Posted on 09/30/2011 1:41:19 PM PDT by ziravan
A maxim in politics is that successful politicians turn their weaknesses into strengths. Rick Perry can get back on the right track, and maybe salvage his campaign.
Here's how.
Gov. Perry has repeatedly stated that his position on immigration is the direct result of failures at the Federal level. But! Gov. Perry is RUNNING to be head of the Federal Government.
Rather than blame the FedGov for his past positions, he needs to state how he, as President would fix things. So far, and I've listened carefully, all I've heard is how being Gov. of Texas grants him the experience. I've heard no specifics.
It seems to me that the root of the problem is the Plyler v. Doe decision in 1972 forbidding Texas from disallowing illegals to attend K-12. That ruling, in both the concurring and dissent, invited Congress to intervene. Congress didn't and so, illegals in public secondary schools are the law.
All this wringing of hands about what to do with kids culturally raised in our school systems would go away if Congress would act rule to disallow secondary eduction of illegal children (or even only to allow for States to opt to disallow as a function of Federal Law).
If Perry were to state that the problem is Plyler and that he would commit to seeking (from what will likely be a Republican Congress) and signing a law that fixes the Plyler decision, he'd take the argument and make it his.
Instead of talking about in-state tuition, he'd be talking about how to FIX his view of the need for in-state tuition.
Liberals would lose their heads. The base and independents would cheer - more importantly, Perry would be inoculated on his immigration stance by being the only candidate out their demanding a real fix.
Enforcing a Plyler Fix would be the first REAL effort the FedGov has taken to seriously address immigration.
The Establishment GOP doesn't want any such fix, and they CERTAINLY don't want a cheerleader for such a thing. I think that Perry IS soft on immigration, just like his fellow establishment Republicans.
But.
Perry is going to have to choose, quickly, if he wants to be President, or defend his current position on immigration. He won't be able to do both.
I'm a Palin supporter that leans to Cain and would be happy with either. If a candidate promised me that they'd push a Plyler fix through Congress and be willing to sign it, that would go a long long way to sway my vote.
In any case, the debate would quickly turn to how to fix immigration and insulate Perry from how he's weak on it. It'd turn his campaign around.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2785918/posts
This is the thread where this idea came from.
You don’t seem to understand - Perry LIKES illegal aliens.
I understand, and think you’re right. It’s a main reason why I don’t support Perry (I’m from Texas). But, his campaign and allies SAY he will be strong on immigration.
Here’s his chance.
There you are up on the stage and you want to debate important matters of state ~ broad, overarching policies, unicorns, fluffy bunnies, candy for everyone ~ and some guy comes up with the STRANGE NAME, so there you are, and it's just like being back talking about sticking needles in the bottoms of little girls ~ "OH NOES"!!!!!@@@@@!!~!!!!!~!
Why would we want to put lipstick on a pig?
PLYLER IS ONE OF THE MOST DEVASTATING THINGS THAT HAPPENED TO USA.but..Perry is an alien-hugger.
Even if by some quirk of fate, Perry survives conservative ire, he would still have to face the disaffection of the general public, at a later date. Today some 81% of Americans oppose giveaways to illegals......and that cuts across the political spectrum.
Rank politicians, like Perry, entrusted with enforcing immigration law, deliberately ignored the law and pursued a sub rosa agenda they never bothered to inform the tax-paying public about.
Once the public was alerted to pols' deceit, they became involved. It has been a matter of the public learning about deceitful politicians... both Bushes, Ted Kennedy, John McCain, Slick Willie, Obama, Rick Perry and many others......particularly GWB's attempts to grant amnesty to millions of illegal aliens.
More egregiously, these same politicians whose negligence exacerbated the illegal problem, then began offering 'solutions'.....amnesty......which also bought pols votes and campaign contributions, Dream Act and other giveaways, in a show of shameless pandering to ethnic groups.
When voters became aware of politicians' pandering, they opposed it by large margins.
As FlingWingFlyer insightfully posted: Illegal immigration is the new “third rail”. The politicians better learn that. Americans have had it with freeloading foreigners.
You are right, the establishment really does not want to fix illegal immigration.
And you are also right; I'd like to like Rick Perry, but he is either honest with his proposed citizen taxpaying constituency, (i.e. illegals are cheats and need to be isolated), or he is just another two-timing establishment politician.
Johnny Suntrade
Excellent point.
Got proof?
Or do I get to just post anything about you that I want to say?
If you’d believe a candidate’s promises that are absolutely the opposite of his or her actions over the years, you’d be setting yourself up for a major disappointment.
Campaign promises aren’t worth squat.
Sure you do...don't you know that is how it now works on FR...don't like something...make up a big lie...and watch the fools on FR eat it up. Thank God that the American people are a lot smarter than the right wing nuts here on FR...
Once upon a time we could actually trust most of the content and we knew who the oddballs and tin foilers were.
Now there is pure editorial garbage spewed as fact.
And, as you said, willing guppies to swallow it whole and repeat it over and over and over.
IOW, the signal to noce ratio is very bad nowadays.
Granting in-state tuition does not follow logically from any obligation to educate the children of illegals in public primary and secondary schools. I don't think Perry even ever had this in mind.
You might think it a way for him to excuse his decision, but it wouldn't fly with conservatives. One bad decision need not engender another.
Great point, but you're deep in the weeds for most folks. Some of Perry's people seem to be listening to a few outside voices. May be its time for another round of Emails.
>>>>>>Rather than blame the FedGov for his past positions, he needs to state how he, as President would fix things. So far, and I've listened carefully, all I've heard is how being Gov. of Texas grants him the experience. I've heard no specifics.
Then you are not listening. First off. The "FedGov" is the problem! Perry has stated that securing the border is the job of the federal government. Which it is. It is the Constitutional duty of the Feds to get a handle on the massive amounts of illegal border crossings. The states can assist and since 2005 Texas has spent roughly $350 million of their own in-state taxpayer money on border security. For all intents and purposes, a drop in the bucket.
As President, Rick Perry has stated he would secure the borders and stop most of the illegal border crossings. In fact, he just said that on Fox News Special Report today.
He’d make a great President of Mexico.
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