Illegal Immigration: Protecting the American Dream or America’s Commercial Interests?

Rep Jeb Hensarling (R.-Tex.) delivered an inspiring speech, “Protecting the American Dream,” on March 1, 2007 to the 34th annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington. Although the speech was certainly patriotic, one thing was noticeably absent. Hensarling, a Mexas/Texico Republican, made no mention of immigration whatsoever! The irony of this absent immigration message came with his statement quoting President Regan, “It is our families, not our government, that can best nurture our children, care for our elderly, perpetuate our values, and preserve our heritage.”

I hate to argue with Hensarling, but our families cannot perpetuate our values nor preserve our heritage when our nation is overrun by an illegal immigrant invasion! Obviously, Hensarling, like many so-called Conservative Republicans, thinks that free enterprise is the solution to every problem. As Bush said in response to a question about doing business with Iran during a presidential conference on February 14th, “One of the problems -- not specifically on this issue, just in general -- let's put it this way, money trumps peace, sometimes. In other words, commercial interests are very powerful interests throughout the world. And part of the issue in convincing people to put sanctions on a specific country is to convince them that it's in the world's interest that they forgo their own financial interest.”

Well obviously Bush isn’t too interested in convincing people to forgo their own financial interests. He missed an important opportunity to show real leadership. If only Bush had said, “Peace, the perpetuation of our American values, and the preservation of our American heritage must always trump commercial interests.” NOT! Didn’t happen!

Bush and his pragmatic commercial interest/free enterprise conservatives have become blind to what really ails America. There is a void of true statesmanship, a void of real leadership, a void of values, a void of honesty, and a void of honor. Sadly, Bush will be long remembered by both left and right for these four miserable words: “money trumps peace, sometimes”.

Like Bush, Hensarling also missed a great opportunity to be totally honest. Here’s Hensarling’s vision of the four cornerstones of the American Dream (sans any mention of immigration):

The first cornerstone of the American dream is faith. Our Declaration of Independence says that we are endowed by our Creator with unalienable rights.

Faith is the very foundation of our freedom. Our freedoms come from something higher than a secular, earthly entity. And it’s faith that promotes values and virtues without which, the foundation of a free society begins to crumble.

Family is the next cornerstone of the American dream. President Reagan once said, “It is our families, not our government, that can best nurture our children, care for our elderly, perpetuate our values, and preserve our heritage.” Strong families make strong nations. And let me tell you, since becoming a father 5 years ago, I have learned, with no apologies to Senator Clinton, it takes a family to raise a child, not a village. I was taught by my parents to work hard, love the Lord, and to dream big dreams, because by the grace of God, I was born an American. And my wife and I are working to raise our 2 children in the same fashion.

The third cornerstone of the American Dream is Free Enterprise. Winston Churchill once said, “Some regard private enterprise as if it were a predatory tiger to be shot. Others look upon it as a cow that they can milk. Only a handful see it for what it really is - the strong horse that pulls the whole cart.”

We know that free enterprise is all about rolling up your sleeves, working hard, risking your savings, and perhaps one day starting your own business - to compete, to succeed, or even fail, all based on your own merits. It also includes your neighbor’s right to choose what they buy in a competitive market place – regardless of whether that competition comes from the next company, the next county or the next country. It gives us real jobs, with real futures. And as history as my witness, there has never been a more successful housing program, health care program, or nutrition program than the American free enterprise system.

Freedom is the final – and most unique – cornerstone of the American dream. Nowhere in time and space have human beings found more freedom and enjoyed it more abundantly than in America. Generations of our forefathers have taken up arms, fought for it, and found it worthy of the sacrifice of their very lives. Freedom has allowed us to be limited only by the size of our dreams. And even today, Americans continue to dream big dreams. With our firm resolve and the grace of the Almighty, may it always be so.

In all fairness to Hensarling, he did point out that radical Islam is the biggest threat to peace. He urged that we not cut off funding for the war in Iraq. But Hensarling prefers to look the other way and not connect the dots between America’s porous borders and terrorism. But Hey, we know the answer. “Money trumps peace, sometimes!”

The first and greatest threat that we face today is global terrorism. And make no mistake, our War on Terror is predominantly a war with radical Islam. Contrary to common perception, the threat is not new. Can anyone in the audience identify who said the following?

“The ambassador answered us that [the right] was founded on the Laws of the Prophet, that it was written in their Koran, that all nations who should not have answered their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to make slaves of all they could take as prisoners, and that every Mussulman who should be slain in battle was sure to go to Paradise.”

That quote was given by Thomas Jefferson in 1786 when he was the Ambassador to France. . .

Over 200 years ago, one of our most celebrated founding fathers of freedom – Thomas Jefferson – couldn’t comprehend a radical Ambassador’s religious justification to wage war against a nation that had done him no harm. But he knew that appeasement would only lead to more attacks. And he was right. What has changed today?

Isn’t it ironic that Hensarling speaks of appeasement while doing the same by simply ignoring the illegal immigration invasion??? But Hey, we know the answer. “Money trumps peace, sometimes!”

Hensarling offered a letter he received that is eloquent and needs to be spread far and wide (emphasis in bold added by me):

Somewhere over in Baghdad right now is a brave soldier who is tired. He’s about to search another safe house for a terrorist insurgent. He is resolute, he has dirt on his face. He carries a picture of his family. They pray for him every day. But you know what? He volunteered. He loves America. He loves his freedom. And he fights for the freedom he has enjoyed to be passed on to his children.

I recently heard from one of them. Allow me to read you his letter:

Dear Congressman Hensarling,

I proudly served with the U.S. Army’s 10th Special Forces Group on two deployments to Iraq - the first in Northern Iraq with the Kurds fighting Ansar al-Islam and later in the Suimi Triangle killing and capturing high level Saddam loyalists and foreign fighters. I know the price of war well - From the months I have spent away from my wife and daughter to the minutes I have spent applying direct pressure to the mortal wound of one of my brothers. I have prayed for peace in away that few Americans can muster. Fighting a war is never pleasant—it is a difficult business—but fighting this war and winning this war is absolutely crucial to protecting the freedoms we enjoy. Our enemies know that, and so must we.

Sir, I think you should know that without exception, every house in Iraq I raided had propaganda from Syria, an Imam their named Aba Kaka was the most common, along with training videos from Afghanistan and Chechnya. I believe the enemy view Iraq as key terrain in achieving their goal of establishing a new Islamic Caliphate.

However, the war in Iraq—and more broadly, the war against radical, militant Islam— will not be lost in the sands of the Middle East. It will be lost in the halls of Congress and on the air waves as public officials and talking heads slowly erode the will of the American people to press on towards victory.

Congressman, for your part, never fail to make the case for victory in Iraq. Do it loudly and do it often. I was promoted to Major and my son was born at the beginning of this month. I gladly accept this increased responsibility for my country and my family. My young family willingly and knowingly stands on the barricade for freedom.

Please, please Sir, continue to encourage those with whom you serve to do the same. The American people have shown a great capacity to overcome in moments like these. But they must believe, and they cannot believe until our leaders stand, united for victory - not withdrawal. Thank you for serving our great nation.

Respectfully,
Nick DottiMAJ, United States Army Special Forces Command

Note to Rep Jeb Hensarling: We cannot win a war against terrorism while ignoring the security of our own borders!!! Americans cannot perpetuate our values nor preserve our heritage as long as unchecked illegal immigration continues. Peace, the perpetuation of our American values, and the preservation of our American heritage must always trump commercial interests!

**This was a production of The Coalition Against Illegal Immigration (CAII). If you would like to participate, please go to the above link to learn more. Afterwards, email stiknstein-at-gmail-dot-com and let us know at what level you would like to participate.

Others blogging today about the CPAC:
Michelle Malkin, Old War Dogs, Captain’s Quarters, Macsmind, PassionateAmerica, Alarming News

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