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Re: Haitian Refugees

Submitted February 23, 2004 - 11:36 pm by Erik Siegrist
You seem to be absolutely right about the 'Pubs not wanting Haitian refugees causing trouble in November, Al.

This from White House Press Secretary Scottie McClellan this morning during the press gaggle:

Q A follow-up on Haiti -- in particular, the boat people. The President said on November 7, 2002, that the immigration laws ought to be the same for Haitians and everybody else, except the Cubans, and the difference, of course, is that we don't send people back to Cuba because they're going to be persecuted.

Well, what more proof do you need --

MR. McCLELLAN: April, I think you're referring to a different situation. At that time it was involving a specific --

Q Cubans versus Haitians and the boat people --

MR. McCLELLAN: -- it was involving a specific incident. And, yes, the President's remarks there stand. But the migration policy of the United States is very clear, and we have made it very clear that we have a plan in place to stop any boats and we will return people to their country of origin.

Q But, Scott, these people are risking shark-infested waters versus staying in a country where they cannot be protected by their own President. And even President Bush talks about compassionate conservatism in his religion. Why not?

MR. McCLELLAN: And, April, we are providing a significant amount of humanitarian assistance to the people of Haiti. And we are working to bring -- we are working an ongoing diplomatic efforts, we are actively engaged in ongoing diplomatic efforts to bring about a political solution to the situation in Haiti. That's where our efforts are focused. We continue to deplore the violence going on in Haiti. We regret the loss of life. And the United States is actively engaged in ongoing diplomatic efforts to bring about a solution.

Other than begging the question of how Scott McClellan defines the word 'significant', that pretty clearly says "We don't care what happens to the Haitian people, just so long as it happens over there, and not on the 6 o'clock news."

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