Giuliani and immigration, cont.

In response to my posting, “President Giuliani and immigration—a preview,” a reader wrote:

Good, and on immigration, although he disagrees with aspects of this bill, or so he says, particularly regarding security provisions, we are hearing very little from him about it. Why doesn’t he get out front and say something to influence the debate at this crucial time?

Furthermore, as mayor, he implemented sanctuary policies, if not officially, then at least de facto, and he favored illegals and went to court to defend them.

Here’s Heather Mac Donald remarking on sanctuary laws and Giuliani:

These ubiquitous laws prohibit local government employees from notifying federal immigration authorities about the presence of illegal aliens. Sanctuary mandates create vast law-free zones where illegal immigrants know that they face virtually no risk of apprehension; the zones have notoriously protected criminals as well as itinerant roofers

In 1996, Congress responded by prohibiting local governments from restricting the speech of their workers in this way. To no avail. Virtually every sanctuary city proceeded to ignore this new federal law as well as the preexisting immigration laws. New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani took his defiance to federal court. He lost his suit against the 1996 law, but—on September 10, 2001—declared his intention to continue violating it anyway.

Further, when Giuliani is asked about immigration, he says there’s pessimism and optimism, people being pessimistic about assimilation and optimistic about it. How silly to bring in those words. It’s not a matter of being “optimistic” but of using discernment and judgment in deciding what is best for the future of the country.

Also, Paul Gottfried make this remarks in his essay in The American Conservative on Giuliani and evangelicals.

The problem is that nothing in Giuliani’s past, except for rhetorical posturing, would suggest that he is especially equipped to deal with international terrorists. Although violent crime in New York City declined under his administration, the same general trend could be observed in other American cities, and that trend might be related to demographic factors and to the building and use of prisons as much as to Giuliani’s vaunted toughness. And there is not necessarily a connection between getting criminals and derelicts off the streets in the Big Apple and apprehending international terrorists. The two would seem to involve different skills.

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David B. writes:

Giuliani tried to stay out of the line of fire during the debate over the amnesty bill. He ended up opposing it. This got him much praise from Hannity and the Usual Suspects. If Giuliani wins the Presidency, we would have the same dance we have had under Bush. Namely, a Republican President who favors open borders while bewildered “conservatives” try to “understand” why their President is taking these positions against the will of his voters. The Stupid Party would again live up to its name.

Posted by Lawrence Auster at July 04, 2007 09:50 AM | Send