Rand Paul to GOP: Change your tune, or Texas goes Democratic

CBS News ^ | 2/9/14 | JAKE MILLER

[jimbo123]

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., delivered a stark demographic warning to his party on Saturday, predicting that Texas – a sizable electoral prize that Republicans cannot afford to lose in national elections – may tilt Democratic within 10 years if the GOP doesn’t broaden its appeal.

“What I do believe is Texas is going to be a Democrat state within 10 years if we don’t change,” Paul told the Harris County Republican Party on Saturday, according to Politico. “That means we evolve, it doesn’t mean we give up on what we believe in, but it means we have to be a welcoming party.”

Paul’s pitch to Texas Republicans focused largely on the party’s appeal among Hispanic Americans, who have trended strongly Democratic in recent elections. He acknowledged that immigration reform, a top priority for many Hispanic political leaders, is a “touchy” subject for Republicans. But he counseled the GOP not to shy away from the debate, though it may expose intra-party divisions.

“We won’t all agree on it,” he said. “But I’ll tell you, what I will say and what I’ll continue to say, and it’s not an exact policy prescription … but if you want to work and you want a job and you want to be part of America, we’ll find a place for you.”

[hopespringseternal]

Rand Paul is a libertarian absolutist like his father.

Importing and pandering to democratic voters has never, not once, benefited republicans.

So now the message is import a lot more democratic voters or the existing ones won't vote for you. Under no circumstances will the existing or new ones be voting for you.

Opening the floodgates of immigration did nearly irreparable harm to the country 100 years ago and it will again today.

[Forward the Light Brigade]

Most Latinos are by their nature conservative in many ways—we must reach out to them. Half of the guys at the Alamo were Latinos fighting against the Tyranny of General Santa Anna. They want to ease up on regulation so they can start businesses— They want out of the Barrio. Many support English only in the classroom because they know learning English is the only way to make it in the USA. The GOP needs to come up with a forthright way for these illegals to become citizens that isn’t a blanket anmestry. Serving in the military—and getting an honorable discharge should eaqual citizenship. Most are religious—anti abortion people. They could be our strongest of supporters—Most don’t want a hand out (unlike other groups) Most want a chance to become part of the USA.

[Norseman]

I think your post is consistent with Sen. Paul’s views. For some reason, as soon as a Republican reaches out to the people you’re describing, some conservatives automatically assign them to the RINO/Amnesty category and write them off.

Personally, I think Sen. Paul is on the right track. Like you, I think most HIspanics are here to work. However, unlike you, I don’t think we need to find a new path to citizenship for them. The path already exists. What we need to do is get the green card situation straightened out and simultaneously tighten up the borders.

If you do only one, but not the other, it’s self defeating. Policing the border becomes more difficult when those wanting to work here can’t do so legally, and you won’t get the green card situation straightened out without a policed border because people will continue to enter illegally.

[Norseman]

>>I think what Rand is saying is that Conservatives needs to talk to LEGAL hispanics and see what can be done on it. It will be hard to agree on a plan, but I think Rand and other tea party members in congress should talk to hispanics (Especially Cubans, Puerto Ricans and Mexicans) and see what can happen.<<

I agree, although one of the subjects is certain to be how to handle the illegal aliens already here, and how to set up a better means for them to work here legally.

[SeminoleCounty]

Rand Paul supports Illegal Alien Amnesty

The GOP needs to dump the Amnesty Liberal nonsense. If there are not a bunch of Illegal Aliens streaming back across the southern border by the 2014 and 2016 elections...the GOP will lose...everything

Amnesty Liberals like Rand Paul are not conservative, nor do they have any intention of helping conservatives win

[GeronL]

remove all the benefits of being here illegally and they might go home on their own

[okie01]

I think what Rand is saying is that Conservatives needs to talk to LEGAL hispanics and see what can be done on it.

I have seen two polls conducted among LEGAL Hispanics on the immigration reform issue. Both polls had this group standing 2-to-1 against amnesty! Something in the 60-32 range.

And, when you stop and think about it, why wouldn't they be against amnesty. Legal Hispanics are American citizens -- either their families have been here for generations or they busted their butts jumping through the legal immigration hoops to become citizens.

They no more want their American citizenship cheapened than we do.

This result suggests that, if the GOP wants to earn a higher share of the Hispanic vote, their best policy would be to stand in defense of their American citizenship and refuse to cheapen it by allowing illegals any "pathway to citizenship" whatsoever.

[Artcore]

Rand, you’ve just helped me change my tune. Should you become the GOP presidential nominee, I WILL NOT BE VOTING FOR YOU! Maybe you can go and ask the illegals you love so much.

What a POS RINO this twerp is turning out to be. Nutty like his old man.

[xzins]

BS.

If Texas becomes “democrat” it won’t be because of anything other than importing democrat votes.

The only way to stop it is to stop illegal immigration.

Any other plan is depending on democrats to vote republican. That’s a fool’s errand.

[Norseman]

The biggest benefit of being here is that they can find much better work here than at home. That’s not going to change, so removing benefits is not the answer.

In fact, the recession actually resulted in some outmigration, which shows they’re generally here for higher paying jobs than they can find at home.

[GeronL]

make it a felony to hire them

[ObamahatesPACoal]

BOWLING GREEN, Kentucky – Washington liberals are trying to push through the so-called DREAM Act, which creates an official path to Democrat voter registration for 2 million college-age illegal immigrants.

http://www.randpaul2016.com/2010/09/dream-act-for-illegal-immigrants-where-is-jack/

I thought they were Republicans.

[USNBandit]

The problem with policing the border doesn't start with the workers, it starts with the employers. If you dry up the supply of jobs available to illegals they will stop coming.mmthat means shutting down businesses that employ illegal labor. That also means a guest worker program for those industries that need that labor.

I have ideas for carving out previously illegal workers from legal ones, but I am sure they would be undone by another Obama-like administration. From a human standpoint those that support illegal immigration also turn a blind eye on the immense human toll of exploitation, endangerment, and often death of these illegals.

[rabidralph]

I think the message should be: Vote for Conservatives so that America doesn’t turn into the hellhole you just left.

[Candor7]

Well that makes the question, “should it be Rand Paul or Ted Cruz as Senate Majority Leader after next November?” easy to answer.

[kabar]

We bring in 1.2 million legal immigrants a year. Add to that the 300,000 to 400,000 anchor babies each year along with higher than average birthrates for legal immigrants and you wind up with huge numbers of future Dem voters.

Does anyone think the Dems would put up with these huge immigration numbers if they were voting Republican? Why are the Reps refusing to discuss the reduction of legal immigration?

[kabar]

Most Latinos are by their nature conservative in many ways—we must reach out to them.

Latinos have 50% out of wedlock birthrates and the highest school dropout rate of any group. They use welfare to a much higher degree than any group other than blacks. They voted 71% for Obama. They support Big Government. They are not conservatives. They are the stereotypical Dem voters.

The GOP needs to come up with a forthright way for these illegals to become citizens that isn’t a blanket anmestry.

Why? There are four million intending immigrants waiting their turn overseas to enter this country. They have completed all the paperwork, got background checks, etc. Why should we reward people who didn't play by the rules by allowing them to stay and work here? What happened to the Rule of Law? Fairness?

Most are religious—anti abortion people.

Black women are not alone in having disproportionately high unintended pregnancy and abortion rates. The abortion rate among Hispanic women, for example, although not as high as the rate among black women, is double the rate among whites. Hispanics also have a higher level of unintended pregnancy than white women.

Most don’t want a hand out (unlike other groups) Most want a chance to become part of the USA.

Hipanics use the welfare system to a much higher degree than non-Hispanic whites.

[kabar]

>i>This result suggests that, if the GOP wants to earn a higher share of the Hispanic vote, their best policy would be to stand in defense of their American citizenship and refuse to cheapen it by allowing illegals any "pathway to citizenship" whatsoever.

Republicans should be for the Rule of Law and attrition thru enforcement. Any legislation that allows the lawbreakers to stay and work here is amnesty. Citizenship is just the cherry on top.

[kabar]

We need to reduce drastically legal immigration. Illegal immigration will not make Texas blue—legal immigration will.

[kabar]

It is a crime to hire illegal aliens and it is a crime for illegal aliens to work here. There are felonies attached to identity theft, misusing SSNs, tax evasion, lying on employment forms, etc.