Defeat This Monstrosity

NOW that the U.S. Senate has made a strong argument for unicameral government by passing the “comprehensive” immigration monstrosity, attention turns to the House. It has already passed a sensible “enforcement only” bill. It should stand firm on that legislation, at most making it an “enforcement first” bill by promising to consider some of the Senate’s reasonable proposals in the next Congress, if any can be found. But the Bush-Democrat coalition has an almost mystical attachment to the Senate’s guest-worker and amnesty provisions. It will be faithful unto death in fighting for them. And since the most likely such death is that of the Republican-controlled House, a major struggle is in prospect this summer. House Republicans should stand firm and refuse all compromise. Here’s how:

1. Underline on every possible occasion that this is not a “bipartisan” moderate bill. It is an extremist “open borders” law being pushed by a coalition of George W. Bush and the Democrats. This Bush-Democrat coalition is a radical one; it is not moderate, and it is certainly not conservative. Majorities of Republicans in both chambers of Congress are strongly opposed to the bill. Only continued firm opposition by Republicans can prevent an amnesty, a guest-worker program, and many other costly absurdities from passing into law. Republicans should want to boast in the midterm-election campaign that only their strong opposition did prevent this monstrosity’s passing into law.

About the Author

John O’Sullivan

John O’Sullivan is a senior fellow at National Review Institute and a contributing editor of National Review.

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NOW that the U.S. Senate has made a strong argument for unicameral government by passing the “comprehensive” immigration monstrosity, attention turns to the House. It has already passed a sensible “enforcement only” bill. It should stand firm on that legislation, at most making it an “enforcement first” bill by promising to consider some of the Senate’s reasonable proposals in the next Congress, if any can be found. But the Bush-Democrat coalition has an almost mystical attachment to the Senate’s guest-worker and amnesty provisions. It will be faithful unto death in fighting for them. And since the most likely such death is that of the Republican-controlled House, a major struggle is in prospect this summer. House Republicans should stand firm and refuse all compromise. Here’s how:

1. Underline on every possible occasion that this is not a “bipartisan” moderate bill. It is an extremist “open borders” law being pushed by a coalition of George W. Bush and the Democrats. This Bush-Democrat coalition is a radical one; it is not moderate, and it is certainly not conservative. Majorities of Republicans in both chambers of Congress are strongly opposed to the bill. Only continued firm opposition by Republicans can prevent an amnesty, a guest-worker program, and many other costly absurdities from passing into law. Republicans should want to boast in the midterm-election campaign that only their strong opposition did prevent this monstrosity’s passing into law.