“I’ve followed the issue since the ‘70s, closely since Simpson-Mazzoli, and was a member of FAIR for three years in the early ‘90s. But it was discouraging because the issue never gained any traction, and politicians ignored with impunity all the polls which showed high voter support for strict enforcement of the law.
Jorge is the most at fault because when the public finally got behind the issue, and made their voices heard, he “reached across the aisle” and tried to pass amnesty with the Democrats and a few RINOs.”
I got ya, and it seems that many of us have been suffering this issue for years.
I watched California go down, and our politicians get knocked off with no national support that I was aware of, that is why I am not too excited about labeling this current batch of republicans as the worst on the issue.
During prop 187 for example that current crop of George’s of the time all trekked here and condemned us.
I am wary of putting a George Bush’s name on this issue, especially a current republican president, I would prefer that this be brought back to the democrat party, as it should be.
If democrats change our laws to replace us with foreign voters, and then all of the blame gets transferred to a sitting republican president, then it doesn’t bode well for fighting the issue.
I do not want this to become a judo like anti republican issue, fought solely within our own ranks.
“If democrats change our laws to replace us with foreign voters, and then all of the blame gets transferred to a sitting republican president, then it doesn’t bode well for fighting the issue.”
I agree on all counts, but we can’t escape the fact that it is the current Republican president who’s pushed amnesty harder than anyone currently. He’s doing the Dems. bidding under, I believe, some twisted, Tex-Mex notion he and Rove concocted and concluded that granting amnesty to millions and cozying up more to Mexico would assure Republican majorities for years to come. They believed that!
He’s worked like crazy, offended half the party or more, trying to accomplish precisely what the Dems. want. The Dems. think/know it will help them achieve future majorities. Bush thinks it will do the same for Republicans. I think he’s deluded, and richly deserves the Spanish version of his name.
Don’t want to get into any analysis of past Hispanic voting trends tonight except to say: Reagan got 41% of their vote, Bush claimed 43% in 2004, but most say around 38%.
Where’s the big gains by Bush? I think the real answer is: run a popular Republican governor from California or Texas, and he’ll receive a healthy - favorite son - Hispanic vote.
If the Republican candidate is from elsewhere, probably around 30% with no strong third party candidate.
GWB supports amnesty including the 2006 Senate amnesty bill [S 2611] that passed and McCain-Kennedy in 2007. Rove called those of us who oppose amnesty as nativists and bigots. GWB has done less to enforce our immigration laws than Clinton did. McCain is the "Amnesty King" and he is the GOP's standard bearer. Facts are stubborn things.