Chamber of Commerce uses opponents' language to push immigration reform
Washington (CNN) - As the Senate prepares for a crucial week in the immigration debate and a possible final vote on the comprehensive reform bill, the Chamber of Commerce is using some of the opponents' language in a seven-figure ad campaign to instead push for its passage.
In a new national television ad as well as in radio commercials, the chamber is emphasizing how some leading conservatives are supporting the bill, which includes enhanced border security and an eventual path to citizenship for those already in the country illegally if they meet certain conditions.
Opponents call that amnesty.
The new ad uses clips of Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, one of the architects of the Senate bill and a leading conservative voice in the Republican Party. In it, Rubio argues that allowing the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants to just stay and not deal with the problem is in itself amnesty.
"What we have today is chaos. We have de facto amnesty," Rubio says in one previous clip. He argues in another: "We all wish we didn't have this problem but leaving it the way it is, it's amnesty. We have to solve this problem"
Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin, who also supports the comprehensive immigration concept, says in the spot: "We have to invite people to come out of the shadows."
The commercial also uses an old clip of Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, saying, "Let's secure our borders, welcome our new neighbors and practice the values of freedom and family."
However, Paul told CNN's “State of the Union” on Sunday he would vote no on the bill because it doesn't include a provision he pushed that would grant Congress the power to determine whether the U.S. border with Mexico is secure.
"We've thrown a lot of money at a lot problems in our country," Paul said. "To me, what really tells me that they're serious would be letting Congress vote on whether the border is secure. If the people in the country want to be assured that we will not get another 10 million people to come here illegally over the next decade, they have to believe they get a vote through their Congress."
The new ad, which airs on national cable as well as on radio stations across the country, is set to start Monday - the same day the Senate is scheduled to vote on an amendment to the Senate bill. That amendment would dramatically increase security by doubling the number of Border Patrol agents as well as money to complete 700 miles fence. Chamber officials say this new commercial, which does not mention this specific amendment, is the next phase in their yearlong effort to push immigration reform.
While some leading conservative Republicans in the Senate and the House as well as other groups on the right are vehemently opposed to any measure that includes possible citizenship for illegal immigrants, the Chamber of Commerce is trying to build support by emphasizing how immigration reform is a conservative value.
"Call Congress. End de facto amnesty. Create jobs and economic growth by supporting conservative immigration reforms," the announcer says in the new commercial.
This new ad is the latest from the chamber, which has been a strong proponent for immigration reform, partly because it will increase the number of visas for high-tech and low-skilled workers.
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- Untitled
Rand paul is a grandstanding sniveler .
It is time for McConnell to go! With him representing the face of the Republican Senate no wonder nothing gets done. How does someone on a senator's salary become a multi-millionaire?
Dear Chamber of Commerce, You need to get with it, because that isn't the language we use. Here is the language we use when we call our Senators.
1. Senator, why did you remove the following from current law?
Any alien who seeks to enter the United States for the purpose of performing skilled or unskilled labor is inadmissible, unless
1. there are not sufficient workers who are able, willing, qualified and available at the time of application for a visa
2. and the employment of such alien will not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of workers in the United States similarly employed.
Why did you feel it necessary to remove the biggest protection American workers have?
Oh, COC? Another part of our language when we speak with our senators is: Why did you remove the "public charge" provision of current law. And, yet another is, why is there pork for Nevada and Alaska in an immigration bill? Oh, wait. . .one more. . .why is the Secretary given until 2021 to hire the additional border agents?
If they get to keep the jobs, it is amnesty!!!
Supply and demand is the most basic, incontrovertible principle of economics. It does not require a DEGREE IN ECONOMICS to know that increasing the supply of labor reduces the price for that labor. In other words, it drives down wages. Driving down wages reduces consumer demand for goods and services. Reducing consumer demand causes workers to be laid off. Those lay offs reduce demand even more and bring on even more lay offs.
The proposed immigration reform will break America.
The only reason America had the MOST PROSPEROUS economy was because America had the BEST PAID employees and consequently, America had the customers with the most money to spend. American business owners are SO GREEDY that they are using free trade agreements, illegal immigration, and deregulation to drive down wages and destroy benefits. In their quest for short term profits, employers have destroyed their own customer base.
The Chamber is for smething the president want to do for the country. I remember a short whilt ago they did everything in thier power to keep him from getting re-elected. Now they are on his side. In the words of Flo, "Kiss My Grits".
"welcome our new neighbors and practice the values of freedom and family." Nice try lite paul (nobody cares about the Cuban anchor water boy baby nor the lying altar boy anymore) but you are the first to say that if you have a restaurant and you, probably happen to be white, you can refuse service to others "not like you."
Keep talking gibberish. By the time 2016 comes around we will be so tired of you and that head mop that, never mind. I am already tired of you and your racists ideals.
Can't this man just go away......
It is CLEAR that no one even knows what is IN the immigration bill, and that the WH is trying to pass their own legislation, and eliminate Congress from the process.
That is unacceptable, and the Congress, should not permit the WH to seize control of their branch of government.
The Congress should vote NO........on this bill.......all of them!