Lindsey Graham: I Think Arizona Immigration Law is Unconstitutional

[sabra]

Source: CBS News

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.) said Tuesday he thinks Arizona's new immigration law is unconstitutional and that "it doesn't represent the best way forward" when it comes to addressing illegal immigration.

He added, however, that the law reflects "what good people will do" when they are left with no other options.

Speaking at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing today with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Graham said Congress eventually needs to tackle immigration reform but that it will be "impossible" to achieve reform until citizens in states like Arizona feel that the borders are secure.

"In this environment there is no hope of it passing," he said.

Arizona's new law, signed by the governor on Friday, would require immigrants to carry documents verifying their immigration status. It would also require police officers to question a person about his or her immigration status if there is "reasonable suspicion" that person may be illegally in the country.

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20003549-503544.html?tag=stack

[Bill McBlueState]

1. interesting theory

Good people will do stupid, unconstitutional crap when they're "left with no other options"?

Not the good people I know.

[hayu_lol]

2. Lindsey Graham is our ...

stereotype 'cracker.'

He thinks? Be the first time in his life.

[SoapBox]

3. Lindsey, I think YOU are uncontstitutional.

[Davis_X_Machina]

4. My first thought was "Why is he coming out against...

....ACA now, when he's not running for re-election?" My second thought was "80% of DU agrees with him". It was only on reading the whole post that I realized it was the immigration bill he was talking about.

[Dappleganger]

5. No, it reflects what bigots will do when they are in the majority.

[wisteria]

18. I think the issue is much larger and more complicated than just being about racism.

It is nice to be able to tie everything into a neat little package isn't it, but it ignores all the other matters and fears that have lead up to this wrong bill.

[pepperbear]

6. he's gay so nobody cares what he says

:sarcasm:

[elias7]

10. that's what they'll say, too

[thereismore]

7. Echoes of "the good people of Germany". nt

[atreides1]

24. You beat me to it.

[happygoluckytoyou]

8. ==> please send these people your opinion on arizona, the great white hope...

[e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail],
[e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail],
[e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail],
[e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]

THESE ARE THE TOURISM AND SUCH PEOPLE FOR THE GREAT STATE OF ARIZONA

-------------NEW MOTTO---> DOING EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO KEEP ALABAMA FROM LOOKING LIKE THE DUMBEST STATE IN THE UNION

[struggle4progress]

20. .. Jennifer Liewer is no longer with the city of Glendale. This email account will not be monitored.

Please email either Julie Watters at [e-mail] or Jennifer Stein at [e-mail] for assistance ...

[damntexdem]

9. Rather, it reflects what good people will do when ...

they've chosen to leave all good behind.

[totodeinhere]

11. "What good people will do" when they are left with no other options?

I call bullshit on that. "Good people" would never pass a bill like that.

[bowens43]

12. It's not what 'good people will do'

good people are appalled by this.

[BattyDem]

13. No Lindsey, it's not what "good people" do.

:mad:

[pampango]

14. So rather than give "good people" "other options" with immigration reform, just build higher walls

and back them up with more bullets? Have I got that right Senator?

Something tells me that walls will never be "high enough" or border guards "trigger happy" enough to satisfy some "good people" including the "good" senator.

[wisteria]

19. Security is necessary at the boarders, but I am sure he is not just advocation for that.

He realizes as many others do, that this is a multifaceted issue and that securing the boarders doesn't address all the issues.

So, what do you think we should do, if not try to keep some of the bad element out? Or do you think there are no bad elements coming through, just "good people".

[pampango]

23. Graham said that immigration reform is "impossible" until citizens "feel the borders are secure".

"Graham said Congress eventually needs to tackle immigration reform but that it will be "impossible" to achieve reform until citizens in states like Arizona feel that the borders are secure."

That does not indicate to me that he views it as a multifaceted issue that requires comprehensive reform, not just more border security. Anyone who says that we can't do anything until there is more border security can always say "That's not enough, build a bigger wall.... That's not enough, put more troops... That's not enough, build a higher wall"...and so on...and so on...and so on. It means that want to look tough but have no intention of "comprehensive reform" which would include, but not be limited to, more border security.

What I think we should do is consistent with Obama's framework for immigration reform which has been endorsed by the AFL-CIO and Change to Win, as well as the Progressive Caucus. The gist of it is below with more information at the link.

"This approach to immigration reform has five major interconnected pieces: (1) an independent commission to assess and manage future flows, based on labor market shortages that are determined on the basis of actual need; (2) a secure and effective worker authorization mechanism; (3) rational operational control of the border; (4) adjustment of status for the current undocumented population; and (5) improvement, not expansion, of temporary worker programs, limited to temporary or seasonal, not permanent, jobs."

http://www.changetowin.org/for-the-media/press-releases-and-statements/change-to-win-and-afl-cio-unveil-unified-immigration-reform-framework.html

"Joseph T. Hansen, International President of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) and chair of the Change to Win Immigration Task Force, and John Sweeney, International President of the AFL-CIO, today unveiled a unified framework for comprehensive immigration reform legislation."

"Sweeney and Hansen also were joined by Eliseo Medina, Executive Vice President of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and Arturo Rodriquez, President of the United Farm Workers (UFW) in making the announcement. Both Medina and Rodriguez have been national leaders on immigration reform and played a key role in the formation of the immigration framework."

[Walk away]

27. +1

[wisteria]

15. He is being diplomatic and he is against the bill.

I wonder how many here who are criticizing him for showing some understanding for what the people of Arizona are going through, even live in Arizona or even another state that has to deal with the drugs,deaths and crime rate. When people get desperate they do desperate things. Are you who complain, against securing the boarders?

[Jefferson23]

16. Nice try Lindsey, but you can't have it both ways.

He knows how damaging this law will be on Republicans, not exclusive to Arizona. So he tries to blame the outrageous
law on the federal government's lack of a bill.

Try and recall Lindsey WHO went nuts when Bush tried to pass an immigration bill.

[and-justice-for-all]

17. What is this , a puke trying to score some politcal points...

how nice, coming from this nut sack that voted against health care reform. Not having universal health care should also be considered unconstitutional.

[JuniperLea]

21. Graham wouldn't know "good people" if one bit him on the ass...

I'm sick of this creep, seriously sick of him. Someone upthread said he's the stereotypical 'cracker' and though I really hate the term, I have to agree. His pathetic, bigotted, racist ideals are what that term is all about.

[Walk away]

22. It's easy to see how the Nazis rationalized their actions.

The hard core group commits the racist acts and their apologists blame it on the victims and everyone else.

Isn't anyone in the media going to say anything about how ridiculous it is to blame the Federal government for the actions of a clearly racist state.
The majority of Arizonans are to blame for this law.

[VaYallaDawg]

25. I have this sinking feeling it's not just Arizonans.

I fear this would be the outcome of what happens any time you put the rights of a minority on the ballot for the majority to vote on.

[Ter]

26. Lindsey Graham is now a lame duck

No Democrat thinks he is sincere, and the Freepers are likely enraged.

[No Elephants]

28. What do you mean "Now?" Lindsey Graham's ALWAYS been a lame fuck.

BTW, there's a typo in the subject line of your post.

:evilgrin: