Pressed by Young Republicans, Scott Walker Sticks to Tough Immigration Stance

New York Times ^ | April 24, 2015 | Trip Gabriel

[Cincinatus' Wife]

"..........Mr. Walker’s apparent hardening on immigration has inspired a flood of reporting and commentary. Most recently he told the radio host Glenn Beck that he favored restricting legal immigration in tough economic times, a position to the right of most other 2016 presidential hopefuls.

He repeated that view Friday after a speech in Cedar Rapids, when Eddie Failor, 24, expressed concern “as a young Republican” that the party must make inroads to new voter blocs, including by supporting a comprehensive overhaul of immigration.

Mr. Walker told Mr. Failor that his top priority would be securing the border. He also said he favored “making sure the legal immigration system is based on making our No. 1 priority to protect American workers and their wages.’’

Alexander Staudt, the treasurer of the University of Iowa College Republicans, also told Mr. Walker in the meet-and-greet line that he was concerned that by talking tough on immigration, Republican candidates would turn off Hispanics.

“In terms of how wide or how narrow the door’s open, our No. 1 priority is American workers and American wages,’’ Mr. Walker told him. “I don’t know how anyone can argue against that.’’...........

[Cincinatus' Wife]

NRO (April 22, 2015) - Ian Tuttle: On Immigration, Scott Walker Bucks the Beltway Consensus"Scott Walker’s most recent comments on immigration may make possible an honest-to-God debate about America’s immigration policy.

It’s about time.

Chatting with Glenn Beck on Monday morning, Walker said:

>>>The next president and the next Congress need to make decisions about a legal-immigration system that’s based on, first and foremost, protecting American workers and American wages. . . . What is [current legal-immigration policy] doing for American workers? What is this doing to wages? We need to have that be at the forefront of our discussion going forward.<<<

But, Walker observed, among elected officials, questioning our current legal-immigration policy is “a fundamentally lost issue.”

And Republicans quickly proved him right. Utah senator Orrin Hatch dismissed as “poppycock” Walker’s insinuation that high levels of legal immigration might have negative effects on employment and wages. Arizona senator John McCain declared that immigrants were necessary to supplement an aging population: “I think most statistics show that they fill part of the workforce that are much needed.” South Dakota senator John Thune, head of the Senate Republican Conference, admitting that he had not heard Walker’s comments exactly, still declared: “We have a workforce issue in this country. . . . So having a robust legal-immigration process helps us fill jobs that otherwise wouldn’t be getting filled.” And Ohio senator Rob Portman retreated to sentiment: “As a party, we’ve always embraced immigrants coming here legally, following the rules. And it’s enriched our country immeasurably.”

But these are, of course, responses to a straw man — namely, that Scott Walker opposes legal immigration. His campaign has been clear that that is not the case: He “strongly supports legal immigration,” said spokeswoman AshLee Strong, “and like many Americans, believes that our economic situation should be considered, instead of arbitrary caps on the amount of immigrants that can enter.” Walker is simply suggesting that American policymakers consider Americans when making policy.

That is controversial? Apparently, since even leading Republicans refuse to engage Walker’s question.

That refusal should alarm every prospective Republican voter............................."

[Erik Latranyi]

Walker has clearly divided the GOP along those who are concerned about this nation and those who care more about foreign invaders.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

Congratulations Walker.

Now bring back American manufacturing.

[Cowboy Bob]

Question for Sen. McCain: why are immigrants necessary to supplement America’s aging population?

I’ll tell you the answer - because the US government punishes US citizens who have children through its unfair tax policies. If American families weren’t punished for having children, the need for a large number of immigrants would disappear.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

That will mean rolling back excessive and punitive taxes and regulations, and bloodsucking lawsuits.

It can be done.

[nathanbedford]

Some have voiced concerns about Scott Walker's position on immigration and asserted that he is a flip flopper on the issue, becoming more conservative as he advances his campaign.

Assuming this history is accurate, it seems to me that Scott Walker is now placing himself definitively in our camp by: A) shutting down the border; B) opposing amnesty; C) deporting illegals by self deportation-a conclusion I infer from his conditioning immigration on wages for citizens.

Two observations are in order: first, Scott Walker has changed the equation to our advantage by stressing the need to protect American citizens in their jobs; second, Walker has an unimpeachable record as governor in holding to his promises and carrying them out in the teeth of violent opposition and at great personal and political risk.

I therefore do not find Scott Walker to be disqualified on the issue of immigration and he comes in close to Ted Cruz as a favored candidate.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

No.

Bring back American manufacturing.

Worry about the other things also, but bring back American manufacturing.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Yes he has.

FReeper Norseman makes this good point: ".......One additional factor: if you’re debating how much to restrict legal immigration, it goes without saying that illegal immigration has to be curtailed. That same debate will encompass determining how many of those already here illegally should be issued work permits and allowed to stay and how many should be returned to their home countries."

I'll add, Walker's belief and position puts the lie to union bosses gnashing their teeth and wailing about Scott Walker hurting hard working men and women. Walker survived election after election (inc a recall - no other gov has ever done that) by increasing margins.

The people in a purple state FINALLY saw that someone would fight for them - and win.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

That is how you bring it home.

[9YearLurker]

He hasn’t actually offered any anti-amnesty policies to contradict his earlier position and his statements over the last two years—he’s just using the standard GOPe cover of “secure the border first”, with the added populist flair of also “prioritizing American workers”. Those are clearly his two campaign-approved phrases, but they don’t actually say that he’d govern contrary to the pro-amnesty wishes of his Koch funders.

As far as I can see, it’s just a little GOPe hedging and fudging.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Walker effectively cuts through to the nugget.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

January 3, 2011 - Walker assumes Office of Governor of Wisconsin.

June 27, 2011: Walker Revokes In-state Tuition For Undocumented Students Attending Univ And Colleges In Wisconsin "- On Sunday, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker (R) signed his two-year 2011-2013 budget, which included ending in-state tuition for undocumented students attending public universities and colleges. In-state tuition for undocumented students was approved two years ago by former Governor Jim Doyle (D) after the Hispanic community struggled for 10 years to pass it....

Walker signed his two-year budget at the Fox Valley Metal-Tech's Plant in Ashwaubenon near Greenbay. More than 200 protestors were outside the company with signs calling Walker, "You dirty rat" and "Shame, shame."..."

[NO other governor has revoked instate tuition for illegals. NO other governor has survived a recall election.]

March 2015:“We strongly dispute this account. Governor Walker has been very clear that he does not support amnesty and believes that border security must be established and the rule of law must be followed. His position has not changed, he does not support citizenship for illegal immigrants, and this story line is false,” she announced in an email to journalists Thursday afternoon.”

“I made it clear that for me, if somebody wants to be a citizen, they need to go back to their country of origin, get in line, no preferential treatment,” Walker said. “In terms of what to do beyond that, again, that’s something we got to work with Congress on.”

[Popman]

Walker has clearly divided the GOP along those who are concerned about this nation and those who care more about foreign invaders cheap labor.

Fixed it for you...

For both parties, it's not about the humanity of the illegals who just want a better life, its about the availability of cheap labor for the GOP corp masters and illegals getting on the democrat voter slave plantation...

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Tech Guys: Walker Self-Deports Right Out Of The 2016 Race -- Tech Guys, Carles Curran and Patrick Ennis, have spent over 35 combined years as technology investors and innovators. We live in Boston and Washington State, respectively.”

[9YearLurker]

Do we really need to go there again?

Walker was working to trim his budget for a future presidential run. But that was in 2011, repeatedly in 2013 he advocated not only immediately legalization for illegals here, to be followed by citizenship, but also to allow anyone from any country, “whether from Mexico or any other country in the world” to come here so easily legally that there would not be any incentive for them to bother crossing the border illegally—that’s what he called his border security plan just 24 months ago.

[Popman]

I therefore do not find Scott Walker to be disqualified on the issue of immigration

Heretic.../ S

BTW...completely agree with your post...

[Cringing Negativism Network]

I completely agree with this post.

Absolutely.

Both parties are completely sold out, and nobody is paying attention to what is best for America.

Nobody.

[petercooper]

Families that live in the hood don’t seem to be punished for having kids. They have as many as possible, receive welfare for each, and pay no taxes at all. That’s why our taxes are so high.

[grania]

As far as I can see, it's just a little GOPe hedging and fudging

I was wondering about that at first. But these past few weeks, Walker seems to have broken away from those who lust for cheap labor at the expense of the US worker.

I'm liking Walker more and more as his voice strengthens.

[Timber Rattler]

GOP-E “young Republican’” plants.