LAT: Rove Is Paving Way for Guest Worker Program

[DeepModem Mom]

Rove Is Paving Way for Guest Worker Program
By Mary Curtius, Times Staff Writer


WASHINGTON -- White House political strategist Karl Rove is offering lawmakers new details of an administration-backed guest worker program that would temporarily legalize the status of millions of illegal workers, according to Republicans who have attended the meetings.

The White House effort is seen as its latest step toward reasserting President Bush's leadership on one of the most divisive issues confronting Republicans.

Concerned that increasingly strident anti-immigrant voices within the party were undermining the administration's efforts to reach out to Hispanic voters, the administration formed a coalition of business groups and immigration advocates during the summer to lobby for the sort of comprehensive reform plan Bush has advocated since early in his presidency.

And some lawmakers see the recent White House sessions as evidence that Bush intends to pursue his plan as soon as this fall -- despite the strains Hurricane Katrina has put on the legislative agenda and despite ongoing opposition within his party....

***

In January 2004, Bush said he wanted to allow illegal workers to apply for a three-year work visa, with the possibility of a single three-year extension before having to return to their native countries....At recent presentations led by Rove, administration officials are telling small groups of lawmakers that under Bush's plan, any worker who is here illegally would first have to pay a substantial fine before being granted a temporary work visa. The fine is seen as a gesture to critics who have said any legalization of illegal workers amounts to granting them amnesty for breaking the law....


http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-immig23sep23,0,4132562.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[Carolab]

1. Yeah, he just wants to use cheap labor in the Gulf.

But of course make it seem the administration supports immigrants so as to get their votes.

Why doesn't this evil POS just drop dead?

[bluestateguy]

2. We should join forces with anti-immigrant Republicans to defeat this

This is just a plan for cheap labor exploitation to drive wages down even further and weaken labor unions.

Tom Tancredo has his reasons for opposing this bill and we have ours. So let's make common cause.

[Carolab]

3. I am with you. n/t

[norml]

4. El Rushbozo and his clones are selling "Guest Worker" to their

Bush Bot Flavor Aid drinkers, telling them to support this "Guest Worker" Immigration Bill, by distracting them with their "Put Troops on the Borders" non-solution nonsense.

[FloridaPat]

5. Temporary my ass. Sneak them in legally and they are staying. So

millions more will come over for the next round.

[seriousstan]

8. How narrow is your brush.

[merwin]

6. Bush is alienating his own party

* He expands the government massively
* He racks up a HUGE deficit
* Spending on wars and pork is in the hundreds of billions
* Spending on hurricane Katrina is "it'll cost what it costs" and wouldn't write a plan
* Pro illegal immigrant

[aquart]

10. He is not now and never was a Republican.

He was always a 'corporatist' fascist.

[merwin]

11. Well, of course he was. But his supposed party didn't know that :-)

[Kahuna]

14. The good part is that the republicans have been in lock-step and

have rubber-stamped his ever idiotic scheme. The entire party will be labeled as uncaring and greedy right along with the bushies.

[MisterP]

7. bring them in and unleash the Minutemen on them: corporations AND racists

are pleased, like the Pakistanis being brought over to Macedonia (the country) and then mowed down.

[aquart]

9. There goes the rest of his base.

God, how they HATE immigration anything.

[Kahuna]

12. Duh. Of course he is. Nobody would return to NO just to make

minimum wage. You cannot rebuild your entire life on minimum wage. I really don't see why Dems are not DEMANDING that this order be rescinded. They should mention it every time a camera is on them. This is a dispicable act. They should call it dispicable and never let the people forget that THIS is what the republicans stand for. Screwing the little guy. Jesus said, what you have done to the least of them you do also to me. They should remind the repukes and country of this.

[tainowarrior]

13. we use you, and then we throw you away

Might as well call it Operation Condom

[papau]

15. Bush, Rove Press Congress on Illegal-Worker Proposal

Finally a level of detail that the media can analyse - can't wait for Lou Doobs report tonight!

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-immig23sep23,0,4132562.story?track=tottext

Bush, Rove Press Congress on Illegal-Worker Proposal
By Mary Curtius
Times Staff Writer

September 23, 2005

WASHINGTON — White House political strategist Karl Rove is offering lawmakers new details of an administration-backed guest worker program that would temporarily legalize the status of millions of illegal workers, according to Republicans who have attended the meetings.

The White House effort is seen as its latest step toward reasserting President Bush's leadership on one of the most divisive issues confronting the Republican Party.

Concerned that increasingly strident anti-immigrant voices within the party were undermining the administration's efforts to reach out to Latino voters, the administration formed a coalition of business groups and immigration advocates during the summer to lobby for the sort of comprehensive plan Bush has advocated since early in his presidency.

Some lawmakers see the recent White House sessions as evidence that Bush intends to pursue his plan as soon as this fall — despite the strains Hurricane Katrina has put on the legislative agenda and despite ongoing opposition within his party.
<snip>

[jsamuel]

16. slaves? all the work of a citizen without any of the benefits or protecti

ons?

[Maggie_May]

17. This is going to be a big issue in 2008

Rove is going to piss off a lot of people. Then is he going to try to blame the Dems. We need someone to stand clear on this issue.

[Julius Civitatus]

18. So that fax intended for Rove that was sent to a Dem was a Rovian PLOT

I think this is a confirmation that the alleged "stranded fax" intended for Rove that "mysteriously" ended up in the fax machine of a Democratic congressman was a Rovian plot.

I think the fax was intended to deceive the Dems into thinking illegal immigration will be the issue for the 06 midterms. This would push Dems to adopt strong stances against immigration... then Rove comes up with his benevolent "guest worker" plan and makes Chimpy look moderate and compassionate. It will lose the radical xenophobic wing of the Republican party, but will make the media drool at the grace of "Dubya The Merciful."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2099968&mesg_id=2099968

[yojon]

19. Oooh we're having guests

maybe we should get out the good china and silverware.

/end sarcasm

[Toots]

20. These guys don't ask Davis-Bacon apply where they work

The ultimate Union Buster. Illegal aliens who can't complain about how they are treated....

[geckosfeet]

21. Guest workers - code for 21st century slavery. n/t

[struggle4progress]

22. Responding to Katrina obviously isn't a full-time job.

[Oldtimeralso]

23. Full Time Job

Just who in the *ush administration has a full time job?
Maybe the bribe money counters!