VA-05: Al Weed vs. Virgil Goode on Immigration

By: Al Weed for Congress
Published On: 5/29/2006 10:11:22 PM

It's the matchup you've all been waiting for, on a sort of anti-climactic subject, but one of great import to many residents of the VA-05. Personally I think that if Bush would enforce the pre-existing laws, this wouldn't be a problem, but his failure to execute (I think that comes from the root word "executive branch") the laws has once again caused a problem whose only solution just happens to be a political wedge issue. Seriously, anybody notice that happening a lot in the past 6 years?

Here's Virgil's solution for dealing with employers who hire illegal workers:

It is already against the law to hire illegals and the House legislation increases the penalties for hiring illegals. The House legislation would set up a procedure similar to instant check. An employer who checked on someone seeking a job would be absolved of liability if the check showed that the person was legal.

Seeing as Goode's loyalties lie mostly with large corporations *cough* MZM *cough* it makes sense that his solution is to ensure that employers are easily absolved of liability. As for increasing the penalties for employing someone illegally, here's what Al said:
In 2003, only 11 businesses in the entire United States were fined for hiring illegal immigrants.

Man, the 11 businesses that get caught in 2007 sure will be upset about the new penalties. Virgil agrees with Al that we need to stop the magnet attracting illegal workers, but he doesn't realize that jobs are that magnet. He's so worried about his symbolic little wall and his retributive temper-tantrum that he lacks the decency to leave the babies out of this one:
Allowing the babies of illegals to be automatic citizens is another magnet for illegals to invade the United States.

Al, will you please show us how an honorable American would respond?
A child born to illegal immigrants had no choice. They did not break the law. If we denied them citizenship, they would be stateless, and that is bad.

[snip]

We are talking about economic refugees trying to improve their lives and the lives of their children. They are in our churches, they support our businesses, and they are raising their children to be responsible American citizens. We must not let Republicans make a wedge issue of people+óGé¼Gäós lives.

From the Danville Register & Bee; Al's Q&A, Goode's Q&A.

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