Illegals help the economy? The numbers don't add up.

I supported President George W. Bush in both 2000 and 2004.

I have always believed he is a man of conviction when it comes to fighting the global war on terrorism.

He made two great choices for the vacancies on the Supreme Court of the United States.

And his tax cuts? Hey, I’ve never met a tax cut I didn’t like.

All that said, I am totally befuddled and more than a little disappointed in the President’s approach to the illegal immigration problem.

The Bush administration’s official position on illegal immigration from day one has been to implement some sort of “Guest Worker” program. This would be a temporary-worker program to match willing foreign workers with willing employers when no Americans can be found to fill the job.

My question is how thoroughly have “willing employers” sought Americans to fill certain jobs as opposed to simply hiring illegal immigrants?

As CNN’s Lou Dobbs pointed out, employers stand to gain a lot from hiring illegals while others bear a significant burden.


"There are 280 million legal citizens of this country. They are the ones carrying the burden of 20 million illegal immigrants. Oh, it's a great benefit for illegal employers. But don't you dare suggest that it is a benefit to working men and women, who are watching $200 billion of wages disappear every year because of illegal immigration. They're paying for their health care. They're paying for their children in schools that are overcrowded. We are failing the people who built this country, the American middle-class. Don't tell me how important illegal immigration is, because it's utter nonsense."


What also has me more than a little disturbed is I am now citing perpetual Bush-basher Paul Krugman, economy professor and NY Times columnist, to further make the case.


The willingness of Americans to do a job depends on how much that job pays - and the reason some jobs pay too little to attract native-born Americans is competition from poorly paid immigrants.


It was we in the conservative base which fought vehemently for your 2004 re-election, Mr. President.

I hope you remember that while placating Mexican president Vicente Fox.