Did Republicans just give away the 2016 election by raising birthright citizenship?

Washington Post ^ | 8/18/15 | Paul Waldman

[jimbo123]

It may not seem like it, but this week has seen the most significant development yet in the immigration debate’s role in the 2016 election. I’d go even farther — it’s possible that the entire presidential election just got decided.

Is that an overstatement? Maybe. But hear me out.

For months, people like me have been pointing to the fundamental challenge Republican presidential candidates face on immigration: they need to talk tough to appeal to their base in the primaries, but doing so risks alienating the Hispanic voters they’ll need in the general election. This was always going to be a difficult line to walk, but a bunch of their candidates just leaped off to one side.

After Donald Trump released his immigration plan, which includes an end to birthright citizenship — stating that if you were born in the United States but your parents were undocumented, you don’t get to be a citizen — some of his competitors jumped up to say that they agreed. NBC News asked Scott Walker the question directly, and he seemed to reply that he does favor an end to birthright citizenship, though his campaign qualified the statement later. Bobby Jindal tweeted, “We need to end birthright citizenship for illegal immigrants.” Then reporters began looking over others’ past statements to see where they stood on this issue, and found that this isn’t an uncommon position among the GOP field. Remember all the agonizing Republicans did about how they had to reach out to Hispanic voters? They never figured out how to do it, and now they’re running in the opposite direction.

Here is the list of Republican candidates who have at least suggested openness to ending birthright citizenship, which would mean repealing the 14th Amendment to the Constitution: Donald Trump, Scott Walker,

[ConservativeInPA]

which would mean repealing the 14th Amendment to the Constitution:

Just spreading lies ... hopefully, Trump, Cruz, and others will be able knock this down.

[Georgia Girl 2]

The WaPo is always so worried about the GOP. LOL! Like they wish we would just drop the anchor baby issue so we would win the Whitehouse. LOL!

[stephenjohnbanker]

They were wrong : )

[central_va]

[Jane Long]

Well at his point its a walk away for Trump..

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Looking like it...WaPo just confirmed, via their *concern* :D

[zeugma]

A President with a pen and a phone could use an executive order to modify this aspect of the 14th amendment.

A president with a pen and a phone wouldn't need to modify the 14th amendment in any way. It's already clear what it says. Mark Levin had a really good discussion of it that has been posted several times to FR.

[ExTxMarine]

My wife is only 3rd generation Mexican-American, and ALL of my in-laws agree that birthright citizenship for illegal aliens is STUPID!

You cannot have a nation that is so easily overran by as little an action as someone squatting and popping out a child on the proper grid-square!

This is just as bad at the Rwanda genocide. Hutus raped the Tutsi women, because they knew the Tutsi tribes and people would ostracize her because she was now unclean with Hutu seed, and considered defiled for life. The Hutus used the Tutsi societal traditions AGAINST the Tutsi tribe - like how illegals use our current interpretation of the 14th amendment against American citizens!

[Heart of Georgia]

“Were Rubio’s parents legal?”

Yes, they’re Cuban.

[Buffalo Head]

Please Google “Operation Wetback” and report back. Then spread the word by every means possible. Thank you.

[meadsjn]

Were Rubio’s parents legal? I can’t find anything definite.

Since Castro's overthrow of Cuba, the USA has had a "dry-land policy" for Cuban refugees, which simply means that Cubans who made it to dry land could stay here as refugees, and subsequently apply for naturalization to citizenship.

However, "policy" is not legislation.

[so_real]

It just shows how completely out-of-touch with the grass roots and the Constitution these liberals truly are.

[LS]

No, no it’s good. You have to realize these guys are going through the seven stages of grief-—they may skip bargaining-—and are still in anger/denial!

[Wolfie]

The election was decided months ago...we just don’t know who they picked, but one’s thing for sure, it’s either Jeb or Hillary.

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

Not in the least.Go Trump/Cruz.

[Chuckster]

If Trump is a poison pill, he will drop out when JEB is safely ahead in the polls. Do you see that happening?

[TBP]

They may just have won it.

[Arthur McGowan]

...they need to talk tough to appeal to their base in the primaries, but doing so risks alienating the Hispanic voters they’ll need in the general election.

Republicans do not need Hispanic voters. Republicans need white voters. Pandering to the invaders just suppresses the white vote.

[Arthur McGowan]

Cruz is not an Anchor Baby. Cruz was born to a lifelong American citizen, and is therefore a Natural Born Citizen.

[hosepipe]

If Trump is a poison pill, he will drop out when JEB is safely ahead in the polls. Do you see that happening?

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Good word “poison pill” (stolen).... d;-)~...

Jeb is also a poison pill sent by the crony’s... a weak one.. but... Bush = crony capitialist
Trump is NOT DROPPING OUT.. he is the crony’s secret weapon.. being one himself.. he can afford to stay..

HOWEVER; the ONLY thing that can make Trump re-consider IS
IF he gets the name CRONY CAPITALIST POISON PILL...
Which he OH! sooooo obviously is.. AND it “sticks”..

THEN and only then wil he cut his losses.. after all he is a crony capitialist...
THEIR NOT STUPID... it’s the cost of doing business to “THEM”.. LIKE TAXES...

[bgill]

You might want to review 3rd grade spelling.