Posted on 04/04/2006 7:42:56 AM PDT by SmithL
Washington -- California history haunts the Republican civil war raging over immigration that is scheduled to come to a head Friday in a Senate vote.
In 1994, California's Republican Gov. Pete Wilson won a tight re-election race by backing a popular anti-illegal-immigrant measure known as Proposition 187, and he lost his party's grasp on the nation's biggest political prize by alienating Hispanic voters.
The alarm now gripping many in the party, not least the White House, is that history could repeat itself in the teetering red states on which GOP victories depend: Florida, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona and others with fast-growing Latino populations.
Washington has its own version of Prop. 187, known as the Sensenbrenner bill after its author, House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis. It passed the House in December and would, among other things, make illegal immigrants felons and build a 700-mile fence on the border with Mexico.
This week Senate Republicans -- including at least four potential presidential hopefuls, evenly split on the issue -- may decide whether to allow that measure to represent the party's position on immigration or to embrace a bipartisan Senate bill that takes the opposite approach, offering an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants the chance to obtain permanent U.S. residence and allowing upwards of 400,000 more to do so each year under a guest worker plan.
"This is a defining moment for the Republican Party," Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who supports the Senate bill, said over the weekend. "If our answer to the fastest-growing demographic in this country is that 'We want to make felons of your grandparents, and we want to put people in jail who are helping your neighbors and people related to you,' then we're going to suffer mightily."
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
It's scary to think the ballot box is no longer able to do its job. That leaves only one option.
when exactly did illegals get the tight to vote? (except for dirty democrabs)
While the GOP is busy pandering to illegal aliens they have alienated me.
Simple but true.
I have never met a LEGAL immigrant who wanted this type of amnesty program.
I HAVE MET illegal aliens who wanted this type of program and were not really immigrants but ecconomic looters.
They wanted to take all they could and then take it back to the old country.
Here's a hint: The rabble in the street isn't going to vote GOP in any circumstances.
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The lame Repubs in Washington do not get it. Even today. Of course, the last things we should expect from Washington is a vote that represents WHAT IS RIGHT for the American people -- only right for VOTES. That is what this cesspool issue is all about now. VOTES. And, as usual, all at the expense of the American taxpaying CITIZEN.
All of it is moot anyway, if the pro-illegal traitors in the Congress do not CLOSE THE BORDER. That is priority one with any plan. But we continue to hear the weasel-word "ENFORCEMENT" way too much. Which means we are not going to do anything -- just let the flow of illegals continue...so how many will see amnesty in say, 2010 ??? We should have about 30-35 million by then, with the present flow rate, and the obscene birthrate...
Don't these idiots understand math? They're so concerned about the hispanics, which might worth be several million votes at the most vs. pissing off tens of millions of TAXPAYING American voters........how stupid can they be?
The issue is security. The House bill is focused on the security concern that illegal immigration causes this company. Talking about amnesty is a whole nother can of worms.
That's a rhetorical question, right? ;o)
The issue is security.
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If this is really true, then they had better slam the border shut. I still smell a 'red herring' here...
Don't people in lots of foreign countries already invest in dollars? Aren't there lots of dollars going to other foreign nations other than Mexico?
Sometimes I have to wonder if the GOP isn't ran by morons. I know the Democrats are but when such stories as this this cast the debate as if all legal immigrants are supportive of illegal immigrants and quote individuals like Senator Linsey Graham making stupid statements about criminalizing grandparents.
Most legal minorities support border control as do most blacks and most of the poor. One of the key growth groups for the GOP are the "working poor" and they have the most to lose from illegals depressing wages and making the job market even more competitive than it is. Illegal workers are a net negative to our economy and society and the most sure- fire way for Republicans to lose the Hispanic vote is to lump all immigrants with illegals.
...it's too bad the GOP doesn't fear alienating its base...
"how stupid can they be?"
Pretty stupid, apparently.
First of all, the majority of legal Hispanic voters resent illegal aliens and are dead against amnesty. ...so the GOP could very well be alienating them by pursuing this particular course.
And secondly, the GOP seems to be taking for granted that they won't lose a significant percentage of traditional voters ("they have nowhere else to go"), which of course is ridiculous.
The GOP is now a fear-based party.
ONE question how do illegal hispanics vote?
Second ques, how many so called liberal democrat legal hispanics do you really think will vote Republican?
Third ques do you REALLY wnat to alienate legal citizens who are and have voted for you all in the past? You r base? oh you think you don't have to worry about us? Ok than.
It has not yet come to realization in Washington that a well intentioned amnesty for 2.7 million in 1989 by President Reagan leading to 8-12 million today, continuing the status quo without reinforcing and enforcing our Immigration Code and sealing the border, another well intentioned amnesty for 8-12 million will lead to a minimum ADDITIONAL 40 million, with a potential of 144 million in the very near future.
Then again, maybe it has.
At any rate, it ought be required employers who need "guest workers" apply through the US Labor Department or through Immigration after having posted a $5000 cash bond and, much as sponsors of legal immigrants are required to do, be required to file an affidavit of support for that laborer.
From evidence of them leaving their countries and the most recent walkouts, my answer: "With their feet?"
Aren't they all felons? 11million people who won't ever be able to vote.
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