Ted Cruz and Amnesty: The Telltale Video

KausFiles ^ | 05/21/2015 | Mickey Kaus

[SeekAndFind]

Do You Have Amnesty in that Basket? Did Ted Cruz support an immigration solution that involved legalizing the 11 million or so illegals now in the U.S.? When we last left this dispute, Cruz staffers were denying it. True, a New York Times article had asserted that Cruz was carving out a “middle ground” on immigration, offering illegals legalization (work permits that would allow them to stay here) but making stopping short of the citizenship offered in the Senate’s “Gang of 8″ bill:

Asked about what to do with the people here illegally, however, he stressed that he had never tried to undo the goal of allowing them to stay.

“The amendment that I introduced removed the path to citizenship, but it did not change the underlying work permit from the Gang of Eight,” he said during a recent visit to El Paso. …

The Times’ characterization wasn’t accurate, Cruz spokesperson Brian Phillips argued. Cruz was only offering his amendment “to show that Dems won’t allow any reform without pathway to citizenship,” not because he actually supported it. Just a parliamentary device! See this Twitter exchange with MSNBC’s Benjy Sarlin:

Benjy Sarlin: @RealBPhil Okay so to be 100% clear: If his amendment succeeded, he still would not have supported work permits for existing undocumented?

Brian Phillips: .@BenjySarlin 100% clear: Cruz’s amendment had nothing to do with that issue. [Emphasis added]

[Ray76]

To clarify, his amendment doesn't legalize but neither does it prohibit legalization - which he does not object to and which he favors ("broken", "in the shadows" "I want immigration reform" etc).

[Mariner]

When I originally posted the NYT article referencing Cruz's position to Amnesty all illegals here now, I was excoriated by his sycophants.

But they will not care what his position is on this issue, or "Free Trade" or any other than the standard SoCon issues.

As long as he is right on those millions are on his side.

Even if he accelerates the demise of the Republic.

And thousands of those millions are right here on Free Republic.

[Mariner]

"I smell a rat, someone grab the ZOT gun, or do you just want to play with it for a while?. ;)"

It would be a simple and vile act to zot a man because he told the truth about Senator Cruz.

[SunkenCiv]

Rand Paul's immigration speech

...The Republican Party must embrace more legal immigration.

Unfortunately, like many of the major debates in Washington, immigration has become a stalemate-where both sides are imprisoned by their own rhetoric or attachment to sacred cows that prevent the possibility of a balanced solution.

Immigration Reform will not occur until Conservative Republicans, like myself, become part of the solution. I am here today to begin that conversation.

Let's start that conversation by acknowledging we aren't going to deport 12 million illegal immigrants.

If you wish to work, if you wish to live and work in America, then we will find a place for you...

This is where prudence, compassion and thrift all point us toward the same goal: bringing these workers out of the shadows and into being taxpaying members of society.

Imagine 12 million people who are already here coming out of the shadows to become new taxpayers.12 million more people assimilating into society. 12 million more people being productive contributors.

[Posted on 03/19/2013 7:04:07 AM PDT by Perdogg]

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Rand Paul calls on conservatives to embrace immigration reform

Latinos, should be a natural constituency for the party, Paul argued, but "Republicans have pushed them away with harsh rhetoric over immigration." ...he would create a bipartisan panel to determine how many visas should be granted for workers already in the United States and those who might follow... [and the buried lead] "Imagine 12 million people who are already here coming out of the shadows to become new taxpayers...

[Posted on 04/21/2013 1:52:42 PM PDT by SoConPubbie]

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[but he's not in favor of amnesty, snicker, definition of is is]

• Rand Paul: I think Republicans may have over-emphasized voter fraud
• Al Sharpton has breakfast with Rand Paul; [2014]
• Al Sharpton: 'Rand Paul Is Right' [2014]
• Rand Paul Wants Bigger GOP: 'You Go to a Republican Event and It's All White People'
• (Rand) Paul: GOP Needs to 'Look Like the Rest of America' to Win Again (again)
• Rand Paul slams Cliven Bundy's racist rant
• Rand Paul: Bundy's racist remarks are 'offensive'
• Rand Paul promised to help Mitch McConnell pass amnesty [2014]
• Rand Paul: I'm Open to Voting for Immigration Bill
• Paul: Still hope for immigration reform this year

[SunkenCiv]

Oh yeah, a blogger source, that's really convincing.

[trebb]

Facts won’t get in the way of the “Cruz is a pro-illegal traitor” crew. Some just can’t help themselves when it comes to crapping on our best candidates.

[houeto]

I have come to the personal conclusion that the majority of texans are more patriotic to mexico than the US.

I've come to the personal conclusion that you're a flippin' idiot!

Windflier, get a load or this!

[Windflier]

Factoryrat: "I have come to the personal conclusion that the majority of texans are more patriotic to mexico than the US."

I've come to the personal conclusion that you're a flippin' idiot!

Windflier, get a load of this!

I'm on it. Factoryrat's insult deserves a ping to the entire Texas list!

[EQAndyBuzz]

Why indulge a troll? It’s a waste of time that we will never get back.

Just delete the thread, delete the troll and lets move on.

[MEG33]

"I have come to the personal conclusion that the majority of texans are more patriotic to mexico than the US"

[spel_grammer_an_punct_polise]

“I’ve come to the personal conclusion that you’re a flippin’ idiot!”

Worth repeating!

[TexasFreeper2009]

laughable attempt from one of the amnesty lover campaigns to try to smear Cruz.

Sorry, we are not buying whatever drivel you are selling!

Cruz or Lose!!

[berdie]

factoryrat was without a doubt my Friday night funny. :)

Thanks WF, I needed a good laugh!

[Jane Long]

To me “factoryrat” sounds more like a union sheep, a pet, no wonder he dislikes the Texans and their freedom loving independence.

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^^ That ^^ bears repeating.

[Windflier]

Thanks WF, I needed a good laugh!

I'll admit, I uttered a "WTF?" when I saw that post. Weirdest statement I've seen posted here in a long time.

Glad it raised a chuckle :-)

[Jane Long]

Looks like the ‘Rat walked into a revolving door, backwards, and got backslapped with the truth.

[Liberty Valance]

Thanks for the ping Windflier.

Go Cruz!

[Windflier]

Looks like the ‘Rat walked into a revolving door, backwards, and got backslapped with the truth.

Hopefully, he got slapped hard enough to bring him back to sobriety. That rant sounded like the worst sort of drunk talk to me.

[Windflier]

Go Cruz!

All the way!

[JRandomFreeper]

Since I'm still here, I didn't say what was on my mind. This is a family forum after all.

Thanks for the ping.

/johnny