8:40am EST
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTION ROUND-UP: As someone who is taking a few days of vacation this week, it's really hard to deal with all these stories coming out. I will be back on the air tomorrow - and we WILL respond but each day it seems there are several new angles to all sides of the illegal debate.
Let's start with what the data says about the issue of illegal immigration here in the U.S. - about how Americans both feel about the issue, and how they feel towards the persons. And I believe this is revealing...
CNN reports on a poll taken this past weekend. One of the most surprising aspects of it - is that it only deals with how Americans feel about the house bill that has been bad-mouthed endlessly by the mainstream press. And how do Americans feel overall about the terrible, horrific, completely unacceptable house bill? 47% support, 44% oppose.
When you break it down it gets even more clear. Among the GOP respondents 54% support/37% oppose. Among Independents 54% support/36% oppose. Among Democrats 35% support/59% oppose. Eighty percent of those responding said immigration will be at least "somewhat important" to them in their votes in November.
And just to demonstrate that the matter of border security IS NOT an issue of race or xenophobia - 70% of ALL respondents said that they were sympathetic to illegals and the plight they face.
These numbers say some very important things about this volatile debate. For starters 5/9ths of the American people support the very tough measures in the bill from the House of Representatives. Watching the nightly newscasts you'd never figure that out. Secondly the heart of the American people are definitely compassionate towards those coming to America seeking a better way of life - in other words Americans believe that immigration is not just a good thing - but a healthy one - for both the immigrant AND America. Thirdly - what the numbers demonstrate is that Americans truly believe that immigration must be done legally - and in some sense of strict order. The United States Senate would be wise to drop their stupid foolishness with the Kennedy/McCain joke and adopt a bill more in keeping with the house resolution. The numbers play it out - America would support just such a resolution. (And I would be willing to wager that if they dropped the "clergy enforcement" action from the bill - support would skyrocket for it.)
In Arizona yesterday - a harsh reminder played out for all around to see for themselves how brazenly the human traffickers are attempting to carry out their greedy mission. Literally warehousing the illegals like cattle - and then bolting when those lives are put in jeopardy because of a driving accident. And while it may read like a humorous episode from a sitcom, there is nothing funny about the desperation these people felt as they went tumbling topsy turvy.
