Newt Gingrich could face ‘Perry Plunge’ over immigration stance

Miami Herald ^ | 11.23.11 | staff

[BarnacleCenturion]

At the top of the Republican presidential pack, Newt Gingrich is poised for what some call the “Perry Plunge” for supporting part of the pro-immigrant DREAM Act.

Like former frontrunner Rick Perry, Gingrich became a target of criticism among fellow Republicans at Tuesday night’s nationally televised debate for saying that some people should be allowed to stay in the United States even if they’re here illegally.

(snip)

Gingrich’s comments were quickly blasted on conservative websites like Free Republic. The outrage with Gingrich underscored the danger of having a soft line on immigration as well as the tenuousness of leading the Republican field.

[Lazamataz]

Handsome couple.

[DirtyDawg]

I have read Newt’s immigration plan and it is well thought out and realistic. It is a step by step approach that actually brings us to solutions. Before everyone jumps on the “amnesty” boogie man read the actual plan. This is a very complex problem and there are no simple solutions.

[tx_eggman]

Before anyone berates Newt’s “Immigration Plan”, they need to read it. Then ask themselves what other candidate has given as much thought to the problem?

What a novel idea ... actually read and discuss the plan instead of running around screaming AMNESTY, AMNESTY !!!

Linky Thing: Gingrich Immigration Plan

[redfog]

Right now I am for Mr. Gingrich. I taped the debate, and I was listening closely.

Here’s the problem: his policy should be to secure the border and enforce current immigration law. Period.

Do that first. Prove it to me. Prove it to me over the entire 4 years of your first term as president.

Don’t talk about anything else related to immigration until that has been done.

Then, when that is done, maybe during your second term as president you can talk about red cards and other potential changes to immigration policy.

When politicians say “secure the border first”, those are the right words, but no one believes they will actually do it because they never have in the past.

[FreeperDoll]

DITTO...I agree with Newt on this one and Newt ain’t no flipper like the mormon is...go Newt go!!!!!!!!!!!

[izzatzo]

I was listening, and you are correct. Gingrich’s announcement is no less than his effort to make complete amnesty sound, oh, so reasonable and to make fools of us. There is no reason to trust Gingrich on this issue.

[magritte]

This is a very complex problem and there are no simple solutions.

---

“You must be an illegal lover. Deport them all. Build the electric fence and kill a few. Maybe they’ll learn.”

/FR anti-illegal hater rant mode off

[WHBates]

What should Gingrich be repentant about? While you may not agree with him he has a very reasoned and pragmatic approach.

[kabar]

I suggest you become better informed about the immigration issue. Newt is trying to pander to the Hispanic vote. Offering amnesty to some undefined group of illegals is a slap in the face to legal immigrants and the Rule of Law. 25 years ago this November, we had a “one-time” amnesty that was supposed to solve the illegal alien problem. We now have three to four times that number today. When you reward something, you get more of it.

[umgud]

I have heard that today Ronald Reagan could not get elected and after reading a lot of the posts here I believe it.

In defense of RR, he signed the amnesty bill thinking he woould get a secure border and an employee screening system in return for about 300,000 amnesties.

Not a bad deal, but what he actually got was 3 million amnesties, no secure border and an I-9 system that is a joke. RR, after seeing this, would not vote for anything like this again.

[9YearLurker]

The ‘red card’ brings us solutions? Really? And you have read and thought about it?

[eddie willers]

So many people heard ‘humane’ and instantly stopped listening as their hackles went up.

The full sentence: ‘Let’s be humane in enforcing the law.’

They seem to totally miss the ENFORCING THE LAW part.

[SumProVita]

“Well, after actually watching what Newt said, I think those that jumped on him for that here were not listening.”

I agree....but it can also be due to another type of agenda such people may have.

My husband and I both like what he said.

[9YearLurker]

You may consider it that, but the majority of Americans and I don’t.

And it is disingenuous at best to suggest that what he said this week doesn’t confirm his previous ‘comprehensive immigration reform’ position.

[umgud]

I believe so too...if one really looks at the details and Newt's willingness to address the issue head on...

Trust me it's easier and more fun for the MSM and talking heads to go with the sound-bite. Nobody is going to look closely at the details.

[kabar]

The proponents of amnesty are wont to create the false choice between a blanket amnesty and mass deportation of 12 to 20 million illegal aliens. In reality, we have other choices and alternatives that don’t reward people who have broken our laws with the right to stay and work here and an eventual path to citizenship. The 12 to 20 million illegal aliens did not enter this country overnight and they will not leave overnight. Attrition through enforcement works. We have empirical data from Georgia, Oklahoma, and Arizona proving that it does.

87 percent of the 1.2 million legal immigrants entering annually are minorities as defined by the U.S. Government and almost all of the illegal aliens are minorities. By 2019 half of the children 18 and under in the U.S. will be classified as minorities and by 2039, half of the residents of this country will be minorities. Generally, immigrants and minorities vote predominantly for the Democrat Party. Hence, Democrats view immigration as a never-ending source of voters that will make them the permanent majority party.

Since the 1965 Immigration Act, our pro-population growth immigration policies have fueled major demographic changes in a very short period of time. In 1970, non-Hispanic whites comprised 89 percent of the population; today they are 66 percent; and by 2039, they will be 50 percent. The Democrats, under the banner of multiculturalism and diversity, have forged a political coalition that depends on individuals coalescing around racial and ethnic identities rather than the issues. The continuing and increasing flow of minority immigrants, mostly poor and uneducated, provide a natural constituency for the Democrats, which see them as their principal source of political power.

The U.S. adds one international migrant (net) every 36 seconds. Immigrants account for one in 8 U.S. residents, the highest level in more than 90 years. In 1970 it was one in 21; in 1980 it was one in 16; and in 1990 it was one in 13. In a decade, it will be one in 7, the highest it has been in our history. And by 2050, one in 5 residents of the U.S. will be foreign-born.

Currently, 1.6 million legal and illegal immigrants settle in the country each year; 350,000 immigrants leave each year, resulting in a net immigration of 1.25 million. Since 1970, the U.S. population has increased from 203 million to 310 million, i.e., over 100 million. In the next 40 years, the population will increase by 130 million to 440 million. Three-quarters of the increase in our population since 1970 and the projected increase will be the result of immigration. The U.S., the world’s third most populous nation, has the highest annual rate of population growth of any developed country in the world, i.e., 0.977 percent (2010 estimate), principally due to immigration.

300,000 to 400,000 anchor babies are born each year to illegal alien parents. Thru birthright citizenship, they are American citizens entitled to all of the various benefits including Medicaid and food stamps.

[dforest]

Maybe the paunch was just gas.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

So now Newt has come up with a "Red Card" plan for the illegal aliens. What happened to the Blue Card? Maybe that was Bush's idea and Newt wants to make it look like he's coming with new ones being so smart and all.

Why don't we just buy him a box of crayons and he and Tom Ridge can play together.

[caww]

Hope that post made you feel better. Most are aware of the issue and the stats.

You began speaking about Amnesty..which is allowing citizenship. Newt opposes this...and though the arguements his plan would lead eventually to the “legal” immigrants demanding citizenship I believe there can be safe guards installed to prevent that....the deal is the deal...and it would take years to change it, meanwhile Newt’s reasonable plan has the possibility of addressing the illegal issues we now have...which the whole process is currently dysfunctional to say the least and few who care to even enforce what it possible to enfore for the red tape stretches beyond making any of it doable.

As I see it we either get on board with those who have a plan and willing and capable of getting the ball rolling...or the borders will remain as they are with an occasional tweaking here and there for poltical sake...and the throngs will continue to come in. It’s that simple.

[Artcore]

I understand what you’re saying.

With the possible exceptions of Romney and the Nutjob Paul, I’ll vote for whomever our GOP Primary Winner is in the general election. Anyone of our Republicans would be a 1000% improvement over the Kenyan.

I guess I’m more disappointed than anything. Why does the GOP as a whole feel the need to pander to certain groups of people?

I’m coming to realize none of these folks are perfect, but are a vast improvement over the Marxist who currently occupies our Whitehouse.