Sen. Edward Kennedy, Massachusetts own Mr. Magoo, was the lead off guest. Kennedy primarily talked about immigration. The host, George Stephanopoulos, could not have possibly presented a less probative interview to Kennedy. It almost seemed like John Derek was interviewing Charlton Heston about the tablets in The Ten Commandments.
The primary Kennedy explanation for supporting the compromise was, you guessed it, the children. Kennedy believes that immigration reform is necessary because the children of illegal immigrants, who are themselves also in the country illegally, deserve to stay because they graduated from high school in the United States. After proffering that rather unusual basis for permitting not only the HS graduates but also their parents to remain, lawfully, in the States, Kennedy said the secondary reason for immigration reform is national security.
Now Ted Kennedy talking about national security is like Paris Hilton promising public service, he can use the words but the laughter is at him, not with him. Kennedy’s twelve minutes of air time were devoted to the human cost of illegal immigration-people are dying trying to get to the U.S.
Kennedy closed with the usual mindless objection to the Iraq campaign-the “best vote” he ever cast. Kennedy boasted of how the Democrats ended the Vietnam War and the “Contra War” under his leadership. Classically he failed to provide a reason for Iraq withdrawal from Iraq. In his memory of the salad days of the Vietnam protest movement, the very senior Senator apparently forgot the dire consequences of his peace at any price view toward Vietnam and Nicaragua.
Kennedy, like John McCain and Lindsey Graham over the last few Sundays presents the flawed argument that any immigration plan is better than no plan. The Kennedy version was “we know what you’re against, now what are you for?”
Jeff Sessions was next. The Alabama Republican stuck to his guns on immigration. Moreover, he, like many of the opponents of the bill answered Kennedy’s question by saying what he was, indeed, “for”-enforcement of current laws. After showing video of Pres. Bush appearing on behalf of Sessions at an Alabama fundraiser, George asked if the trip had persuaded the Senator to change his mind on the immigration bill-a display of penetrating journalism for ABC. Otherwise, the Session interview added nothing new to the public dialogue on either Iraq or immigration.
The primary Kennedy explanation for supporting the compromise was, you guessed it, the children. Kennedy believes that immigration reform is necessary because the children of illegal immigrants, who are themselves also in the country illegally, deserve to stay because they graduated from high school in the United States. After proffering that rather unusual basis for permitting not only the HS graduates but also their parents to remain, lawfully, in the States, Kennedy said the secondary reason for immigration reform is national security.
Now Ted Kennedy talking about national security is like Paris Hilton promising public service, he can use the words but the laughter is at him, not with him. Kennedy’s twelve minutes of air time were devoted to the human cost of illegal immigration-people are dying trying to get to the U.S.
Kennedy closed with the usual mindless objection to the Iraq campaign-the “best vote” he ever cast. Kennedy boasted of how the Democrats ended the Vietnam War and the “Contra War” under his leadership. Classically he failed to provide a reason for Iraq withdrawal from Iraq. In his memory of the salad days of the Vietnam protest movement, the very senior Senator apparently forgot the dire consequences of his peace at any price view toward Vietnam and Nicaragua.
Kennedy, like John McCain and Lindsey Graham over the last few Sundays presents the flawed argument that any immigration plan is better than no plan. The Kennedy version was “we know what you’re against, now what are you for?”
Jeff Sessions was next. The Alabama Republican stuck to his guns on immigration. Moreover, he, like many of the opponents of the bill answered Kennedy’s question by saying what he was, indeed, “for”-enforcement of current laws. After showing video of Pres. Bush appearing on behalf of Sessions at an Alabama fundraiser, George asked if the trip had persuaded the Senator to change his mind on the immigration bill-a display of penetrating journalism for ABC. Otherwise, the Session interview added nothing new to the public dialogue on either Iraq or immigration.
Not much in the second half of the program. George was almost euphoric at the notion that a Michael Bloomberg Presidential run returning a Clinton to the White House, just like 92.
1 comment:
I see to have forgotten the dire consequences of peace with Vietnam. Just this week you were extolling the visit by the Vietnamese leader to the White House.
And I forget, too, how Nicaragua threatened us. Why was it necessary for Reagan to trade arms for hostages in order to get money to wage secret (illegal) war in Nicaragua? That was a "war at any price" policy, and it led to several indictments of RR's officials. Disgraceful.
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