Andrew Friedman

Bush’s Bad Instincts

President Bush is struggling, but don't look for a change of course. In the face of his administartion's failures - from the Middle East to misleading Congressional testimony - President Bush just sticks with what doesn't work.

Now, he is doing the same thing on immigration reform. After the most-immigrant Republicans were trounced in the elections, you might have expected President Bush to seek middle ground on immigration issues. Alas, instead, he's apparently decided to join his most unpopular colleagues by moving right on immigration. On Friday, CNN reported that the President had been working with a small group of Republican Senators to craft an immigration reform proposal.

The proposal, though, is anathema to anyone who supports the basic principles of comprehensive immigration reform - legalization, family unification, labor law enforcement, civil rights protections, etc. Instead, Bush is pushing guest workers provisions that undermine workplace rights and more inane, expensive border fencing along small fractions of the U.S. border. Also, notwithstanding his purported commitment to "family values", Bush is preparing to promote strict new limitations on family visas that help U.S. Citizens reunite with ther children, parents and siblings.

The president's proposal is perfectly in tune with his recent tone-deafness. Like so many of his recent initiatives, it doesn't stand a chance on Capitol Hill.

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Posted at 7:49 AM, Apr 02, 2007 in Immigration
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