The GOP took the expedient (easy) route to what they thought were
new voters when they failed to stand-and-fight illegal immigration since
Simpson-Mazzoli passed in 1986.
Whether the “comprehensive immigration reform” bill passes or not,
they are probably doomed to generations of minority-party status.
They did it to themselves.
Interesting, there is some news floating around out there with comments by former Sen. Alan Simpson (Simpson-Mazzoli).
From a speech at Texas A & M, he states that “all immigration policy is base (on) four things: emotion, fear, compassion or racism”. No wonder the administration is calling us fearmongers and racists - they truly believe in the Immigration Bible according to Simpson - part of his speech below:
“Former Senator Alan Simpson Speaks At Texas A&M Conference
COLLEGE STATION - Former U.S. Sen. Alan Simpson says that all immigration policy is based four things: emotion, fear, compassion or racism.
“Congress will pass or kill any immigration bill for one of these four reasons,” he notes, adding that these are also weapons used to distort the public’s view of the immigration issues.
Simpson, the coauthor of the Immigration Reform Act of 1986, spoke to a large group of scholars and policy makers attending a Texas A&M University conference titled “Presidential Rhetoric and the Politics of Immigration.” It was the seventh annual conference sponsored by the Program in Presidential Rhetoric at Texas A&M.
“During this year’s conference, we have been examining the use of language and symbols in presidential immigration policy and how this might influence public beliefs and attitudes,” said Martin Medhurst, coordinator of the program.
After telling the audience not to worry, he wasn’t running for anything, Simpson effectively used humor to bring up some serious issues. He pointed out that presidents are not good at dealing with immigration because of all the issues connected with it and because emotion, fear and racism tends to freeze people in place.
Saying there is no such thing as a “temporary worker from another country,” Simpson explained that this is because workers come and bring their families or form families here and they become permanent. Then he quipped that the poem on the Statue of Liberty doesn’t say anything about “legal or illegal tired, hungry and poor.”
“What is in our national interest?” he asked. “ The first duty of a sovereign nation is to control its borders so we must keep in mind what is best for all the nation.” Simpson added that acceptance of others cannot be forced.
“Political correctness just stuffs a sock in the mouth and doesn’t cure racism. It just tramps it down and later it comes out like Mount Vesuvius erupting,” he emphasized.
“Caring and finding common goals, destiny and language is what will bring people together,” he added. ...”