Posted on 08/20/2011 1:32:05 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
ROCK HILL, SC -- Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) spoke for a few minutes to reporters here about his views on immigration, which have gotten him into some hot water with the conservative base he hopes to woo as his presidential campaign spools up. What he offered up was a little something for everyone.
Perry said states should be responsible for their own immigration laws, also stating that the federal government must step up border enforcement. He also spelled out his support for a national program that would allow illegal immigrants who serve in the military to become citizens.
Illegal immigration is, of course, a core issue among conservatives, who continue to reject any plan that allows existing illegal immigrants to become citizens as part of comprehensive immigration reform. In Texas, Perry has taken a number of positions on the issue at the state level that have ruffled feathers on the national anti-illegal immigrant right -- including advocating for and signing a Texas version of the DREAM Act.
He opposes the national DREAM Act debated in the last Congress.
But in South Carolina Saturday, he said he supported a main tenet of that bill -- that illegal immigrants can earn their citizenship by serving honorably in the military.
"I think there is a path to citizenship for those young men and women who have served their country," Perry said in response to a question from NachoFiesta blogger Sean Quinn. "That is a very unique set of individuals, and different than folks who have come here illegally and not given back in that particular way."
But on other controversial immigration laws, Perry said the states should be able to do what they wish.
"I am a big believer in the 10th Amendment," Perry said. He said "state by state, they need to make those decisions" about charging illegal immigrants in-state college tuition prices (as Perry has advocated in Texas) or passing laws like Arizona's SB 1070.
"I happen to believe with all my heart that the states would be best served by being able to be free to make these decisions themselves," Perry said. "I didn't think that for the state of Texas and Arizona-exact law was right for the state of Texas. I didn't want to make our law enforcement officers federal immigration officers. So, state by state ought to be the way to do that, not by the federal government making one size fits all."
But Perry said the federal government needs to lead the way in some areas of immigration, such as a national reform package.
"Once we secure the border, we can have a conversation about immigration reform in this country, but not until," he said. "You must have the federal government putting the resources, the boots on the ground, the aviation assets in the air, and secure that border so that we know that the border is secure before we have a conversation about any immigration reform."
I agree that the feds, for many, many years have made a mess out of things. I still believe that “immigration reform” is code for amnesty, and until I see something different will not support it.
they sign up, and don’t ask? not sure, this has been happening, nice huh? Our legal men and women fighting side by side with illegal foreigners?
I want to see Senator Burr’s sons serve in the military in order to maintain their citizenship!
It’s too bad none of the Bush or Romeny kids had balls enough to serve in the Marines. I can’t speak for your experience. I can say that as far as the Army goes, we needed a green card before we could officially talk to them. This wouldn’t be a problem by they way, if the Sununu boys and more men from the Cuomo family were serving in the military when they were young.
Agreed. What value do they provide to the military other than having a pulse? In all likelihood they don’t speak English, they have minimal math skills and thus are a drain on training.
“Service for Citizenship has been a long-standing tradition”
They need to join up in their home countries. This is SOP in the Phillipines with US military recruiting stations. If they are illegal then no dice.
I do not want illegal immigrants in our military. I don’t want illegal immigrants guarding U.S. bases. I sure as heck would not want to have an illegal immigrant next to me if I went in battle. I can not support Perry or anyone else who thinks this is ok and gives a reward to illegal aliens who break even more of our laws.
If we want amnesty for illegals, then just run McCain again. We need to find another candidate for the Republican ticket.
How can a country elect a man as president without vetting him. Was a birth certificate required? Yes. Have we ever seen a real one from the zero? No.
That should answer your questions.
So if Rudolph Guliani somehow ends up running against Obama you would not vote? Obama is very toxic, you don’t get it. Just look what the Obama EPA is up to.
Me-— I would happily vote vote for any Republican who runs against Obama. Rush Limbaugh said as much a few days ago.
Name calling (or close to it): “This sounds like it was taken right out of a La Raza discussion forum.”
You are correct concerning our differences.
By projection,I meant Ajnin’s blanket assertions concerning other’s allegiance to the nation makes me question his rationality, his allegations manifest contempt for our culture, and the rule of law. I assume he is a U.S. citizen by fortuity not by choice and your own argument is that service in the military does not equate with patriotism (or does that only apply to aliens?). Using your logic, Timothy McVeigh should be accorded more respect than anyone here illegally serving in the military. Thus, your defense of his projecting was ridiculous.Rather than projecting, perhaps I should have just assumed dementia.
The “Dementia” comment was gratuitous and wrong. I apologize. I’ll stick with Projection:
“Psychological projection or projection bias is a psychological defense mechanism where a person subconsciously denies his or her own attributes, thoughts, and emotions, which are then ascribed to the outside world, usually to other people.Projection reduces anxiety by allowing the expression of the unwanted unconscious impulses or desires without letting the conscious mind recognize them.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychological_projection
“...They will take so many blacks, so many women, so many illegals, so many sodomites, eyc, etc...”
In other words - those that wouldn’t hesitate for one moment to fire on “the best a brightest white boys” and the rest of American society.
“...I would suggest white christian males go to school and skip military service....”
I disagree. I say get as much military/combat training as possible, as quickly as possible, and get very proficient at it.
We’re going to need it.
"The program focused on non-citizens who were legally present in the United States and could provide use in health-care or language skill in return for expedited citizenship..."
Non-citizens who are here LEGALLY. That's a LOT different than providing combat training, knowledge and experience to illegal Reconquistas and Aztlan vatos wanting to drive the white people out of the Southwest - and then making them Citizens!!!
If they're here illegally, kick their asses BACK across the Rio Grande into their own country.
You've bought into that bogus 12 million number that the mainstream media has been tossing around for the last 20 years. The real number is closer to 65-85 million.
You deport them. Why should illegal alien children get to benefit from the crimes of their parents when USC children don't get to benefit from the crimes of their parents.
and who sees him/herself as an unhyphanted American
LOL! Good luck finding one of those.
Lots of legal immigrants did join and serve proudly but I AM SURE that ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS could not serve. There weren't that many back then but we had just had Ike's Operation Wetback I believe it was.
In fact I recall recent news items of Latin Americans asking U.S. Embassy personnel if they could sign up for U.S. military and be admitted that way. NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! said the Embassies.
I am starting to think that Perry took so long to run because he was waiting on word from Mexico City.. kind of like it seems that Jeb Bush is awaiting word also. IMO -- I am sick of taxpayer-subsidized "cheap labor" for some -- and the lies they tell that Americans won't do those jobs. They want the lucrative (for them) taxpayer-subsidized "cheap labor," period.
You don't have to insult me just admit you are wrong. That's what people who are intellectually honest do.
Questioning whether or not you are rational was not intended as an insult; rather, I was drawing a conclusion from your posts. Many people with mental illness neither recognize nor accept it. I hope you get treatment and clear your head of whatever demons possess you.
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