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DEL.ICIO.USBest-laid plans ripped by immigration issue
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
When tens of thousands of people take to their feet in suburban Atlanta, that means something.
The Monday march through the immigrant section of DeKalb County - think on the peculiarity of that phrasing - was the equal, perhaps the superior, of another march nearly 20 years ago in Forsyth County.
That demonstration drew 30,000 and was a last hurrah of the old guard of the Civil Rights era. The target was Forsyth County’s racial insularity - a certain eagerness to cling to a culture long out of favor.
Given Forsyth County’s sky-high economic trajectory, the outcome and impact of that 1987 march through suburbia was never in doubt. Growth settles many arguments in Atlanta.
The same can’t be said for Monday’s march.
The immigration issue has turned out to be just as volatile as Republicans feared - perhaps because growth is seen as a cause, not the solution.
Business was the quiet, practical force that pushed the South out of its segregated cocoon. This time, not a few people think that a corporate thirst for cheap labor is why we’re having this discussion.
Let us point out just a few patches where the illegal immigration issue has ripped some carefully stitched political fabric.
Catholics are the fastest-growing religious denomination in the South.
For three years, Gov. Sonny Perdue and the state GOP have nurtured a permanent alliance between conservative Protestants and like-minded Catholics over issues such as school vouchers and abortion.
Illegal immigration has become the fly in that ointment. Last week, the archbishop of Atlanta and the bishop of Savannah loudly expressed their disappointment that the Legislature had passed S.B. 529.
That’s the bill designed to satisfy the Republican base on illegal immigration, without threatening GOP business interests. Gov. Sonny Perdue is all but obliged to sign it.
The fact that Catholic criticism was aimed at a specific piece of legislation was highly unusual - and doesn’t bode well for an alliance of the magnitude Republicans might have once hoped for.
In a conversation last week, a top Republican confessed he was worried about the angry direction in which this debate was headed. That was immediately followed by an exchange between Casey Cagle and Ralph Reed, the two GOP candidates for lieutenant governor.
“Reed flip-flops on illegal alien amnesty,” was the headline over the Cagle press release.
Cagle’s opposition research crew had discovered a transcript of Reed appearing on MSNBC’s “Scarborough Country” in January 2003.
But the most important fact that Cagle didn’t mention: Reed was appearing as a spokesman for the Bush/Cheney ‘04 re-election campaign.
Said Joe Scarborough: “Ralph, as you know, a lot of conservative Republicans are very angry with the president’s plan to grant, in effect, what they believe is amnesty for illegal aliens who work in America.
“Why is he doing that?”
Said Reed: “No. 1, this is a much more conservative policy than the Reagan policy of 1986 of blanket amnesty.
“What Reagan did was, he said to everyone who was in the country illegally, you can achieve citizenship. This president has not done that. This is a guest worker program that does not encourage law-breaking and doesn’t encourage illegal immigration.
“They have to go in and register. They have to have a job. They have pay to a fee. The employer has to certify that they attempted to hire an American citizen and couldn’t.
“They have a three-year period, renewable for three more years, that doesn’t guarantee them a green card and doesn’t guarantee them citizenship…..
“This is a responsible policy by the president. And he should be applauded for allowing a problem that has festered for decades and to grab the bull by the horns and fix it.”
And what’s Reed not saying? He’s not saying that in a post-911 world, Bush’s proposal to fix the country’s immigration problem was an immediate flop - denied if not denounced by most Republican leaders in the South.
Perhaps America’s post-Bush period started last year, in one of Reed’s first appearances as a candidate. Reed very bluntly said he was against amnesty in any form — a decision to put air between himself and the president for whom he once spoke.
Cagle’s unlikely to let the argument go. Prepare for many arguments over the meaning of the word “amnesty.” And more rents in the political fabric.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By LB
April 11, 2006 07:15 PM | Link to this
When these people protest, what exactly are they protesting? All the USA is asking is that they follow the rules. Their protest tells me that they are mad because they will no longer be allowed to break the law. No other country would allow this type law breaking to continue. I have a friend who took 7 years to become a citizen and followed all the rules. He went to the classes and did all his paperwork. What a huge slap in his face if the US allows others to just come aboard and not have to identify themselves. On the flip side, why wouldn’t the illegals take it as a compliment instead of an insult to be asked to proceed to become a citizen. I realize it takes time to become a citizen but it looks like a welcome mat to me. What’s the big deal to these people? Just register and get on with life.
By Regularjoe
April 11, 2006 08:38 PM | Link to this
The Governor had better sign that bill. He is looking weak.
By JackS
April 11, 2006 10:05 PM | Link to this
I just crunched the numbers and if I”m doing this right then Ralph has raised roughly $400,000 in general election and runoff election money that he cannot use in the primary. So much for the decisive advantage in fundraising.
of course, we know that little things like laws aren’t a hinderance to Ralph and Jack, but as usual with Ralph, it’s all hype.
By Amber
April 11, 2006 10:58 PM | Link to this
This is insane. I am seriously confused as to what the delay is here? I mean, look at it this way, these illegal people are crimanals, and if they like to say they are so hard working, how is it that they can’t fill out a few stacks of papers and take a test to become a citizen. Seems pretty lazy to me. It’s crazy if you ask me, i’m 14 years old, and even i can see that there is a problem here, because, well, when i go with my mother to the health department, it’s me and my mom, maybe… 4 african americans, and 67 immigrants, and that’s not exagerating, so, look if 65 of those 67 are getting free care that adds up to ALOT of money being wasted… but just look at the president, he’s from texas, ofcourse he LOVES them, and hey, he owns a farm, wonder how many he’s working, the country’s going to the pits……..
Ps.LB, i agree totally.
By UGA 72
April 12, 2006 04:56 AM | Link to this
Out of the mouths of babe’s…… We recently monitored the emergency rooms in Cobb County hospitals because a senior citizen demanded that she be treated free just like the Mexican Family who wasn’t paying a penny. During the 1 week period from March 24 through March 31 there were at least 107 instances of people who spoke spanish seeking treatment without being able to pay or understanding they were supposed to pay for the treatment. Clearly they thought they were in Canada where medical care is free, but wait, it is free to them so why bother going to Canada.
No one I know objects to immigrants becoming citizens by following the rules. But everyone with any common sense can’t rationally support people coming in and making money, not paying taxes, getting free medical care, NOT PAYING SCHOOL TAXES, and sending the money out of the country so it doesn’t even benefit the businesses here for the illegals to be here. What is difficult to understand is how with NAFTA, and CAFTA closing all the textile mills in GA, why are the Mexicans staying where the work is?
By Harold
April 12, 2006 08:55 AM | Link to this
The Governor always reviews legislation before signing it. Given the magnitude of the bill, it is no suprise that he is taking his time to analyze it. I really appreciate his doing this, instead of just signing any popular bill that comes across his desk, as some would have him do.
Let’s keep in mind that the Democrats ran this state while the hundreds of thousands of illegals were coming in, and never once did anything about it. Equally notable is the silence from both Mark Taylor and Cathy Cox on this issue. They are less than 100 days away from their primary election and neither of them has indicated their position on this hot-button issue.
By Regularjoe
April 12, 2006 09:12 AM | Link to this
Great signed on just in time to answer a comment.
I understand he needs review the bill time, but he seemed for it until the momentum caught him by suprise. Now he looks weak, not careful. If he doesn’t sign it, not only is he weak, he is spineless.
By Steve
April 12, 2006 09:35 AM | Link to this
Hey HAROLD, you don’t get it. The govenor’s priorities are 1 get reelected, 2 further the conservative agenda of govt for the rich. Just look at taxes, there should be no state tax on any energy product especially gas.
By Tony
April 12, 2006 09:40 AM | Link to this
To those who keep saying these people are not paying in….I remind you that a LARGE majority of the state revenue is made through sales tax. And considering these immigrants are buying goods, food, gasoline, etc. I’d say they are paying into the system. You people act as if they are poor homeless wretches begging for welfare. You are too ignorant to realize that these people build your houses, grow your agriculture, process your meat, etc. These people work in sweatshop conditions often longer than us cushy people in our normal every day jobs.
Our country makes it illegal to come here and make money and live a dream that millions before have lived. You say why can’t they do this the legal way? Because the legal method is broken. Do you honestly know how long it takes to fill out and file paperwork and get an answer? The legal method keeps out thousands of willing workers and ties them up in red tape.
Personally, I have seen the squalor these people live in. And if I were in the same condition of living in a cardboard and sheet metal house with kids starving and a wife dying, I’d risk crossing a border to make money as well. I can’t believe in this “free” and “Christian” society we are willing to make someone a felon for only wanting to work in this country. Have we become so callous as a people where we criminalize the American dream? Dealing drugs and other far more serious crimes can get off with misdemeanors and we want to make these people felons?
Forget citizenship. Most of these people don’t want to be citizens. All they want to do is work and then go back home.
All of you hateful people need to pay a visit to a poultry farm and then go to Mexico and Honduras and Guatamala. See what these people see. And tell me you would not risk the same thing.
Why are we not rounding up the business leaders who are committing this fraud? They are defrauding the state government from income tax revenue? Round them up and charge them as felons. THEY are the law breakers.
The problem is a government with a broken system. The problem is a few people with so much hate they want to wall off the world. And most of those are calling themselves Christians. Good thing God did not do that to the Gentiles.
By Dianna
April 12, 2006 11:00 AM | Link to this
I don’t really understand. Does no one recognize the word ‘illegal’ here? Why do we want folks who are already breaking the law to become a part of the fabric of our society? The prisons are filled with people who ignore the law for their own benefit. Is this who we want as our neighbors?
I really don’t understand what about the word ‘illegal’ folks don’t understand!
As far as economy and working the ‘low paid jobs’, didn’t construction workers make really good money 20 or so years ago? Didn’t the low pay come about as the immigrant labor force grew and employers saw a way to put more money in their pockets?
If we go back to paying a decent wage, costs of the products will go up, for awhile. But things will even themselves out after awhile.
I think it is time we put our foot down and say ‘enough is enough’! If you are not here legally, either get legal or go home.
Enough said. For me anyway.
By it's just me..
April 12, 2006 11:16 AM | Link to this
Hi, folks…I can see that this is a contentious issue. So, I have more questions than answers based on some of the comments:
what proof do we have that american jails are so full of these illegal immigrants? what crimes have they bene accused? how much money is wasted on their incarceration? and here’s the biggie…is anybody willing to bet that they stay in jail longer than somebody like Ken Lay or a pedophile or a rapist or someone accused of tax evasion?
someone commented that if we go back to decent wages, prices might go up for a while and then adjust accordingly. how many of know teens that don’t want to work the jobs that we worked when we were their ages? we’re already screaming about the price of gas. imagine how much more we’d scream if we had to pay more for our houses, food, and clothes? it’s a shame that US companies exploit foreign workers so that we can pay minimal prices for our luxuries. oh, that reminds me…shouldn’t we complain as loudly about US companies exploiting foreign labor as we complain about foreign people who come here in search of work?
the person who commented about most immigrants not wanting citizenship is right, to some extent. while there is a vast majority who just want to work and go back home, america does provide a better standard of living. and it’s true that their request for services could potentially cripple the economy. however, the legislators need to go ahead and find a way to fix the problem rather than passing the blame. in other words, the people WILL continue to come. establish a working program that allows the flexibility for them to come and go. this should also include SSNs/ID cards required for use of services and taxes. but that also means holding big - and other - businesses accountable. i have no idea how to answer that part…any suggestions?
By crs
April 12, 2006 11:54 AM | Link to this
What has been brought to light by these “protests” is that many of these people while wanting to be here and earn extravagant wages for what they do, they are unwilling to assimilate into the american way of life. If these people are unwilling to legally enter the country and legally become citizens they need to be shipped back to Mexico or whatever other country they came from. These people are a drain on american resources and taxpayer dollars as well as a troublesome menace to our society in many cases. Latino gangs are a huge problem in many areas and many of these people are in fact illegals. Buford Highway is a perfect example, crime in the area is rampant, much of it perpetrated by latinos and/or latino gangs. Many of these day laborers earn enough money to drink and cause problems and start all over the next day. Buford Highway in many sections is some of the worst areas of Atlanta. I would encourage everyone to do the research and find out where your representatives stand on this issue.
By Tony
April 12, 2006 12:05 PM | Link to this
Dianna,
Here’s a little lesson for you on economics. Wages were better years ago. Then someone in the business community said, “you know I can make a greater profit if I hired lower skilled people. I can make an even greater profit if I hired undocumented workers. I can cheat the system and pay them peanuts compared to what is perscribed by law. I can cheat paying payroll and income taxes as well.”
It is THOSE people who have defrauded the rest of Americans. It is our OWN PEOPLE who are hiring these people by the thousands. And law of supply and demand kicks in.
If you need a better example, look at all of the companies fleeing to Central America thanks to Bush I, Clinton, and Bush II. These companies are out for the profit and will pack up and leave the American worker for the cheap labor elsewhere. The ones here who can’t afford to leave just stay here and hire the undocumented workers.
Do you realize that if we rounded up these millions of people, we’d sink all of our taxes into this process? It would take that much money to do this. Once this is done, we’d see a lack of goods in the stores because the labor was gone. Then the farms, etc. would have to pay higher wages and the prices would reflect that at the registers. We don’t realize how much of our economy is tied to this now.
If you are so principled on this being an issue of ‘illegals being shipped back’ you would also say that a guest worker program is definitely needing an overhaul.
By Jane
April 12, 2006 12:16 PM | Link to this
I do not trust Reed and he has taken money from a few pro-illegal immigration activists who actively support amnesty.
By Regularjoe
April 12, 2006 08:11 PM | Link to this
Tony,
Please stop name calling and telling Christians what they should be doing. Conditions are bad in Mexico and Central America. If you compared other countries in the world with them, you would find many far worse off. Does that mean we have to accept every person from a country worse off than us? Do they have to accept every person worse off than them?
I will agree with you on this: The number one problem with illegal immigration is employers. Many who should be fined heavy or jailed. A lot of Republicans seem to think that is ok. A close second, unchecked masses of people flooding the border and overstaying visas (a immigration and security issue), a lot of Democrats see no problem with that.
This has gone on for years and years and it needs to stop NOW, if we care about OUR children, who will pay a heavy price in the future.
By Justin
April 13, 2006 05:46 PM | Link to this
Commentary: Before We Join with Latinos on Immigration, Let’s Ask What They’ve Done for Us
www.blackamericaweb.com/site.aspx/sayitloud/kane413