Posted on 03/18/2013 9:18:23 PM PDT by montag813
WASHINGTON — On Tuesday Sen. Rand Paul will urge conservatives to abandon their long standing opposition to a pathway to citizenship for the millions of undocumented workers in the United States, bluntly warning to not do so Republicans "will need to resign ourselves to permanent minority status," according to excerpts of a Tuesday speech obtained by BuzzFeed.
In a speech to the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Legislative Summit, Paul will lay out his case for a conservative, and Republican, embrace of comprehensive reform. "The Republican Party has insisted for years that we stand for freedom and family values. I am most proud of my party when it stands for both … Republicans need to give birth to a new attitude toward immigrants, an attitude that sees immigrants as assets not liabilities," Paul will say, according to excerpts of the speech.
Like many Republicans who back a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, Paul argues Latinos should be a natural wellspring of GOP votes that the party has increasingly abandoned.
"Hispanics should be a natural and sizable part of the Republican base. That they have steadily drifted away from the GOP in each election says more about Republicans than it does Hispanics," Paul will say, arguing that "Defense of the unborn and defense of traditional marriage are Republican issues that should resonate with Latinos, but have been obscured by the misperception that Republicans are hostile to immigrants."
Although Paul has long been supportive of comprehensive reform that includes some form of a pathway to citizenship for undocumented workers, Tuesday's speech represents his most detailed comments on the topic.
"Those who work for reform must understand that a real solution must ensure that our borders are secure. It must modernize our immigration controls and databases. It must allow for as much legal immigration as our workforce requires. And it must treat those who are already here with understanding and compassion—without also unduly rewarding them for coming illegally," Paul will say.
"We should be proud that so many want to come to America, that it is still seen as the land of opportunity. Let's make it a land of legal work, not black market jobs. Let's make it a land of work not welfare. Our land should be one of assimilation, not hiding in the shadows."
Paul also will take on many of the talking points used by conservative opponents of comprehensive reform. For instance, Paul will outright dismiss claims that undocumented immigrants have become a drain on the nation's welfare system, saying "I've never met a new immigrant looking for a free lunch."
Not so, they are FROM the United States of Mexico.
Sounds like Ron Paul Jr. meets his Waterloo tomorrow.
What do you get when you toss a hand-grenade into a bodega kitchen?
Linoleum blownapart.
What an idiotic statement. Permanent minority status is exactly what you will get if you do give 11 million (actual number - 20-30 million) illegal aliens the vote.
It seems like Palin and Coulter are the only Republicans with the ba**s to fight this lunacy.
Get it while you can - your life in the future will be that of the Third World. We already have the Hugo Chavez clone in the White House. He will become the norm.
Show me one instance where she has distanced herself on the issue — other than that ‘secure the border’ canard that they all have used.
That is what I meant
I’m not Governor Palin’s press agent. Find it yourself.
Assimilation, especially of conservatives.
Sure you didn't write part of the "Autopsy", Rand?
Jeff Sessions blasted the bill on the senate floor. I would say he is not a fan.
So, if we already know what he “will say”, why should he even bother to give the speech? We shall see.....
Same reasoning Marco gave. But it is pure Amnesty.
You are the one who said Palin was against it.
Prove it.
You can’t.
Because, she has never said she was against it.
At least Coulter published an article recently stating her objections.
Well, Rand can join Rubio on my list of “no way in hell will I ever vote for, should they even bother to run” names. Passing amnesty will make all future politics and elections rather moot anyway. End-game for America.
Yep. When I hear “living in the shadows” I know it’s code for amnesty. What part of “Illegal” and “breaking the law” do they not understand?
Problem is all the latest polling shows the people are now for it.
these turd republicans better figure out real fast that this is the one line they best not cross or they are going lose in 2014 in a way they cannot even imagine ...this will absolutely fracture the republican base and the party will be destroyed.... total dem rule forever
Rand should be working to secure the borders. but it seems he is too much like his father and wants open borders. Everyone knows that Obama won’t have to enforce anything in the bill about securing borders. And this at a time where illegals are being released out of jail. Illegals get a free pass according to Marco and Rand and they now stand with McCain and Grahmnesty.
You mean like Reagan? I do not say this to be a jerk but I would like to see the path and the bill before yelling too much.
It's not a misperception...it's been a deliberate attempt by the media to paint "r's" as such. If there is hostility, it is toward law breakers..not immigrants.
AuntB,
What’s your take on this?
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