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GOP Candidates, Convention Steer Clear of Immigration (God's Children Ping)
Newsday ^ | 8 September 2008 | Reid J. Epstein

Posted on 09/08/2008 6:13:12 PM PDT by AmericanInTokyo

GOP candidates, convention steer clear of immigration BY REID J. EPSTEIN

reid.epstein@newsday.com September 8, 2008

During the Republican presidential primary, immigration was such an important topic that candidates were tripping over each other to be seen as the toughest defender of the nation's borders. The issue became so hot that Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the GOP presidential nominee, was forced to disavow his own immigration reform bill because it was seen by many Republicans as too lenient. But a parade of Republicans came to the convention podium in St. Paul last week with barely a mention of immigration. On Wednesday and Thursday nights, 38 speakers addressed the GOP crowd and only one - unknown Kansas farmer Carolyn Dunn - even uttered the word "immigration." There was not a single mention of border security or amnesty from McCain or his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

(Excerpt) Read more at newsday.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 2008; 2008rncconvention; aliens; amnesty; baitnswitch; borders; doublecrossed; godschildren; gop; hijosdedios; illegalimmigration; illegals; immigrantlist; immigration; mccain; mccainpalin; mccainsamerica; mccaintruthfile; muzzle; rnc; sham
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To: robert david

“None. They are one issue fanatics and disagreeing with them on immigration will get you called a traitor by their kind.”

Well that is one of my hot button issues as well. The difference between myself and them is that it is only ONE of my hot button issues.

Really though, I almost didn’t vote for Juan over amnesty. Juan Hernandez, La Raza....he didn’t “get it” and I know that. But he picked one heck of a VP and he IS 72 and getting over cancer for the 2nd time.....you get where I am goin’ with that.


61 posted on 09/09/2008 7:03:53 AM PDT by Grunthor (http://www.ecconline.cc/ecconline/index.php)
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To: US34

Very good post.


62 posted on 09/09/2008 7:10:13 AM PDT by dforest
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To: robert david
Where exactly does it say that Americans are against legalization? All I see from that poll is that Americans are not that concerned with legalization one way or the other.

Just 30% would favor legislation that focused “exclusively on legalizing the status of undocumented workers already living in the United States.” Fifty-seven percent (57%) oppose that strategy, including 63% of Republicans, 52% of Democrats, and 55% of unaffiliated voters.

63 posted on 09/09/2008 7:11:12 AM PDT by kabar (.)
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To: robert david

We already accept WAY too many immigrants. If I’m not mistaken, we accept more legal immigrants than the entire world put together.

So what exactly do you want? Wall to wall people in the US? How can we be the “bread basket of the world” if we’re wall to wall people? We do need some farmland.

And I keep hearing this bull about Americans won’t do that job. Not true, where I come from (and we’re not that highly populated), American’s work at McDonalds (mom’s and teenagers). The only job they don’t do are the chicken plants and that’s because they no longer hire Americans. Fifteen years ago, those plants were populated by Americans. Americans also do construction and landscaping here, at least so far. I’m sure when the business owners realize they don’t have to pay a living wage, they’ll start hiring illegals and then the business owner gets richer and the average person gets poorer. It’s a recipe for economic disaster.


64 posted on 09/09/2008 7:30:11 AM PDT by ozarkgirl (Sarah Palin: pro-life, pro-guns, pro-family, anti-government corruption!)
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To: kabar

You’re going to love this one. Story about the illegal who killed 3. It includes a comment from a racist illegal who reads right out of the open borders playbook.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2078098/posts


65 posted on 09/09/2008 7:58:04 AM PDT by cripplecreek (Voting Conservative isn't for the faint of heart.)
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To: cripplecreek

I was just listening to McCain being interviewed by Chris Plante. When asked about immigration and how to treat those illegally here, McCain trotted his favorite example that he uses as part of this stump speech. He mentions the case of a green card holding GI who was killed in Iraq and his mother is an illegal alien. He says we can’t deport the mother. That wouldn’t be right. He never talks about the American victims of illegals and the price they pay. There are far more of them than illegals with relatives serving in Iraq.


66 posted on 09/09/2008 8:08:16 AM PDT by kabar (.)
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To: kabar

He doesn’t have the stones to mention the American mother serving in Iraq while her son was murdered here in our streets by an illegal.

He should have been the one to make the call to tell her.


67 posted on 09/09/2008 8:11:16 AM PDT by cripplecreek (Voting Conservative isn't for the faint of heart.)
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To: robert david

>>If the American people would only petition their government representatives for increased legal immigration, illegal immigration would cease being a real problem.<<

Riiiiight.... And if we withdraw from Iraq and Afghanistan and stop supporting Isreal, the Islamic terrorists will leave us alone. Pick a number for an increase in legal immigration, and the OBL will demand more every time.

In addition, many visa holders do not return when they are supposed to, but “our” goverment does not track visa holders exiting the country. Legal aliens often become illegal aliens, and some have anchor babies.


68 posted on 09/09/2008 8:24:16 AM PDT by ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas (I want to "Buy American" but the only things for sale made in the USA are politicians)
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To: ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas
In addition, many visa holders do not return when they are supposed to, but “our” goverment does not track visa holders exiting the country. Legal aliens often become illegal aliens, and some have anchor babies.

Just the other day a thread here at FR was posted about an illegal Albanian alien was arrested after applying for a job with the border patrol here in Michigan. Turns out he had been ordered deported at least once before.
69 posted on 09/09/2008 8:42:46 AM PDT by cripplecreek (Voting Conservative isn't for the faint of heart.)
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To: Old Sarge
(Went to sleep with Palin - woke up next to McCain...)

Great tag line. Sounds like the reverse ending of the fairy tale: You kiss the princess, and she turns into a toad.

70 posted on 09/09/2008 9:53:49 AM PDT by E. Cartman (GOP Convention 2008: Nothing but "The Emperor's New Clothes" redux.)
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To: US34

Well... I am absolutely pro-life. It is a real problem for me to vote for someone that is not pro-life. But I am OK with converts. I am also aware that the impact of the President of the United States to actually stop abortions is limited, imperfect, incomplete and frustrating at best. I doubt very much McCain could do to stop abortions even if he made it illegal and I don’t see how he could do that.

Let me repeat, I am pro-life personally and politically. But I do not for one second think that you are Conservative just because you are pro-life. It takes a lot more than that. A lot.

I disagree with your first assumption. McCain is pro-life but no Conservative. Every problem seems to have a government solution to him. Today he was blasting lenders for the mortgage mess. Sorry, but nobody held a gun to the head of the borrowers. McCain is pro-life but no Conservative do you agree? Does it matter are you one-issue only voter?


71 posted on 09/09/2008 11:24:08 AM PDT by Sunnyflorida (Unless you are nice and thoughtful you will be ignored. Write in Thomas Sowell.)
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To: kabar

That does not prove your point. It only shows that most Americans think securing the border must be a part of true immigration reform. It does say whether they support legalization or oppose it. The nomination of McCain and Obama; however, do show they support legalization.


72 posted on 09/09/2008 11:38:42 AM PDT by robert david (John McCain / Sarah Palin 2008 - Representation for all Americans)
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To: Sunnyflorida

I never asserted or implied a belief that John McCain is a conservative. My point is that the FIRST measure of leadership is, and should always be, how a person views the sanctity of human life. I did not state, nor do I think that being pro-life excuses other defects in judgment or character. Being pro-life is the BEGINNING of wisdom, not the end-all of it.

Moreover there is much a president has at his disposal to uphold the sanctity of human life.

A president’s appointments to political positions, such as AG, SOS, and ambassadorships; and a president’s judicial nominations to the Federal Circuit and Appellate courts, as well as to the USSC, have a tremendous impact on our cultural values.

The president may use his veto power to block bills that provide funding of anti-life measures.

The president has the power of the bully pulpit, and should use it to the maximum advantage.

So, it is incorrect to assert that the POTUS is powerless to effect change in this arena. A president is most certainly invested with a great deal of power and influence... The office holder needs only to recognize and be willing to use the tools at their disposal.


73 posted on 09/09/2008 11:43:48 AM PDT by US34 (It's a long walk home)
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To: robert david
That does not prove your point. It only shows that most Americans think securing the border must be a part of true immigration reform. It does say whether they support legalization or oppose it.

I suppose you meant to say "it does not". I suggest you re-read it. Fifty-seven percent (57%) favor a proposal giving “all illegal aliens up to three years to leave the United States. After leaving, the illegal aliens would have to get in line and wait their turn for legal entry into the United States.”

"Sixty-nine percent (69%) of voters would favor an approach that focuses exclusively on “exclusively on securing the border and reducing illegal immigration.” Support for the enforcement only approach comes from 84% of Republicans, 55% of Democrats, and 69% of those not affiliated with either major party.

The majority of Americans are against amnesty. The majority (59%) believe the more effective way to deal with the potential treat to national security posed by millions of illegal immigrants living within the United States is to crack down on illegal immigration by toughening the enforcement of existing laws, deporting illegal immigrants and prosecuting the employers who illegally employ workers. But nearly a third (32%) favor creating a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants so that they no longer have to live in the shadows of society and can live without fear of prosecution.

The nomination of McCain and Obama; however, do show they support legalization.

Pure sophistry. Most Reps are against amnesty. Take a look at Congressional votes on the subjecti. McCain became the presumptive nominee of the party with 31% of the primary vote thanks to winner-take-all and open primaries. He was not the choice of the majority of Reps for President.

74 posted on 09/09/2008 12:05:41 PM PDT by kabar (.)
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To: AmericanInTokyo
If Juan McCain does get elected, we're going to have to watch him like a hawk on this issue. Shamnesty will be one of the first things on his agenda. Be prepared to hammer congress again.
75 posted on 09/09/2008 12:09:03 PM PDT by Desron13 (If you constantly vote between the lesser of two evils then evil is your ultimate destination.)
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To: kabar

While the open border crowd likes to point to a couple of big names of pro border control reps (Hayworth, Allen) who lost in the last election as evidence of public opinion, fact is border control won in the last election.

My former pro amnesty republican congressman (Joe Schwarz) lost to an anti amnesty conservative (Tim Walberg). The same story was repeated across the nation. In some cases pro border control democrats took the seat of open border republicans. Lots of people don’t like to hear it but we actually manage to squeeze some good pro control votes out of Debbie Stabenow here in Michigan.

Simply stated, the open border crowd tends to lie at every opportunity.


76 posted on 09/09/2008 12:38:00 PM PDT by cripplecreek (Voting Conservative isn't for the faint of heart.)
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To: cripplecreek
The Great Illegal Immigration Myth of '06

Hayworth lost for a number of reasons, but immigration wasn't one of them. Mitchell tried to out tough Hayworth on immigration issues. Hayworth lost because of redistricting and an alleged scandal involving his wife on his campaign payroll. I have a home in Scottsdale that was formerly in Hayworth's district.

Allen could have been stronger on immigration issues. Many of us advised him to do so, but he tried to be too politically correct. He could have garnered more support in NoVA if he had done so. The "macaca" remark that the WP kept going for almost two months on a daily basis was the difference along with a poorly run campaign. He should have won going away.

77 posted on 09/09/2008 12:50:55 PM PDT by kabar (.)
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To: kabar

My congressman (Walberg) was endorsed by the Minuteman PAC and won in a district with a fairly high number of American hispanics. Not only that he beat a RINO who was personally endorsed by John McCain and supported by lots of democrats. That sleazeball Schwarz announced a write in campaign less than 48 hours before the election in an attempt to pull votes from Walberg.


78 posted on 09/09/2008 1:02:48 PM PDT by cripplecreek (Voting Conservative isn't for the faint of heart.)
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To: cripplecreek
My congressman (Walberg) was endorsed by the Minuteman PAC and won in a district with a fairly high number of American hispanics

Interesting. It is also worth noting that AZ passed in 2006 a proposition to make English the official language of the state. It won with 75% of the vote.

79 posted on 09/09/2008 1:06:59 PM PDT by kabar (.)
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To: albie

80 posted on 09/11/2008 11:31:41 PM PDT by KantianBurke (President Bush, why did you abandon Specialist Ahmed Qusai al-Taei?)
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