians purchase plenty of private polling data that should have given them a hint.

We live in a world where most Americans believe that most Members of Congress will sell their vote for cash or a campaign contribution. Only 16% believe the legislators%u2019 votes are not for sale. By a nearly 5-to-1 margin, voters believe that Members of Congress are more interested in their own careers and agenda rather than the public good."

Right again.
Reply to this comment
by sf_bay1 June 10, 2007 6:09 PM PDT
Some people on the extremes of right and left are so foggy-minded they don't care for any national agreementt unless it is "their way".
Yes, some legitimately object to some aspects of the bill, but many in our polorized time care mostly about fighting and contention, not reconciliation or compromise.

Without a bill, we will get our just desserts!
Reply to this comment
by emhawks June 10, 2007 6:41 PM PDT
The non -enforcement of the immigration law by the Bush/Cheney adm. is due ultimately to one thing: the North American Union(NAU).
As many of you are aware, there is a plan being worked on very quietly by Bush & Cheney , the large corp. & the global elite (read about the Trilateral Comm.), to merge the US with Mexico & Canada to create a %u201CNorth American Union.%u201D (NAU). The creation of the NAU would erase our borders with Mexico & Canada, replace the dollar with the %u201CAmero%u201D, lead to unlimited immigration & render the Constitution of the US meaningless.
The name of the effort behind this is the Security & Prosperity Partnership of North America (SSP). SSP became %u201Cofficial policy%u201D of the US @ a summit convened by Bush & joined by then Mexican Pres. Fox & Canadian PM Martin, in Waco, TX 3/23/05 .
This %u201C partnership%u201D hasn%u2019t been submitted to Congress for its oversight/concurrence because it%u2019s not a treaty. The administration of this %u201Cpartnership%u201D is buried in the Commerce Dept.
It does have, however, the blessings of the corp. & political elites of the (3) nations. Some of the corp. in favor of the NAU are:
(1)Campbell Soup
(2) Gillette Inc.
(3)FedEx
(4)Merck & Co
(5)Walmart
(6)Mittal Steel USA
(7)Gen. Motors
(8)Lockeed Martin
This is an attack on American sovereignty!
Reply to this comment
by emhawks June 10, 2007 6:44 PM PDT
North AM. Union...cont....... A visit to the SPP website spells out the %u201Cwonders%u201D of this partnership in some of the smoothest & most soothing writing I%u2019ve read in a long time.
The planned 3rd summit (in Canada I think) of SPP is 6/26/07-6/29/07 or 8/07. At this meeting will be Canadian PM Stephen Harper , Mexican Pres. Calderon & Bush.
NAFTA is the predecessor of the NAU. The NAFTA Superhwy. or trans-TX corridor, is part of the broader plan of the SPP. One principle player in this is a Spanish construction co. called Cintra, which plans to build the hwy. & operate it as a toll-road. Cintra is an international operator of toll roads & car parks. Roads operated by Cintra include Hwy.407(Ontario) , Chicago Skyway, Indiana Toll Road & numerous roads in Spain, Portugal & Ireland.
In the research I%u2019ve done I%u2019ve found the following info. about this Superhwy.:
(1) It is a (10) lane, (400)yd. wide hwy., from Mex. port of Lazaro Cardenas ( port on Pacific side of Mexico) up to & across US border , all the way into Canada. Within the median strip dividing north & south car & truck lanes, would be rail lines for both passenger & freight train traffic, & oil & gas pipelines.
Reply to this comment
by bill1fj June 10, 2007 6:46 PM PDT
No Amnesty
The government, both parties, have not done there jobs.
We, the people, want illegal aliens to leave or be deported. We want any person and company that hires illegal aliens to be fined heavily.
We want the jobs stolen by illegals to be returned to legal citizens.
Vote any of these politicians that support amnesty out of office.
No Amnesty
Reply to this comment
by emhawks June 10, 2007 6:47 PM PDT
NAU....continued.... (2) Container ships from China would unload @ Lazaro Cardenas (port named for Mex. Pres. who nationalized all US oil co. in 1938). From there, trucks with Mex. drivers would run fast-lanes into US; hauling their cargo to a US customs inspection terminal in Kansas City, MO. From there, the trucks would fan out across America or on into Canada.
(3) First leg of NAFTA Superhwy. scheduled to begin in 2007.
(4) Beneficiarys of this NAFTA Superhwy.project would be the contractors who built it (remember, a Spanish construction co. called Cintra), & the importers & outlet stores for the Chinese manufactured goods that would come flooding in.
(5) Losers would be US longshoremen, truckers, manufacturers & taxpayers.
The US taxpayer would pay the costs of building the hwy. in Mexico & the US.
This is an OUTRAGE!
Reply to this comment
by emhawks June 10, 2007 6:50 PM PDT
NAU...continued... The stated target date for full implementation of the NAU is 2010 (%u201CBuilding a North American Community%u201D, Council on Foreign Relations(CFR), pg.2, 2005).
The NAU plan is headed to Congress this fall by Sept. 30, 2007. A powerful think-tank( Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) , chaired by former Sen. Sam Nunn & guided by trustees including Richard Armitage, Zbigniew Brzezinski, Harold Brown, William Cohen & Henry Kissinger, is in the final stages of preparing a report to the White House & US Congress on the benefits of integrating US, Mexico & Canada into one political, economic & security bloc. The Bush/Cheney adm., the global elite (or %u201Cglobalists) & the large corp. are planning on having @ least the economic part of the NAU plan fully in place & operational by 2010.
The final report (in English, Spanish & French) is scheduled for submission to all (3) governments by Sept. 30, 2007 according to the CSIS ( check out CSIS report,%u201D North American Future 2025 Project%u201D). The CSIS boast of playing a large role in the passage of NAFTA in 1994.
Reply to this comment
by emhawks June 10, 2007 6:54 PM PDT
The information I%u2019ve provided only scratches the surface. However, there is something we ( the American citizen) can do about this! The reading/research I%u2019ve done indicates that this issue trandscends political parties.
Us Rep. Virgil Goode (VA), Walter Jones (NC), Ron Paul (TX) & Tom Tancredo (CO) have introduced House Concurrent Resolution 40 (H.C.R.40) to demand that:

(1) US should not engage in the constuction of NAFTA Superhwy. System.

(2) US should not enter into a North American Union with Mexico & Canada.

I URGE YOU TO WRITE/PHONE/EMAIL YOUR ELECTED CONGRESSMAN/WOMEN & DEMAND THE PASSAGE OF HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 40 (H.C.R.40)!



This issue affects all of America!

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
(1) Worldnetdaily (www.wnd.com)
(2) www.conservativeusa. org
(3) The August Review (www.augustreview.com)
(4) www.informationliberation.com
(5) www.vivelecanada.ca
(6) www.townhall.con
(7) www.informationclearinghouse.info
(8) www.humanevents.com
(9) Bilderberg Group
(10) The Trilateral Commision (globalists; notice who the members are)
(11) Robert A. Pastor



SUPPORT H.C.R. 40!!!!!


STOP THE NORTH AMERICAN UNION!!!!!!
Reply to this comment
by sparks224 June 10, 2007 7:00 PM PDT
"...soaring healthcare costs, lowered wages,..."
Posted by MaryJessel

If you are concerned about those things, why did you vote Republican?

IF you are concerned about those things, why do you support open borders with a Third World country, which will merely worsen them exponentially.
Posted by MaryJessel

But I don't support open borders, for the reason you stated. The Republicans you voted for, support open borders for the cheap labor.
Reply to this comment
by texasashley June 10, 2007 7:02 PM PDT
NO! We%u2019re Democrats, and we%u2019re opposed to allowing citizenship to the people here illegally. This bill is an attack on the middle class and poor.
Foreclosures are high in part due to rising property taxes to fund the never ending increase in illegals to the schools. The dollar spent per student decreases each year, resulting in loss of P.E. and arts programs in order to pay for bilingual teachers and ESL programs. The wealthy send their children to private schools, but the poor and middle class are forced to stand by and watch their children%u2019s educations decline.

Hospital districts lose millions of dollars on care for illegals. The criminal systems are overburdened with them. Again, tax payers are footing the bill.
In the midst of this U.S. citizens are screaming ENOUGH! ENFORCE the laws!
What does Congress do? Republicans say we need the bill for security. How can they argue that they are doing it for security when they vote against amendments to enforce current laws and to prevent citizenship to criminals and gang members? Democrats say, let them all in and let's let them bring their elderly parents and other relatives in? Let's increase taxes to pay for pre-k, healthcare, and college?
The deficit is high, the middle class is dwindling, education is declining, we're not taking care of the poor, our 911 responders or our soldiers, yet we should allow criminals citizenship and then offer them social programs?
Reply to this comment
by sparks224 June 10, 2007 7:07 PM PDT
"...soaring healthcare costs, lowered wages,..."
Posted by MaryJessel

If you are concerned about those things, why did you vote Republican?

"IF you are concerned about those things, why do you support open borders with a Third World country, which will merely worsen them exponentially."
Posted by MaryJessel

But I don't support open borders, for the reason you stated. The Republicans you voted for, support open borders for the cheap labor.
Reply to this comment
by afinefolly June 10, 2007 7:25 PM PDT
hitlers army was scary and powerful, but 99 plus % of victims in hitler's era were not jews and such, they were babies and the army didn't physically get them, parents did ... congress's army is scary and powerful, but 99 plus % of victims in congresses era are not the poor blacks filling prisons or the the middle easterners filling wars or the immigrants illegalized or the kids in dare schools or the naked people or the lazy ignorant profane people, or even all those people together: they are kids age five and less, and congress isn't physically capable, the entire u.s. military, infact all the militaries in the world, are not physically capable of laying a physical hand on each and every one of them ... but they still started it, and there may be more date rape drugs today than guns in wwii but 99 plus %, 99 plus % of the time, just as in wwii, don't use them against people against the wishes of those people

Reply to this comment
by sparks224 June 10, 2007 7:30 PM PDT
Look MaryJessel, the Republicans have had control of the White House and Congress for most of the last Seven years. They have made no effort to stop the flow of cheap labor (did you really think they were going to?!). You bought the lies they told you and YOU voted for them. So stop your whining and take some responsibility for your mistake. This problem is your fault.
Reply to this comment
by lssbigdog June 10, 2007 7:51 PM PDT
The 1986 amnesty didn't work and this one won't either!!!!!!!Mr shiffer the loudest voices prevailed because the citizens who are living with this mess don't want this bill.If the federal govt really wanted to curtail ILLEGAL ACTIVITY, local law enforcement whould be able to ask the question in the commission of a crime What IS YOUR LEGAL STATUS the laws work against the citizens of the US. If the president and congress took an oath to enforce the laws of our country they have not done their jobs.Maybe the ones who are pro amnesty are the least affected by the crime the overrun of social services. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
Reply to this comment
by sasi1-2009 June 10, 2007 8:01 PM PDT
Here we go again. CBS has to be worse than Bush about putting a spin on things. That poll he is referring to stated the same thing in two opposite directions. One had to read the entire thing to get to the part where 68% of those polled wanted the illegals deported. Explain that if you can, CBS! Better yet, reprint the whole thing so everyone can reread it.
Reply to this comment
by blackbug99 June 10, 2007 8:10 PM PDT
Sorry, Shieffer, America has voted. We are tired of lawless migration...Not immigration, where people want to come and meld. But, lawless border crossing with no concern for our country and mores. We, I mean most of us making less than 60K per year could not even emmigrate to Mexico...They have standards I guess. Nor, could we own land, get free schooling or medical, period. Nor, could we ever hope to become voting citizens. Sorry, it's in their rules. Mexico is a democracy in name only. Let, Mexico solve it's own problems. I for one, Mr. Shieffer, am tired of being a scapegoat for not solving the worlds problems.
Reply to this comment
by sclaires June 10, 2007 8:41 PM PDT
I don't know how CBS can say that Americans want this immigration bill when in fact that is opposite to what I have been hearing from all over this country. Most Americans are sick and tired of having taxes go up to pay for schools, medical care, social programs, etc for all the blasted illegal immigrants that are here now. And then to have so many businesses bowing down to the illegals by having signs in Spanish and Spanish speaking telephone operators is also costing the American consumer rather we know it or not. EVERYONE who comes to this country to live and work should know how to read, write, and speak English or learn FAST thereafter. As for the criminal illegals, they should be sent back to their home country as fast as possible. In California, they have to segregate prisoners as they will kill each other if mixed which is one reason so many of the prisons are overcrowded. So many of the illegal criminals have absolutely no regard for human life which is what landed them in prison to begin with. And, let's not forget that our taxes are paying to support all the illegal criminals who are in prison. IT IS TIME TO SEND THEM ALL BACK TO WHERE THEY CAME FROM TO BEGIN WITH!!!!!!
Reply to this comment
by teka10-2009 June 10, 2007 9:06 PM PDT
Note that he is using the same New Talking Points that Geraldo on FoxNews, Sen. Schumer, Gov. Elliot Spitzer, Police Chief Kelly, the NPR lady said on Fox Sunday,and the Catholic Bishop of NYC said at the Puerto Rican Rally today. They all say "It was the far left and the far right that overwhelmed the majority, the middle, who really want this Immigration Bill. So the Senate needs to get busy and pass it." Every last one of them used those very similar words. Whoever writes that stuff for the Amnesty Lobby gets it to them QUICK.
The Truth which they know, but figure the Senate is too stupid or too venial to care is that 74 percent of the USA public, including Catholics and Legal Hispanics, loathe that bill. Only 29 percent of the USA will go on record as supporting it.(Rasmessen Polls)
It was the left rising up, it was the right rising up, it was the middle rising up---it was us.
this is our country.

It is not theirs to give away. Not for cheap labor. Not for cheap votes. Not for Folks to fill the now empty Church Pews.
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