By Dennis Durband, Editor

At a time when conservative critics are claiming the president's proposed Temporary Worker Program (TWP) will undermine American workers, George W. Bush appeared Wednesday at Mesa Community College to defend TWP and call national awareness to a job training program.

Arizona is considered a swing state in the 2004 presidential election, and the White House has identified Maricopa County as the No. 1 county target for President Bush's re-election campaign. Ten electoral votes are at stake in Arizona for the president's re-election bid.

The president said Mexicans are coming to the U.S. to make a living, "and they're filling jobs that, frankly, others won't do. It seems like to me that we ought to have a policy that's open and honest about this phenomena. It's a policy that, in my judgment, should say, where there's a willing worker and a willing employer, those two ought to be matched up together in a legal way, so long as the employer can't find an American to do the job."

"I strongly oppose what they call, amnesty, because all amnesty would do is invite more illegal immigration. All amnesty would do would say to those who are waiting in line in a legal way to become a citizen that legality -- being legal doesn't matter in America. It does matter. So what I wanted Congress to consider for certain kinds of jobs is to put out a temporary worker card; to get rid of all this business about people forging documents that put employers at risk; that say, for the period of time you're here you can go home and take money back without fear of being arrested. It's a humane way to approach citizens of the world. Imagine being a worker here, and you get abused, and you don't dare call the abuser to account, because you might get sent home and you can't do your job of making money for your family."

The Temporary Worker Program must pass in Congress if it is to be implemented. Mr. Bush claims his program will actually help Border Patrol, and said it will help alleviate the problems associated with "coyotes" -- individuals who smuggle border invaders into the U.S. for compensation.

"It's essential for the security of this country that we have a legal system, so we don't have this terrible problem of coyotes smuggling these people across the hot Arizona or Texas deserts, making money off the system that has now developed in America," Mr. Bush said. "I think we ought to let the sunshine in, have a legal system, recognize realities." That line drew applause from the audience selected by the White House.

The president also acknowledged his desire that Americans can find work, too.

Job Training

After preliminary remarks on the TWP, the economy, the war and other topics, the president went on to spend the bulk of his appearance talking about America's community college systems and meeting the needs of the modern work force. The president said he wanted to make sure that people get the skills necessary to find work.

The president said that technological changes are charging through our economy and leaving people behind. "And one of the greatest places to address that phenomena is at the community college system. And the reason why it's the community college system, it's flexible in its curriculum. The old days of work force training are now changing. It used to be they said, look, just go train people. So states would go out and train 1,000 beauticians for 50 jobs. And there would be 950 beauticians without work. But they'd say, oh, we punched our ticket, we actually trained people."

Mr. Bush cited a new attitude in America and said, "The reason why we're here at Mesa is because you're doing a great job. We're going to train people for the jobs that actually exist, and, therefore, requires a system that is flexible, a system willing to take input from the employers, a system that is willing to change curriculum, if need be, to meet the demands of local -- of the local workplace.

In his State of the Union message Tuesday night, President Bush mentioned a $250-million federal allocation for collaborative programs at the community college level that match businesses and workers. The Department of Labor originally funded the program. The president then engaged MCC officials and a student to help explain the program.

Martin Bean then addressed the audience to explain the program. "It really got started because educators got frustrated that they had to reinvent the wheel in every community college, and employers got frustrated that there was no clear way for them to be able to mentor and coach employees. And as the industry, the association said, fine, we'll work with the Department of Labor, and instead of building programs for where there aren't any jobs, we'll build a set of standards for people to educate to employers' needs to get work.

MCC President  Larry Christiansen said that 3,000 people participate in job training at the college's Business and Industry Center. Much of what our Business and Industry Center does is partnering with the informational technology industry.

The president interjected, "You just can't walk into the job unless you're able to be educated into the ways of that particular industry. And in our country, it's -- a changing economy provides interesting opportunities."

The president then discussed the Mesa CC program with a Mary Vanis and referred to as "the ultimate outreach."

"It's a great community outreach," Vanis concurred

"It works, because it's administered at the state and local level," Mr. Bush said. "It's really good public policy."

Next, the president brought in Stacey Leedom, a single parent who used the program to land a good job.

"I was lucky enough to get hired on by a company called Cable One, contracting first through a temporary service," Leedom said. "But they are actually owned by the Washington Post," she said, drawing laughter from the audience.

"Can you change the editorial page?" the president quipped, to more laughter and applause.

"I'll ask," Leedom promised.

"Good luck," President Bush countered. "I hope you rise quickly in the ranks." More laughter erupted.

Leedom said the program helps her with her daughter. "I want her to go to college. I don't want her to make mistakes I made of not going at a young age and having a full future and a full retirement plan and everything. I now have insurance for her; I have insurance for myself. It's a future. And I'm, right now, at an entry level, where I was after 15 years of being a graphic artist on income. And that is -- in the end, who has to pay the bills? Mom has to pay the bills."

President Bush acknowledged that being a single mom is the toughest job in America. "Being a single mom who needs more education and has the desire to do so is doubly tough. And yours is a wonderful story. It is a story that others need to listen to. If you're worried about your skill set, you're never too old to learn. As a matter of fact, we all learn in different ways, don't we? You've been able to take your desire to do your duty as a responsible citizen and convert it to a employable skill."

Mr. Bush said he had met the Maricopa Community College Board of Trustees. "I met the chairman, by the way, who did a fine job of lobbying on behalf of the funding for the community college system in this vital part of our country."

In conclusion, President Bush thanked "the folks here for providing a great service to our nation."

Members of the Arizona congressional delegation in attendance included J.D. Hayworth, Trent Franks and Jeff Flake. Gov. Janet Napolitano greeted the president's arrival at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.

The president spent the night in Arizona and flew to New Mexico Thursday morning.

Protestors

J.T. Ready, president of the Mesa Community College Republican Club, said that approximately 10 conservatives and 200 liberals protested the president's appearance on the MCC campus. He said conservatives demonstrated against the Temporary Worker Program and amnesty for illegal aliens, while liberals demonstrated for a variety of reasons. As rooftop snipers and others secured the area for the president's safety, members of the media swarmed over the crowd for interviews.

Ready said the conservatives took turns speaking into a bullhorn.

"My message was no amnesty, protect our borders and I asked why we are defending the borders of Syria, Afghanistan and Pakistan when ours are wide open."