This post from Andrew Sullivan takes an odd look at the Bush plan. Let's try a "fisking" here. A few quotes:
His outreach to undocumented aliens is a political coup de main.
Notice the term "undocumented aliens". Well, why are they undocumented? Because they came here illegally in the first place. There are either documented aliens and illegal aliens. You can call it semantics all you want, but that does not change the fact.
They're here; they're working; they deserve basic legal protection; immigration is America's glory and demographic and fiscal savior. The immigrants will not be given preference over others aiming for citizenship.
Here, he tries to make those that disagree out as anti-immigration. I don't think that's the issue. I think the issue is that we are anti-illegal immigration. Then he claims there will be no special treatment. Well, the fact is that many have spent years and money trying to immigrate legally while these illegal aliens have done none of that and will get the exact same legal status. Does that strike you as fair?
I think it makes sense to integrate people already in the country rather than maintain a kind of surreal fiction that they aren't here, or to hold over their heads the constant and debilitating risk of deportation or destitution. The status of such people is also terribly destructive to their sense of well-being, dignity and welfare.
I suppose he has a point on integrating those already here, but surely there is a better way to do it and perhaps not all of them should be integrated. Perhaps offer something less than citizenship that does not allow for all of the benefits of being a citizen. If they want those benefits, they need to become full citizens. And frankly, I am not concerned about their sense of well being, dignity and welfare. I simply don't find it the governments place to make sure we all feel good about ourselves. If being an illegal alien is such a debilitating feeling, then perhaps they should have gone back home or not come in the first place.
Bush has decided he can tick off the conservative forces in his own coalition and reach out to a huge new consistency. Even if he fails to pass the legislation, his very advocacy of it will send an extremely powerful signal to Latino voters: you're welcome in the GOP realignment.
Why exactly would Bush want to tick off his base any more than he already has? Most Republicans are not happy with the level of spending coming out of the Bush administration. I don't see how this is beneficial to the President. Further, I do not see how this will really change the attitude of Latino voters in the long run. They are already given plenty of reasons to join the conservative coalition and decide not to. Further, just because it may be politically positive, does that make it right? How is it any different than Gray Davis trying to get new voters by allowing illegal Mexicans in California to get drivers licenses? Both are pandering, or hispandering, and both are unsound policies in the end because they do not respect the rule of law. Without that, what kind of nation are we? That is all.
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