Posted on 07/20/2005 8:28:43 AM PDT by Happy2BMe
Inquirer Staff Writer
Democratic National Chairman Howard Dean told the National Council of La Raza yesterday that he expected the Republican Party to "scapegoat immigrants" during the 2006 election campaign.
In a speech on the last day of the Hispanic advocacy organization's annual gathering, at the Convention Center, Dean said the GOP had tried to generate resentment against blacks in the 2002 elections through the issue of affirmative action and against gays last year by focusing on marriage.
"In 2006, it's going to be immigration," he said. "You wait and see."
As evidence, Dean cited Rep. Thomas G. Tancredo (R., Colo.), who has called for rounding up illegal immigrants and shipping them back home. He also referred to a bill sponsored by House Judiciary Chairman Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R., Wis.) that would make states verify individuals' immigration status before issuing them driver's licenses.
"I don't think the president is a bigot," Dean told reporters at the Convention Center. "But I wish he'd have the courage to stand up to the bigots in his own party."
Dean's Republican counterpart, Ken Mehlman, followed him to the rostrum and did not respond there. But later, he told reporters that the former Vermont governor's comments were "laughable."
Said Mehlman: "It sounds like a good political sound bite, but it's entirely belied by this president, this administration's record."
Mehlman noted that President Bush has created what the party chairman called "the most diverse administration in history," that Bush got more than 40 percent of the Hispanic vote in 2004, and that the party is striving to get a bigger share in the future.
"Your interests are our interests," he told his Hispanic audience during his speech. "Your cause is our cause."
Last month, when first attacked on the immigration issue by the Democratic chairman, Sensenbrenner called the allegations "outrageous" and Tancredo labeled Dean as being out of the political mainstream.
Mehlman did reply to one of the convention's previous speakers, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D, N.Y.). On Monday, she told the La Raza convention that the Bush administration was not doing enough for Hispanic families.
The Republican chairman pointed out that Bush has raised federal spending on education, a key concern of Hispanics, more than had the previous administration, headed by Clinton's husband.
(Republican) Ken Mehlman did reply to one of the convention's previous speakers, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D, N.Y.).On Monday, she told the La Raza convention that the Bush administration was not doing enough for Hispanic families.
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"I don't think the president is a bigot," Howard Dean told reporters at the Convention Center. "But I wish he'd have the courage to stand up to the bigots in his own party."
Don't you wonder sometimes how the crazy man decides what to blame W for on a day to day basis?
I've often thought he might have a wheel to spin, like in Wheel of Fortune. "It's wednesday, we have to scare immigrants."
I guess that means our open border crowd has a new hero on the left. They've already adopted every filthy democratic smear tactic in the book.
Howie's mouth is the RNC's best friend.
Hillary Clinton (unless she murders someone in broad daylight on the Capitol Steps on prime-time news) is making more political cash off this issue than anyone here cares to admit.
The GOP has to do a 180 on how the illegal invasion is handled or the party is headed South in more ways than one . .
I don't serve the party, they're supposed to serve us.
Neither party is going to do anything to stem the tide of illegal immigration. What you'll get from Bush, about three months before the 2008 election, is a do nothing response like adding more border patrol agents. Vote Tancredo or the constitution party before it is to late.
Gee, Dean sounds alot like one of two characters that like to haunt FR illiegal immigrant threads.
"I don't think Howard Dean is crazy, I know it!
He looks like he's talking to an imaginary hand-puppet. Oh, wait, he's talking to La Raza---same thing.
"What you'll get from Bush, about three months before the 2008 election . ."
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I don't think the President anticipated the degree of disatisfaction we now see in the GOP as a result of his laissez faire immigration policies. In August of 2007, he likely will not be as concerned as he should be now.
Immigration reform will be the rudder that drives the 2008 elections definitely. And 2006 will be rough waters unless a dramatic reversal is seen within the leadership of the GOP post haste.
By saying this, he's trying to split the GOP, make the establishment denounce the grassroots who are fed-up with immigration.
I expect Mehlman to come up with another obligatory wishy-washy "condemnation" of Dean's remarks.
If both parties spoke at the meeting, why did the Dem get most of the copy?
"It's going to be very important to "police our own" fellow conservative and anti-illegal immigration friends to ensure that ad-nauseum cries of "racism" from the left don't stymie our efforts to secure the borders and strengthen laws."
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Very well said.
Why don't we start here:
Exactly. Think about it, this issue will tear the GOP apart. The rank and file of the party, and the country for that matter, want a serious crackdown on illegal immigration. The corporate interests and Bush, don't/ As a result, Bush will push for amnesty allowing million of people to become citizens and eventually vote, Democrat. The onlyw ay we can win is if Bush jups on board this Kyl/Cornyn Bill.
Why isn't LULAC, La Raza, et al demanding to know how many U.S. hispanic citizens were displaced by illegals? The silence is deafening. I'm so sick of these groups.
Dippy Dean going after illegals votes. Tried it before FL but it failed. Now trying again for '08.
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