Jeb Bush Slams AZ Immigration Law

[Perky]

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is speaking out against the new hard-line immigration law in Arizona, becoming the first prominent national Republican to do so.

"I think it creates unintended consequences," he said in a telephone interview with POLITICO Tuesday. "It's difficult for me to imagine how you're going to enforce this law. It places a significant burden on local law enforcement and you have civil liberties issues that are significant as well."

The measure, signed into law last Friday, would require police to check the immigration status of any individuals they reasonably suspect are illegal immigrants and arrest them if they can't prove legal status.

Bush said he understood the anger that prompted the bill, but that immigration should remain a federal issue.

"I don't think this is the proper approach," he said.

The former governor recounted how, after he gave a speech Monday night in California, he was approached by a Hispanic man who was concerned about the measure leading to racial profiling and unfair targeting of Latinos.

"He said, 'My parents live here, my grandparents live here — I'm Mexican-American,'" Bush recalled, adding that the man said, "'I could be picked up.'"

Like his brother the former president, Bush is a supporter of comprehensive immigration reform. He said the new law underscores the necessity for such federal legislation — what he called "an opportunity not a problem." On Thursday, Bush will join other conservative leaders on an open-press conference call to renew the push for the stalled legislation.

Bush's comments came on the same day that former Florida Speaker and Senate candidate Marco Rubio also came out in opposition to the Arizona law.

Rubio, whose parents were Cuban immigrants, said the legislation could "unreasonably single out people who are here legally, including many American citizens."



Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0410/36427.html#ixzz0mKaymdNJ

[Forkboy]

1. How fucked does a state have to be to make Jeb sound reasonable?

:rofl:

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

2. Very. nt

[Cha]

11. That's it in a nutshell. nt

[Ter]

13. The Bush's have never been very anti-immigration

When W. was governor of Texas, I remember him saying he disagreed with CA governor Pete Williams on immigration.

[YOY]

3. Yeah whatever...

Now go back and keep your family away from politics. I really don't care if he says that he likes everything I like. He and his ilks are to be away from the reigns of power at all costs.

[Ken Burch]

4. Well, Jeb does have reason to take it personally.

After all, if his kids drove through Phoenix or Tucson, they'd probably get hassled.

[scheming daemons]

5. Jeb's kids are half-hispanic. It would be hilarious if they visited AZ and got picked up by police

...

The only Republicans that are coming out against this law are those that are part hispanic or married to an hispanic.

[OHdem10]

6. Fox carried a piece--Rubio distances himself from AZ Law and

therefore many in his party.

[zulchzulu]

7. At least Jeb has something resembling a backbone... n/t

[GoCubsGo]

18. No, he has Mexican-born wife...

If it weren't for that, he'd be all for it.

[tallahasseedem]

8. He's pandering...

I don't believe a word of this.

[Ter]

14. He's never been very anti-illegal immigration

He's telling the truth on this. If anything, this will go against him if he decides to run for president or Senator.

[FLyellowdog]

9. I was wondering why we hadn't heard from him.

He should have spoken out the minute this idiot bill was signed. His wife would have a difficult time in AZ, I'm guessing.

[Kahuna]

10. Et tu, Marco?

:popcorn:

[and-justice-for-all]

12. Jeb is lying....

pukes are simply trying to score some political points...I can see right through these lying ass puke bastards.

[political_Dem]

15. I think the Bushes should be on permanent exile.

No matter how reasonable even one member of that family sounds, combined they have done a lot of damage to this country.

After all, we, as a country, are still going through a "de-Bushification" process. We can't have a "reasonable" response from one of that awful family foul things up. ;)

[CTLawGuy]

16. hmm

not everyone wants the Rs to lose the entire hispanic vote.

[Meshuga]

17. This is damage control

He understands that what is happening in Arizona is causing a lot of damage to Republicans. The Hispanic vote is important and it will become even more important in elections to come.

[Mass]

19. Having a Mexican born wife and hispanic kids may have a lot to do with this position.

[ClarkUSA]

20. Looks like Jeb Bush definitely plans to run for president in 2016. n/t