Posted on 12/16/2015 7:40:57 PM PST by BlackFemaleArmyColonel
Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump teamed up with Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio for a post-presidential debate victory lap Wednesday, drawing a crowd of thousands to see the two conservative stars of the illegal immigration debate on the same stage.
"You're the patriots, and you've got a lot of people -- believe me -- a lot of people won't say it, but they support Donald Trump. They won't tell you, but when they go into that voting booth, watch out," Sheriff Arpaio predicted as he introduced Mr. Trump.
Immigration issues have been the lifeblood of Mr. Trump's unconventional but wildly successful campaign, including his pledges to build a wall across the southern border, deport illegal immigrants and temporarily bar Muslim visitors from entering the country.
It also has spurred a backlash from Hispanic activists pushing for amnesty for illegal immigrants and expanded immigration rights, whose sensibilities likely were shaken by the spectacle of Mr. Trump joining forces with "America's Sheriff" in Mesa, ground zero of the immigration wars.
Relishing the teeming crowd in the cavernous airplane hangar in Mesa, Arizona, Mr. Trump said that his tough stance against illegal immigration had proven so popular that it had forced his rivals to copy him.
"Nobody can be stronger than me on the border. You ever notice how these guys are all pivoting? They are all weak," he said.
Without dropping names, Mr. Trump's remark targeted rivals Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, who, to varying degrees, have shifted away from supporting a path to citizenship or some other legal status for America's roughly 11 million illegal immigrants.
"Now they are trying to be more and more [like me]. They can never be more so than me," said Mr. Trump.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Yes, I do. But they intend to do the right thing.
I too noticed that lawyer speak that Cruz put out about amnesty. Sounded like hedging to me.
BTW!
What kills me is that all the Cruz bots won’t talk about his pro-amnesty position. Like it doesn’t matter, one of the biggest issues of the campaign.
A stroke of genius. Sheriff Joe has a lot of followers. While the rest of the crowd are searching among the usual political hacks for their financial support and their approval, Trump is busy going to the people who have been fighting the battle all alone for a long time like Sheriff Joe. Nice move, very nice and a great choice!
I had the same reaction. Political speak = Lawyer speak most times. Cruz was hedging. Rubio was outright lying.
Agreed. But we have to keep shoving it in their faces.
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