Posted on 08/28/2006 7:47:08 PM PDT by nj26
He supports tax cuts and the war in Iraq. He opposes stem cell research and the Medicare drug plan. He is a master of his movement’s medium, talk radio. Jesus Christ is his personal savior and Ronald Reagan his political idol.
Conjure what might be called the perfect conservative, and chances are he would look a lot like Representative Mike Pence, the Indiana Republican who in just three terms has turned 100 House allies into a vanguard and himself into one of his party’s rising stars.
Or that was the case until this spring when he sought compromise in the rancorous immigration debate. His complicated plan would strengthen border security and send illegal immigrants home, but let most of them quickly return. Since then, Mr. Pence — named last year’s Man of the Year by the conservative weekly Human Events — has looked to some conservatives like this year’s Benedict Arnold. They say he has lent his conservative prestige to a form of liberal amnesty.
Phyllis Schlafly of the Eagle Forum called his plan “a sick joke.” Richard A. Viguerie, the direct mail pioneer, threatened to punish politicians who support it. Pat Buchanan, editor of The American Conservative, likened the betrayal to a scene from “The Godfather.”
Perpetually genial, prematurely gray, Mr. Pence, 47, said, “I was taken aback by the level of invective.”...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
(No more Olmert! No more Kadima! No more Oslo! )
If Pence's bleeding heart wants to grant amnesty to the illegals, let him and his family pay for their government benefits. I'm not picking up the bill for his bleeding heart.
The Slimes trying to harm Pence's political career. Well it ain't gonna work. He is a rising star, even if he doesn't have every issue nailed down tight. I tell you what , the Pence plan may not be as good as hastert's , but it is light yeras better than the NY Times position.
A hit piece on Pence, nothing more
If we are going to judge our conservative leaders by comparing them to Maureen Dowd and the NY Times editorial board, that is a low standard.
Border security and national sovereignty will be my #1 issue when voting in November. I will not vote for any open-borders RINOs.
Pence is not a RINO. Reagan was not a RINO and he gave amnesty. Being squishy on how to proceed with the border does not make on a RINO and it never has. Regardless, the momentum for a security first solution is the driving force. So keep up the pressure.
Amen!
"Regardless, the momentum for a security first solution is the driving force."
Pence once supported enforcement first, or something like that. I have not read his latest. I would like to read it, or a fair summation. But If Pence has gone astray, I hope he will have sense enough to rethink his position.
One thing is certain. With the NYT you'd better verify, verify, verify, before you trust - and even then, a modicum of doubt is in order.
Exactly. Reagan signed onto an enhanced border security and amnesty plan. The amnesty came into effect, but somehow the border security was lost in the shuffle.
The problem is now three times worse than it was then and that's why we don't trust the federal government on a repeat "comprehensive" plan of enhanced border patrol and amnesty.
We demand that the United States demonstrably control the border before any amnesty, guest worker or citizenship plans are passed into law!
Even if he's fairly accureate describing Pence's plan,m the intent is to drive wedges in the conservative base. Period.
Exactly. But that does not make Pence or GWB a RINO for thinking otherwise.
Agreed. It's laughable to even consider a 'war on terror' with open borders!
>A hit piece on Pence, nothing more
Exactly.
In this distruct in 04,
Pence, 67% - Dem 32%
Bush, 65% - Kerry 35%
It's safe.
Still, it does not make Bush or Pence a RINO. Foolishly mistaken, yes, but not RINOs. Anymore than Pat Buchanan being substantially correct about the borders makes him a conservative.
Illegal immigration is this election's litmus test. If they are actively against illegal immigration, vote for them. Otherwise, pass. All other issues are secondary.
If he was a (D)...he'd be a "Rising star"
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