Independent Newspaper in Philadelphia Interviews Executive Director Jessica Echard on Immigration

The Evening Bulletin:

"I am not surprised by Bush, as this has been a priority for the president since January 2004," stated Jessica Echard, executive director of the conservative Eagle Forum.

"This is a heart issue for the president, and he sees his legacy hanging on the outcome of this debate," Echard added.

Echoing Echard's sentiments, Marcus Epstein, executive director for The American Cause, added that he was "disappointed" in the president's decision to revive his dying bill, adding, "It is clear that (Bush) truly believes immigration is his legacy, but it is a legacy that could destroy the Republican Party."

Both conservative activists believe that the president will not be able to win this fight and the political implications will not be determined by Bush's last-ditch attempt at a legacy, but rather on how Republican lawmakers react to pressures from the White House, big business, the Catholic Church, and other major institutions pushing for the Kennedy-McCain-Bush bill.

"It has taken a long time for conservatives to take a stand on this issue, and the political consequences will depend on how the GOP decides to tackle this issue," stated Epstein. "If the GOP becomes the party that stands up against amnesty, they will do well."

Resisting the pressures from the White House, though, may be tough for many GOP senators.

"The president does not like defeat, especially from the grassroots of his party," asserted Echard. The grassroots activist noted the political marriage between the president and the conservative movement has long been on the rocks, and if the president moves forward on this amnesty proposal, there may be grounds for divorce.
"Because the president is on his way out he no longer feels an allegiance to conservatives," stated Echard.

Noting Bush was not cut from the same conservative cloth as GOP icons Ronald Reagan or Barry Goldwater, Echard pointed out that "President Bush did not come from the conservative movement. He was not conservative on spending, education, and in this case, immigration."

"The president wasn't with us from the beginning and clearly the honeymoon is over," added Echard.

After a brief victory last Thursday, conservatives are now gearing up to make sure the Senate does not backtrack and revive this immigration bill.

In an alert issued yesterday, the Eagle Forum made their discontent with the president clear.

"Everyone got the message that this was a bad bill, except President Bush," stated the Eagle Forum alert. "In fact, it seems that the entire Bush administration is committed to ignoring the voice of the American people."

Now Republican senators have to decide whether they will follow an outgoing president or listen to the will of the people.

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