Posted on 02/27/2007 6:20:16 AM PST by Spiff
We've been keeping a close eye on all the recent talk about Rudy Giuliani's attempts to bring some level of conservative nuance to his essentially liberal social positions on abortion, gay rights and gun control as he pursues the Republican nomination.
But what about immigration?
Giuliani strongly supported a guest worker program supported by President Bush and said during a newly interesting appearance on Meet the Press the following: "There isn't a mayor or a public official in this country that's more strongly pro-immigrant than I am, including disagreeing with President Clinton when he signed an anti-immigration legislation about two or three years ago, which we got some amendments of to protect the rights of immigrants."
Those positions put Giuliani in stark opposition to even some of his more moderate Republican supporters.
As an informed reader reminded me, Tom Kean Jr., who ran for U.S. Senate in New Jersey last year and is now an honorary chairman of the Giuliani campaign in that state, was loudly opposed to the guest worker program.
And Barron Thomas, the former Bush "Pioneer" fund-raiser and a promoter of what he calls Giuliani's practical, non-ideological approach, recently told me that he opposes John McCain (his home-state Senator) because McCain is too soft on illegal immigration.
Maybe there are lots of Republicans like Kean and Thomas who will be willing to support Giuliani despite their clear differences on immigration. But it will be interesting to see how he deals with the issue when it's raised by people who are somewhat less inclined to compromise.
--Jason Horowitz
I saw him. He pulled off his dust mask while others kept their's on.
bttt
PAY NO ATTENTION TO THAT CROSS DRESSING LIBERAL BEHIND THE CURTAIN!
I AM THE ALMIGHT GUILIANI!
ANOINTED BY THE DRIVE BY MEDIA!
I CUT TAXES OUT OF DESPERATION!
PROTECTING MARRIGE IS NOT CONSERVATIVE ANYMORE!
PAY NO ATTENTION TO THAT CROSS DRESSING LIBERAL BEHIND THE CURTAIN!
Wowser---that sure is a memorable statement. And make no mistake; Rooty-Tooty Really Means it, too.
Too bad, Tooty.
Touting your liberal immigration credentials might be a hoot for you----but not to voters.
Yes, and count on the MSM to keep mum about Rudy's dirty laundry until AFTER he's a lock for the GOP nomination.
* Expect to hear about the draft-dodging
* Expect to hear about the brazen philandering and messy, public divorce
* Expect to hear the tut-tutting calls of Republican hypocrisy ("Oh sure, it was evil when Clinton did it, but it's OK for Rudy")
Mark my words.
Unless it is resolved by controlling the borders and NOT allowing amnesty it will be a campaign issue.
Based on what happened last spring, one of the hot topics among the Senators will be whether to use the minimum wage or the prevailing wage for the H2A ag worker reform bill.
A liberal is a liberal is a liberal.
OK, that makes two GOP candidates that will force me to vote third party- McCain and Rudy.
Ouch. This is an issue that's currently killing the president. It will take some starch out of Rudy as well--particularly in the South--when his position becomes better known.
Where does he stand on the H1B quota?
"Obviously, Rudy's position on immigration is likely irrelevant, since the issue will probably be resolved long before he...."
What the hell are you talking about? Immigration is an on-going issue, it ain't going to be resolved regardless of what happens. Even if HR-4437 passed and was signed by Bush in the last congress, it would still be an issue.
Plus congress will almost certainly punt anyway. They never tackle any issue. For you to say "will probably" is just false.
HR 4437? You might be dreaming.
BINGO!! And that's my concern.
Just because the GOP wanted to enact legislation that contained both reform and enforcement, that doesn't mean that the dems will want to.
It seems that every time I see a poll result for the GOP nod, Rudy's lead gets bigger every time."
In more ways than one, Guiliani would appear to be the Republican version of Clinton.
Exactly right.
He handled the aftermath of 9/11 well. There was nothing "heroic" about it. And Guiliani is NOTHING in comparison to the REAL HEROES that day.
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