[Sleeping Beauty]

According to Ken Mehlman -- the Republicans can't win the White House without Hispanic support.

If you believe that -- do you think we should postpone some of the more draconian political posturing about immigration -- until after the 2008 elections?

Or is the immigration issue more important than winning the Whitehouse?

[unkus]

Hillary just put the head of “La Raza” on her campaign staff. Big move on her part. La Raza is a radical, racist outfit.

[cripplecreek]

Or is the immigration issue more important than winning the Whitehouse?

Only for those with integrity.

[toddlintown]

There is NO Mexican vote; except in Mexico.

[Wallace T.]

The historical facts are that most immigrant groups since the Scots-Irish two centuries ago have voted for the Democrats. Of course, in the late 1700s and early 1800s the Democrats were a low tariff, limited government party favored by small farmers and urban workers. The party’s ideology changed radically on economic issues and government power under Franklin Roosevelt and social issues starting with the McGovern campaign in 1972. However, the Democrats have always been a party whose political base has been made up in part of first and second generation immigrants and (after 1932) African-Americans. The bottom line is that Hispanics, other than Cuban-Americans and some third or greater generation Mexican-Americans, mostly in Texas, will mostly vote for the Democrats, like it or not.

[puppypusher]

If supporting illegal immigration,Sanctuary cities and Amnesty for the Criminal Aliens that are here now means that the Hispanic community will support the Republican Party than I say to hell with their support.

American citizenship is not something that should be allowed to be purchased or stolen.It should be earned.

Anything less means that citizenship is worthless to the Native-born people who came before them and deserve all of the Rights and benefits that the Constitution of the United States provides.

[Old Sarge]

On immigration, our nation should embrace "the politics of 'and'" by ensuring we develop a comprehensive approach that maintains the U.S. as a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants.

This rant is NOT directed at you, Beauty.

WE ARE NOT A NATION OF IMMIGRANTS - WE ARE A NATION OF CITIZENS!!!

CITIZENS WHO ARE BEING THROWN UNDER THE BUS EACH AND EVERY DAY BY OUR ELECTED SO-CALLED "LEADERS"!!!

[Polybius]

According to Ken Mehlman -- the Republicans can't win the White House without Hispanic support. If you believe that -- do you think we should postpone some of the more draconian political posturing about immigration -- until after the 2008 elections? Or is the immigration issue more important than winning the Whitehouse?

Or, better yet, why not stop thinking of anybody with a Spanish surname as being synonymous with an illegal alien and with illegal alien interests?

Tancredo totally alienated the broken-glass Republicans of Cuban descent in Miami by his anti-Hispanic immigrant slurs which is quite ironic for someone whose Italian immigrant ancestors obviously did not arrive on the Mayflower.

Italian immigrants at Ellis Island

When you frame the debate in terms of law and order, Americans of Hispanic descent can respect that. Even Mexicans in Mexico can respect that since Mexico has very tough illegal alien laws.

Once the debate is framed in a way that anti-illegal alien is synonymous with anti-legal Hispanic immigrant or just plain anti-Hispanic, you lose voters by the millions.

[livius]

do you think we should postpone some of the more draconian political posturing about immigration

I think that would be a lovely idea. Everybody here screams about illegal immigration, but they only scream about Hispanics - there are huge numbers of illegal Chinese who also receive all sorts of benefits, never learn English, work in things ranging from Chinese restaurants to prostitution, are filthy and have about every form of TB known to God and man - yet we never hear a word about them.

I'd feel better about people's claims to be concerned about "illegal immigration" if it weren't clear that the fundamental thing is that they hate Hispanics. That's the thing that needs to take a rest. In fact, it could go away altogether.

[tsowellfan]

immigration? Or Illegal Immigration?

There’s a difference and the majority of hispanics frown on illegals. Black America’s not so fond of illegals either.

[Czar]

"According to Ken Mehlman -- the Republicans can't win the White House without Hispanic support."

Ken Mehlman is the former head of the RNC and a confirmed RINO who is an ardent believer in party-above-principle GOP Big Tent Hispanic-pandering politics. He was a significant factor in the unhappiness of the conservative base and their refusal to any longer donate funds to the RNC. Conservatives know him for the utter failure he was and is.

"Or is the immigration issue more important than winning the Whitehouse?"

These are not mutally exclusive propositions, unless one happens to be a RINO/liberal occupant of the Big Tent. Winning both is possible with the right conservative candidate.

[calcowgirl]

...do you think we should postpone some of the more draconian political posturing about immigration

You forgot that all important word: Illegal

Perhaps if Mehlman, et al., would quit stirring the pot, some would not try to blur the bright line between the two.

[La Enchiladita]

If we compromise our sovereignty and our laws to win the Hispanic vote through favoritism, then no it is not worth it, it is pandering and can only lead to no good.

This pandering through favoritism toward Hispanics is already causing a great deal of resentment among citizens, and can only get worse if it continues.

He who has the most SPINE can win the next election. Americans respect integrity, and are craving it on this issue.

Yes, I said AMERICANS, i.e., U.S. citizens.

[VU4G10]

Deport.

[Lijahsbubbe]

Or is the immigration issue more important than winning the Whitehouse?

What will winning the White House be for? Of course retaining our sovereignty is more important.

[Little Ray]

Ya gots some problems here.
Legal “Hispanics” (thats “Americans” to most folks) probably dislike illegals as much or more than non “Hispanic” citizens . Don’t need to pander to them.
Illegal Hispanics are not supposed to vote. Pandering to them ought to be illegal. Or are the 'Pubbies trying to buy their vote in anticipation of Shamnesty?

Finally, what they going to offer? Special privileges and opportunties that aren’t available to the gringo? Gonna make it illegal to discriminate against folks who can’t speak and read English?

In any case, pandering to “Hispanics” compromises the conservative principles that used to be part of the Republican Party platform. If the “Hispanics” are the future the ‘Pubby Party, then conservatism and the country are doomed.

BTW: Aren’t “Hispanics” tired of being lumped into a single group? Guatemalans are different from Mexicans who are different from Brazilians and Cubans. Besides, if you’re a citizen, wouldn’t you rather be an American?