You CANNOT..in 2012...run ANY political campaign that is ambiguous about your immigration “position” in the current job market.
Unemployed Americans are looking for assurances of their governments’ concern about THEIR plight...not that of businesses forced into looking for disposable labor because of onerous tax and regulatory policy.
Illegal Labor is the Feds out for preserving the status quo regarding Taxes and Regulation...and is the ultimate litmus test as to the candidates in question commitment to meaningful regulatory and tax reform. If they are wishy-washy on the subject...they have no real intent to disturb the DC status quo...no matter how big their cowboy hat and six-gun.
If you read up on Rick Perry, one of the blocs opposing strong immigration control in Texas is the business community. Not big business, but small-medium business. This is the core constituency of the GOP. When it comes to business, a lot of these guys are “Tea Party” libertarians who oppose govt telling them they can’t hire competent people for the cheapest wage. They can foresee popular resentment of foreign workers waning when the economy improves, as it will- under the right administration. Besides, why impose a lot of background checks and other rules on business community when the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT won’t enforce the uS Constitution?
So what is a state governor supposed to do?
The “Tea Party” is not “one voice” on many issues. On immigration, they can’t have their cake and eat it too.