Posted on 01/08/2008 7:31:11 AM PST by 3AngelaD
Mike Huckabee wants to amend the Constitution to prevent children born in the U.S. to illegal aliens from automatically becoming American citizens, according to his top immigration surrogate — a radical step no other major presidential candidate has embraced.
Mr. Huckabee, who won last week's Republican Iowa caucuses, promised Minuteman Project founder James Gilchrist that he would force a test case to the Supreme Court to challenge birthright citizenship, and would push Congress to pass a 28th Amendment to the Constitution to remove any doubt.
The former Arkansas governor thinks the case against U.S. Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean was railroaded, Mr. Gilchrist said. Ramos and Compean are serving lengthy prison sentences for shooting a fleeing drug-smuggling suspect in the buttocks....
Mr. Huckabee has defended his policies on illegal aliens while he was Arkansas governor. He pressed for illegal aliens to gain college tuition benefits, complained about federal immigration raids in his state and declined to have state police enforce immigration laws, although the state legislature gave him the authority to do so....
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
His record supporting Illegals speaks for itself.
His about face shows he will say anything to win this election. He's a liar.
Huckabee is using this inane populist rhetoric because he thinks we are all ignorant sheep in his pulpit. The IA 'victory' has made him even more arrogant and condescending than before. The more he opens his mouth, the more we know his previous record indicates he is a liar.
Huchabee is trying to redefine conservatism to mean big government (aka, compassionate conservative) in the name of God. No thanks.
This one is my all time favorite. It doesn’t specifically address anchor babies; but it is the most damning.
Huckabee promotes ‘open door’ policy at LULAC convention
Thursday, Jun 30, 2005
By Wesley Brown
Arkansas News Bureau
LITTLE ROCK - In a impassioned speech before hundreds of influential Hispanic civil rights leaders from across the nation, Gov. Mike Huckabee told a captive audience Wednesday that America is great because it has always opened it doors up to people seeking a better way of life.
“Do unto others as you would have others do unto you,” Huckabee said, citing the Golden Rule. “I have tried to govern that way and it stands to reason that I really do believe that what made this great country so great and so unique is that it has always been a place for people to run to - and not run from.
“I would hope that no matter who we are, or where we are from, that America should always be a place that opens its arms, opens it heart, opens its spirit to people who come because they want the best for their families ...,” Huckabee said as the largely Hispanic audience gave him a standing ovation.
Huckabee was the keynote speaker, along with Tyson Foods Inc. Chairman and CEO John Tyson, at a noon luncheon of the League of United Latin American Citizens, which is holding its 76th annual convention in Little Rock.
About 10,000 political, community and business leaders, along with exhibitors and speakers are in Little Rock attending the convention at the Statehouse Convention Center. The convention started Monday and runs through Saturday.
Although he never actually talked about the U.S. or Arkansas immigration policy, Huckabee made it very clear where he stood on the issue. In his opening remarks, he said the nation will need to address the concerns of the Hispanic community because of its growing influence and population base.
“Pretty soon, Southern white guys like me may be in the minority,” Huckabee said jokingly as the crowd roared in laughter.
He told the LULAC delegates that their presence in the state’s capital city was very important because Arkansas has one of the fastest growing Hispanic populations in the nation.
“Your gathering is so very significant for our state,” Huckabee said. “We are delighted to have you.”
Despite several light moments, Huckabee did not stray away from several controversial issues that made him a target of criticism during the recently ended 85th General Assembly. He said Arkansas needs to make the transition from a traditional Southern state to one that recognizes and cherishes diversity “in culture, in language and in population.”
“This is an issue that is going to require extraordinary efforts on both sides of the border, particularly those coming from Mexico,” Huckabee said of verifying the status of illegal aliens. “But I am confident that our government will recognize that we should accommodate people who wish to provide the best opportunities for their families (and) employers so that we can make sure our economy has the necessary work force.”
During the legislation session, Huckabee criticized an immigration bill by Republican senators Jim Holt of Springdale and Denny Altes of Fort Smith as un-Christian, un-American, irresponsible and anti-life.
Senate Bill 206, which died in the Senate, would have required proof of citizenship to register to vote and also force state agencies to report suspected cases of people living in the country illegally. Holt, R-Springdale, replied later to Huckabee’s comments that Christian charity does not include turning a blind eye to lawbreaking.
The Republican governor, who many believe will run for president in 2008, also backed legislation that would have opened the door for illegal immigrants in Arkansas to receive college scholarships.
House Bill 1525 by Rep. Joyce Elliott, D-Little Rock, was approved by the House but eventually failed in the Senate. Huckabee reiterated Wednesday that he believes every child, regardless of their parent’s immigration status, should have an opportunity to receive an education in the U.S.
“I ... believe that an education for every child is the most important single factor to give everyone to be their very best,” he said.
In one humorous moment, Huckabee sounded very much like a presidential candidate when he recalled his educational upbringing in Hope and reminded the crowd that another famous Arkansas governor and former president grew up in the small southwest Arkansas town.
“I too still believe in a place call Hope,” Huckabee said, mimicking former President Clinton’s famous acceptance speech at the 1992 Democratic National Convention.
Before Huckabee spoke, John Tyson thanked the Hispanic community for standing by the Springdale-based food giant during the federal government’s investigation of the company a few years ago. The U.S. Justice Department investigation alleged that Tyson helped to smuggle illegal aliens into the U.S. and employed them at various chicken-processing plants across the Southeast.
After a seven-week trial, Tyson and several managers of poultry processing plants were acquitted in March 2003 of those charges.
“At the time, it was a very difficult and very tough time for our company,” Tyson said. “Thank you LULAC for standing by us.”
Tyson also credited LULAC leaders for pushing the company to add Hispanics to the Tyson board and promote more Latinos to upper management and executive positions.
He also said in that last 15 years, the number of Hispanics that work for the Arkansas company has increased significantly.
“I am proud to tell you that more than 40,000 of our workers are Latinos,” Tyson said of the company’s 114,000 employees. “We are learning, growing and benefiting from that diversity.”
You imply that Ron Paul has somehow changed his position. This is not true.....though most of his opponents have. He opposed Clinton’s neocon/Wilsonian Kosovo War (as did most freepers) and then consistently opposed Bush’s Neocon Iraq War. Paul’s speaks out against wars of this kind whether they are waged by Republicans and Democrats.
The hell with that! I say we interpret it to mean exactly what WE want it to mean. Just like a liberal Supreme Court does.
The birthright deal can probably be removed by passing a federal law. A close reading of the Constitution on citizenship can be read to say one or both parents of the child born here should be a US Citizen or legal permanent resident. Of course, any passed law has to get by the Supremes and the make up of the court will be affected by who is president after 2008. Several on the court are getting on in years and may retire or die in the foreseeable future.
Nice sentiment. Let's hope it spreads to folks that I want to vote for.
Or at least start the conversation that a Constitutional Amendment isn't needed and get federal legislation passed that clarifies what the status of such children is and ought to be. (We need some Mark Levin listeners right about here.)
Funny, isn't it, how Mitt gets tarred with that label and his record versus the Huckster is far better on taxes, growth and illegal aliens?
Not to mention that he's actually generated wealth rather than redistributed it at one point in his life.
Gomer simply doesn't have the intellectual necessities to be president. He will be on the veep with Rudi or McCain unless the backers of Fred, Mitt and Duncan start working together soon to prevent Rudi McHuckster being foisted upon us.
He stole the idea from Ron Paul, who probably stole it from somewhere else.
Actually, he probably stole it from Fred who stole it from Paul.
Just tell them what they want to hear until elected works ever time.
FYI
THERE YOU GO!... NOW YOU ARE TALKING! :) Someone has to start the ball rolling...
Sorry, I meant the message to “ALL.” :)
This is a stall tactic that supports the current bogus interpretation of the 14th Amendment citizenship clause.
It doesn't have to be amended; they just have to learn to read the words "subject to the jurisdiction" in the meaning intended when it was written and ratified.
There is a big legal distinction in law between being "subject to" versus within a jurisdiction. The former denotes allegiance as to a king or lord, the latter is merely a matter of who is in charge over a particular territory.
The first I hear of Ron Paul pushing this idea was yesterday. The idea, meanwhile, has been floating around FReepville for up to a year or more. If anything, RoP probably stole it from Free Republic.
be very suspicious
-there is a sucker born every minute....and the sHuckster is going for all of them.
I heard that speech of Huckabee’s and it was THIS election season that he said it. However, that does not deny the fact that this issue is a hot button issue that will get votes. Most Americans have flipped on this topic themselves.
Hasn’t Duncan Hunter taken this stance? Anyone know?
He is putting forth his plan for action to address the shortcomings of the current administration. At least he has a plan and is intelligent enough to articulate it for the American people. That is more than can be said for your candidate. Your candidate only speaks in generality and spends most of his opportunities to speak clearing his throat.
Will your candidate secure the border? will your candidate eliminate the IRS? will your candidate pardon Ramos and Compean? Will your candidate work to amend the birthright clause? Huh? will he? Oh, your probably clearing your throat too.
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