-By Warner Todd Huston
The state is abuzz with the announcement by former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar that he is now in favor of amnesty for illegal immigrants. At a press conference sponsored by the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant Rights, Edgar came out to chastise Republicans for fighting against illegal alien lawbreaking.
During the event, Edgar said that the GOP is making a big mistake to seem so antithetical toward immigrants and that immigrants have “brought a vitality to the Illinois economy.”
He went on for sometime about how wonderful immigrants are and that we need to work toward “comprehensive immigration reform.” It is easy to assume that Edgar wants total amnesty. But does he?
Sadly, Edgar was full of wonderful platitudes and kind words for illegals, but he was a far sight short of any actual policy suggestions. What did he mean to do with all these illegals? He just didn’t say.
Now, I am already on record agreeing with certain parts of the sentiment that Edgar expressed in his presser, but without specifics from the man, I can’t really say what the heck he’s actually supporting here. Take a look at the video.
Unfortunately, being as vague as he was, Edgar does more harm than good to whatever cause he is trying to support. Does Edgar want wide open borders, no state security, welfare to everyone in the world and amnesty for lawbreakers? One could easily claim that he does since he didn’t bother to say exactly what it is he’s proposing. This press conference did more damage than good to all concerned.
Those that stand against amnesty can denounce Edgar for his seeming desire to reward lawbreakers and extending the welfare state to them while amnesty supporters can point to him and claim he is for giving everything for free to illegals. But what was Edgar really saying?
I, for one, cannot tell from his rather empty words at this press conference. It is a shame, too, because we really do need to arrive at some logical solutions to this illegals problem.
Sadly, for all the pomp and circumstance of this press conference, it doesn’t look like Jim Edgar was any help at all… not to anyone.
____________
“The only end of writing is to enable the reader better to enjoy life, or better to endure it.”
–Samuel Johnson
Warner Todd Huston is a Chicago based freelance writer, has been writing opinion editorials and social criticism since early 2001 and is featured on many websites such as Andrew Breitbart’s BigGovernment.com, RightWingNews.com, CanadaFreePress.com, StoptheACLU.com, TheRealityCheck.org, Human Events Magazine, AmericanDailyReview.com, and the New Media Journal, among many, many others. Additionally, he has been a frequent guest on talk-radio programs to discuss his opinion editorials and current events and is currently the co-host of “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Conservatism” heard on BlogTalkRadio. Warner is also the editor of the Cook County Page for RedCounty.com.
He has also written for several history magazines and appears in the new book “Americans on Politics, Policy and Pop Culture” which can be purchased on amazon.com. He is also the owner and operator of PubliusForum.com. Feel free to contact him with any comments or questions : EMAIL Warner Todd Huston
Fair Use: This site may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. I am making such material available in my efforts to advance understanding of political, human rights, economic, democracy, and social justice issues, etc. I believe this constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research, educational, or satirical purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site/blog for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.