Harry Reid’s Phony Illegal Immigration Conversion Story

As most of you have heard, Harry Reid was breathing fire on illegal immigration back in 1993:

“Our borders have overflowed with illegal immigrants placing tremendous burdens on our criminal justice system, schools and social programs. The Immigration and Naturalization Service needs the ability to step up enforcement. Our federal wallet is stretched to the limit by illegal aliens getting welfare, food stamps, medical care and other benefits often without paying any taxes. Safeguards like welfare and free medical care are in place to boost Americans in need of short-term assistance. These programs were not meant to entice freeloaders and scam artists from around the world. “Even worse, Americans have seen heinous crimes committed by individuals who are here illegally.”

Of course today, Harry Reid has done a 180 degree turn. Back then, he was worried about illegal aliens, now he can’t bring enough of them into the United States. Then, he was worried about, “heinous crimes,” committed by illegals, but today he’s fighting to keep illegal kidnappers and burglars in the US.

So, what changed?

According to Harry Reid, he had a heart wrenching conversation with his immigrant wife, who helped him to see the light. According to the Washington Times, here’s what Harry Reid had to say about that bill on the Senate floor yesterday:

Mr. Reid yesterday disavowed that bill and his statements in support of it. And in an unusual, rambling confession on the floor of the Senate yesterday, he said it was the “low point” of his career.

A few days after introducing the bill in August 1993, Mr. Reid said in a near whisper as many senators looked on in amazement, his wife — the daughter of immigrants — confronted him after a meeting in Las Vegas and scolded him about his anti-immigrant views. She and other associates of his “pointed out the errors of my way” and ever since, Mr. Reid said, he’s favored a more inclusive approach to immigration reform.

His errant ways, he said, “for which I’m so apologetic to my family, mostly lasted about a week or two.”

Very touching story, isn’t it? Here we had Harry Reid being mean to illegals, being tough on these people breaking our laws, acting as badly as — dare I say it, Republicans should be acting today on illegal immigration. But, his wife set him straight and suddenly Harry had a new attitude about illegals from that time forward!

One problem: Reid’s story doesn’t look to be true.

But seven months later, Mr. Reid introduced his bill again, according to Senate records. That bill was referred to the Judiciary Committee in March 1994.

Later that summer, he testified before the Judiciary Committee and advocated cutting legal immigration from 1 million people annually to 325,000.

“A gluttonous admission of new people every year will have a pernicious effect on our infrastructure and our environment,” Mr. Reid said, according to Associated Press reports at the time.

“We cannot continue to feed, clothe, house, educate and employ unlimited new populations,” States News Service quoted him saying.

Mr. Reid’s office said last night that his conversion occurred after the second time he introduced his bill but couldn’t give an exact time line.

What a crapweasel!

Let me just say that I agree with the pre-flip-flop Harry Reid. “(I)llegal immigrants (are) placing tremendous burdens on our criminal justice system, schools and social programs.” Some of them are committing “heinous crimes.” It isn’t our job to bring poor people into the US from around the world and “feed, clothe, house, educate and employ” them.

The duty of the American government is to look out for American citizens, not for illegal aliens. They’re not Americans, they weren’t invited here, their presence is causing difficulties for people who are here legitimately, and it’s time for all of them to go back home.

Share this!

Enjoy reading? Share it with your friends!