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Subscribe to RSSEric Cantor seems to have moved more to the middle on immigration, according to prepared remarks the House majority leader will deliver Tuesday at the American Enterprise Institute, a Washington conservative think tank.
Cantor has always been in favor of giving visas to highly skilled immigrants educated in America, but today he takes it a step further, calling for legal residence and citizenship for children brought here illegally by their parents and a guest-worker program.
Cantor also says to stop making immigration a wedge issue.
"While we are a nation that allows anyone to start anew, we are also a nation of laws, and that's what makes tackling the issue of immigration reform so difficult," Cantor will say, according to prepared remarks. "In looking to solve this problem soon, we must balance respect for the rule of law and respect for those waiting to enter this country legally, with care for the people and families, most of whom just want to make a better life, and contribute to America.
"A good place to start is with the kids. One of the great founding principles of our country was that children would not be punished for the mistakes of their parents. It is time to provide an opportunity for legal residence and citizenship for those who were brought to this country as children and who know no other home. I'm pleased that many of my colleagues in both chambers of Congress on both sides of the aisle have begun work in good faith to address these issues. And I'm pleased these discussions make border security, employment verification and creating a workable guest worker program an immediate priority. It's the right thing to do for our families, for our security, and for our economy.
"There are some who would rather avoid fixing the problem in order to save this as a political issue. I reject this notion and call on the President to help lead us towards a bipartisan solution rather than encourage the common political divisions of the past."
Cantor does not provide any specifics in his speech and was never too enamored with the DREAM Act, which would provide a pathway to citizenship for children brought to the U.S. illegally back in 2010.
However, his position today seems to indicate that the man, who controls the legislation that makes it to the House floor, is open to making illegal-immigrant minors full citizens. The key will be for what price.
This is also significant because House Speaker John Boehner declined today to explicitly back a pathway to citizenship similar to what Marco Rubio proposed last week.
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Did I miss where February 5th had been designated "Eric Cantor Day"?
Why is MSNBC giving someone who always looks like his shoes are too tight so much credit?
Re-wrapping a turd and putting a pretty little bow on it, doesn't make it stink any less!
This is passing as NEWS these days? LMFAO!
Okay, who IS pretending to be Cantor these days and what did they do with the REAL Eric Cantor? Scary really!
And that there is the rub - Little Eric wants something and he's willing to sell himself out to get it. It will be interesting how long this "moved to the middle" Eric lasts.
Hey, Seeking,
I didn't expect to be back in the office this afternoon, so this morning over on First Thoughts I posted to you at #1.2 regarding something we were discussing yesterday . . . .
Eric is really Mitt Romney in disguise; that explains the too tight shoes thingy. When has Eric, or rather Mitt, ever provided details and/or specifics on anything?
Seeking,
I don't trust this weasal as far as I can toss Chris Christie!
So someone is trying to compromise and they still get dumped on. Dolts, every last poop flinging one of you. If you belong to a party you are an obstructionist. Nothing, and I repeat nothing, will save us from the extremists on either side. May your political careers die a swift death.
Now lets hear from the merry band...
Fisty - Blah, blah, owned, dismissed. *fingers self*
Seeking - Blah, blah, mental midget. *fingers self*
Jody - Blah, Blah, attorney. *fingers self*
Jack - Blah, Blah, I love Seeking and Fisty. *fists self*
Morgs74 - you are an irrelevant thing. Are you happy now?
Jack - just went back and saw it. Great post and thank you for supporting me! You're the BEST!
Feisty - at least Christie has a sense of humor. Saw him on Letterman last night. He's really stepping on some Republican toes - and that's gotta hurt!
Morgs74- Blah Blah "Mfffftt...Bllgggpp....Oh, Rush- what a mouthful!" *whacks own mole*
drive-by-observer - "Nothing to add, nothing to add, nothing to add. *poops pants*
DBO, what would you do as a lefty extremist to bring about peace between parties? What would you do to get people to work together? What is your take on compromise as an institution? I am guessing you have never asked yourself these questions. Now, lets see if you can answer my questions with out blaming a predecessor or answering my question with a question. I will hold my breath as I am sure you will be quick to respond.
Morgs74,
You need serious professional help, dude.
And in regard to your comment to Drive-By at #1.10, you're simply being disingenuous. Your post at #1.6 makes it absolutely clear that you have no interest in dialogue. We on the Left disagree about a lot of things--read some of the posts about the use of Drones, for one.
Seeking,
You're welcome. I missed a couple. Jody made a nice addition called "Bushmaster Moms" (#1.37), which I hadn't thought of, and Independent Redneck's post made me realize that "Lobbyists" should have been added to the group.
Jack in Portsmouth - Apparently we are on different threads because comments like "Re-wrapping a turd and putting a pretty little bow on it, doesn't make it stink any less", "Eric is really Mitt Romney in disguise" I see little value in.
Disingenuous? I asked specific questions about what you people on the extreme left would do to make the venom infused climate change to something more workable?
You offer nothing of value Jack and tell me to reference other issues...that sir is called a deflection. Well known tactic abused by many, successfully by few.
"DBO, what would you do as a lefty extremist to bring about peace between parties? What would you do to get people to work together..."
Not sure. But- when I become a 'lefty extremist', I'll let you know.
(Hmm.....must be lunchtime over on the left-coast. Could it be, 'counselor'?)
Morgs74,
Oh, I see, but your comments in #1.6 are intelligent and thoughtful and have "value". Right. Sorry for the misunderstanding.
Governor Christie holds different values from those of us on the Left, and we know he is a political animal. But it is also clear that he has a heart and really cares for the people of New Jersey, and so therefore we can put some faith in the sincerity he projects (we can even respect him).
By contrast, Eric Cantor is a snake with no values except self-promotion. You, fool, are easily duped by what you see as his willingness "to compromise".
So you ask what might make the climate more "workable"? How about a few more people on the Right with the sincerity of a Christie. With him we know where he stands, and we can agree to disagree. Cantor speaks with a forked tongue.
And I have no idea about whom you're speaking when you say "the extreme left". You obviously have never met someone on the extreme left. I'm further to the Left than most people on this board, but I have known a number of people who are way, way, way to the left of me.
If Cantor is truly serious about a compromise that's fine. We welcome the fact that the GNOP is FINALY willing to, at least talk about, compromise. Now he needs to put his action where his mouth is and he, as a leader, needs to convince others in his caucus to vote the same way. One Republican voting with the Democrats may techically be bi-partisan but to show sincerity there really needs to be more.
Immigration is something the GOP wants to support in the hope of all hopes that more Latino voters will cast balots for Republicans, something most didn't do in 2012. It has got to be about kissing up to the Latinos, why else would a snake like Cantor do anything like this unless something is in it for him?
Jack in Portsmouth - If you don't see the value in compromise you are an extremist.
drive-by-observer - When you tow the party line without rhyme or reason you are an extremist.
Nice call on Christie, if not for the hurricane you all would still be spouting off about him. He hasn't changed, you just now know how he operates and agree with it. You were simply blind before...
Cantor maybe the lowest of the low but the chance to get both parties on the same page about immigration shouldn't be taken lightly. We have the cooperation. I will tell you one thing though, when both sides agree on something it usually means there will be rights slashed. See NDAA, Patriot Act, and so on.
Adler-273784 - Whether it is azz kissing or not, it is progress and i wholeheartedly embrace it.
When and where have I ever said that? On the contrary, I have often said I would like to see a rational, viable GOP so that we can have an exchange of ideas in this country.
I guess you don't know Drive-By very well because that's not him you're describing.
Your problem is that you make up things--and then believe your own lies.
Well, at least you got one thing right. But one out of three means you still get a "F".
Jack -
I made a comment about compromise and you did nothing but call for professional help. So either you are against it or you just like to disparage others ad hominem. May be because I didn't actually use the word compromise? Dunno. Comprehension issues maybe? Dunno, I am not hear to hold your hand.
Been here longer than you have and I calls them as I sees them. Not the worst here, I have seen the internal workings of the coven of libs here as far as I know he is still a wannabe which hasn't yet been inducted. It is bad when you have to get together out of forum to meet and plan an attack. I would personally congratulate the person who infiltrated them. It was hilarious reading watching them piss themselves.
Point is, you people are all the same and do nothing but take marching orders. Come up with an original thought.
If this country just ENFORCED immigration laws three decades ago, we wouldn't have this issue!! What we can do is E-VERIFY all businesses. Any workers caught that are illegally here be deported! NO birthright citizenship to babies born to illegal parents! If they want to stay, start the ball rolling on citizenship, pay up, pay back taxes,fines. Anyone who commits a serious crime, have their background checked and if they are illegally here, do the time in jail and then deport. If they weren't a burden on society, this again, would not be an issue, either!
So...our 'boy' from 'out there' IS a re-reg. Now, why would you need to become one of those??
"Point is, you people are all the same..." Damn, there's an echo in here.
Good point, Drive-By. The only way he could be here longer than me (as he claims) is as a re-reg.
Morg,
You're not worth my time.
Little off topic guys. More deflection. Nice work. Account information shows everything you need to know. Colton, you have me by a couple years. Jack, not so much. If I can re-reg and show a 2010 join date I should up it to 1970 to really trump you?
Now, do you people wish to debate the topic or do you still want to go off on nonsense? I have asked specific questions, well within reason. Why the deflection?
What an original idea.
"Cantor does not provide any specifics in his speech..."
'nuff said...
POS redneck turd
First Read has been letting me down lately; I come here every day, but I only just found out, on another website, that the Bushes' dog Barney died - and George W. has taken up painting.
RIP Barney. FR: do a better job keeping your readers informed.
RIP Barney...His holiday videos may have been the highlight of the Bush administration, and he was from all reports, a good dog...
He was a good dog - every day, he would put that leash on GW and take him for his daily walk. In the end, it plumb wore old Barney out.
Jonathan Decker didn't think so ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9myqGe_B2vE
Amy--you've been cheating on FR but in this case they deserve it!
I love how at Christmas the folks on the right got all worked up over the Obamas' holiday card showing their dog Bo in the snow at the White House.......til they were shown the Bushes' holiday card with Barney in it. But....but...but...that was different.
I heard about Barney over the weekend. I was surprised to see the painting Pres Bush did of Barney; it was quite good. Except I couldn't help wondering if it was really paint by numbers. Just kidding, it really was a nice painting; Dubya should have been an artist instead of pretending to be president. Who knew?
SF, the right is so predictable with their never-ending nitpicking.
BCWC...
Barney 1 Reuters reporter 0
The comments are even more precious than the video...and I think that reporter is CANADIAN...;-)
Jodi
(seems like more than one political figure would have done everyone a favor if they had followed their muse...)
If Decker was a Canadian he would have bit Barney.
" Except I couldn't help wondering if it was really paint by numbers"
It was. What they didn't tellyou was- Cheney penned in the lines and numbers...
Just another loser.
F Barney. But he was smarter then W. lmao
Cantor also says to stop making immigration a wedge issue.
For all the naysayers and those commenting in the previous "image" thread. It is a start. Whichever side of the aisle you stand on demonzing the other side will not solve issues. I am for comprehensive immigration reform. Hopeful that the GOP will polish their image and help pass meaninful legislation. Votes from both sides will be needed.
I agree. As is often the case with major legislation or major reform of existing legislation, every aspect of it from expectation, to want, to need have converged at the same time even though the reasons for this meeting of minds are very different.
I should add, the exception to that general occurrence was when President Obama took office in 2009, then all common sense left the GOPers in Congress.
Cantor is advocating that all employees enjoy the great working schedule of the House. Essentially, 1 week of work and 2 weeks off!....Full time pay and benefits!....Yes!
Cantor and his buddies are now changing their position on the Dream Act? If so, good for them, I just wish it was because it's the right thing to do rather than an effort to save their party from itself. It's just another way to try to win elections which scares me. It's like those in the State-level candidates who failed to mention their anti-choice positions and then proceeded to end access to family planning services by a thousand cuts.
Yellowdog, Immigration reform is coming, thanks to President Obama and the American people.
Will the GOP support the Violence Against Women Act this week?
oh, now you're flooding Congress. Please, one issue at a time! They are overwhelmed by these hard decisions.
I hope so Pat. It is good that Obama is framing the discussion instead of letting the GOP merely talk about the debt ceiling. While the sequester and budget battles are important issues to discuss I'm glad he is pushing forward with immigration reform and gun control.
At the pace congress set the last 4years immigration alone is a flood.
Since the GOP is out there whining about "flooding" Congress, that means they know they are losing the war not just the battle.
If it wasn't so pathetic, it would have been laughable listening to Boehner yesterday complain about the budget being late when all they want to do is rip it apart and put it on the shelf anyway. Sure, presidents should get the budget done on time but the last four years haven't exactly been easy to predict or project ESPECIALLY when the GOP keeps complicating it with their endless, self-inflicted fiscal crises every couple months. I can certainly understand why this year's budget is late because the fiscal cliff went well into the new year and knowing revenues, etc. impacts preparing a budget plus how does one prepare a budget when the sequester looms.
While I think it is good that republicans like Cantor are finally expressing support for comprehensive immigration reform even if they do so reluctantly. It is obvious the GOP is doing this only AFTER President Obama won 71% of the Latino vote, as McCain said when asked, it's "elections, elections." Whatever the reason, it is a good thing. As a guest on MSNBC said last week: "Latinos expect it; Democrats want it; and Republicans need it."
It is too bad the GOP spent so many years demeaning undocumented workers and minorities. By demonizing these groups, the GOP successfully convinced its own base about all those jobs those "others" were stealing, calling them criminals and thugs, blaming them for every ill that ever happens to "white" people. The GOP presidential primary and Mitt Romney's rigid stand proves just how successful the GOP immigrant demonizing scare tactic was. Now, as John B said earlier, the GOP is caught in a trap of their own construction. Already the base is attacking Marco Rubio and the other republicans who were part of the Senate gang of 8 on immigration; no doubt, Cantor will be next but the GOP has no one to blame but themselves because they fed the monster they are now trying to tame.
Next up GOP: how about embracing "green energy" so that America leads in these technologies before we run out of everything else?
Lovely post Jody. It really is too bad that they spent more time humiliating people than assisting them. You can thank Karl Rove, among others, for that.
Pat,
You would wonder if they ever took a moment, stepped back, and realized just that. The story today on MSN about the teacher that was suspended for insulting Michelle Obama and the fact that Rush Limbaugh makes it a talking point to do just that, how much longer and lower can they go to bring about their bulying agenda? For the people that post on here daily that agree with that kind of garbage, makes me wonder how they sleep at night.
Layton, we have AM radio here that is just horrific. It turned me off to sports here in MA; at least the being part of a sports community part.
The good news is they have little effect on our elections and their ratings are in a downward spiral.
Pat, thanks. Great point about the GOP and Rove. Gingrich was another one who caused much harm to the GOP as well as stirring up the toxic partisanship we've seen.
Self De-portation? It would be a winner if we could apply it to certain members of congress -- ( GOPers ).
As for the folks who want to be USAers
We were them once -- now it's their turn -- follow the path -- speak the language -- take a number -- and
welcome to the USA!
And don't forget to server your new country -- freedom is not free!
Increased immigration, amnesty for illegals and yet another foreign workers program in the face of 20 million unemployed makes perfect sense.
Oh wait - that sounds like a way to further decimate and finally kill off the middle class.
Sadly this looks like its the goal of both the dems and GOP so put your head between your legs and kiss you a*& goodbye middle class America.
First rule when you find yourself in a hole is stop digging - but politicians on both side of the aisle for the last few decades have ignored this basic principal.
The US currently allows in more than 1 million LEGAL immigrants a year. Top that off with almost the same number of legal specialty visas and I find it hard to believe that we need more than 2 million LEGAL immigrants a year.
Why exactly are some people clamoring for more and more people?
Could it be that per study after study (and common sense) - the more people let into the country the lower our wages will be? That old maxim about supply and demand seems to be true - when you have many people fighting for a few jobs the cost of that labor and the resulting wages goes down.
It isn't rocket science to see how the massive number of legal immigrants has depressed wages of working Americans.
Studies have shown that over 75% of the 'new' jobs created over the last decade went to immigrants. Many Americans have had to train their replacements before being fired.
Other studies have shown that recent immigrants (since the 1965 immigration reform act) consume social services (welfare, food stamps etc) at a rate twice that of previous immigrants and citizens.
So I have a very hard time believing that anyone aside from a rich plutocrat on the right and a vote buying dem on the left would believe that more immigrants are the answer to our problems.
What would help if we actually get to comprehensive immigration reform is a dramatic reduction in immigration numbers and tie it to the US unemployment rate.
So if we have unemployment > 5% we let in 0 people a year. If we have full employment and actually need more people then we can let in say 100,000 people per year for each percentage point below 5%.
The Jordan commission on immigration famously declared that immigration policy and the numbers of people we let into the country each year should be aligned with our national needs.
We have no current need for 1-2 million new laborers (and low skilled/educated ones at that) EACH year.
If that changes we can let in more immigrants but for now we should shut the immigration spigot off and it will help life wage depression and the overall unemployment rate.
It is not a coincidence that as we have ramped up immigration in the last 30+ years to levels never seen before wages have remained flat for Americans.
We need a program to stop ALL immigration, legal and illegal for say the next 50 years and see how our population and economy stabilizes.
You people crack me up. You hate diplomacy all most as much as Bush. Some much comlaining that the GOP will not budge on issues, and now so much complaining that they may budge. It's like you hate the smell of sitting in your own dirty diaper, but you just love the warm squishy feeling.
If he works with you on this it's okay, you can still cry about other stuff.
Latinos are natural Republicans, they are Catholic, and they believe in Marriage between a man and women, have a hard work ethic, so why do they vote Democratic? Because that is the sector that is willing to provide services and a path toward business ownership...sounds weird I know, but look at policy, California in particular. What the California Democratic Party did was not embolden business excellence within the market place, instead what they did was provide monetary avenues through policy to help minorities start a business with low-interest loans and turned their back on White owned Businesses. With that kind of support, even I would be foolish not to become Democrat and vote democratically.
But there is a down side to this, that is "White flight". All the established companies and businesses that are feeling the unequal playing field are leaving California, so the Democrats, although they had altruistic motives really have destroyed their own house by picking winners and losers instead of letting the natural course of the invisible hand take its course.
Established businesses are not idiots and are leaving and taking their employee's with them. Yeah Democrats are getting the votes, but they are setting fire to their own island to do it. California will become Mexico North in the next 20 years, with a state full poverty and broken promises. Because Latinos are not stupid either, once their business is established and start providing services to other states, they will thank the Democrats in California and locate their business to a tax friendly state, and even become Republican at that point.
After all, business transcends politics. Businesses only use politics to get favors; if they could not do that, there would not be any Lobbyists period. And So the Monkeys paw is starting to turn again in California, yeah they have a super majority in California in the legislature now and can pass anything they want, but it is too late. The Businesses that they thought they had over a barrel are leaving or have left, and to raise taxes more will just exacerbate the problem.
Democratic if they want to save California need to become Republicans in philosophy, basically “Blue Dog Democrats” by not raising taxes on Businesses, and start cutting services.
If the Democrats do not do this, California will see a new "Grapes of Wrath" within their own borders, and it will be of their own making.
And they can't blame Bush or the Republicans, they would be shouting at a mirror!
Republicans by their measure will want to start offering transitional acumen to help people get on their feet, and become the business model that built this country while enforcing the philosophy of the Constitution of the United States.
When a person has nothing and wants more, it is easy to side with someone of something that say they will give it to you. Republicans need to be smarter than this, and point out this difference of a helping hand and a hand out, and why self actualization is better for their families than a policy of welfare that does not promote an impetus to go to school and learn a trade or better ones self. Instead the system is gamed, by the very people who these policies are supposed to help, and are known by the Democratic Party, but ignored because of voter harvesting methods of the left.
That future, the Democratic one, is not sustainable, and the voters will start to find that out real soon, that is when the Republicans need to be ready and will get recruits. Economic math cannot be ignored, something most Democrats failed in college or have seemed to have forgotten. Doomed to repeat history, over and over, seems to be the only thing that Democrats are good at, because they are sheltering a false notion given to exemptions of their own policies. So, everyday it is “Let them eat cake"...they are so Progressive…
There is no need for Democrats to shoot at the mirror. The retugs-teabaggers have already shot the party to death. And now Cantor is trying to push Mr. Boe Nut and others creatures like him over the cliff like the party wanted to push grandma over the cliff. What a team! Ha Ha Ha
* No unity of thought. Each one is seeking his/her own cause, policy and glory. But getting no where, because they came form the NO PLACE and are going to the NO PLACE.
The Retuglicans created Freddie (Nightmare on Elm Street- Tea baggers. Now they want to kill Freddie and Freddie never dies or go away. Ha Ha Ha.............LOL
Ok, it is the same person in two bodies (Retugs & Teabagger). WOW - They are living to torture each other forever-Til death do they part.
Before we talk about immigration, we need to self depot the Retuglicians(Now, teahbaggers) party into the past. They do not know that to stand for, what to advocate for or what to agree to. They are out of touch, out of mind and have lost their minds. WHAT! Oh my God! What's next?????