President Obama said this week that his health care plan won't cover illegal immigrants, but argued that's all the more reason to legalize them and ensure they eventually do get coverage.
He also staked out a position that anyone in the country legally should be covered - a major break with the 1996 welfare reform bill, which limited most federal public assistance programs only to citizens and longtime immigrants.
"Even though I do not believe we can extend coverage to those who are here illegally, I also don't simply believe we can simply ignore the fact that our immigration system is broken," Mr. Obama said Wednesday evening in a speech to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. "That's why I strongly support making sure folks who are here legally have access to affordable, quality health insurance under this plan, just like everybody else.
Mr. Obama added, "If anything, this debate underscores the necessity of passing comprehensive immigration reform and resolving the issue of 12 million undocumented people living and working in this country once and for all."
Republicans said that amounts to an amnesty, calling it a backdoor effort to make sure current illegal immigrants get health care.
"It is ironic that the president told the American people that illegal immigrants should not be covered by the health care bill, but now just days later he's talking about letting them in the back door," said Rep. Lamar Smith of Texas, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee.
"If the American people do not want to provide government health care for illegal immigrants, why would they support giving them citizenship, the highest honor America can bestow?" Mr. Smith said.
But immigrant rights groups see the speech as a signal that Mr. Obama is committed to providing health care coverage for anyone in the United States legally, regardless of their citizenship status.
Immigration has dogged Mr. Obama in the health care debate. Rep. Joe Wilson, South Carolina Republican, shouted, "You lie," when the president, in an address to Congress last week, said his plans wouldn't cover illegal immigrants.
Lawmakers - who got an earful from constituents back home during August - have insisted on extra checks to make sure illegal immigrants do not have access to taxpayer-funded programs.
Senators have worked on language that would prevent illegal immigrants from buying insurance through a proposed insurance exchange envisioned in the health care reform package.
But the NCLR said that could lead to situations where some members of a family would be covered and others, including children of illegal immigrants, wouldn't be.
Mr. Obama said legalizing illegal immigrants is a way to take the sting out of the entire issue.
But Republicans said by pushing to legalize illegal immigrants, Mr. Obama is signaling that those here illegally eventually will get access to taxpayer-funded benefits.
Still, the push to pass a legalization bill is beginning to gain steam, even as advocates fret that the White House is moving too slowly.
On Thursday, Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez, Illinois Democrat and an outspoken advocate for legalization, agreed to take leadership in writing a new, more generous bill.
"We simply cannot wait any longer for a bill that keeps our families together, protects our workers and allows a pathway to legalization for those who have earned it," Mr. Gutierrez said. "Saying immigration is a priority for this administration or this Congress is not the same as seeing tangible action, and the longer we wait, the more every single piece of legislation we debate will be obstructed by our failure to pass comprehensive reform."
Are you ****ing kidding me? "Illegal immigrants will not be covered under this bill." Yea, but let's just make them legal so they will be covered
Obama ****ing sickens me. Over 12 million illegal immigrants in this country, and instead of working to become a citizen, Obama is going to give them amnesty.
Jesus christ..**** this ****..I'm leaving the country.
To quote Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Hell is paved with good intentions.
The right idea, probably the wrong way.
__________________
“The several states composing the United States of America are not united on the principle of unlimited submission to their general government” - Thomas Jefferson
"There is no worse tyranny than to force a man to pay for what he does not want merely because you think it would be good for him." – Robert Heinlein
Closed-bolt, because I can.
Repetition and Ridicule, the biggest tools of the Liberal.
If you break the law in large enough numbers, its not really wrong. Duh.
__________________
ST:F - Where every jackass wants to "look like brad pitt in fight club. I dont want to be bodybuilder big."
ST:P - The biggest group of horribly dumb smart people on the nation. Also mistake being the know it all social outcast for being right.
Also, OB just wants to **** me.
ST:S:NCAA - The only entirely conservative thread on the nation.
Anyway, why shouldn't immigrants be granted easier access to the United States? We aren't a club.
__________________ Abraham Lincoln- With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan — to do all which may achieve and cherish a just, and a lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations.
Anyway, why shouldn't immigrants be granted easier access to the United States? We aren't a club.
Why should border hoppers be able to enter here illegally and then get a free bone and an easy way out as millions wait for years to get here legally? We aren't a club, but we're not a playground for the world either. We have laws and they should be followed. Maybe Obama can let the criminals out of jail too.
Moving to Germany seems better and better every day.
Anyway, why shouldn't immigrants be granted easier access to the United States? We aren't a club.
It's mixed issue with me at least. On one hand for the people who are already here, why should we reward people for breaking the law? On the other, what are we gonna do? Kick them out? We DO need to find a way to legalize them so they can pay the increasingly horrible taxes we all do and will, but it shouldn't be a free pass.
Because there is nothing wrong with immigration and making it illegal is a violation of property rights, something our country was founded upon.
Our country has been breaking our foundations for 200 years...
edit: There is nothing wrong with immigration, but just throwing a bone to people who are breaking the law doesn't exactly follow the justice our country was founded upon either.
Because there is nothing wrong with immigration and making it illegal is a violation of property rights, something our country was founded upon.
Okay, but the way they immigrated was illegal nonetheless. My family came over here from Mexico legally, and yes I know not everyone has the means to do so, but it's still breaking the law that is already there.
Okay, but the way they immigrated was illegal nonetheless. My family came over here from Mexico legally, and yes I know not everyone has the means to do so, but it's still breaking the law that is already there.
Well ****, if California legalizes pot this spring I guess I shouldn't be allowed to legally purchase it since I've been smoking regularly while it is illegal.
Okay, but the way they immigrated was illegal nonetheless. My family came over here from Mexico legally, and yes I know not everyone has the means to do so, but it's still breaking the law that is already there.
Besides the fact that blanket amnesty is only going to encourage more to come here illegally.
Dear Poncho,
Come here, wait a few years, and then the government will forgive you and you're off the hook.
-Miguel
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hopster
Well ****, if California legalizes pot this spring I guess I shouldn't be allowed to legally purchase it since I've been smoking regularly while it is illegal.
You're comparing apples and oranges. We're going to be speaking Spanish soon because of people like you. With that said, I'm going to exclude myself from this discussion as I am highly biased against illegal immigrants and find Hispanics incredibly annoying, inhibiting my ability to cooperate in this thread productively.
Besides the fact that blanket amnesty is only going to encourage more to come here illegally.
Dear Poncho,
Come here, wait a few years, and then the government will forgive you and you're off the hook.
-Miguel
You're comparing apples and oranges. We're going to be speaking Spanish soon because of people like you.
Goddamn just shut your ****ing mouth. Who have they harmed by coming here illegally?
I'm sure my Irish-German-Russian blood is making all dem white folk speak da mexican.
Our country has been breaking our foundations for 200 years...
edit: There is nothing wrong with immigration, but just throwing a bone to people who are breaking the law doesn't exactly follow the justice our country was founded upon either.
yeah, dude, seriously. Rosa Parks should have sat at the back of the Bus! I can't believe we let them drink out of the white man's water fountain! Why should we reward them for breaking the law?!
I hope you see where I'm going with this one. And yes, it is the same thing.
__________________ Abraham Lincoln- With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan — to do all which may achieve and cherish a just, and a lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations.
Goddamn just shut your ****ing mouth. Who have they harmed by coming here illegally?
I'm sure my Irish-German-Russian blood is making all dem white folk speak da mexican.
Last post: Do some looking through the news. There is stories everywhere about illegal gang violence, illegals driving drunk and killing people, etc. etc.
Last post: Do some looking through the news. There is stories everywhere about illegal gang violence, illegals driving drunk and killing people, etc. etc.
there's stories everywhere about legals doing the same thing...
__________________ Abraham Lincoln- With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan — to do all which may achieve and cherish a just, and a lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations.
I realize that. Truth of the matter is, I'm racist and am excluding myself from this thread because my responses will be both angry and ignorant and will contribute nothing. I'm being serious, btw.
Well ****, if California legalizes pot this spring I guess I shouldn't be allowed to legally purchase it since I've been smoking regularly while it is illegal.
As controversial as pot-smoking is, that's not even on the same level. That comparison is flawed, because the motives and effects are quite different. The problem is that the illegal immigration and our catering to it is just one of the many reasons our economy is so screwed up right now. Especially California. Promises of amnesty (whether or not they've actually been made yet) for coming over here illegally will make problems much worse before they get better.
And I'm NOT racist like the other guy, I'm 1st generation American, both my parents we're born in Mexico and came over here legally.
Why, oh why do people like this guy?
