This editorial first appeared in the Sioux City (Iowa) Journal:
If you listen carefully, you occasionally will hear a reasoned, calm voice within all of the unreasoned, red-faced shouting so common to national discourse today.
Such was the case on Oct 8 when former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush spoke about immigration at the annual Siouxland Chamber of Commerce dinner.
As part of his blueprint for economic growth, Bush — who is considered a potential future presidential candidate — includes immigration reform. In Bush’s view, reforms should include a way to untap the potential of undocumented immigrants who already live within our borders for economic reasons. Due to declining birth rates and the retirement of Baby Boomers, he said, America will need more immigrants to help fill future jobs.
“It’s impossible for me to imagine a country that allows people to live in the shadows rather than maximizing their potential,” Bush said.
We will withhold an opinion on Bush’s full immigration plan until we read all the details, but we appreciate his contribution to the debate over this vexing issue. In our view, he offers valuable food for thought and asks for the kind of open-mindedness so crucial to a comprehensive solution.
Illegal immigration is a complicated subject with legal, social, security and, yes, economic ramifications. Unfortunately, as we see all too often on big issues of the day, Washington — reduced to near-paralysis by partisanship and intransigence — appears incapable of meeting this challenge. ...
This problem begs for a middle-ground solution to which all sides must cede some turf for the greater good of the nation.
Comments (6)
Add comment"This problem begs for a
"This problem begs for a middle-ground solution to which all sides must cede some turf for the greater good of the nation."
This is how every problem should be handled. This statement is what politics is ment to be.
Another Bush
Well, with THAT kind of position, we don't have to worry about seeing Jeb on the GOP ticket. His type of pragmatism will get weeded out during the xenophobic republican primary process.
Just as well. His brother came in promising to be "a uniter, not a divider", and look what happened. He brought Cheney, Rumsfeld, and Rove into his inner circle - three of the biggest wedges he could have selected.
Wow, Lat...
Stereotype much??
Only...
...when I'm right, asher.
So, Lat, if I were a Republican and in particular supportive
of another 'Bush' administration, such as Jeb, I am at risk of being labeled a "xenophobic"?
"Hatred or fear of foreigners or strangers or of their politics or culture".
Do I have this right?
No Ken, you have it wrong
The republican electorate, the primary voters, are as a whole xenophobic. Any talk of tolerating illegals in this country is simply unacceptable to that group. And for that reason, Bush's chances of winning a future republican primary are a bit less than zero after penning this piece.
Look what happened to Rick Perry in the primaries. He was in the lead until he defended the Texas policy of allowing in-state college tuition for illegals, saying that anyone opposed to that policy "didn't have a heart". When he made that statement, his campaign went off a cliff. (Forgetting which federal departments he'd eliminate didn't help him any, but he was toast by then.)
You supporting Bush would suggest that you're the opposite of xenophobic. It would also suggest other things about you ('fool me once, shame on you...fool me twice...fool me three times...!!)
Bush's piece has obviously political motivations. Romney desperately needs a piece of the Hispanic vote. The republicans have been abysmal in attracting Hispanic support, for the obvious reason that republicans (as a whole) are xenophobic. Florida is a major battleground state with lots of Latinos. Bush was the former governor of that state. Can't get much more obvious than that. No doubt Romney's promised him a nice spot in the administration if he can deliver Florida.
And who knows? Maybe Bush is projecting a Romney thumping, and wants to position himself as the 2016 candidate who can attract the Hispanic vote. It won't work though, because the republican electorate is xenophobic so they'll never nominate him... and we have have come full circle.