Former Secretary of State Colin Powell says illegal immigrants do essential work in the U.S. and he has firsthand knowledge of that -- because they fix his house.

Powell, a moderate Republican, urged his party Sunday to support immigration generally because it is "what's keeping this country's lifeblood moving forward."

In an interview with NBC's Meet the Press, he said a path to legal status should be offered to illegal immigrants because they "are doing things we need done in this country."

He added: "They're all over my house, doing things whenever I call for repairs, and I'm sure you've seen them at your house. We've got to find a way to bring these people out of the darkness and give them some kind of status."

Powell did not say whether he's hired illegal immigrants directly or they showed up with contractors.

Powell was President George W. Bush's first-term secretary of state and the nation's top military officer in the presidency of Bush's father and in the early months of the Clinton administration. Despite his Republican standing -- he was once considered a formidable prospect for the GOP presidential or vice presidential nominations but stayed out of contention -- he endorsed Democrat Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election.

In lamenting the party's rightward drift Sunday, he said Republicans must not become anti-immigration and spoke in support of legislation that would give certain children of illegal immigrants a way to become citizens if they pursue a college education or military service.

Powell also said "fringe" elements on the right are taking a low road when they label Obama a foreign-born Muslim and peddle other false theories about non-American influences on the president's character. Obama was born in the U.S. and is Christian.

"Let's attack him on policy, not nonsense," he said.

http://blogs.chron.com/newswatch/2010/09...ran_1.html

what an ignorant thing to say. It's as if he thinks legal immigrants or citizens can't do that work. People like him seem to think that legals/citizens won't do that kind of work. But it's not that they won't do it, it's that they won't do it at those wages.

You guys just don't like common sense do ya. I guess crazy is more your speed. Like the Witch lady in the Tea Party.

Identity politics.

(09-20-2010 09:11 AM)WMD Owl Wrote:  Former Secretary of State Colin Powell says

"Let's attack him on policy, not nonsense," he said.

If we do this, we get a combination of "Why do you hate America and want the President to fail" and "You're racist."

Thoughts, and I use the term loosely, from the affirmative action General.

Not at my house. The landscaping, new office and master bathroom, and the new roof, all done within the past 3 years,
100% legal native born white folk. Excellent work and competitive pricing.

1. Powell is a moderate republican????? I'm a moderate republican and he's far left of me. There was a time when he could have ran for president, now he's lost all credibility. He's a doofus.

2. Didn't some politician in NY get reamed for hiring illegals and not paying taxes on them? Is Powell about thatg?

(09-20-2010 11:28 AM)smn1256 Wrote:  1. Powell is a moderate republican????? I'm a moderate republican and he's far left of me. There was a time when he could have ran for president, now he's lost all credibility. He's a doofus.

I like this website, and you'll probably like it too:

http://www.ontheissues.org/colin_powell.htm