Health care debate dampens push for amnesty

“March for America” took place on Sunday, March 21, at Washington D.C.’s National Mall and it drew tens of thousands of activists from across the country rallying for amnesty.

They carried banners from their home countries and signs reading, “You need us as much as we need you,” and “No human being can be Illegal.”

Due to the pressure from the health care reform debate Obama did not attend Sunday’s demonstration. However he did record a message of reassurance to the illegal immigrants and their supporters that appeared on jumbo televisions. The jest of the recorded message was that he would fix the “broken immigration system.”

Among the speakers at the pro-amnesty rally was Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, leader of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, he compared the Latino amnesty quest to the civil rights movement and said, “This is our Selma.”

The Sunday rally in the country’s capitol allowed amnesty advocates to send a clear message that they won’t excuse any delays on revamping the “comprehensive” immigration system and they threatened leaders in Washington they would vote accordingly in the November midterm elections.

It’s worth pointing out that many of the Latino rally participants reside in this country illegally and are not eligible to vote.

The rally took place days after Senators Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) announced an outline for a comprehensive immigration reform bill. The three-page blueprint included a controversial mass amnesty provision; create a national biometric ID tamper-proof card and a guest worker program.

Even though the legislation was drawn up in a bipartisan fashion, Graham warned that the bill would receive little support from Republicans if health care reform were passed. Graham suggested if the White House muscled through health care, “immigration reform will be dead.”

However, many illegals are tired of living in the shadows. Rosy Medina boarded a bus in Dallas that would tack her to Washington, DC, to participate in the pro-amnesty rally. ”We live in uneasiness, with panic, without power to buy a house, without licenses to drive,” said Medina, a Mexican illegal alien who, has lived in the country illegally for eight years.

“We are going to be the voice of millions who only want to be given the same opportunities of everyone, that they be allowed to work and that they not be persecuted,” said Rosa Maria Ramos, a resident of Brownsville, Texas, who emigrated 17 years ago from Mexico.

Liberal Failure Demonstrates California’s Economy is Heading Over a Cliff

Nowhere has the throngs of illegal immigrants been felt than California. The state leads the way for immigrants to set up their casa. The massive illegal problem has resulted in a state with huge budget crisis and higher-than-average unemployment numbers.

In 2009, there were an estimated 2.6 million illegal immigrants – nearly a quarter of America’s total illegal immigrant population – residing in California.

“With our state budget in tatters, millions of Californians out of work, failing schools and a state prison system strained by massive overcrowding, California simply cannot continue to ignore the toll that illegal immigration takes on our budget and economy,” says Steve Poizner a Republican Gubernatorial candidate.

“Steve Poizner is willing to take bold steps in order to stop illegal immigration, while Meg Whitman (also a Republican) wants to continue with the status quo. Ten states have passed laws restricting benefits to illegal immigrants and as governor, Poizner will ensure that California does the same,” said Communications Director Jarrod Agen. “The differences in the Republican primary are clear - Steve is proposing bold reforms to turn off the magnets which draw illegal immigrants to California, while Meg Whitman advocates for amnesty.”

However, a recent Field Poll in California has Meg Whitman with a commanding lead in the Republican gubernatorial primary. Even if Poizner were to claim all the undecided voters he would be shy of the votes necessary to earn a bid to play ball with Democrat Jerry Brown the left’s frontrunner.

Whitman claims the lion share of most likely voters 63 percent, while Poizner captured 14 percent with 23 percent undecided. In a head-to-head with Brown, the EBay executive Whitman edges out the Democrat.

However Poizner camp is convinced his position on illegal immigration will resonate with the voters especially after the embattled health care fight. The Latino caucus has pushed the President to take on comprehensive immigration reform this year or face the consequences at the polls in November, according to pro-amnesty activists.

If elected governor, Poizner will advocate for the following policies; cutting taxpayer-funded benefits to illegal immigrants, holding employers responsible for following the law, ending sanctuary city practices and securing our borders.


One thing is certain, after a bitter health care battle most agree the country is not in a position to take on another contentious issue.



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