Bush Fears for Nation's Soul

It's an unusual position for Bush in many ways. As Rutenberg explains: "Mr. Bush and his allies have faced an important rhetorical disadvantage, particularly from the right. Conservative opponents can use one word, amnesty, against the bill.

"Supporters, the president included, are forced into the complex weeds of policy and the nuances of legislative language."

Jon Ward of the Washington Times reports on response from opponents of the legislation: "'That's hurtful language,' said Sen. Jeff Sessions, Alabama Republican. 'If the bill did what they promised it was going to do, I'd support it. I'm for comprehensive reform, but it has to serve the national interests, not political interest.'

"'I don't think it's courage to support this flawed bill. I think sometimes it takes a bit of courage to resist this kind of short-term reform, so we can create a system that can actually work,' Mr. Sessions said. . . .

"Paul Weyrich, founder of the conservative Free Congress Foundation, said that 'there are legitimate reasons to oppose this legislation, and I don't think that it behooves the president to call people names or make accusations against them if they disagree with him.'

"'He is angering people beyond belief to the point that the Republican Party is going to split in two, thanks to him. If this bill passes, the Republicans will not recover from it,' Mr. Weyrich said.

"An aide to one Republican senator who is usually a close White House ally said that Mr. Bush had questioned the patriotism of lawmakers who are concerned about granting amnesty to illegal aliens.

"'[It] not only stretches the bounds of credibility with conservative Republicans but in fact, it further erodes their confidence in this administration,' said the aide, who asked that his name not be used."

A Reader's View

White House Watch reader Stephen Neuman of Chicago writes: "The immigration debate reminds me of the Dubai port deal. Those are the two situations where President Bush had the position that was more difficult to explain, and his opponents were better able to use demagoguery and sound bites....

"Regardless of how I might feel about the immigration debate (or the Dubai ports deal), it's nice to see the President get a taste of his own medicine....

"I hope some Senators who are usually Bush allies, but who are on the receiving end of his criticism on this one, take a minute to consider how much they like being accused of not wanting to do what's right for America. Perhaps those Senators will reflect on that before they lob their next criticism at Democrats for wanting to hurt our troops."

Just Faking It

Peter Baker filed a pool report to his colleagues about Bush's tour of the training facility: "After a uniformed officer showed POTUS around the fake border crossing . . . he was taken inside the building to a fake airport passport control station, complete with six lanes, computers and uniformed officers. POTUS was given fake documents to hand to the man in uniform, who greeted him with a jaunty, 'Welcome to the United States, sir.' The officer then appeared to question the president about who he was, why he was coming into the country, where he had visited before landing here and why he has such a funny name. . . . The agent dutifully took POTUS's fingerprint and his photograph. POTUS evidently passed any instant check because the officer then stamped his fake documents and allowed him in. POTUS, more grateful than most, then shook the officer's hand and posed for pictures with him and a partner. He then posed for pictures with others as the pool was led back to the vans to wait for him to complete the tour."