Bush on the Border; Fireside Chats on Iraq Proposed
LOU DOBBS, CNN ANCHOR: Good evening, everyone.Tonight, President Bush's speech on our nation's border security crisis, our illegal immigration crisis. The president finally acknowledging a national security issue that affects all Americans and about which there are strong, strong feelings. We'll be examining the president's words today. And then, a stunning story of complete inaction on our nation's broken borders. Uniforms for our U.S. Border Patrol agents are still being made in Mexico more than a year after this broadcast first sounded the alarm on the issue. Also tonight, new developments in the Able Danger controversy. Why former 9/11 Commission members continue to believe there is no basis for an Able Danger investigation. We'll be talking with one of the 9/11 Commission members and examining whether or not more needs to be known and soon. Also tonight, a high-ranking Republican congressman, decorated Vietnam veteran pleading guilty and announcing that he will be going to prison and leaving Congress, taking almost $2.5 billion in bribes in a defense contract scandal. We'll have that story for you live from Washington. And a special report on communist China's disgraceful track record on something call the truth. A U.S. government that has repeatedly denied that there is a problem with currency manipulation in this country, a Chinese government that repeatedly lies to its citizens, insisting the world can trust it to tell the truth on bird flu. We begin tonight with our nation's broken borders and President Bush's long overdue call for a border security crackdown. In the past hour the president spoke in Tucson, Arizona. He claimed he's committed to solving our nation's border security emergency, an issue that is now a top concern for nearly all Americans. But the president also pushed a guest worker proposal that has not ever gained political traction and has not been called anything less than amnesty for illegal aliens. Tonight, from Tucson, White House Correspondent Elaine Quijano with details of the president's address, Casey Wian with reaction to the speech. And from Washington, Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider reports on what the embattled White House now needs politically from this border speech. We begin our coverage tonight with Elaine Quijano -- Elaine.</s>ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: And Lou, the challenge for President Bush today was to navigate the complicated intersection of immigration policy and politics.</s>QUIJANO (voice over): After facing harsh criticism from conservative Republicans calling for tougher measures and tougher talk on border security, President Bush tried to deliver.</s>GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We want to make it clear that when people violate immigration laws, they're going to be sent home, and they need to stay at home.</s>QUIJANO: Speaking in Tucson, Arizona, some 80 miles from the Mexican border, the president tried to make the case his administration is taking border security and enforcement seriously. Yet, Mr. Bush, a former Texas governor, also reprised his call for a temporary worker program which would allow illegal immigrants the chance to obtain temporary visas and remain in the U.S. That proposal first introduced by President Bush nearly two years ago has enraged conservatives who see it as amnesty.</s>BUSH: I oppose amnesty. Rewarding those who have broken the law would encourage others to break the law and keep pressure on our border.</s>QUIJANO: But big business which supports the temporary worker program forms another key component of President Bush's base. In addition, some say getting too tough on the issue risks alienating Hispanics and swing voters which are crucial to the Republican Party. And all of this, Lou, taking place against the backdrop of the midterm congressional elections next year -- Lou.</s>DOBBS: Against the backdrop of those elections, also against the backdrop of a U.S. Air Force base, U.S. Border Patrol and Customs Enforcement agents. The president, again, speaking to a highly selected crowd, was he not, Elaine?</s>QUIJANO: That's exactly right. This is all about sending the message that President Bush is strong and serious about securing the nation's borders. But at the same time, of course, still sticking to his message that he believes any kind of legislation passed by Congress needs to include a provision for a temporary worker program as well. But President Bush clearly trying to placate those people who have come out strongly against his temporary worker program, acknowledging that more needs to be done to secure the nation's borders -- Lou.</s>DOBBS: He referred to the Arizona delegation more than once during those remarks, Elaine, as you know. Interestingly enough, Congressman Hayworth, Senator Kyl have put forward legislation that is very strong on first establishing border security and eliminating the idea of a guest worker program, which in poll after poll is precisely what the Americans who are being surveyed are saying they want. Why is the president seemingly deaf on that issue?</s>QUIJANO: Well, he has been strong about a temporary worker program, or about the idea that there is a need that is being fulfilled by undocumented workers in this country, something that even before he became president that he felt strongly on. And of course, he refers to his experience as Texas governor to say that he understands some of the challenges that they are facing because of these undocumented workers. At the same time, he feels philosophically they are, in fact, fulfilling a need. And he feels it's a compassionate program to include the temporary worker provision -- Lou.</s>DOBBS: One that most on Capitol Hill say is dead on arrival. Elaine Quijano from Tucson. Thank you very much. One of the president's comments today is interesting in his call for border security, saying better interior enforcement begins with better work site enforcement, referring to the employers of illegal aliens, which is -- of course a crime in itself. "American businesses," the president said, "have an obligation to abide by the law, and our government has the responsibility to help them do so." The president then did not refer to the matter again and made no recommendations for enforcement whatsoever. Well, most of the country has been awaiting the president's decision to finally take a comprehensive approach to border security and what is nothing less than a border emergency. But questions remain tonight about the commitment of this president to fix our broken borders and about how much new ground has been broken in the president's address today. Casey Wian has the report.</s>CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): President Bush arrived at the scene of the crime, actually the scene of more than a million crimes this year. That's the number of illegal aliens who snuck across the border in Arizona. In recent weeks, the president has at least publicly made border security a priority. It's clearly an effort to repair his immigration policies which have so far been a colossal failure.</s>BUSH: Illegal immigration is a serious challenge, and our responsibility is clear. We are going to protect the border.</s>WIAN: Arizona Senator Jon Kyl is cosponsor of an immigration reform bill that emphasizes tough border security.</s>SEN. JON KYL (R), ARIZONA: Combined with the assets that we are now appropriating to try to gain control of the border, and the reforms that are in bills like the one that Senator Cornyn and I introduced, I think we can succeed both in securing the border and enforcing the law, working a temporary worker program within the rule of law, and not providing amnesty. It's possible if we have the will to do it.</s>WIAN: Just last week, the Department of Homeland Security said it would end its policy of catching then releasing most illegal aliens from countries other than Mexico. But even that has a loophole because it only applies to those caught within 100 miles of the border. Here in Arizona, where voters last year overwhelmingly approved a proposition denying state welfare benefits to illegal aliens, many are skeptical of the president's continued push for a guest worker program. Randy Graf is one of the founders of Proposition 200 and is running for Congress.</s>RANDY GRAF (R), ARIZONA CONG. CANDIDATE: Border security has to be front and center. I mean, you know, we've got temporary worker visas on the books today. The American public is speaking up, and we cannot tie a guest worker bill into any type of an amnesty proposal. That's been tried in the past it. It only encourages more illegal immigration. I think that's been proven.</s>WIAN: Shortly after Bush proposed his guest worker program in January of 2004, the Border Patrol reported illegal alien crossings doubled in Arizona.</s>WIAN: Now, this time, President Bush offered no new proposals to solve the nation's illegal immigration crisis. The only thing different was his tone. He emphasized, as you mentioned, Lou, border security for a change -- Lou.</s>DOBBS: He also suggested that illegal aliens -- he sort of transferred the discussion, Casey, as you noticed, I'm sure, in his remarks. He then transferred it to immigrants at large, and even made the insistence, uttered the suggestion that all immigrants should learn English. It was a remarkable, it seems to me, at least, a remarkable performance that lacked straightforwardness, directness and specificity.</s>WIAN: It seems as if he was trying to repackage the issue rather than getting to the root of the problem -- Lou.</s>DOBBS: Yes. Thank you very much. Casey Wian from Tucson, Arizona. We'll be hear hearing from Casey Wian as he travels with the president. He'll be in El Paso, Texas, tomorrow. Thank you very much, Casey. Well, we invited Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff to join us on this broadcast tonight to discuss the president's border proposals and immigration proposals. Secretary Chertoff's office didn't respond to our request. Our invitation, I assure you, remains open, as always, to Secretary Chertoff. President Bush's shift in strategy on broken security, broken border security, illegal immigration, comes at a time when his strategy on Iraq and other national security issues are under severe criticism. After coming home empty-handed from his week-long trip to Asia, in particular, to China, the president hopes border issues in this country will resonate not only with his conservative base but with all Americans, all voters. So far, it appears to be a very tough political sell, at least the way the White House strategy is playing out. Bill Schneider reports.</s>WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST (voice-over): On the immigration issue, President Bush has to pull off a political balancing act worthy of the flying Wallendas. Can he do it? On the one hand, the president has always made Hispanic outreach a priority.</s>SCHNEIDER: On the other hand, conservatives are in open revolt against President Bush's call for a guest worker program, which they regard as amnesty for lawbreakers. A president who's in political trouble can't afford to alienate his base. They're all he's got. How far apart are Hispanics and conservatives? In June, the Gallup poll asked whether the U.S. should make it easier for illegal immigrants to become citizens. Seventy percent of Hispanics said yes. Eighty percent of conservatives said no. Where was the American public as a whole? Closer to the conservative position. Seventy percent, no.</s>FRANK SHARRY, NATIONAL IMMIGRATION FORUM: The big question, the elephant in the middle of the room, is the 11 million here illegally.</s>SCHNEIDER: By nearly two to one, the public opposes a guest worker program that would allow illegal immigrants to apply for work permits. The only way President Bush can sell his guest worker program is to balance it with more effective enforcement.</s>SHARRY: Tough on the border, tough on employers, legal channels for the future and a solution for the 11 million. How do you put that together?</s>SCHNEIDER: Because on the third hand -- see, we told you this was a complicated balancing act -- President Bush has to worry about keeping his party behind him. As of this month, nearly two-thirds of Americans disapprove of the president's handling of immigration. It's the only issue on which most Republicans oppose their president.</s>SCHNEIDER: It's also the only issue on which Republicans and Democrats agree. They don't like President Bush's policies, and they don't want to make it easier for illegal immigrants to become citizens. Lou, bipartisanship at last.</s>DOBBS: Bipartisanship, and uncomfortably so for the president.</s>SCHNEIDER: Yes.</s>DOBBS: And it's interesting to hear the way this issue is being framed by the politicians in both parties. Trying to describe border security, which is, after all, a critically important national security issue, and the crisis we face in illegal immigration as being a conservative issue for the president to deal with, when in point of fact, as you know, because you read these polls more closely and more often than anyone in this network, it is everyone in this country saying we have got to deal with border security, we've got to deal with a rampant illegal alien crisis.</s>SCHNEIDER: It's a populist issue by the precise definition of the word. It's broadly supported by the American people of all political persuasions.</s>DOBBS: And if that -- let me turn to a couple of other issues if I may, Bill Schneider. And that is, first, what is the president doing at this Air Force base again? Again, it looks like the president is not appearing anywhere except with a captive audience in front of him.</s>SCHNEIDER: Well, the rule in the White House is that the president appears before audiences that are either screened or invited by the White House. That has been the case. We actually checked. The last time we know of when the president appeared before an audience that wasn't screened or invited was during the debates last year during the presidential campaign. That audience was screened, but it was screened by the Gallup organization to be an audience of undecided voters.</s>DOBBS: It is remarkable. And after a while it becomes to be somewhat wearing in terms of perception, does it not?</s>SCHNEIDER: Yes, it looks like the president doesn't go out and mix up with the American people. A lot of presidents draw strength from doing that. They go out, they speak to the people. A fireside chat is not exactly that idea. But, of course, it's risky for presidents to do that, not only because of the security situation, but because they may meet with protesters, they may meet with a lot of complaints, particularly for a president whose job ratings are as low as this president's.</s>DOBBS: Bill Schneider, when is the last president that we've seen who could appear before an audience, a rope line, if you will, of just regular Americans, you know, regular folks who have not been screened by the White House for political persuasion?</s>SCHNEIDER: Well, I recall some rope lines with Bill Clinton, but then the most -- the most -- the biggest memory I have of that was Monica Lewinsky.</s>DOBBS: I was afraid you were going to go there, Bill.</s>SCHNEIDER: But I'm not sure that was public or screened, but nevertheless, she was there. She was an admirer, shall we say.</s>DOBBS: I think we've said enough. Bill Schneider, thank you very much.</s>SCHNEIDER: OK.</s>DOBBS: We'd like to know what you think. Do you believe President Bush today articulated a plan to secure this nation's borders and to deal substantively with the issue of illegal immigration, yes or no? Please cast your vote at loudobbs.com. We'll have the results here later in the broadcast. Still ahead, an eight-term Republican congressman has resigned. He's on his way to prison. We're live in Washington with the story. And to tell the truth, Chinese-style. If communist Chinese leaders can't stop lying to their own citizens, don't expect them, some say, to tell the truth to any of the rest of us. We'll have a special report. And why new concerns over these Border Patrol uniforms aren't so new, and why the failure to address those concerns is putting Americans at risk. Those stories coming right up.