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Laura Bush opposes Arizona law, citing her Irish ancestors

By
PATRICK COOPER,
IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Monday, May 17, 2010, 6:57 AM
Updated Monday, May 17, 2010, 7:17 AM

 

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Former First Lady Laura Bush

Former First Lady Laura Bush has come out against the Arizona immigration law, pointing to the discrimination that her own Irish ancestors, named Welch, faced in their time.

In an interview with Fox News, Bush said the new law merely showed an upsurge in prejudice similar to what her Irish ancestors faced.

Here is what she said on Fox News' "Sunday with Chris Wallace" in relation to immigration and state of play in Arizona:


Chris Wallace:  ... you talk {in the book] to your husband about not making gay marriage a big issue in reelection campaign.  Why not?

L.B.:  ...what happens on big social issues like that is that the debate ends up denigrating a certain group of people. And I think that's also what's happening on the immigration debate, another hot button issue, where instead of it being a debate of what the laws are, it ends up making a group of people feel like they are the target of the debate.

Chris Wallace: I have to ask, since you brought it up, are you unhappy with the Arizona Law?



LB:  Well, not necessarily, I mean I think we have to have immigration laws and that's just a really important part of it. It's just that the debate about immigration laws, about Arizona's law in targeting someone, a group of people, and this is not new in American history. There have been many groups of immigrants who have been targeted over all of our history, the Irish for instance, when a lot of Irish immigrants, including my family, came to the United States [and] other times, and it's just a trace of Nativism that shows up in American history in a lot of different ways.

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Posted by longislander1940 on Aug 18, 2010, 12:18 AM EDT
Laura Bush is a lady not like the one we have in the White House now. I'm glad to see she is for the Arizona Law. People coming over the border from Mexico shooting farmers and their cattle. They have to do something down there.
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Posted by irishmaninarabi on Aug 09, 2010, 04:53 AM EDT
All I know is that woman bothers me...Can't stand to look at her face, something evil about it. In any event, no reason to trust anything that comes out of her mouth, or any other member of the Bush family for that matter.
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Posted by Liamkeyes on Jul 07, 2010, 11:26 AM EDT
I'm an immigrant myself. I serve in the Army and got in line . I kept the laws and took out my citizenship after the alloted time. I don't pretend to know all the immigration Laws, they can be very complicated. All my children are Americans and I encourage them to be nice to all people regardless of their Background. Of course, I am diametrically opposed to the Drug Cartels and I am behind the Border patrol a hundred per cent in chasing down these scumbags.
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Posted by BullLee on Jun 10, 2010, 01:51 PM EDT
Portia777, we will have plenty of time to roam freely as we did in prehistory as hunter/gatherers once civilizations collapse. Until that time, things will remain a bit more complicated. Here in the contemporary world, Mexico needs to help reduce its illegal migration problem. Indeed, why is it we never hear of ANY efforts by Mexico or other Central/South American countries to try and improve conditions so their citizens would have less incentive to illegally migrate? Naturally, the big, bad US is the bogeyman, trampling the rights of poor, saintly "migrants." We need an above-board, new "Bracero" program to ensure legal workers for US farm labor; deportation of all illegals (AZ is in the forefront of this effort); and harsh penalties for any US employer caught hiring illegal workers. I'm sick of know-nothing bleeding hearts comparing the AZ law to "Gestapo" tactics merely because immigrants are required to provide proof of citizenship when asked. Once the AZ police begin to torture and execute indiscriminately rounded-up Latinos, we can go ahead and call them "Gestapo"!
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Posted by FlaIrishLad on Jun 06, 2010, 05:22 AM EDT
Mr. Patrick Cooper, what part of "Well, not necessarily..." don't you understand in Mrs. Bush's response? NO she is NOT opposed to the Arizona law!! Daaaahhh - what an embarassment to see in an Irish publication -
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Posted by krisdaly on Jun 05, 2010, 12:55 AM EDT
My Grandfather immigrated from County Cork legally through Ellis Island. He broke no laws because he respected his adopted country of the United States of America. He wanted to be an American of Irish descent and had much to offer as he was a farmer in Ireland. In order to be a nation secure borders are mandatory in order keep out criminals and terrorists that will harm the American people! This is not an issue of race but the survival of the United States of America. The USA has been invaded and it is ruining out country-HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Posted by Portia777 on Jun 02, 2010, 09:10 AM EDT
if Laura or anyone else is able to show me where Mother Earth says - she allows only certain people into certain areas of her back,then I might believe in alien illegal immigrants. That is not so, as Mother earth gives all of us free sovereign human beings the right to roam and live where we choose. Man- rich men created borders- countries -to keep the slaves imprisoned inside and outside borders. Then in true patriarchal style they use divide and conquer tactics, and we idiots play the game blindly, because we have forgotten who we are and how Mother Nature gives us everything we need for FREE. An alien is one from a different planet, so who are the real aliens?
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Posted by galway2001 on May 23, 2010, 04:00 PM EDT
i love laura bush but what does;nt she understand they are illegal the irish did'nt come here illegal they were discriminate against because this country was run by the english and also thats all they have in arizone is mexican
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Posted by Dompedro on May 23, 2010, 02:56 PM EDT
Laura Bush opposes Arizona law ........... "well, not necessarily.. we have to have immigration laws"
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Posted by LaurelFL on May 23, 2010, 11:32 AM EDT
The Irish were here legally, they pitched in and made America stronger, though they were certainly not welcomed with open arms. In Ireland, they lay in ditches, dead and starving but though many lived through that they were determined not to be on the dole. The Irish were and still proud people though they lived through hell. The Irish made our country stronger. The Irish did fight for their rights ... they had that right because they were here legally. Knowthyself is right. Many were not here long before they stood up to protect the country. If it were not for them, Gettysburg could certainly have turned out differently. Take a look at what the Mexicans are leaving behind them in the desert. I see no pride, there. If the Mexicans stood up in their own country in the numbers they do here, they just might make their own country stronger. That would help both the United States and Mexico. They are making the border states unsafe for it's citizens. I, too, like Laura Bush, but she really needs to dig under the historical surface. It's simply not as clear cut as "she was said," to have communicated.
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Posted by lynchsteele on May 23, 2010, 08:49 AM EDT
I like Laura, but her lineage hadn't brought such trouble with it...not nearly as unwilling to fit in, we became part of and ,for the most part, pertook in the American way....Let the Mexicans do the same....gosh!!
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Posted by howareya on May 19, 2010, 10:45 AM EDT
PatriciaHarty .. did you ever think how the illegals manage to contribute to SS? They are using a stolen SS number. No one ever considers the people whose number they use. My friend had hers used and went through h#ll getting it straightened out. As well, do you know how much illegals USE regarding medical care, schooling for their children, food stamps, welfare etc etc. I don't think it equals out. Answer for SS is...put all politicians and public agency workers on it and take away their pensions. It would be fixed quickly!
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Posted by seanomelbourne on May 18, 2010, 07:22 PM EDT
Your right IrishAndProud to use the the term illegal alien is not demonizing them. the point I am making is that they are demonized by the right wing press calling them "drug runners" and using other emotive terms to minimise their humanity it's an old trick.And I agree illegal immigration is a problem in the U.S (and Europe). People smugglers and employers who hire "illegals"should face the full force of the law as a deterrent. Illegal immigration is an age old problem we can only hope to curtail it.
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Posted by IrishAndProud on May 18, 2010, 02:17 PM EDT
sean, it's not 'demonizing' an illegal alien to simply call them what they are (here, illegally) and to deport them. No one's arguing their 'humanness,' or how hard they work, etc. But those things don't change the fact that they're here illegally, and when you have thousands of them every single week crossing a sovreign nation's borders (to the point we now have 12 MILLION of them, at least), that simply cannot be allowed to continue. Just ask anyone who lives near the border, in Arizona for instance. It is quite literally intolerable, what's happening.
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Posted by IrishLass127 on May 18, 2010, 01:39 PM EDT
Illegal is illegal no matter how you cut regardless of racial origins. The group being pointed out are those who come into this country illegally not those who go through the steps they need to in order to become a legal U.S. Citizen.
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Posted by irishwxman on May 18, 2010, 12:32 PM EDT
Nice spin Irish Central. That is not what she said at all. you even quoted her as saying that she was not necessarily unhappy about the new law.
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Posted by sntocbabe on May 18, 2010, 11:34 AM EDT
ms or mr knowthyself, how bout know something, why seperation of church/state is important...know u're facts...criminals did come thru Ellis, there wasn't accurate records..however, not Laura's point o smart one, do u know what the statue of 'liberty' represents?..prob not, criminal nd refuge r seperate issues nd should be dealt accordingly....i believe that's what Laura means...
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Posted by everyman on May 18, 2010, 10:18 AM EDT
A criminal by any name is a criminal. I am against illegal immigration.I do not care what Race or Ethnic background you may be.I agree with the Arizona law.If that makes me a bigot,then tough.I personally don't care what Laura Bush thinks.
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Posted by McNamara31 on May 18, 2010, 08:40 AM EDT
Karl Rove, the Bush's chief political adviser, famously said that the key the 2000 election was turning out four million evangelical Christians.The political decision to conceal her (possibly their) views of being Pro choice, Pro gay marriage along with Pro immigration ultimately won them the White House and the conservative Christian vote.
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Posted by seanomelbourne on May 18, 2010, 01:43 AM EDT
Most illegal immigrants are economic refugees and long for a better life for their families. To demonise them is not the answer to a complex problem.
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Posted by knowthyself on May 18, 2010, 01:30 AM EDT
Come on Laura cut the BS When our Irish Grand Parents came to Anmerica they were not Illegal Criminals they had to go to go through Ellis Island and were Recorded and given visa cards & Legal Papers. They Didn't sneak into the country . And they were hard workers .not looking for a hand out. They were Proud to be Americans and fought and died in Americas Wars to Protect our Country.So Don't you Dare compair those Illegals they have broken the law and are nothing but Criminals.
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Posted by TaranOconner on May 18, 2010, 12:08 AM EDT
Laura's ancestors did not come from just over the border, sneak in every chance they got and use MILLIONS of dollars of USA / Arizona's Benefits either. Trying to assimilate is different than BEING HERE--TOTALLY--ILLEGALLY. READ THE BILL----it is almost a mirror image of the EXISTING Federal Laws(That are NOT being enforced!!!)Good for Arizona--protecting their own people's benefits and being fiscally responsible to the LEGAL citizens! In this case there are MILLIONS of Bad Apples spoining the whole barrelful.
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Posted by KansasGirl on May 17, 2010, 11:43 PM EDT
Hey Laura, did your ancestors come here illegally? Seanomelbourm, I don't care what Fox says, I don't believe in abortion or same sex marriage. Now what?
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Posted by seanomelbourne on May 17, 2010, 08:57 PM EDT
I have also read Laura Bush believes in the woman's right to choose in relation to abortion laws. Will the Fox smear masters condemn the former first lady? I think not.
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Posted by McNabb1966 on May 17, 2010, 08:45 PM EDT
Add Laura Bush to the long list of the law's opponents who can't be bothered to read the bill. That list (by their own admission) includes the U.S. Attorney General and the chief of Homeland Security. Why are critics so afraid to admit what the bill actually says? All they can do is deliberately distort the issue and lie about what is actually in the bill.
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Posted by Robcarrut on May 17, 2010, 07:57 PM EDT
Laura Bush is now wrong on 3 counts. 1) She favors abortion. 2) She favors Gay Marriage and 3) She opposses The Arizona Illegal Immigrant Law. I am a legal immigrant from Belfast, and in my US Neighborhood it is like living in South America with so many illegals. You need to live here to understand. Distant opinion is for naught.
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Posted by ritmomente on May 17, 2010, 04:28 PM EDT
not amnesty tsullivan. Amnesty is free and clear. There needs to be payment made.
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Posted by tsullivan1218 on May 17, 2010, 02:56 PM EDT
My Irish Catholic ancestors also came to this country well before any Immigration laws. They too experience discrimination for their religious beliefs. While Protestant Scot-Irish emigrants were more favorably received. I did not agree with George W on much of anything except giving amnesty to illegal immigrants. Its the quickest way to establish legitamacy and make them tax paying citizens. If ones argument is illegals not paying taxes giving them an avenue to become citizens will come quicker than trying to deport somewhere between eleven to twenty million illegal aliens. An impossible task that will have an enormous cost and not have a hope of success. Only creating bigger government.
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Posted by IrishAndProud on May 17, 2010, 02:15 PM EDT
Laura Bush is no longer the First Lady, and even when she was, it was not she who set the policy but her husband...and he lost much public support (which was already waning for him, anyway), when he supported amnesty for illegals. TWICE the nation rebuffed him for it, and the Congress backed down. Now, his even-worse successor is also finding out the hard way that pandering to illegals is political suicide. They never stop trying, and we never stop rebuffing them. Backing illegal aliens is a loser.


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