Rick Perry and the Republican Bind on Immigration

ABC News ^ | Sept. 28, 2011 | Devin Dwyer

[Clairity]

Texas Gov. Rick Perry has been a battletested advocate for immigration enforcement for more than a decade in one of America's most conservative states.

By many measures, Perry's approach to immigration ought to please the party faithful. In his decade-long term as governor, he cracked down on so-called sanctuary cities, imposed tough restrictions on drivers' licenses for immigrants, and sent armed Texas Rangers to the border while demanding more federal boots on the ground. He opposes a federal DREAM Act and a swift path to legalization for illegal immigrants.

"Of all the Republican candidates he's the one who stands out the most on wanting to deal with this issue and put it to bed and resolve the problems," said Jim Gilchrist, co-founder of the Minutemen Project, a Tea Party-aligned activist group that monitors activity along the U.S.-Mexico border.

[Clairity]

Perry ping

[Liz]

All of these "strengthen the border" statements by Perry are self-serving----to fool the voters and advance his unbridled lust for presidential power. With vote-crazed politicians like Perry----it's not what they say that counts----it's what they do.

Nowhere in his 2001 speech at a "border summit" with Mexico did Perry talk of policing the border----he talked benignly of the "shared" border.

Perry's "border summit" speech. LINK http://governor.state.tx.us/news/speech/10688/

PERRY'S BORDER SUMMIT SPEECH---EXCERPT "Seventy percent of all US-Mexico truck traffic goes to, or through, the Lone Star state. Fifteen of our twenty-seven border crossings with Mexico are located in Texas. Fifty-four percent of all U.S.-Mexico trade crosses just between Brownsville and Laredo. This year the Texas legislature appropriated approximately $1 billion more in transportation funding. But more can be done.

"With Texas serving as the Gateway to Mexico, it is time that we receive congressional funding that reflects the instrumental role our state plays as a port of entry. With a Texan (GWB) in the White House, I believe there is no greater opportunity to end the funding discrimination that crippled Texas infrastructure under the previous administration. Good infrastructure is essential to the free flow of commerce."

CIRCA 2001 BORDER SUMMIT--PERRY W/ MEXICO'S THEN-PRES VICENTE FOX

Pres Fox thanks Gov Perry for giving illegal migrant workers access to Texas universities via in-state tuition. At that time----at a "border summit"---- Perry also advanced a “bi-national health insurance” program that would cover both US and Mexican residents along the border....including the savage Zeta gangs setting up drug cartels in Dallas. Perry praised a “unified,” trans-national health care program. and was ready, willing and eager to pour US dollars into illegals violating US borders.....including the savage Zetas setting up its drug cartel in Dallas, and those on the border organizing against the US.

==============================================

God only knows what this Mexico suckup would do if he had presidential power.

[BobL]

Perry’s pretty much proven that he’s OPEN BORDERS, given his support for the Dream Act, his opposition to a border fence, his opposition to E-Verify, and his lukewarm (and questionable) opposition to Sanctuary Cities. Not to mention his now-twice not so nice descriptions of what he thinks of Republicans who want border control.

Yep, he does have a few hurdles to overcome on this issue (and many others, which we’ll get to in due time).

[Cicero]

Looks to me as if ABC News is trying to do the job Perry failed to do in the debates. Now I wonder why they would be so helpfully shilling for him? Maybe they figure that he’d be a useful alternative if Mitt fails again to make the grade.

[shield]

Perry Ping....

IF you'd rather NOT be pinged FReepmail me.

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[TexasFreeper2009]

Finally, the truth comes out, Perry is 10 times more conservative on this issue (based on his record, not words) than anyone on that stage.

Anyone can talk a good game, but Rick Perry has a positive record to point at, and not just empty words from people who have done nothing but run for office.

[teg_76]

The fact of the matter is we need someone who can communicate conservative values, not the bumbling guy on the stage the other night who said his base has no heart. No thanks.

[Clairity]

You are not hiring a speaker, you are hiring a president.

You much be impressed with Obama, “the great orator”.

[IM2MAD]

If only Perry, Mitt, et al would take a look at Mexico’s policy toward immigrants and take a page out of that book. Check out Mexico’s requirements of foreigners who wish to become citizens.

This is from an old article but rather complete. Maybe the Tea Party should print out flyers and pass them along at debates, town halls, rallies.

http://www.canadafreepress.com/2007/lillpop022707.htm

Read it an weep for our country.

[PLD]

http://patriotupdate.com/12724/does-this-video-change-your-mind-about-rick-perry

http://conservativebyte.com/2011/09/perry-i-dont-think-you-have-a-heart-if-you-oppose-in-state-tuition-for-children-of-illegal-immigrants/

Let's hear for our selves if Perry is bumbling..Sounds to me like the others are so scared this man will win they all jump at the same time on every word he says even if it isn't the truth when they repeat it..

[MestaMachine]

Round and round and round it goes....

[normy]

Perry has pushed the most anti-Hispanic agenda in a generation in Texas,” said San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro. “He would have a very difficult time appealing to the Hispanic community in 2012 because his policies and actions demonstrate such a lack of care and concern.”

Bachman and Santorum, who hope to suckle on the Mitt Romney power teet should he become President helped pile on. I hear Cains even said Perry was soft on border security. For now I will chalk that up to not knowing or understanding the facts and not because he is doing Romney's bidding.

By the way Jim Gilchrist has been called every rotten name in the book for his founding of the Minutemen.

[Vaduz]

The candidates can’t do squat about the illegals it’s has to be an act by congress to get the problem solved.
If they fail to do anything we will be stuck with the cockroaches.

[Tennessean4Bush]

We need someone who not only can walk the walk, but we need a communicator to talk over the press and directly to middle america. Not sure perry is the guy, I know romney isn’t. Maybe cain?

[truthguy]

Politicians in Alabama don't have to worry about a huge Hispanic Voting Block the way Perry does in Texas, at least not yet. But I suspect that if Perry were to be elected in a national election, he would be tougher on immigration.

Here the problem: California, New York, Florida, Texas, Illinois. The Hispanics control the swing votes in these states. This is real leverage and both the Republicans and Democrats know this. This is an enormous number of electoral votes and Republicans must win at least 2 or 3 of these states. Forget California, it's a lost cause and won't even be part of the United States in 25 years. So Perry is on thin ice and has to play his hand very carefully. Politicians in Alabama can afford for the time being to be much tougher.

Practical politics, simple as that.

[BobL]

“Perry has pushed the most anti-Hispanic agenda in a generation in Texas,” said San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro. ...”

When you post something like that, it’s good to have a link. But I found one anyway.

http://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/2011/06/perry-watch-governor-touts-latina-appointments-at-naleo-conference-in-san-antonio/

As to the comment, he’s talking about the 2010 version of Perry, not the one who wasn’t considering a run for president...and yes, he’s right. Before that, the other 10 years of Perry and 6 years of Bush, they were as PRO-ILLEGAL as you get. In that article they mention a few small things that he’s done in the anti-illegal direction...but it did take him a decade.

But the biggest one was the Sanctuary City deal. He said he wanted the bill based to prohibit Sanctuary Cities. When the bill MAGICALLY failed in the 2/3’s Republican legislature in June, even though only a majority vote was needed to pass, he didn’t seem all that bothered, and certainly was not about to call them back for it.

I just think this silly mayor needs a trip to Alabama to understand what can be done to deal with illegals.

[truthguy]

Here s/b Here’s. Didn’t check grammar.

[txrangerette]

I saw where Cain had endorsed Romney in 2008.

[Texan5]

Just ignore the boy mayor of that overrated city-Julian Castro is an idiot with no knowledge of the real world outside of his little idealistic bubble-being of Hispanic ancestry myself, I can say that without being a bigot. I moved to the hinterlands from the fuster cluck SA has become 8 years ago, and I’d rather starve out here than live there in luxury...