Posted on 02/21/2015 3:15:51 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
I told you yesterday that this spin was coming eventually. What I didn’t realize was that “eventually” would mean “tomorrow.”
Smart play here, I think. Much smarter than Walker trying to convince people that his long record of supporting a path to citizenship for illegals technically doesn’t mean he’s pro-”amnesty.”
Kirsten Kukowski, the communications director for Walker’s 527 political committee, suggested to TPM on Thursday that President Barack Obama’s moves on immigration reform are what’s caused Walker’s shift in rhetoric.
“President Obama’s lack of leadership has completely changed how our immigration system now needs to be approached and Governor Walker has seen his fellow governors have to deal with the collateral damage of Obama’s decisions and lack of leadership,” Kukowski said in an email to TPM.
Walker believes, according to Kukowski, “First, Obama’s executive action should be repealed” and that “we need absolute security at our borders and then we can address fixing our legal immigration system and deal with those here illegally but amnesty is not the answer.”
Can’t go wrong in a Republican primary blaming Obama, even if it’s not clear here what, precisely, O did to convince Walker that border security needs to come before legalization. November’s mega-amnesty hasn’t been implemented yet; the 2012 DACA amnesty has, but that dealt with DREAMers and it’s a safe bet that neither Walker himself nor any of his rivals will oppose legalization for a class like that. Rhetorically, Obama’s no more expansive on this subject than George W. Bush was (although Dubya, of course, never made a move as bold or dubious as legalization via executive order) and Walker was apparently pro-amnesty for the duration of Bush’s presidency. Maybe Kukowski’s referring generically to the border crisis last year? Or maybe she’s referring to the Obama administration’s slow shift away from deportations, leading to many thousands of illegals with criminal records landing back on American streets?
Or maybe I’m parsing this statement way, way too closely. The point here is simply to reassure conservatives that Walker’s seen the light on immigration, his only major potential liability among righties, without dwelling on the subject much. I don’t buy it for a minute but I’m happy to pretend otherwise in the name of boosting an otherwise impressive candidate who may well be our best chance at ending up with Not Bush as nominee. Welcome to the border-hawk camp, Governor! We’ll enjoy having you with us until Election Day 2016 and not a second longer.
One bit of free parting advice to Team Walker, though, via TPM: Let’s stop claiming, as the man himself apparently did on Fox News this past Monday, that he never told an editorial board in Wisconsin in 2013 that he supported a path to citizenship. I’ve posted that video several times; the transcript of the exchange, posted by the reporter who asked him about it at that meeting, is right here. It’s much shrewder to say “I’ve changed my mind” than “I never said what I said.” Especially when it’s on tape.
Until Walker states he opposes amnesty under any name or form including “Pathway” and “Immigration Reform”, he cannot be trusted.
Just follow the damn law and deport ALL ILLEGAL INVADERS that are captured....just as a start.
We don’t need no steenking Immigration Reform that would allow 40 MILLION ILLEGAL INVADERS TO BEGIN VOTING FOR A PERMANENT SOCIALIST HELLHOLE ala Mehico, Cuber, Venezuela, etc...
The usual GOPe canards, meant to fool the rubes:
“secure the border first”,
oppose “Obama’s executive amnesty”,
“he/I didn’t really say that”, and
“it’s not amnesty”.
And if Walker suddenly reverses his positions of the last decades, while being backed by the Kochs and the GOPe, you’d accept Walker’s flipping on the issue—and trust him on it?
This is consistent with what Walker has said in the past.
Nice try, but NRO wants Walker derailed so a pro-Amnesty candidate can get in.....just as the FReepers posting this tripe seem to want.
In 2008, McCain was unwanted by the rank and file until people, like this, shot every decent conservative in the back.
In 2012, Romney was unwanted by the rank and file until people, like this, shot every decent conservative in the back.
I am tired of the LIARS who continue to undermine conservatism by creating FALSE narratives, thereby allowing the real RINO to win the nomination.
It is time we stop listening to these agent provocateurs among our ranks.
Second hit-piece in two days on Walker from this anonymous author, Allahpundit.
Walker is the non-loudmouth Crispy Creme. He’s 100% GOPe.
I don't buy the premise that our immigration system is broken. The current system (before 0bama) is called "broken" by the left because it's not an open boarders policy. As usual they change the definition, make an argument and we argue with them based on a false premise. No wonder they have been kicking our ass for the last 50 years
These are the same people who gave us Claire McCackle.
Frankly, my dear - Ted Cruz is the ONLY candidate who believes AND acts on the basis the Constitution is the supreme law of the land.
Walker is the fallback candidate for RINO-leftists if Bushie fails to gain traction. Walker is better than any Bushie...but he cannot save America and the Constitution with his amnesty.
Walker is not solid on immigration, regardless of what he says now. As I have said before, any missteps on the important issues is a clue that a candidate should be viewed with suspicion. Walker might be just another Paul Ryan.
Walker will competently implement amnesty unlike the incompetent Obama......sarc
Yikes! I have been gone for 10 days, and I return to read all the same old drivel against Scott Walker.
Let the guy speak for himself! If he clams his position has evolved to a stronger one, why not give him some benefit of the doubts?
Ronald Reagan was once for abortion rights; then he changed and became a reliable conservative pro-life President. Need I say more?
But Winners focus on the big picture and the ultimate prize. Scott Walker is a winner. He will prevail in spite of all the bozos that insist on blowing themselves up, in the name of their radical version of immigration reform purity.
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