Jeb Bush is at it again.
I’ve taken Mr. Bush to task in the past for suggesting that the GOP pander to Latinos in the same, meaningless way Democrats pander to so-called minorities.
This time the GOP moderate has gone too far by suggesting that illegal immigrants violate U.S. sovereignty and come into America without permission...out of love for their kids.
There are many assumptions that Bush makes that don’t mesh with reality and an orderly society.
His first sentence assumes that illegal immigrants “couldn’t come legally” to America. Why not? There are plenty of immigrants who wait patiently, some for decades, to come to America with permission. I recognize that particular timetable may not fit the agenda of the individual who wants to come to America. But is that a valid excuse to violate our laws?
As a representative of a party that allegedly prides itself on seeing America as a nation of laws, I don’t think Bush’s personal agenda is a valid excuse to ignore the rules. I concede that our legal immigration system is in serious need of reform, to get rid of left-wing quotas imposed to protect unions for example.
We also need to rid our immigration law of that little word “discretion,” and replace it with “shall.” That way it won’t be legal for our elected “leaders” to allow 12 to 20 million illegals into the country through lax enforcement.
I hate to break it to Gov. Bush, but in America we don’t get to violate the laws we don’t agree with without consequence. If that were the case, none of us would be sweating Obamacare.
Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)
Next, Bush seems to excuse illegal crossings by lamenting that the illegal’s country of origin just can’t seem to provide work for its people. I’d remind Mr. Bush that here in America, courtesy of Barack Obama’s extremist left-wing policies, we’re not exactly firing on all employment cylinders.
I guess I must have missed that whole part of the Constitution that stated that America was responsible for providing jobs to the people of the world. It might surprise Jeb and his establishment buddies that a better solution might be to council foreign governments to emulate the way America used to be before Obama began occupying the Oval Office. That way, other countries can take responsibility for their own people’s ability to feed their families. If America could do it, so can other countries, Mr. Bush.
Then, Bush hits the topper by saying those who cross the border illegally are engaging in an “act of love, and act of commitment to your family.”
I’d like to assure Mr. Bush that I don’t love my children less than illegal immigrants simply because I choose not to violate U.S. immigration law. I also believe that those who come here legally are no less loving of their families.
The crowd sings the National Anthem during the DC March for Jobs in Upper Senate Park near Capitol Hill, on July 15, 2013 in Washington, DC. Conservative activists and supporters rallied against the Senate's immigration legislation and the impact illegal immigration has on reduced wages and employment opportunities for some Americans. Credit: Getty Images
Bush rightly points out that illegal entry is not a felony. But shop lifting isn’t a felony. If a father rips off a store to, “feed his family,” should we look at that theft as an, “act of love?” The very idea that we would elevate illegal entry into our nation to a loving act, felony or not, is ludicrous.
Why would any conservative vote for a Republican who advocates the shelving of the rule of law in favor of a bumper sticker slogan? We could vote for Democrats if we wanted to vote for that caliber of politician.
Bush laments that some people get riled up because “people are actually coming to this country to feed their families.”
Let me assure Mr. Bush that’s not what riles us. We are riled because 536 individuals on the Hill, in the White House, in several administrations, and in both political parties, have allowed this human tragedy of illegal immigration to occur. Those responsible have hurt the illegal, legal and tax paying community in America with their dereliction of duty. That’s not to say that we opponents of excusing illegal immigration don’t recognize the greatness that is America. We understand why people want to come here.
However, a desire to come to America and feed one’s family is no excuse to violate the law.
US Border Patrol agent Jerry Conlin looks out over Tijuana, Mexico, behind, along the old border wall along the US - Mexico border Thursday, June 13, 2013, where it ends at the base of a hill in San Diego. Illegal immigration into the United States would decrease by only 25 percent under a far-reaching Senate immigration bill, according to a recent analysis by the Congressional Budget Office. Credit: AP
I’m gratified that Bush didn’t fall into the liberal trap of assuming that all illegals are Mexican, or of other Latino origins. Having family members who are Latino, I suppose he knew better than to equate the two.
Many Latinos, I’d say a majority, value and support the rule of law. With Other than Mexicans outnumbering Mexican illegal immigrants in Texas, conservatives can soundly say that decrying illegal immigration is a statement of support for law and order, not opposing Hispanics. Stats show that illegal immigrants come into America from every corner of the globe.
Perhaps Jeb and his establishment pals should look again at the Latino community and asses our values. I don’t think their touchy, feely, excuses for illegal immigration will resonate in the way they hope. Might I suggest that the GOP try conservatism? We Latinos are persuadable by success.
–
TheBlaze contributor channel supports an open discourse on a range of views. The opinions expressed in this channel are solely those of each individual author.
