(AP)
Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., left, accompanied by fellow senators, speaks about immigration legislation Thursday during a news conference. From left are Kyl, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., and Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.

Rep. Steve King
2007-05-30 07:00:00.0
Current rank: # 5,855 of 6,219

After a group of senators revealed their immigration “bargain” a couple of weeks ago, their promoters set out to sell a deception to the American public by using a lexicon of catch phrases developed over the last two years.

While each is designed to spin public perception, the most misleading moniker for this legislative travesty is “comprehensive immigration reform” — a bald euphemism for amnesty. To gain some perspective on the Senate’s amnesty bill, we need we look no further than our nation’s kindergartners.

Kindergarten kids quickly develop an acute sense of right and wrong. They learn the difference between following the rules and breaking them. And we can expect to hear their loud and simultaneous alarm when an injustice occurs, especially when lining up for snack time.

Kindergarten teachers know the chaos that ensues if their charges don’t wait their turn and line up in an orderly manner. If an aggressive child barges ahead of the rest to grab a treat, good teachers immediately send them to the back of the line.

If not, the entire classroom erupts with charges of, “That’s not fair!” But when the troublesome child is ushered to the back of the line while those who followed the rules are served, the entire class learns that good behavior is rewarded and bad behavior is punished.

“Children, get in line. Wait your turn,” are lessons learned on the first day. Now imagine the reaction if, instead, the teachers said, “Don’t cut in line,” and went on to say, “You can keep your treats while you return to the end of the line to wait your turn.”

Who would respect a teacher who claimed to have rules but rewarded the rule-breakers? The classroom environment would deteriorate into anarchy. The same is true when it comes to immigration policy.

The Senate amnesty proposal amounts to letting every line-cutter walk away with his cupcake. Even a kindergartner can understand the injustice of the Senate amnesty bill. No amount of political spin could convince them because, “That’s not fair!”

The Senate Amnesty Caucus contends its proposal is not amnesty because it levies fines. But that would be like allowing every line-cutter to take two cupcakes from the snack tray, and then charging him one to re-enter the line for more. The penalty costs the offender nothing since he was able to pay the fine as a result of breaking the rules in the first place!

Over the next few weeks, the beneficiaries of cheap votes and cheap labor will raise their voices to a crescendo. The message will climax in an all-out effort to convince you that America can suspend the rule of law without descending into Third World status. Proponents will offer alternative definitions for everyday English words like amnesty and justice.

The Senate amnesty bill must be stopped. If we hope to preserve the firm foundation of law and order that has produced the most successful nation in the history of the world, we must enforce the law. It is a concept so simple, 6-year-olds could teach it.

A word of advice for our U.S. senators: Everything you need to know about amnesty you learned in kindergarten.

Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, is the ranking Republican member of the Immigration Subcommittee of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee.