Obama on immigration part 2
I posted on Obama and immigration a couple of months ago. I'm supporting McCain, but Obama is right on target about the community college issue in NC. Unfortunately, I feel like many of Obama's positions lack an understanding of business, especially small business. I am discouraged that many of his programs are centered on more government and mandates, instead of working with market forces. I haven't seen that he's a different kind of politician, witness his lobbying dollars received from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and his real estate ties to the Chicago influence peddler. McCain is different from the run of the run of the mill republican, and he's got the right stuff. My dream ticket is McCain/Obama - but not expecting it.
Raleigh News and Observer
Obama steps into N.C. immigration debate
Opposes ban on illegal immigrants in college
Obama said children who attended public schools should have the chance to continue to improve themselves rather than being consigned to the fringes of society.
"For us to deny them access to community college, even though they've never lived in Mexico, at least as far as they can tell ... is to deny that this is how we've always built this country up," Obama said in an interview over the weekend with WUNC during a campaign stop in Greensboro.
The campaign of GOP presidential hopeful John McCain issued a statement saying McCain was opposed to providing benefits to illegal immigrants but did not specifically address the issue of whether they should be permitted to attend community colleges.
"John McCain does not support amnesty or benefits for undocumented immigrants," his campaign said in the statement. "He has consistently opposed giving amnesty or public benefits to undocumented immigrants."
In his interview with WUNC, Obama said he favored tightening border security and cracking down on employers who hire illegal immigrants. But he also said there must be a path to citizenship for those already in the United States.
Obama said many children of Mexican immigrants have spent nearly their entire lives in the U.S., and "for all practical purposes, they are an American kid."
"I think we don't want them in the underground economy," Obama said. "We want them contributing, and it makes sense for us to provide them some pathway. If they've been here a certain period of time, and they've been good citizens, let's try to figure out how we can work them into the fabric of our society."
This month, the State Board of Community Colleges agreed to spend up to $75,000 to study whether to admit illegal immigrants as students.
There were 112 illegal immigrants among the 300,000 students enrolled in the state community college system last year.
Bob,
I agree - Obama is on the right side of this issue. It sure does seem the state is spending a lot of money to decide if they should educate 112 students. Why not let the students improve themselves - it could be a small price to pay for long term success for all parties.
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Sorry guys, I can't agree with you on this. I know it is a cliché but what part of illegal is hard to understand. We continue to spend money and make accommodations to illegal immigrants. Whether it is push 1 for english, having a Spanish speaking requirement to work for government, giving them food stamps and housing subsidies or paying for their health care. The original excuse was just turn your head because they are doing the jobs Americans won't do. Well why are we educating them to do these jobs? Why are we training and educating when it will be illegal to work here anyway? Will we have to import 12 million new immigrants to replace them after they get educated and quit these jobs? What incentive is there to ever return home? How much of American money is being sent out of this country? Will we give them unemployment or social security benefits? Will Obama send them a tax credit check also? This is too big a topic to put in a blog but I don't want any of my tax money subsidizing illegal immigrants in the complete education system much less the Community Colleges
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