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The GOP's Harsh Immigration Stance Will Cost It
Michael Gerson ^ | May 14th 2010

Posted on 05/14/2010 8:43:16 PM PDT by Steelfish

The GOP's Harsh Immigration Stance Will Cost It

By Michael Gerson May 14, 2010 Has the Republican Party become, as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid recently charged, the "anti-immigrant party"? The accusation is overbroad. Republicans (and others) who are offended by chaos at the southern border, who are concerned about the strains illegal immigration places on public services and who believe enforcement should precede comprehensive reform are not necessarily "anti-immigrant."

Reid has an interest in painting with the broadest possible brush to motivate Hispanic supporters in his own, uphill reelection campaign.

But it would be absurd to deny that the Republican ideological coalition includes elements that are anti-immigrant -- those who believe that Hispanics, particularly Mexicans, are a threat to American culture and identity.

When Arizona Republican Senate candidate J.D. Hayworth calls for a moratorium on legal immigration from Mexico, when then-Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.) refers to Miami as a "Third World country," when state Rep. Russell Pearce (R), one of the authors of the Arizona immigration law, says Mexicans' and Central Americans' "way of doing business" is different, Latinos can reasonably assume that they are unwelcome in certain Republican circles.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: blahblahblah; moonbatrant
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1 posted on 05/14/2010 8:43:16 PM PDT by Steelfish
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To: Steelfish

Yeah, they might lose half of the Democrat vote because of it.


2 posted on 05/14/2010 8:46:50 PM PDT by perfect_rovian_storm (The worst is behind us. Unfortunately it is really well endowed.)
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To: Steelfish

“...those who believe that Hispanics, particularly Mexicans, are a threat to American culture and identity.”

Or perhaps those that believe immigrants from whatEVER country who have nothing to lose are a threat to American safety and well-being.


3 posted on 05/14/2010 8:48:07 PM PDT by jra
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To: Steelfish
Anyone too stupid to understand the situation on the boarder, and the new Arizona stance, is too stupid to be a Republican anyway.

For the democrats, it's about the VOTES, and for the ILLEGAL aliens, it's about the FREEBIES.

There are NO other viable explanations....period.
4 posted on 05/14/2010 8:49:06 PM PDT by FrankR (Standing up against tyranny must start somewhere, or the future will belong to the tyrants.)
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To: Steelfish

Type of BRavo SIera that We come to expect from the Washington COMPOST!


5 posted on 05/14/2010 8:49:16 PM PDT by gwilhelm56 (The one thing we learn from history is .. People REFUSE to Learn from History!!)
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To: Steelfish
The GOP's Harsh Immigration Stance Will Cost It

Liberals' insistence on leaving out the word "illegal" from the equation reveals the bankruptcy of their argument before it begins.

6 posted on 05/14/2010 8:50:10 PM PDT by Mr. Mojo
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To: Steelfish

“Mexicans’ and Central Americans’ “way of doing business” is different”

Anyone who has been to Mexico knows this to be true.


7 posted on 05/14/2010 8:50:39 PM PDT by icwhatudo ("laws requiring compulsory abortion could be sustained under the existing Constitution"Obama Adviser)
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To: Steelfish
I love the sound of desperately squealing girbilists in the morning.

There has been a national shift, and they have lost control of the narrative.

They put so little oil of truth into the engine of the press for so long, that they can now only stomp helplessly on the gas as the blown engine gives them no more movement on the expressway of public thought.

Obama is due for some grief as they begin to bite the sword they fell on - to mix metaphors.

8 posted on 05/14/2010 8:50:56 PM PDT by MrEdd (Heck? Geewhiz Cripes, thats the place where people who don't believe in Gosh think they aint going.)
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To: Steelfish
I do think this position will cost potential votes, but frankly, the problem with both parties is that they chase after voters--what they should be doing is attracting them by taking honest stands.

I know that's not how it works. The Democrats from the time of FDR on (at least) have been pushing a science fiction agenda. Similarly, the Republicans have been running a kind of reverse-horror one--"We're not as bad as they say, honest! We're not that scary!"

What the GOP must do is take a stand and stick through it, possibly losing some elections until the truth of their positions is shown.

Of course, when the Dems have just performed one of the most amazing acts of political bullshit ever, it may actually be too late--they may have insured their ultimate domination, maybe after one or two lost elections, due to the "Republicans want to takew away your healthcare!" pose they'll be able to take from now on.

9 posted on 05/14/2010 8:53:07 PM PDT by Darkwolf377 ("You seem to believe that stupidity is a virtue. Why is that so?"-Flight of the Phoenix)
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To: Steelfish
Interestingly, it is the DEMS who are characterizing themselves as the...

1. PRO illegal alien party, the...

2. Illegal alien vote fraud party, the...

3. Tolerance of illegal alien drug dealing and violent crime party, and...

4. The party that instigates organized intimidation and financial boycotts to anyone who objects to their corruption.

.

All the Republicans need to do is...

STAY STRONG, DO NOT GO WOBBLY, DO WHAT IS RIGHT (NOT WHAT THE NYT WANTS)!

.

10 posted on 05/14/2010 8:54:56 PM PDT by Seaplaner (Never give in. Never give in. Never...except to convictions of honour and good sense. W. Churchill)
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To: Steelfish

Why should my “get in line and wait your turn” stance hurt me or my party?


11 posted on 05/14/2010 8:55:05 PM PDT by paddles
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To: Steelfish

So keeping out an inexhaustible supply of parasites will hurt Republicans? Since Democrats are the party of parasites I think I will take my enemies advice in the spirit it is given. As a lie calculated to fool the ignorant.


12 posted on 05/14/2010 8:58:34 PM PDT by Nateman (If liberals aren't screaming you're doing it wrong.)
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To: Steelfish

This is nothing more than a hit piece designed to try to get wobbly, stupid RINOs to support shamnesty. Nearly 2/3 of Americans support HARSHER treatment of illegals and actually enforcing immigration laws, not coddling illegal aliens.


13 posted on 05/14/2010 8:58:47 PM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (The US will not die with a whimper. It will die with thundering applause from the left.)
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To: Mr. Mojo

“Liberals’ insistence on leaving out the word “illegal” from the equation reveals the bankruptcy of their argument before it begins.”

Agree. Wondering what it will take to get that word “ILLEGAL” locked into the discussion.


14 posted on 05/14/2010 9:00:11 PM PDT by rockinqsranch (The Left draws criminals as excrement draws flies. The Left IS a criminal organization.)
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To: Steelfish
The GOP's Democrat's Harsh Immigration Open Boders Stance Will Cost It Them Dearly In November.
15 posted on 05/14/2010 9:01:17 PM PDT by SmokingJoe
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To: SmokingJoe

Nice fix.


16 posted on 05/14/2010 9:03:09 PM PDT by Steelfish (ui)
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To: Darkwolf377

I do think this position will cost potential votes, but frankly, the problem with both parties is that they chase after voters—what they should be doing is attracting them by taking honest stands.


As in Ronald W. Reagan.

If the GOP runs another RINO, it’s over.


17 posted on 05/14/2010 9:04:26 PM PDT by unkus
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To: Steelfish

The Bush/Rove/McCain strategy of pandering to Hispanics for most of Bush’s second term is what has cost the GOP, and was one of the main, if not the main factor in the party’s spectacular nosedive from power from the election of 2004 to the election of 2008.

Supporting policies that 60% - 70% of the American people support is going to help the GOP, not hurt it (if they have the collective guts to end the pandering and support enforcement of our laws).


18 posted on 05/14/2010 9:08:56 PM PDT by Will88
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To: Steelfish

Who is this dumbsh*t?


19 posted on 05/14/2010 9:10:42 PM PDT by pissant (THE Conservative party: www.falconparty.com)
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To: Steelfish
They don't want much.


20 posted on 05/14/2010 9:11:19 PM PDT by Travis McGee (---www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com---)
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