How good do you really think a remotely conservative GOP can do with Hispanics?
Let’s suppose Paul and Rubio manage to mollify Hispanics on immigration, and remove that as a reason lations have to vote Democrat. But what about all of the other reasons? Hispanics overwhelmingly support obamacare. Hispanics are widely supportive of more gun control. Hispanics express disturbing levels of hostility towards capitalism. Hispanics express support for bigger government. Which is all to say that Hispanics are overall a liberal group. They’re natural Democrats. It’s distressing to hear so many Republicans (like Paul) repeat the myth that Hispanics are natural conservatives. If this is so, then why haven’t they injected even the slightest bit of conservatism in the Democratic party? Why is the state where their power is perhaps the greatest - California - increasingly left wing as their power grows?
So even if we manage to remove immigration as an issue (which apparently can only be done by agreeing to amnesty and ever more mass legal immigration), and ‘soften our tone’, why would Hispanics (and Asians) move to us in large numbers when they still side with the Democrats on most issues?
And to one of kabar’s points, so what if we manage to pander our way back to shameless panderer George W’s 40% showing with Hispanics in 2004? Maybe that would make a difference in a close race in the near future. But eventually the sheer absolute numbers would overwhelm a relative increase. Losing 60-40 with 50 million people is worse than 70-30 with 20 million.
And therein lies the tragedy of it all. If the GOP had ended mass immigration when it had the chance, then it could still easily win with only about 60% of the white vote.
But that’s the past. What to do now? I’d rather go down fighting trying to enact conservative immigration reform. I think the GOP should offer Americans a real choice. Contrast a call to end mass immigration with the Democrats plan to push our population to over 500 million by mid century. Maybe it would fail, but if successful at least it would give conservatives a fighting chance going forward, demographically speaking.
I do not like “going down” fighting. Because then you are dead and nothing is gained. But if you like that outcome, go ahead because it is your right to fail completely and totally ala Todd Akin.
I would rather gain some valuable results such as closing the borders if that is the first requirement in a immigration reform bill. If not, then I have no use for it. Rand Paul’s bill stipulates closing borders as pre-requisite to other items.
If you hold out for a “pure” bill meaning all illegals must be deported, the result will be no closing of borders, and more illegals will keep flooding in.
Illegals are collecting welfare benefits now!
Illegals are known to be voting now!
Illegals are holding jobs now!
Illegals are working for cash and paying no taxes now!
With your ideology, get prepared for more illegals flooding in.