Say Anything Blog

I’ve been really getting hammered with family stuff lately and haven’t been able to keep up with blogging.  There’s been a lot of great stories that I haven’t been able to get to.  Here’s a very instructive poll from last week.

Each time immigration reform dominates the news. President Bush’s Job Approval ratings tumble to new lows. Last week, a much-heralded agreement on “comprehensive” immigration reform was announced. By Saturday, the President’s Job Approval had fallen to 34. Just as important, the number who Strongly Approve of the President’s performance dipped to 13%. Both figures are the lowest ever recorded by Rasmussen Reports

Immigration adds to the downward pressure on his numbers in a unique way—immigration costs the President support among his base. Today, as the immigration debate formally begins in Congress, just 68% of Republicans give the President their Approval.

While the President advocates a “comprehensive” reform focused primarily on legalizing the status of illegal aliens, our most recent survey shows that most voters favor an enforcement first policy. Last year, following a nationally televised Presidential Address on immigration, just 39% of Americans agreed with the President’s position.

From the beginning, the President and most other Beltway politicians have misunderstood the public debate over immigration The initial discussions in Washington implied a debate that was either pro-immigration or anti-immigration. Those who favored some form of legalization or earned citizenship were pictured in official Washington as pro-immigrant while those who favored border control were thought to be anti-immigrant (or perhaps racist).

However, Rasmussen Reports data shows an entirely different picture. Among those who favor enforcement-first, 59% also favor a national policy goal that welcomes all immigrants except national security threats, criminals, and those who would come here to live off the U.S. welfare system.

Among those who oppose an enforcement first policy, just 50% favor such a welcoming policy goal.

In other words, those who favor an enforcement-first policy are more likely than others to ultimately support a welcoming immigration policy.

I have to think that President Bush for some reason thinks that amnesty is the right thing to do because this makes zero sense politically.  Driving away the base while greatly expanding the numbers that will never vote for you.  Of course once these folks can come out of the shadows they’ll be demanding more free government services which will balloon the size of government.  This will cost the taxpayers who are already strained an additional two trillion dollars.  It makes no sense.

President Bush isn’t just insulting the base with his support for this bill.  He’s insulting the 74% who don’t want at least this amnesty bill with his words.

President Bush attacked opponents of an immigration deal Tuesday, suggesting they “don’t want to do what’s right for America.”

“The fundamental question is, will elected officials have the courage necessary to put a comprehensive immigration plan in place,” Bush said against a backdrop of a huge American flag.

That really makes me angry.  What I want is for people not to rewarded for intentionally breaking the law.  President Bush doesn’t even think the illegals should pay the taxes they owe.  How about the American citizens get some preferential treatment like those that broke our laws to come here?

I found some other interesting polling information in this story.  By a three to one margin those surveyed think that we should enforce the laws that are on the books rather than pass more laws. Why should we have new laws when the government has shown that they are unwilling to enforce the current law.  Why should we believe them when they say that this time they really will do what they say they will.

The lesson to be learned in this polling information is that the only clear majority in the immigration debate demands an enforcement first and only approach. If you see polling in favor of the “comprehensive approach” it’s only because the Washington politicians are selling amnesty by combining it with enforcement. 

We have a nearly identical amnesty plan back in 1986.  The illegals at the time were given instant legal status with a promise for increased enforcement.  We wouldn’t be in this situation today if we had got our enforcement.