Bush: It is amnesty

Bush: It is amnesty
White House says he 'misspoke' on immigration bill

While President Bush has insisted the immigration reform package he's promoting in the Senate does not provide amnesty for illegal aliens, he made an apparent slip of the tongue today that suggested otherwise, catching the attention of the bill's fervent opponents.

At a briefing today at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, the president said: "You know, I've heard all the rhetoric – you've heard it, too – about how this is amnesty. Amnesty means that you've got to pay a price for having been here illegally, and this bill does that."

A contributor to an ABC News blog forum acknowledged it likely was a "slip of the tongue" but charged the president "knows what he is doing is wrong."

"He's so caught up in his legacy and in the money he's going to make from the corporations he schilling (sic) for that he really just doesn't care about the USA, its laws, its people, or its sovernity (sic).... I would hope that House Republicans might move for his impeachment... This would stop the bill and neutralize him," wrote "Kevin."

A new poll shows just 22 percent of American's favor the bill, but its supporters in the Senate got the 60 votes they needed to clear procedural hurdles and resurrect it today.

In his briefing this morning, Bush, in fact, praised the immigration proposal, which would provide a path to citizenship for an estimated 12-20 million illegal aliens now in the country coupled with measures aimed at securing the nation's borders.

"If you dislike the status quo on immigration, then you ought to be supporting a comprehensive approach to making sure the system works," the president said. "And it's a practical approach. The Senate has worked very hard to craft a comprehensive bill. In a good piece of legislation like this, and a difficult piece of legislation like this, one side doesn't get everything they want."

He touted the $4.4 billion to be allocated immediately to "enforcement measures."

"And, finally, this bill goes to the heart of our values. We have proven that our nation is capable of assimilating people. And I'm confident that we can continue to be a nation that assimilates. The bill recognizes that English is a part of the assimilation process and wants to help people learn the language in order to be able to take advantage of America," he said.

"I love a country where people come with dreams and aspirations and through hard work can realize those dreams and aspirations. I'm struck every time I hear – I'm struck about our greatness every time I hear a story about a child taking advantage of a mother's or dad's hard work to realize the blessings of America. I was at the Coast Guard Academy – I've told this story several times – and the number one cadet talked about his migrant grandfather. The fellow was a Mexican American – or is a Mexican American. The father came from – the grandfather came from Mexico to work hard so that, hopefully, some day somebody in his family would realize the blessings of America. And it worked."

Later today, White House Press Secretary Tony Snow released an addendum, clarifying Bush's remarks.

"This has been construed as an assertion that comprehensive immigration reform legislation before the Senate offers amnesty to immigrants who came here illegally. That is the exact opposite of the president's long-held and often-stated position," it said.

"President Bush has noted repeatedly that the comprehensive reform he supports is not an amnesty bill. Amnesty means forgiving wrongdoing without imposing punishment. The immigration reforms passed in 1986 granted amnesty. The legislation under consideration this year does not. This measure imposes significant punishments on those who came to this country illegally between 1986 and the beginning of this year."

On the White House website, a "fact sheet" says: "MYTH: This is amnesty."

"Amnesty is the forgiveness of an offense without penalty. This proposal is not amnesty because illegal workers must acknowledge that they broke the law, pay a $1,000 fine, and undergo criminal background checks to obtain a Z visa granting temporary legal status," the White House statement says.

"To apply for a green card at a date years into the future, Z visa workers must wait in line behind those who applied lawfully, pay an additional $4,000 fine, complete accelerated English requirements, leave the U.S. and file their application in their home country, and demonstrate merit based on the skills and attributes they will bring to the United States," it continued. Then, "Workers approved for Z visas will be given a temporary legal status, but they will not enjoy the full privileges of citizens or Legal Permanent Residents, such as welfare benefits and the ability to sponsor relatives abroad as immigrants."

Meanwhile, on the ABC blog forum, contributor Don Hayes took exception to the White House's stance: "Stop this madness. Somebody tell Bush he is making a HUGE mistake for our country by pusuing (sic) this. We will be flooded with illegals!"

"This bill is amnesty they know it, we know it," added Jerry Hicks. "The arrogance of Bush and those in the Senate rivals that of Rome at the time of the Fall. Corrupted by corporate money, seduced by the establishment's shine, their egos inflated by the crooning of the mainstream media, they just don't care what the people think – they believe they know what's best for us and for America. The American people have told them overwhelming that they want a secure border. Something that could be done today with existing laws."

Blog forum contributor JennyC concluded: "I am an immigrant that came to this country the legal way. I am appalled that the president is supporting a bill that frankly states that people who broke the law are granted stay. It is unfair and illegal. The president is way in over his head. If he thinks that this bill will grant him favoritism he is dead wrong. He does not listen to the will of the people."