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The Gephardt Express - July 27, 2002 By James L. Hirsen, J.D., Ph.D. contributor to Newsmax.com Richard Gephardt has a new offer for the millions of illegals who euphemistically go by the name of undocumented immigrants: To heck with the rule of law, come on board. It was no accident that the House minority leader chose to unveil his plan at the annual meeting of the National Council of La Raza. "President Bush talks about immigration reform, but there's not been enough action to match that rhetoric," Gephardt spouted. He also added, "We are all immigrants unless we're Native Americans." That Gephardt would betray the legal and would-be legal immigrants who obey all the rules is appalling enough. But compromising national security during a time of war? That's flat-out self-serving political subversion. Maybe he thought he was going to show how well he could out-pander the Republicans. After all, the perpetual higher-office seeker knew that the Bush administration had been trying to straddle the issue. Just last year the administration floated a plan to grant guest worker status and possible legal residency to some illegal Mexican immigrants who were living in the U.S., but the conservative base prevented the mishap. Now Gephardt wants to try and pull off what seems to be a naked vote grab and thumb in the eye of national sovereignty. He may get some assistance from nail-biters on the opposite side of the aisle. All this amidst a recent report by Fox News Channel's Geraldo Rivera indicating that there has been an ongoing operation to smuggle Islamic terrorists into the U.S. through the Mexican border. And other reports suggest that thousands of sleeper cell affiliates of the Sept. 11 murderers have been here for years. But it looks like Dick may stick with his plan anyway. Here are some of the proposed details: Ignore the lawbreakers who have lived in the United States for five years and worked in the country for two. Grant legal status to the undocumented without regard for their country of origin. Don't ask how many of the 8 million to 15 million illegal aliens in our country are from nations that support or nurture terrorist organizations. Don't make a distinction between those who follow the rule of law and those who flout it. Introduce the bill quickly, before the fall elections. The plan stinks. Those who might hop on the "Gephardt Express" at this volatile time in history need to think about this: Millions of native-born, naturalized and law-abiding wanna-be citizens, who are frightfully aware of the dangers that our borders pose, will consider you sorry excuses for leaders. Why not try placing the country's interests ahead of your own? It's not really that hard to do when you look at the reflection of America's glory in the eyes of our most innocent and picture it shattered by a border-crossing terrorist. Reproduced with the permission of NewsMax.com . All rights reserved Copyright © 2002 - James L. Hirsen, J.D., Ph.D. All Rights Reserved