CNN
Good Job, Wolf [Greg Pollowitz]
Kathryn linked to this interview earlier, but I though Wolf's next question deserved notice as well (emphasis mine):
MICHAEL CHERTOFF, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: You know, Wolf, first, I understand there's some people who expect anything other than capital punishment is an amnesty. The reality is the proposal here requires people who came in illegally who want to stay to pay a penalty. Like a fine. That's a punishment. That's not an amnesty.
It requires them to register. It gives us background checks. It requires them to work. It requires them to pay taxes.
There's a punishment. There's an acknowledgment of wrongdoing. And then there's a probationary period under which they have to continue to do the right thing.
Now, some people may want a harsher punishment. But the reality is, right now, we have 12 million people who aren't going to be deported. They aren't going anywhere.
And it's whistling in the dark to say that there's some other solution than one which acknowledges wrongdoing and tightens up the system and corrects it for good, which is what this bill would do.
BLITZER: Secretary Gutierrez, what do you say to those other critics who say you're rewarding illegal activity?
Good job, Wolf. Sec. Chertoff just said that conservatives want to kill illegal immigrants, and you didn't challenge him.
05/21 11:43 AM
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