Verdict on Bush Speech: Too Little, Too Late

Reaction to President Bush's speech last night was negative. A sampling of reactions:

FAIR President Dan Stein: "Immigration enforcement with demonstrable results must be a prerequisite to any other policy changes, not a media event designed to make the American public swallow an unpopular amnesty and guest worker program. After years of doing absolutely nothing to deal with this problem, the American public needs to see a real strategy implemented which results in illegal aliens getting discouraged and returning to their homelands in significant numbers."

Michelle Malkin: "Bush has lost touch with reality, arguing that guest worker/amnesty will reduce the incentive to cross the border. Reality check." Hugh Hewitt: "Memo to Tony Snow: The blogosphere/talk radio callers/e-mailers are turning against this speech in a decisive fashion. They simply do not believe the Administration is really committed to border enforcement, and the spokespeople sent out to back up the president's message aren't doing that job. Period."

Debbie Schlussel: Bush doesn't care about the borders, or he wouldn't have waited until 5.5 years into his presidency to do something about it. But he does care about elections. And those are just 6 months away. Timing is everything.

Rep. Steve King (R-IA) "I don't think it moves [the debate] very much. It demonstrated a willingness to discuss enforcement, but the commitment hasn't been there for 5+ years."

Mexicans Planning to Cross Border: "No guard, no wall will keep us from crossing."

AP on reactions

More AP on Mexican reaction

Lou Dobbs: "Long on rhetoric and short on specifics."

Washington Post: "The president's focus on border control last night was aimed at mollifying conservative Republican lawmakers and disgruntled voters, who have accused him of paying insufficient attention to tightening the border and enforcing immigration laws."

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James R. Edwards: "Mr. Bush's primetime televised speech Monday night amounted to more empty words. The speech betrayed that comprehensive immigration reform is really code for amnesty and virtually open borders."

James Gimpel: "The president's speech was not reassuring and it proves that the business lobby is still driving the bus on this issue over at the White House. The president's insistence on a 'comprehensive' approach was code for 'let's water down anything by way of serious enforcement.' This speech was a broadside directed toward the House GOP, signaling that the White House favors the Senate's permissive approach."

National Review Editor Rich Lowry: "Having the National Guard sharpen pencils and fetch coffee for the Border Patrol can't fix our broken immigration system. It is no substitute for a fence, nor for real interior enforcement that punishes employers for hiring illegal labor. The Bush approach to the latter also relies on symbolism. A 26-state immigration raid garnered extensive press attention last month, but most of the aliens arrested were quickly released again."

Powerline: "He should have given the speech I told him to. As soon as he started talking about guest worker programs and the impossibility of deporting 11 million illegals, it was all over. President Bush keeps trying to find the middle ground, on this and many other issues. But sometimes, there isn't a viable middle ground. This is one of those instances."

Also see: Truth Laid Bear list of reactions