Apr 24, 2006 9:27 am US/Pacific
Bush Expected To Push Immigration Reform Monday
IRVINE, Calif. (AP) ―
President Bush is scheduled to deliver a speech today in Irvine to push a stalled bill that would allow more foreigners to work legally in the United States.
The President wants a law that would give temporary guest worker permits to foreigners in low-paying jobs while strengthening border security.
His decision to talk about immigration in Orange County, where opposition to illegal immigration is high and where Minuteman Project co-founder Jim Gilchrist lives, could be an embarrassing miscalculation, according to John Pitney, a government professor at Claremont McKenna College.
"I'm not sure they had their O.C. antennae up," he said of the president's aides in an article published in Sunday's Los Angeles Times.
"They don't realize how complicated this issue is. It's possible this is a Daniel-in-the-lion's-den moment, but that's not really characteristic of this administration."
Minuteman Project Executive Director Stephen Eichler told the Orange County Register that he does not expect Bush to change his position.
"He thinks by coming here and giving a two-dollar speech, that somehow is going to diffuse the power and momentum of the Minutemen... This is a weak, feeble attempt of trying to schmooze over the American public," said Eichler.
White House spokesman Alex Conant told the Orange County Register he could not explain why Orange County was picked for Bush's immigration speech.
(© 2006 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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