Immigration and the GOP Is it still the party of Reagan, or of Tom Tancredo?

Wall Street Journal ^ | 3/31/2006 | Review and OUtlook

[pageonetoo]

As Congress battles over immigration, the consequences are likely to be far greater than the details of border walls or green cards. The most important political outcome may turn out to be the message that Republicans send about the kind of the party they are and hope to be.

To wit, do Republicans want to continue in the Reagan tradition of American optimism and faith in assimilation that sends a message of inclusiveness to all races? Or will they take another one of their historical detours into a cramped, exclusionary policy that tells millions of new immigrants, and especially Hispanics, that they belong somewhere else?...

...The immediate danger is that Republicans will ignore their longer-term interests by passing a punitive, and poll-driven, anti-immigration bill this election year. Any bill that merely harasses immigrants and employers, and stacks more cops on the border, may win cheers in the right-wing blogosphere. However, it will do nothing to address the economic incentives that will continue to exist for poor migrants to come to America to feed their families. And it will make permanent enemies of millions of Hispanics, without doing anything to draw illegals out of the shadows and help them assimilate into the mainstream of American culture and citizenship.

This is not Ronald Reagan's view of America as a "shining city on a hill." It is the chauvinist conservatism usually associated with the European right. How Republicans conduct and conclude their immigration debate will show the country which kind of "conservative" party they want to be.

[pageonetoo]

And it will make permanent enemies of millions of Hispanics, without doing anything to draw illegals out of the shadows and help them assimilate into the mainstream of American culture and citizenship....

I didn't see too many friendlies in the streets this week!

[wrathof59]

WSJ just wants cheap labor for the companies, these are the Rockefeller wing of the party.

They disregard or are ignorant that the GOP took control because of the larger social conservative wing of the party.
They feel it's their country club republicans who are the driving force of the GOP,
Next year, they are in for a rude awakening when a democratic controlled congress starts to tax the heck out of them. And the social conservatives don't back this 3% of the population.

[stopem]

"exclusionary policy that tells millions of new immigrants, and especially Hispanics, that they belong somewhere else?...

The illegal criminals who are mexican are NOT NEW IMMIGRANTS ones who respect America and Americans and our laws, they are illegal "immigrants" better known as invaders, so get your blasted facts straight idiots!

[pageonetoo]

...But there have also been costs, and parts of America have borne more than have others. The border states in particular have experienced more crime and social disruption, as well as the cost to local taxpayers of "free" health care and education for illegal immigrants. To the extent they work and pay rent, illegals do pay for those government services. But we don't dismiss lightly the anxiety that many Americans feel at this rapid pace of demographic change. Well meaning politicians, such as Arizona Senator Jon Kyl, who feel obliged to respond to that anxiety in this election year are not part of the nativist brigades...

Ten mexicans paying rent for one house will never pay for the huge costs to our country for medical and welfare benefits to these INVADERS. I just don't understand how they can say all this without putting: /Sarcasm...

[normy]

The Republicans are now using on conservatives the old tired method usually used by liberals. They are insulting our core beliefs in hope of shaming us into submission. I grew up in Seattle and dealt with this stuff for years, didn't work then and it wont work now. To purposefully muddy the waters between legal and illegal is frankly a cowards way of framing his losing argument. We are not against immigration, just illegal immigration and that point needs to be hammered home by those on our side. Its sad to say but the republicans are making a huge mistake if they are trying to get re elected. I may not vote democrat ever, but not voting at all is a serious consideration, or maybe just voting at the local level and for my Congressman.

[Sam the Sham]

The WSJ speaks for people who can reap the profits of cheap labor but wall themselves off from the consequences that the rest of us have to bear.

A cheap labor world is great for people who live off of returns from capital. Lousy for people who live on paychecks.

[normy]

It's awfully nice that Senator John Kyl feels so obligated to respond to the concerns (not anxiety) of those who voted him into office (not "the nativist brigades")

[stopem]

PS notice that the Evangelicals, Falwell, Robertson, have been extremely quiet about this issue that has turned into a crisis.

[GarySpFc]

I am paraphrasing his words, but someone many of us know said, "He who climbs over the fence, and does not go through the gate is a thief."

[Dane]

Actually I hope it is the party of Reagan, since tancredo looking at his resume has never worked in a wealth creating business in his life.

tancredo has either worked in govt.(teacher or legislator) or in a non-waelth producing think tank.

[stopem]

At this time I support the party of Tancredo.

[JABBERBONK]

"To wit, do Republicans want to continue in the Reagan tradition of American optimism and faith in assimilation that sends a message of inclusiveness to all races?"
Not with La Razza signs and Mexicans hoisting their flag over US schools.....the author is clearly a dolt!

[Buffettfan]

The GOP has sold out it's base, plain and simple. This will cost them dearly. They will lost control of the whitehouse and congress if this amnesty sham passes.

[Dane]

The WSJ speaks for people who can reap the profits of cheap labor but wall themselves off from the consequences that the rest of us have to bear.

Just wondering do you wear t-shirts with this guys face on it.

[sgtbono2002]

I think mot Americans are against people crawling over our borders like a pack of cockroaches.

We dont mind immigranrs and we want workers, we just want them to use the gate.Illegals are just that ILLEGAL.

[Dane]

Not with La Razza signs and Mexicans hoisting their flag over US schools.....the author is clearly a dolt!

Huh not a peep from you about the liberal infested public schools that are actually a big part of the problem.

Figures.

[Sam the Sham]

Yes, the leadership of the Christian Right has been quiet. But the chief intellectuals have not. Phyllis Schalfly and Cal Thomas have been spot on about this issue.

The key issue here is that Mexico's goal isn't simply to export its poor people to the American taxpayer. It is to create a pro-Mexican Fifth Column in American electoral politics (and never underestimate the level of irredentist anger in Mexican politics towards the US). And all those Mexican flags in those demonstrations make this very clear.

[pageonetoo]

I may not vote democrat ever, but not voting at all is a serious consideration, or maybe just voting at the local level and for my Congressman.

I was raised in a Democrat household. My 82 yr old mom still votes straight party ticket. I worked for Bobby Kennedy and voted for Jimmy Carter. But, when my eyes were opened by those 18% interest rates, I switched and campaigned hard for Ronaldus.

When Jesse Helms was challenged for the Senate by Harvey Gantt (the black mayor of Charlotte), I spent so much money that I got to sit at a table with he and Dan Quayle. I would vote for Dan. I will not vote for a RINO.

I have withdrawn my support for the national Rep. party, though I give to many with R behind their names (I live in WV and we have Sheets Byrd creeping along with Rockyfeller). I no longer list myself as a Republican. I would sign up again, if there were some true conservative patriots in power again.