Huckabee admits immigration plan has revolving door (amnesty or "guest" workers)

Posted Sun, Dec 9, 2007 at 11:26 am
[Mike Pence-style update below]

Mike Huckabee cannot be trusted on immigration matters. I'll say that again: Mike Huckabee cannot be trusted on immigration matters.

In fact, just after releasing a plan that unfortunately took in some people, he now admitted on Fox News Sunday (link, video below) what I suspected: his plan includes a revolving door whereby former illegal aliens would leave the U.S. only to return within "days, maybe weeks" as legal workers. He didn't specify whether they'd just be coming back as "guest" workers with no chance at citizenship, but considering that he's supported a "pathway to citizenship" in the past, and in his remarks he not only didn't renounce that "pathway" but sought to explain what it meant (in Clintonian terms), one can assume that he's not opposed to putting millions on the "pathway to citizenship".

Not only that, but at one point he used the same language as president Bush, refering to people coming here illegally just to "feed their families".

Furthermore, his plan to "seal" the border is as unworkable as his plan to get millions of people to register and return home in 120 days. In fact, given his demonstrated weakness - and the inability to round up those millions of illegal aliens who won't leave within the 120 days - there'd be a mad dash for the borders.

And, his concept of slapdash background checks might let untold numbers of terrorists and criminals come here as "guests" or potential citizens.

I will once more state: Mike Huckabee cannot be trusted on immigration matters.

After being asked by Chris Wallace whether there was an "inconsistency" between his past support for a "pathway to citizenship" and his current immigration plan, Mike Huckabee responded:
"I don't think there's an inconsistency. When I said a 'pathway' I didn't say what the pathway was. [He's not the only Man from Hope]

I now believe that the only thing that the American people are going to accept and frankly the only thing that makes sense is a pathway that sends people back to the starting point. But, this idea that waiting years, no, I don't agree with that.

In fact, look, if we can get a credit card application done within hours, if we can get passports done within days, if we can transact business over the internet anywhere in the world within seconds, do a background check instantaneously, it's our government that's failed and is dysfunctional.

It shouldn't take years to get a work permit to come here and pick lettuce. So, a part of the plan that I have is that we seal the borders, you don't have amnesty and sanctuary cities, you do have a pathway that gets you back home. But, that pathway to get back here legally doesn't take years.

It would take days, maybe weeks. And, then, people could come back in the workforce. Let me tell you why that's important. Two reasons. Number one: the American people say, do something, do it now. We don't want to have this country ignoring the illegal problem. I get it. Secondly, I want people who are in this country to hold their heads up high. You know, right now there are a lot of people who really are here because they're trying to feed their families. I don't begrudge them that. I say I thank God everyday I'm in a country that people are trying to break into not break out of, but let's give them the means by which they can get here through the door legally, and when they're they don't have to hide, they don't have to keep their heads down and hope nobody catches them. They have their heads held high. Everyone living within the borders of the United States ought to do so with dignity and with a sense of pride, not a sense of fear.
UPDATE: During the Univision GOP debate, Huck said the following:
If you can get an American Express card in two weeks, it shouldn't take seven years to get a work permit to come to this country in order to work on a farm. So if our government is incapable of making that process in that length of time, then we should do it in a way to outsource it.
This is similar to the Mike Pence plan of having "Ellis Island Centers" in other countries.

Tags: 
mike huckabee

Comments

Fezhead (not verified)

Sun, 12/09/2007 - 20:30

If they're here so they can "feed their families," isn't Mexico the problem? Hell, the richest man on the planet is in Mexico, and Mexico is something like the second or third most prosperous country in all of Latin America. Why the food shortage?

amanda (not verified)

Sun, 12/09/2007 - 21:29

'You know, right now there are a lot of people who really are here because they're trying to feed their families. I don't begrudge them that...but let's give them the means by which they can get here through the door legally' In other words, amnesty for virtually all. But what about going forward? If you're not already here but so long as your intention is 'to feed your family', does Huck want to give them the same 'means by which they can get here through the door legally'? What of those you get here illegally in the future but 'are here because they're trying to feed their families'. Are they entitled to a rolling amnesty? After all, aren't they just as 'deserving' as those already amnestied? It wouldn't be 'fair' to deny these two equally worthy categories of people, would it Huck? Or are we to believe Dr. Sympathy/Mr. Poultry will suddenly do a 180? P.S. since this candidate of religiosity is now adopting the signature element of the Pence Plan, should we now call Huck 'Touchback Jesus' (a play on the famous U. of Notre Dame mural)?

mary (not verified)

Sun, 12/09/2007 - 22:47

His plan sounds to me like Jeff Flakes plan which was created to just "look" like they were leaving ...then shuffled right back...In short , one of the stupidest propositions made yet!

George (not verified)

Sun, 12/09/2007 - 23:51

Not to mention that a touch base and return policy is discriminating against those who apply outside our country in accordance with current law and will have to wait for years. Since Latin Americans seem to have a vote in this proposal, maybe the millions of prospective green card holders in Asia, Europe and Africa should be heard from. You're right LW, this man should never become the the Republican candidate for president.

Duke Slobusky (not verified)

Mon, 12/10/2007 - 00:18

Mike "Open Borders for Jesus" Huckabee would be worse for this country than Rudy McRomney! He's one part Jimmy Carter, one part Bill Clinton, one part "compassionate conservative" and one part televangelist. He would justify whatever socialist scheme he proposed with a mixture of crackpot scripture and populist hokum. NO THANK YOU!!

edward cropper (not verified)

Mon, 12/10/2007 - 00:30

There are millions of people who are here trying to feed their families. They are called U.S Citizens. Huckabee is Bill Clinton, with a Jimmy Carter mindset, in an Elmer Gantry body.

Fred Dawes (not verified)

Mon, 12/10/2007 - 04:28

Huckabee wants one thing money from mexico city in fact he is nothing but a cartoon for the ideals of mexico and its Rich and amnesty is his end game and if it means dismantling the USA He would do just that, vote Ron Paul and stop the race and civil war that is coming soon.

Jay (not verified)

Mon, 12/10/2007 - 09:40

All the candidates except for Tancredo and Hunter are liberals when it comes to immigration. In other words, they all want to allow illegals already here to stay and more importantly, they want a continuous flow of more so called "immigrants". Mexico wants to send another 20-30 million of their people here on top of the 15-20 million already here. The question is, do we as Americans want this? If so, why? If not, why not? Are we gonna be a country or just an employment center for the 3rd world, mainly, chronically corrupt Mexico?

Mary (not verified)

Mon, 12/10/2007 - 12:48

Jay, Americans have screamed over and over that they don't want this happening to their country....no one in government is listenting.....I think the civil war to come is inevitable.

Fred Dawes (not verified)

Mon, 12/10/2007 - 15:41

Jay the system hates the ideals of a nation under laws what the pigs want inside government, "A THIRD WORLD Empolyment center"..the guys in office love mexico city.

amanda (not verified)

Tue, 12/11/2007 - 06:55

"We should not be content with laws that punish hardworking people who want only to provide for their families, and deny businesses willing workers, and invite chaos at our border." Huckabee? Try George Bush at his 2005 State of the Union address. Huckabee is more Bush on immigration. He's more Bush on spending. I suspect he might be more Bush on constitutionally dubious faith based initiatives. We can't take 8 more years of corrupt Bushabee governance.

Fred Dawes (not verified)

Sat, 12/15/2007 - 00:55

amanda is great.