Posted on 06/01/2006 8:18:45 AM PDT by Cat loving Texan
AUSTIN The red hot issue of illegal immigration likely will get most of the attention during the Texas Republican state convention this weekend in San Antonio as party leaders try to rev up their base for the fall election.
With Democrats not fielding a strong lineup and Republican prospects looking shaky across the country, some Texas Republicans worry that GOP activists might lack enthusiasm.
"The base is upset with the Republican Party because they thought once the Republican Party had control in Washington and in Texas that things were actually going to happen, and nothing has happened in terms of fiscal issues and the border issue," said Dan Patrick, a conservative Houston radio talk show host who won a landslide victory this spring for a GOP nomination for a state Senate seat. "People are just frustrated. And if the base stays home, this (governor's) race gets very close."
But state Republican Chairwoman Tina Benkiser isn't overly concerned.
"We believe that we are in a war for our culture, and our activists understand that the principles that we believe in are the principles that will make Texas a better place and make the lives of Texans better every single day," she said.
More than 11,000 GOP activists are credentialed as either delegates or alternates, although party officials are not sure how many will actually attend the two-day convention opening Friday morning in the Convention Center.
Debate about illegal immigration will "just far overshadow everything," Benkiser said.
"You will see a very strong platform statement on protecting our borders, securing the border and enforcing our laws," she said.
Texas Republicans already preach a strong immigration message in the party's existing platform, which urges the deployment of military forces to secure international borders and opposes all forms of amnesty or legal status for illegal immigrants.
The party's existing platform favors suspending automatic U.S. citizenship to children born to undocumented immigrants and the elimination of laws requiring hospitals to give non-emergency medical care to undocumented immigrants.
Texas Republicans oppose both the U.S. Senate's version of immigration reform and President Bush's support for a comprehensive approach, including a guest worker program.
"Secure our border first and enforce our laws and then we can talk about anything else," Benkiser said.
Legal immigration helped develop this country, Benkiser said, as generations of immigrants embraced the English language, culture and patriotism.
"Unfortunately, that has given way to multi-culturalism and hyphenated Americans and people whose loyalty is to a different flag," she said.
Border security will be a major theme in Gov. Rick Perry's speech to the convention Friday morning, Perry spokesman Robert Black said.
"He will make a very passionate case that, while the immigration debate is important, it is meaningless until the border is secure and the federal government has to secure the border if you are going to have any meaningful reform," Black said.
Republicans haven't been able to provide solutions for the immigration problem, said Amber Moon, spokeswoman for the Texas Democratic Party.
"If Republicans were serious about addressing illegal immigration, they would reach across the aisle and across racial lines in order to find practical, common-sense solutions," Moon said.
"Instead, they are drawing a line in the sand and creating a division between neighboring countries," she said.
Democrats will have their state convention next weekend in Fort Worth.
The gubernatorial race will easily be the most competitive match this fall, as Perry must confront challenges from Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn, Democrat Chris Bell and mystery author Kinky Friedman. Strayhorn and Friedman are running as independents.
Than she is clueless. This is the only issue this year that is resoundingly on the minds of most here in Texas.
The two most engaging issues to most Texans these days are immigration nd property taxes.
Ditto...this is the most important issue we have faced in a long time.
"Debate about illegal immigration will "just far overshadow everything," Benkiser said.
"You will see a very strong platform statement on protecting our borders, securing the border and enforcing our laws," she said.
"Secure our border first and enforce our laws and then we can talk about anything else," Benkiser said.
Legal immigration helped develop this country, Benkiser said, as generations of immigrants embraced the English language, culture and patriotism.
"Unfortunately, that has given way to multi-culturalism and hyphenated Americans and people whose loyalty is to a different flag," she said.
synonym, incumbent
Legal immigration helped develop this country, Benkiser said, as generations of immigrants embraced the English language, culture and patriotism.
This is another one of those "gag me" lines. EVERY country was developed by immigrants. Do they think countries and the people who developed them just sprang out of the ground?
"Than she is clueless. This is the only issue this year that is resoundingly on the minds of most here in Texas."
I am heading your way in the next month. Bought a house in San Antonio.
This is what I have to look forward to? Well, it gotta be better than Jersey.
Dear fellow Texan
It is always good to read the entire article before you post it.
Only after a full reading, should one try to make a relevant comment.
I found your comment very much contrary to the opinions/facts presented in the article. Me thinks you owe our State Republican Chairperson an apology.
My take on the one-liner that Ms. Benkiser isn't overly concerned BECAUSE she feels that the Republican Party is in touch with the sentiments of most Texans. And in that regard -- she is hardly clueless.
Let's support our State Republican Party.
Sounds like the TXGOP has got their head wired right. Kinda makes you wonder how Bush got so far off the reservation....
State Republican Chairwoman Tina Benkiser isn't overly concerned. She is not concerned that the Republican base seem listless and will not turn out to support Republican candidates BECAUSE illegal immigration is a big enough issue to overshadow everything else and will drive them to the polls and is the only issue this year that is in the minds of most Texans.
And by the way, isn't Amber Moon the perfect name for a democrat activist?
Read the whole article.
The line, "Secure the borders, then we'll talk," could have been directly quoted from my ideas, while working on the Bexar County Platform Committee months ago.
Hope you enjoy San Antonio. It's a very friendly city. Good pizza at Florio's on Nottingham and Broadway, near the Quarry Market.
That really about sums it up. I just fired off an email to Ken Mehlmen about the RNC's latest attempt to blow smoke up our you-know-where and "fool" us with their assertion that polls show that Americans want their plan. I tell you, the GOP better get its ducks in a row on this issue or they will pay later.
Well, I don't live in Texas and have no desire to...But from what I've read of the new in Texas, you have sanctuary cities, Perry pretty much opposes the MinuteMen and there are even towns where the City Council refuses to hold meeting in the English language...
To say that the Texas GOP is on top of the immigration issue seems to a 'talking point' at best...
"The line, "Secure the borders, then we'll talk," could have been directly quoted from my ideas, while working on the Bexar County Platform Committee months ago."
We will talk. I am moving to Bexar county and would like to get involved with the Republican group there. Is Kevin Wolf still involved?
As the House and Senate come together to negotiate a final bill, our elected leaders should keep the following principles in mind. These principles should be included in any immigration reform package.
* Do not grant amnesty to illegal aliensNo matter what its called and regardless of the penalties included, any program that grants special privileges to those who broke the law and entered the country illegally is wrong. It rewards illegal behavior and punishes those who play by the rules.
* Secure the bordersThis is a fundamental national security problem that must be solved with a combination of intelligent new border initiatives, stepped-up internal enforcement and cooperation with foreign countries.
* Uphold and enforce the rule of lawAny new program must include new measures to enforce the law and ensure that the problem of illegal immigration is not made worse.
* Renew a program of patriotic assimilation and citizenship for legal immigrantsAmerica must welcome and assimilate permanent immigrants and encourage them to become American citizens. New citizens must understand the principles of free government, speak our common English language, demonstrate good character and civic virtue, and establish an allegiance to this country.
* Carefully consider the impact of any temporary-worker programWhile a well-designed temporary program could help improve national security and the economy, a poorly-designed or poorly-implemented temporary worker program could make things worse. Any temporary worker program must be temporary, must not encourage illegal immigration and must not be an amnesty.
* Use private enterprise, not big government, for solutionsAny temporary worker program should be as flexible as possible. Rather than being micromanaged by government agencies, such a program should look to the private sector to develop innovative and effective ways of matching sponsoring employers to eligible employees.
* Encourage freedom abroadOne way to reduce illegal immigration is to encourage economic and political freedom abroad, so would-be immigrants have less incentive to break the law and come to America.
Many Congressional leaders remain firm in their commitment not to approve any form of amnesty for illegal immigrants. They are right to do so. It is also important that they remain committed to these other principles as well.
http://www.myheritage.org/Features/EmailArchive/2006/053106.asp#PrincipleMore
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