Heath Shuler—A Democrat I Can Support

Tonight, March 12, 2008, Glenn Beck had Democratic Congressman Heath Shuler (D-NC) on his CNN Headline News program near the 7:30 P.M. (EDT) hour. While I am a libertarian who tends to support Republicans by default, I really like this Heath Shuler fellow, and not just because he played football.

Let me give you the scoop: Heath Shuler introduced a bill that would be much stronger on illegal immigration than the ones supported by many Republicans (including McCain). Effectively, Shuler’s plan would do the following: punish employers for illegally hiring illegal aliens; create a border that would be secure and real; force illegal aliens to return home and go to the back of the line; would NOT allow illegal aliens to jump in line of those who are trying to immigrate legally.

Further, Congressman Shuler believes that regardless of political affiliation, meaningful legislation needs to be done. He makes a good point—about the only thing Democrats and Republicans are doing is figuring out how and who to give pork barrel spending to. Legislation that will make the United States safer WITHOUT infringing on any Constitutional liberties should be embraced, not dismissed as “partisan.” A person like Congressman Shuler, who is willing to put aside party labels and expectations, is someone I can vote for with a clear conscience—regardless of whether he is a “D,” “R,” “L,” “C,” or whatever else there is.