Immigration Enforcement Still a Winner

Human Events ^ | November 13, 2006 | Jessica Echard

[Dane]

Immigration Enforcement Still a Winner

by Jessica Echard Posted Nov 13, 2006

It was only a matter of time before the open-borders crowd tried to scapegoat the immigration issue in light this week’s Republican defeat. Those who blame an immigration enforcement platform for widespread GOP losses are experiencing a moment of selective campaign recall, as if there was a batch of pro-amnesty/guest worker candidates who surged to victory. In fact, quite the opposite is true.

In districts where pro-enforcement incumbents lost, such as Arizona Rep. J.D. Hayworth’s (note: Hayworth has not conceded) and Indiana Rep. John Hostettler, their Democrat opponents actually campaigned on tough enforcement and border security. Hayworth’s opponent stated that “enforcing our nation's immigration laws is an absolutely necessary ingredient to securing the U.S.-Mexico border,” and promised to “extend existing fencing in urban areas” along our southern border. Sounds like he’s taken a page out of “Whatever It Takes,” Hayworth’s recent book on combating illegal immigration.

In Hostettler’s case, his opponent, a county sheriff, had this to say about the crisis of illegal immigration: “It’s also not right when an Indiana employer passes over an American for a job only because an illegal worker is cheaper. We need to tighten our borders, enforce the laws we have, and punish employers who break them.” I don’t know that a candidate talking like that could get the Big Business endorsement.

Also in Arizona, pro-amnesty/guest-worker proponents like to point to the Hayworth loss and the loss of pro-enforcement candidate Randy Graf in the 8th District, as a referendum on the immigration issue. However, they fail to mention four immigration ballot initiatives that Arizonian’s passed overwhelmingly, including making English Arizona’s official language (74%), denying bail to illegal aliens (78%), barring illegal aliens from winning punitive damages (74%), and denying in-state college tuition to illegal immigrants (72%). These are impressive numbers for any ballot initiatives, especially considering the supposed “divisive” nature of the immigration debate. Evidently, nearly three quarters of Arizona voters are “mean-spirited.”

As many pundits have already explained, this was an election cycle when Republicans lost across the ideological board, from pro-amnesty Sen. Mike DeWine (R.-Ohio) to pro-enforcement John Hostettler. Clearly, pro-enforcement candidates did not lose based on their support for the rule of law. In fact, by courageously listening to the American people, they shifted the immigration debate to the political mainstream. While the players and party have changed, the will of the American people remains the same: Enforce our immigration laws.

Jessica Echard is the executive director of Eagle Forum, a pro-family public policy organization founded by Phyllis Schlafly.

[Howlin]

Question: Do you believe illegal immigration poses a threat to the United States? Undecided 4% Yes 71% No 24%

Everybody agrees with that.

And once again you have to be told that that is NOT what we are/were talking about; we were talking about "National Priorities" and this wasn't one of them.

You have yet to provide a poll that shows that immigration was anywhere above 9 or 10 percent in importance.

Can you? If not, be quiet.

And while you're looking, you can look for that post where you said I "always defend" open borders and illegals.

That was yesterday. Still looking, or were you just lying?

[Peach]

Illegal immigration may have been a top priority with Arizona voters, although why they didn't overwhelmingly vote for Hayworth will forever remain a mystery.

However, we're talking (or at least I was) about national priorities. And if you'll look at the link I provided up-thread, you'll see that immigration never was a priority. There were always 4-5 or more items that Americans overwhelmingly said were more important.

[Peach]

I'll bet he's just lying :-)

[c-b 1]

This article is baloney. All the staunch border enforcement Republicans lost. And the issue has never polled above 10% of concerns for Americans.

So you are saying that Tom Tancredo, Ron Paul, and Duncan Hunter lost?

[Peach]

Keep reading, hon.

[raybbr]

You clearly have no manners. You are supposed to ping the person you're trashing.

What are you talking about?

[raybbr]

And while you're looking, you can look for that post where you said I "always defend" open borders and illegals. That was yesterday. Still looking, or were you just lying?

I have explained this twice. I will respond to your tripe only once more. You attack those of us that decry illegals. It's the same as defending them.

[raybbr]

The public opinion survey, conducted by an independent research firm commissioned by a Washington-based public policy group, shows immigration as a top issue for American voters. Pollster Kellyanne Conway. "For 53 percent of the electorate, they say it [immigration] is the top issue or one of their top-three issues," said Kellyanne Conway. "Immigration has never had this kind of primacy in previous elections."From here.

Now you be quiet.

[Pepper777]

Thanks for the reply, Peach. You're exactly right about Heyworth. It makes no sense that he was not re-elected. Perhaps it had to do with Iraq in the state of Arizona. However like you said, it will forever remain a mystery.

I'm still sick about the loss of such good men as Allen, Weldon and Heyworth. We just need to work harder in 2008.

[Peach]

What are you talking about?

You know darned well what I'm talking about. When you asked if "I was filling in for howler" you were trashing Howlin behind her back which is considered bad form on Free Republic.

Your lack of manners is exceeded only by your apparent ignorance.

[Howlin]

I have explained this twice.

No, you have provided bogus polls that have nothing to do with what we were discussing.

I will respond to your tripe only once more. You attack those of us that decry illegals. It's the same as defending them.

No, I attack those of you who LIE repeatedly to try to shove your tunnel vision version of the world down others' throats.

[Howlin]

Now you be quiet.

Now you have just proved what I was saying anyway; people are concerned about immigration, but you have yet to produce ONE poll that proves it was a factor in THIS ELECTION.

[WatchingInAmazement]

All the staunch border enforcement Republicans lost. And the issue has never polled above 10% of concerns for Americans.

Did you forget a sarcasm tag? You can't be serious. Why keep spreading such blatant lies? WHY? Every poll, and you've seen them disputes your assertion

Of the Republicans who lost in this election: only 6.7% of those losing were anti-immigration (in Tancredo's caucus)

34.9 % of those who lost, however, were pro-Amnesty and supported Bush's pro-Amnesty plan.

Conservative News conservativenewsnyc@yahoo.com

We have some very important information for you below. There is a ton of misinformation in the media, both by liberals (e.g. Pelosi) and neocons (e.g. Bill Kristol, Linda Chavez). They are being dishonest about the election and immigration. Every single exit poll shows that voters voted against Republicans in this election because (1) the war in Iraq (2) corruption and (3) (in some states) free trade

It had nothing to do with immigration. In fact, if the GOP had been more anti-immigration and did not have a President who cares more about amnesty than hard-working Americans, the GOP would have done better.

Of the Republicans who lost in this election: only 6.7% of those losing were anti-immigration (in Tancredo's caucus) 34.9 % of those who lost, however, were pro-Amnesty and supported Bush's pro-Amnesty plan. (These people received a grade of D or lower on their Immigration Report Cards)

[Peach]

You didn't read the link I provided up thread did you?

And your reading comprehension isn't terribly good either. What I've said, and every poll has borne it out, is that when confronted with a list of national concerns like the war, the economy, etc., immigration places no higher than #5 on the list with a maximum of 11%.

If you can find a poll that says higher, post it here. But you can't.

Now, when asked how many people think immigration is a concern, a huge percentage naturally agrees that it is. But it's not not among the top 3 or 4 concerns that Americans have. That's just the way it is but I won't expect an apology from you so I'll just return the favor. You must be deliberately misrepresenting what I've posted here and i'll say this about you - if you have to lie to try and make a point, you must not have a very good point.

[WatchingInAmazement]

As usual, Peach, someone else has to do the work for you. There are many polls, etc. that show immigration as a VERY important issue and you know it. I'll post one and find others for you. NOW. Where is your poll that you are so proud of?

Why do you suppose my repub congressmen sent out one campaign flyer and it was ALL about controlling illegal immigration?And guess what he won by a landslide 64%.

"Our surveys show that immigration is the most important issue for likely voters in this state," says Fred Solop, a political scientist at Northern Arizona University and director of the Social Research Laboratory there. But voters aren't distinguishing between competing proposals, he adds: "They just want something to be done."

http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/1026/p01s02-uspo.html

[Peach]

ROFL.

You don't get it. Deliberately, I'm sure.

I've posted the poll upthread. There are dozens just like it.

You find one single poll where Americans are asked to rank their concerns in this country where immigration is the first, second, third, or fourth concern. Just one will do.

[Peach]

Oh, and since you're clearly too lazy to actually look at the link I provided up thread, I'll provide it again.

As you can see (well maybe YOU can't but others can), immigration never tops even close to the list of concerns Americans have.

http://www.pollingreport.com/prioriti.htm

[WatchingInAmazement]

I see you're still plugging one poll about priorities. Yeah, Iraq was #1, that's why Bush cost the republicans this election. There is no point in trying to make you understand that illegal immigration destroys many US lives every day and that Americans are VERY concerned. I don't think you care. I think you just like to waste our time, attack good citizens, so we can't fight this monster.

There is an entire page of such polls like the one you posted. MOST of them disagree. From your own source...
http://www.pollingreport.com/prioriti.htm

(snips)

News/Opinion Dynamics Poll. June 13-14, 2006. N=900 registered voters nationwide. MoE ± 3.

"Which one of the following issues do you think should be the top priority for Congress to work on this summer:
Iraq 35 %


Gas prices
28 %


Immigration
26 %
___________

Newsweek Poll conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International. Oct. 26-27, 2006. Nationwide


"In deciding your vote for Congress this year, which ONE of the following issues is most important to you? . . ."

ALL Repub Dems Independents
% % % %
The situation in Iraq 29 14 40 30
The economy 21 21 24 18
Health care 14 12 14 17
Terrorism 14 28 6 10
Immigration 11 14 6 12
________


The Harris Poll. Sept. 8-11, 2006. N=1,004 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.


"What do you think are the two most important issues for the government to address?"

Top Responses

The war 22 %
The economy (non-specific) 13
Health care (not Medicare) 12
Immigration 12

[Peach]

One poll? OMG.

Hon, you couldn't buy a clue if I gave you the money.

There were loads of polls in there. From all sorts of media outlets.

But carry on.

[half-cajun]

See your post 43. Looks like a little hypocrisy here, huh?