Trackbacked at New England Republican:
From John McIntyre at RealClearPolitics.com:
There is a quiet rage building among average middle class folks on the illegal immigration issue, and if the Republican leadership doesn’t take control of the problem very soon they will allow the more extremist wings of the anti-immigration debate to become the face of the Republican party on immigration. That would be a disaster for GOP hopes to grow their new found majority in the years to come.
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The disaster he’s speaking of is the 10-20% Hispanic vote that would be lost in the 2006 elections if the Repuiblicans come out “too strong” on immigration reform. That shift in votes to the Democrats could very easily spell “Speaker Pelosi” on November 8. Nobody in their right mind wants to see that day.
But Bush and Company, along with a basket full of RINOs and wimps in Congress, for whatever the reason, think that their pandering of the Hispanic vote via their “pathway to citizenship” / “amnesty” will keep the Republicans in power. These professional politicians are living their privileged lives in a bubble when it comes to where the average American is on illegal immigration. For some reason the “pathway to citizenship” Republicans are completely deaf to what countless of polls are showing, that the majority of average Americans are absolutely fed up with tons of illegal tresspassers flooding our borders every day. Secure the borders first, and we’ll worry about guest worker provisions later. You can’t work on guest worker provisions while we have no borders. And, by the way, why are we five years and five months into a Presidency and still don’t have border enforcement? Especially after 9/11. Bush, are you and your buddies really that out-of-touch with the rest of the United States? |
Says David Limbaugh in Townhall:
I don’t remember a time when Beltway politicians, including way too many Republicans, have been so tone deaf on an issue and so complicit on a matter that could severely damage the long-term interests of this nation.
I too am absolutely amazed that the Washington Republican Elite are so completely out-of-touch with Joe Sixpack, even after poll after poll show clearly the desires of the average American – that Conservative values are alive and well outside the Beltway.
OK, so where are we? Do we strive for Secure Borders First and risk alienating lots of potential hispanic voters – voters that will go to the Democrats and help elect Speaker Pelosi?
Or do we accept the watered-down Senate “comprehensive” reform bill that weakly addresses everything imaginable – except for protecting the borders? That way the Republicans look like nice guys – something that the Democrats always seem to get credit for. But now you’ll alienate your Conservative core.
Says John McIntyre again:
Republicans should understand that if there is a signing ceremony with President Bush, John McCain and Ted Kennedy on a compromise immigration bill that the Washington Post and New York Times praise, the GOP can kiss control of Congress good-bye.
Says Cal Thomas:
It is no secret that the Rockefeller wing of the Republican Party (named after the late New York governor and vice president Nelson Rockefeller) has joined forces with liberal Democrats and even conservative (in name only) Republicans to weaken the conservative wing of the GOP.
Congress should not behave like some ancient pope, handing out papal bulls for absolution of certain sins in exchange for contributions to the church. In the case of illegal immigrants, moderate-liberal Republicans want to “absolve” illegals, hoping for electoral contributions to their party. It won’t work, because even if all illegals end up becoming legal and voting for Republicans (which is unlikely), the conservative disgust and abandonment of the GOP would outweigh any short-term gains the party might enjoy.
Says Representative Charlie Norwood (R-GA):
This bill constitutes treachery against U.S. sovereignty, (and) allows every illegal alien in America to use the fraudulent document industry they have created in the criminal back alleys of our country to claim they have been here five years and can now stay forever. They have granted blanket amnesty for citizens of foreign nations against tax fraud, Social Security fraud, Medicare fraud, identity fraud, and bank fraud – all crimes for which there is no forgiveness or mercy for citizens of the United States.
Says Representative Mark Souder (R-IN):
There is a pot boiling out there. We’ve got to secure the border first.
Republicans, you’re going to have to make some tough choices – and make them soon.
- If you vote for the Senate’s “comprehensive enforcement + amnesty” – the one with 85% Democratic support over the objections of nearly 2/3rds of Senate Republicans – you’re going to hear it referred to as a Democratic bill from the media, you’re going to gain 5% of the Hispanic vote, and you’re going to lose 50% of the Conservative vote.
- If you stall out and do nothing then the media is going to paint the Republicans as obstructionists, as people that can’t get along and get anything accomplished, and frustrated voters will vote for Speaker Pelosi.
- If you stand strong with the voters that put you in office in 2000, 2002, and 2004, and put border security first, then you’ll force the Democrats into a corner right before the fall election, you’ll lost 15% of the Hispanic vote, but you’ll (finally) re-energize the Conservative voters to keep you in office for a few more years.
You better remember who voted you into office. They will be the same people that will vote you out of office. Secure our borders first. Prove that you’re serious about illegal immigration. Then, after the fall elections, let’s start working on some guest worker program that doesn’t involve amnesty – or pandering. No Conservative wants to close and lock the border against legal and controlled immigration. But no Conservative wants to live under different sets of laws depending on where you were born. Make real criminal and other background checks. Establish Ellis Island Centers. Guest workers would be able to apply for citizenship, but they would have to follow current rules with no favoritism over those now waiting legally in line – and just because you’ve been able to hide here for five years should not make you a US citizen.
RINOs need not apply.
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