He started as a Republican, I don't recall if was before or after New Hampshire when he switched to the Reform party after claiming that "They" had anointed Bush as the candidate.
Abortion was the big issue with Buchanan, Keyes and Bauer trying to out promise each other. Buchanan said that he would outlaw abortion by Executive Order on the day he was inaugurated.
But Bush never deviated on abortion or any issue. He stayed with the original position statements he had posted on his website at the beginning of the campaign.
Immigration is a media driven issue they think they can use to divide Republicans and talk show hosts use it to drive up ratings because racism attracts the curious.
But only a very few people rate it as an important issue. It may play with the Bush-haters but not thoughtful voters.
He left the GOP well before 2000, he was already a reform candidate by the time of the GOP primary.
Immigration is a media driven issue they think they can use to divide Republicans and talk show hosts use it to drive up ratings because racism attracts the curious. But only a very few people rate it as an important issue. It may play with the Bush-haters but not thoughtful voters.
Its definatly a touchy issue, but its appeal is more then race, its an issue that slices into every group, from soccer moms, to union going folks, it carries appeal to many on the right and left, its one of the few issues that even splits the DUmmies in half.
By 2008, it will be a crucial issue (along with spending, and the WOT, which will get linked with immigration).
Bauer and Keyes did get Bush to harden a bit on a couple of issues, the one thing that sticks out in mind, and its ironic in todays context, and whats going on now, had to do with gays.
Almost everyone conceded that the Bush tax cut plan was at least inspired in part by Forbes and Forbes by debating Bush, helped Bush sharpen his attacks and defences in pushing forward his ideas.....always a good thing.
But only a very few people rate it as an important issue. It may play with the Bush-haters but not thoughtful voters.
You couldn't be more wrong about that. From a recent thread on Free Republic:
Immigration worries Republicans
Republican congressional members' constituents care more about immigration and border security than any othe issue, according to a new congressional insiders poll.
Seventeeen of the 37 Republican House and Senate members who responded to the National Journal's survey identified immigration as the issue "most on the minds of your consituents these days." That easily topped the next closest issue, the economy, which gained 10 votes, followed by gasoline prices with four votes and terrorism with threee votes.