What did Kennedy have to say about illegals?

Question

KENNEDY: We know what they're against! We don't know what they're for! Time and time again, they tell us, "We don't like this provision! We don't like that provision! We don't want that part of it!" Well, they ought to be able to explain to the American people what they are for! What are they going to do with the 12 and a half million, erra, who are undocumented here? Send them back? Send them back to countries around the world? More than $250 billion, buses that would go from Los Angeles to New York and back again? Try and find them. Develop a type of Gestapo here to seek out these people that are in the shadows? That's their alternative? That's their alternative!

RUSH: Well, this is laughable. Senator Kennedy, perhaps you don't remember that there was an amendment offered, the touchback amendment, and this is where all of these 12 million (as you say, we think it's closer to 20) but have to go back to their home countries. Now, just how in the world were they going to be found and forced to do this? If we can't find 'em now, if it's going to cost too much money and all this, how in the world...? Oh, oh, oh, I get it! They were going to obey the law on their own. Oh, they knew that. You think that was going to happen? They wouldn't trust that provision for a second, and they know there's no reason to leave, because the odds that they're going to be rounded up are no better than they've ever been, so why? Why go back and touchback when the overriding theory you have is you might not get back in unless you come in illegally. There's so many contradictions in all of this, but we have shouted from the rooftops -- I'm sorry, from the golden microphone, Senator Kennedy -- a we do know what we're for, and that's enforcement of current law. Enforce of existing law! It's not complicated. Here's more of Senator Kennedy.

KENNEDY: And we have a process, er, that said, "Look, okay, you're here and undocumented, and you're going to have to pay a price. We're going to take people that are in the line, that have said that they want to play by the rules. They go and they wait and you wait and you wait and you wait and you wait, and you pay and you pay and you pay. You pay, uh, your fees. You pay your processing fees, your adjustment fees. You pay, uh, not only for yourself; you pay for the other members of the family. You demonstrate that you're going to learn English. You demonstrate that you've worked here. You demonstrate that you're a good citizen. You demonstrate that you haven't had any run on in on crime [sic], and then maybe -- and then maybe -- you get on that pathway with the green card and perhaps in 15, 18 years you'll be able to raise your hand and be a citizen, eh, here in the United States.

RUSH: (Laughing.) Fifteen to 18 years to be a citizen! (Laughing.) You know, this is why it's laughable when they insult us for not knowing what's in the bill. The simple fact of the matter is that there's no need for these people to pursue the path to citizenship because the minute this bill would have been signed, they're legal! You all know all this. We're going blue in the face talking about it. If this bill ever does or did become law, the minute it's signed, they're legal -- after the mythical 24-hour background check. (Laughing.) How are we gonna do the background check if we can't find 'em? But they don't have to pay the fines if they don't pursue citizenship. This really is a disconnect here. I don't know if it's just tone deaf. I think they have, Senator Kennedy and some of these people, such a lofty view of these people that he thinks that they all want to be full-fledged citizens (crying), and that that's what they're dying to do, and that's what they came here for, and we're standing in their way (sobbing), because these bigots and racists and restrictionists and talk radio! All we want them to do is be citizens in 15 to 18 years.

But they don't have to do any of that and that's the only way they get out of paying the fine. We also know that if they did pursue citizenship, it wouldn't be long before the senators would say, "Well, you know, this $5,000 fine? That's bit high. It's a bit punitive. Why, we're taking food out of the mouths of starving children who are someday going to be American citizens." All of this was poppycock. What it boils down to is, very simply, the American people -- you --didn't believe what your elected officials were telling you, and you didn't believe that they could do what they said the bill would do, and that's why I said this is an opportunity. People got a great illustration here of the inefficiencies and the unworkableness of a bloated, over-the-top-size government, and believe me, folks, that's premise I'm not going to abandon. It's going to be a reminder I'm going to continue to make, because that's something that people may not even notice themselves until it's pointed out to them, until their reminded of it, but this was one of the fabulous aspects of all this that happened.

Answer 1

Kennedy is such a fuzzy thinker, it's sickening. He makes statements that are ludicrous based on assumptions that are laughable. Hardly any illegals are going to risk going back to their home countries. Has he really thought this through? Imagine the litany of reasons why a typical Mexican would not want to leave:

1) Many illegals don't keep their money in banks. They can't. They have no documents to open an account. Are they going to risk moving internationally with a wad of cash?

2) What about all those huge families? Is Ernesto going to pay for six plane seats to Guadalahara? The bus? He'd probably be worried about being targeted for robbery. Two seconds of inattention towards your bag, and it's gone!

3) The illegals will figure they will be denied a visa to return. Some of these people have arrest warrants, so they'd be jailed upon return.

The easy answer to illegal immigration is this: enact very stiff penalties for employers who have illegals working for them. This will immediately create a surge of illegals heading back to Mexico.

The, and only then, should the government say, "OK, if you are illegal, you have one chance. Register immediately with the immigration department. In one month, police will be authorized to detain anyone who cannot show proof of legal residency. People who register will have a fair chance at legal status. Those who do not will be heavily fined, jailed, or both."

Answer 2

I cannot believe anyone takes this guy seriously. He is a total joke. Oh yeah, and that $5000. Like that would have ever lasted. Again, that bill was a joke masquerading as a potential law. Kinda scary that McCain wanted to have no debate on it either. Maybe he knew if people got wind of the garbage in that bill they'd complain. The good thing that came out of this is that McCain's ship is sinking, hopefully for good.

Answer 3

Well, you can certainly see who's side Kennedy is on! Time to vote him out of office and re-elect! We are paying billions of dollars on illegal immigrants annually.. So what if deporting costs us to double the cost for a year or two? In the long run it will be worth it!

Answer 4

Wow really long, I agree because you are against SOCIALIZED health care.

Sorry but I don't want to live in a Socialist country.

You must be right.

Answer 5

hmm, interesting. check out these kennedy videos, watch the driver

Answer 6

Kennedy likes to believe he's mexican. He's tanned so much that his skin's now bright red and starting to age/crack off his body.