What do you think is the real reason that Bush is pushing this immigration bill so hard?

Answer 1

Republicans get the cheap labor, Democrats get the votes, it's a win-win situation

Answer 2

Bush doesn't care about immigration. He is using it as a smokescreen to divert attention away from the war in Iraq and also to present a semblance of bipartisanship to the voters.

Since the Democrats took over Congress he has vetoed every bill that has come across his desk. I'm fairly sure that he is under pressure from the party itself to find some common ground with the Democrats so that people may consider voting Republican in the next election.

Where I live, immigrants are no problem. They work as construction helpers, busboys and lawn care providers. They haven't taken any jobs away from anyone else. I realize that in some parts of the country they may be a problem, but overall, they have been doing this since the early 20th century, so I don't understand what all the fuss is about suddenly unless it is a smokescreen.

Answer 3

The real answer is because the power directing global economy knows that a global economy cannot exist with tight borders. The movement of goods and money and people is essential. "In a world where goods, capital, ideas, and services are becoming more and more mobile and able to cross national borders, tighter restrictions on the movement of people are increasingly anachronistic." (Business Week 6/7/07)

In March 2006, with little fanfare, Bush 2 met with Canadian PM and Mexican President to advance the agenda of the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP) by focusing on five high priority initiatives. (see sources)

President Bush has already indicated clearly that the free trade agreement with Canada and Mexico is only the first step in a long-term process toward developing similar agreements with other Latin American countries and eventually encompassing the entire Western Hemisphere. Whether this upgrades workers to our south or downgrades workers in the US is speculation although Americans have witnessed corporate allegiance to the bottom line and salaries of CEOs far outweigh profits trickling down to workers.

As part of the SSP, a huge corridor is currently being constructed smack through the middle of the US from Mexico to Canada to truck cheap foreign goods from east and western ports on the Mexican coast for easy distribution throughout the North American Continent. The highway is 3 football fields wide and has been gobbling up property through the use of "eminent domain."

The goods coming through the Mexican ports, which have few to no restrictions or inspections, are from Asia --- mostly from China, which we know employs near slave labor, inferior raw materials and little, if any, safety and health inspections.

Three weeks ago, independent truckers gathered in Washington to protest Mexican trucks being allowed on US roads without inspection or license or insurance.

Answer 4

I wish I understood why... As it is, I am so incensed about illegal immigration I'm giving myself ulcers.
The only realistic reason for Bush pushing this issue was actually pointed out by John Doe who suggested it's because it enables the US to keep cheap labor while preventing them from abusing the social programs. It's kind of a sick "win-win."
I DON'T want illegals stealing from American taxpayers. But I also don't think they deserve to be exploited!
The only solution I see is for illegals to leave of their own volition for the chance to be forgiven for coming here illegally in the first place (no fines, just leave). Then they can apply for green cards/work visas/citizenship the way ALL of our LEGAL immigrants do!
And in the meantime, we re-configure our laws for allowing LEGAL immigrants into the country to better satisfy our employment needs.
And no, I don't believe the economy will collapse. But I DO think that Americans will have to get off their collective a$$es and mow their own lawns, wash their own cars, clean their own houses, care for their own children, and take care of themselves or PAY someone a fair wage to do those things for them! As for the farming and construction industries... Don't you think there would be people willing to either A) do those jobs for fair wages or B) invent machinery to do it better, faster, cheaper?
C'mon! this is America! Home of the free and the brave, not the rich and lazy! (Or poor and lazy!) America is THE land of opportunity, but you have to WORK to succeed folks!

Answer 5

One of the key sponsors of this bill is none other than Ted Kennedy. That comes as no surprise.

Bush has always been for immigration, but I question why so many in Congress aren't fighting it. One reason why it didn't go through before, is because the Republican controlled Congress would not have allowed it.

I'm against this bill, BTW.

Answer 6

Let me explain my thought process on all of this.

We hire the congress to represent us, we hire the President to be Commander in Chief, not really represent us perse but to defend our country. SO my thinking is if it does not get to Bush's desk, it is a non-issue. Congress writes the laws, Bush enforces them.

There are over 30 Republican Senators who are going to vote NO. This is a Democrats bill. If we want it stopped we are going to have to get some Democrats to say NO, complaining about and to Bush is not going to change that. If you do not want it passed, push your Democrat senators. I have told mine that I will do every thing in my power to see he loses the next election if he votes yes on this bill. I told him I do not want a bill on immigration, that I want the current laws enforced and I want funding for securing the borders, and that is all I want today. They are supposed to represent us, and it is up to the Democrats, so if it passes we will have no one else to blame for it except the Democrats.

Now for why Bush wants it, well I just do not know. Perhaps this is a ploy to retake congress by making the Democrats out to be the bad guys and he will veto it because of Pork or something they add in, or amendments to the bill that he disagrees with. Very plausible, but I just do not know, and frankly I do not want to have to rely on the veto when it is the Democrats fault here.

I do not really care why he says what he is saying, it is not relevant to writing the law, as I said congress writes them and the President enforces them.

Blame bush if you want, but use your voice to push your Dem senators to stop it. Unless of course you just want to blame bush and do not care about a 12 million person invasion of our country.

Answer 7

He has always been for the guestworker program. He may have agreed to back this crap in order to get his No Date of withdrawl in regards to Iraq. He has the least to lose, he is leaving office in a little over a year and half. But congress will lose big time, because we will fire their asses, and this country will be the biggest loser of all.

Answer 8

Key to the Bush administration's approach to immigration reform is the controversial guest worker program, which preserves the flow of cheap, low-skilled labor to American businesses while limiting the potential costs to employers and taxpayers.

It appears Bush's goal is not to keep out immigrants, who are indispensable to the U.S. economy, but rather to control and exploit them more effectively. Why give them the opportunity to become citizens—or even permanent residents—if we can get what we need from them and then send them packing?

Answer 9

Because it's obvious that Hillary will be the next prez and he wants to saddle her with the impossible problem of providing welfare for all of them. The collapse of the economy will be viewed as her fault.

Of course she and the Dem party deserve a lot of the blame because they're supporting it even more than Bush's own party is.

Answer 10

businesses need the cheap labor. There are small businesses in my town that pay below minimum wage because they can get illegals to do the work. That is a fact.