Division Problem [The GOP's Ruinous Immigration Stance]

Washington Post ^ | 9/19/07 | Michael Gerson

[DCPatriot]

Immigration used to be a debate among Republicans. Now the issue survives mainly as a weapon.

Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney-- who once commented on illegal immigrants, "I don't believe in rounding up 11 million people and forcing them at gunpoint from our country" -- attacks Rudy Giuliani for not rounding up enough illegal immigrants when he was mayor of New York. Giuliani -- who once said, "If you come here and you work hard and you happen to be in an undocumented status, you're one of the people who we want in this city" -- criticizes Romney for tolerating "sanctuary cities" in Massachusetts.

One gets the impression of decent men, intimidated by the vocal anger of elements of their own party.

That anger is pushing Republicans into some powerful symbols of indifference to Hispanic Voters.

[Old_Mil]

All four of the media and RNC appointed “frontrunners” support citizenship (in one form or another) for illegals. If you cast a vote for them - either in the primaries or in a general - that’s precisely what you’ll get. They’ve told you, so you stand warned.

That’s assuming GW Bush doesn’t sneak it past you first.

[3AngelaD]

Consider the source. Gerson is a long-time, well known mouthpiece for Bush. He is following the Bush-Rove line on immigration to the letter, and holding out the now-decaying bait of Republicans reaping huge numbers of Hispanic votes if only they would roll over and embrace blanket amnesty and open borders, and principles be damned. Of course the Wash Post is going to give him ed page space for this BS.

[Greg F]

And this snub came on the heels of conspicuous Republican absence at a forum held by the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, and at the National Council of La Raza convention.

Duncan Hunter went to the Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials. The Washington Post just doesn't have the resources to get things like this right.

[DCPatriot]

Unfortunately, Duncan Hunter has a better chance of shaking hands with Jesus, than he ever does becoming POTUS.

That is...unless he's fortunate enough to be VP 'under' a deceased boss.

But that's not the topic here.

The topic is the tremendous losses the GOP incurs at the ballot box due to their pandering to the xenophobic base.

[Greg F]

. But their most obvious change so far is to reverse remarkable Republican gains among one of the fastest-growing groups of American voters.

That changes if we get control of our borders. Then we won't have to kowtow to foreigners in making our own security and border policy as this writer implies we should.

[DCPatriot]

Thanks 3AngelaD...I didn't know Gerson's political lineage.Figured if it was in the POST, it was skewering the GOP.

[ModelBreaker]

The topic is the tremendous losses the GOP incurs at the ballot box due to their pandering to the xenophobic base.

A pox on your bigoted and inaccurate characterization of folks who disagree with you.

[Old_Mil]

The topic is the tremendous losses the GOP incurs at the ballot box due to their pandering to the xenophobic base.

First, your statement that the Republican base is "xenophobic" only solidifies your posting history here as a liberal.

Second, as far as pandering, the GOP has been doing anything but. If they want to see losses, they should just keep pushing citizenship for illegals. Alberto Gonzales, I'm sure, will be more than willing to have a chat with them about how interesting life in Washington gets after you piss off all your friends.

[Greg F]

The topic is the tremendous losses the GOP incurs at the ballot box due to their pandering to the xenophobic base.
_________________________

That “xenophobic base” being 70% of the country according to polls on amnesty.

[AmericanInTokyo]

LOL! This is hilarious!

[DCPatriot]

Xenophobia: fear or dislike of strangers or the unknown, often used to describe nationalistic political beliefs and movements

Bigotry: Irrational suspicion or hatred of a particular group, race, OR religion

By definition, I'm not the xenophobic or bigoted one.

And if the GOP doesn't get it's act together and dismiss the radical base...they will be roaming the political desert for the next 50 years....which will insure the destruction of the USA as we know it today.

Compromise! Compromise! Compromise!

Ronald Reagan would agree with me...not you.

[jpsb]

"pandering to the xenophobic base."

Brainless, name calling bushbot to the end I see.

[SamuraiScot]

Colin Powell says that after the Goldwater vote, he went to his car and affixed a Lyndon Johnson bumper sticker

Okay, so he was a liberal putz then, too.

[SamuraiScot]

All four of the media and RNC appointed “frontrunners” support citizenship

Who are we talking about?

[DCPatriot]

The ONLY topic which I lean toward left-of-center is on immigration. I am a staunch conservative in all other facets.

The immigration system is broken.

Get the illegals registered and documented, provided taxpayer IDs, and an eventual opportunity to become citizens.

Your labeling me a liberal is untrue.

[goldstategop]

Michael, Americans are a generous and kind-hearted people. But we're fed up with those break our laws, assault, rape and murder our citizens and we're angry at those who reward them for breaking our social contract. We're first and foremost a nation of laws. If that is lost, the uniqueness of America gets lost forever. I'm tired of Americans who want our borders secured being depicted as anti-immigrant and a bunch of redneck xenophobes. Like Rodney Dangerfield, we get no respect from our elite class.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Liz]

Our suckup legislators forget where their allegiance lies and who they are supposed to be representing AND protecting. Elected officials keep finding ways to pander to illegals.

HERE’S THE LATEST TWIST Panderer Rep Frank Pallone (D-NJ) touts giving illegals free medical benefits.....benefits that act as a magnet to entice more illegal criminals into the US. Pallone doesn’t give a fig about US citizens having to wade through paperwork, pay monthly premiums, and still payout big sums for medications. Panda Pallone makes sure illegal aliens have only to make a phone call for free medication (subsidized by taxpayers). Illegals are NOT entitled to freebies, yet Pallone is hoping to get a few fraudulent votes by touting the RX4NJ program that provides free medications to illegal latinos.

Hundreds of thousands of American children don’t have needed drugs; hundreds of thousands of American seniors can’t afford medications b/c of the idiotic Medicare Part D boondoggle legislators like Pallone thrust upon them.

All of our legislators need a refresher course in the sworn duties of an elected official. They need to reread their oaths of office.

Above all, voters, should remember these suckups on election day.

[kabar]

Compromise! Compromise! Compromise!

You don't compromise your principles, especially when you think that the very future of the nation is at stake.

The Hispanic Challenge By Samuel P. Huntington

If immigration continues at current levels, the nation’s population will increase from 301 million today to 468 million in 2060 — a 167 million (56 percent) increase. Immigrants plus their descendents will account for 105 million (63 percent) of the increase.

Bureau of the Census: Projected Population of the United States, by Race and Hispanic Origin: 2000 to 2050 (In thousands except as indicated. As of July 1. Resident population.)

[Cacique]

As an immigrant and someone who is categorized as a "Hispanic" I resent the remark of being xenophobic. An immigrant should be expected to adopt the customs mores and language of his adopted land. I did not come to this country to speak Spanish, nor to duplicate the society I escaped from with all of it's failures. The problem with all of the illegals, at least most of those I have met is that they want to bring their cultures and countries with them and transform America into the lands they left. That makes them "colonists" NOT immigrants. Blind myopic idiots like you fail to grasp that fact.

By the way, most legal Hispanics oppose amnesty for illegals by a vast majority. Only the leftist so called "community leaders" want legalization for "illegals" whose main tendency in politics tilts heavily towards socialism. Their Heroes are not Ronald Reagan or Jefferson, but rather, Mao, Che Guevara and Fidel Castro. That is the reality we must contend with.