Congress OK’s Building “Adobe Wall”

It was almost 20 years ago at the Berlin Wall that the headstone of Republican conservatism, President Ronald Reagan, spoke these words:

“General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”

Now the Republican-controlled Congress wants to build an “Adobe Wall” between Mexico and the US. In a 283-138 vote, the House supported a measure to construct a fence to close the gaps on the 2,000-mile border. US Rep. John Salazar (D-CO) voted against it because he felt that the GOP leadership was trying to “re-pass legislation to further political rhetoric.”

Salazar’s opponent, Scott Tipton, said he would have supported the Republican bill. Interesting that Salazar’s opinion is closer to President George Bush than Tipton’s. The Bush Administration has taken issue with this kind of legislation and other anti-immigration sentiment in the Republican Party.