Perry promotes his years of experience taking on illegal immigration, tries to blunt criticism

Washington Post ^ | Oct 1, 2011 | AP

[Clairity]

His aides believe that his decade of experience as a border-state governor bolsters his credibility on immigration and border security.

He said he vetoed a Texas bill that would have given illegal immigrants driver's licenses, helped pass a bill requiring voter identification at the polls, spent $400 million on security measures to help secure the state’s border with Mexico, and strongly opposed granting amnesty to people who illegally entered the United States.

"I'm a governor. I don't have the pleasure of standing on the stage and criticizing," Perry said. "I have to deal with these issues."

[txrangerette]

Whatever you think of Gilchrist, and nobody is without controversy, his whole schtick is border security and engaging citizens to fight the illegal invasion.

When he says Perry has the best border security stance of all candidates, while at the same time Cain says he won’t even bother to vote for Perry against Obama because of Perry on border security, something is wrong with the picture.

Cain needs to be informed of this. And he needs to be asked about it in a debate.

Not voting for Perry over Obama???

[radpolis]

You can’t see my point of view, because like most liberals, you are so brainwashed by Marxist identity politics, you can’t make an argument in defense of your illegal loving, open borders philosophy without resorting to insults and the race card.

There is no logical or rational defense for illegals and taxpayer support for any of them under any circumstances, except immediate threat to life.

[altura]

Perry passed voter ID.

He’s worked hard on border issues.

If you think the instate tuition break is more important that all the other stuff facing us, well, fine then.

I don’t.

[firefox]

Cain is UNELECTABLE anyway. He has no background on foreign affairs;he has not spelled out the details in 9-9-9;he will suffer (unfortunately)from a racial backlash fostered by the great Unifier;he will lose the African-American vote because they identify him as an “Uncle Tom”.

I hope I don’t have to hold my nose again and vote but if that’s the case then...ABO...even if it is Christie.

Any candidate that doesn’t beleive in ABO doesn’t deserve consideration let alone nomination!

[World'sGoneInsane]

While Perry has a less then ideal stance on immigration, the issue of illegal border crossings is being demagogue by creeps like Willard and the hordes of malcontents slinking around.

Yes, you have to weigh the issues when you vote. Personally, I believe his experience on the issue will make him much more suitable as President. He will have the power that he feels he needed to correct the problems in his own state.

There are a few "malcontents," but I hope people that read some of the misstated facts will look into his record. As he said, if this country doesn't start working again--none of the other issues will matter.

[World'sGoneInsane]

This is what primaries are for, the first one isn't for five months yet.

As of yesterday, the first primary is in three months--Florida moved theirs up.

[World'sGoneInsane]

Very similar arguments were made about Bush...

Well, you should know that President Bush called up Christie about running. He apparently differs with Perry.

[DTogo]

That is Perry's position. He will close the borders and enforce the laws. He is committed to that goal.

By providing in-state tuition to illegal aliens? How is that being committed to enforce the laws????

[Reaganwuzthebest]

He apparently differs with Perry.

Their illegal alien politics are almost identical, can't help whether they like each other or not.

As for Christie: he thinks comprehensive immigration reform is just dandy. Since I don't he'd never get my vote either.

[rolling_stone]

Congress passed IRCA in 1986 and it became law. They failed to fund the enforcement provisions and probably more than 60% of amnesty applications were fraudulent on their face but granted anyway instead of less than a million there were about 3 million granted amnesty.

There were a few holes in the law quickly recognized and solutions presented that have not all been put in place nor funded. One of the largest cases was against Tyson Foods and its “rogue” managers.
Why is the President and Congress exempt from filling out I-9’s?

[rintense]

And very simple fix: punish those who hire the illegals. And you’re wrong about the border/fence/river. It CAN be done but no one dares even propose it.

[rintense]

No sale. Take your compassionate conservatism someplace else. When it comes to the dollars in my pocket, providing for US citizens versus those here illegally- US citizens will ALWAYS- and should ALWAYS come first.

And that means no more anchor babies too.

And yes, I do begrudge them because they are taking away MY country from MY children and future generations. I begrudge them because THEY are sapping an already taxed healthcare system, auto insurance rates, etc. I begrudge them because they KNOW they are breaking the laws to get here, and use our own generosity for THEIR benefit.

And I begrudge YOU and everyone else who is making excuses for illegals, all because you want Perry to be President. You make me sick.

[rintense]

Why don't you go and read the actual tuition law. You'll see that under the law illegals "may be eligible for state aid". That's taxpayer money.

No sale.

[Ajnin]

Fourteen years of experience in the Border Patrol tells me that every thing that Perry has done is nothing but political smoke and mirrors designed to placate people such as yourself. Perry’s desire to give illegal aliens in state tuition is just more evidence that he is not serious about securing the border.

If Perry becomes President we can look forward to not just in state tuition for illegal aliens but amnesty and whatever taxpayer funded goodies La Raza can come up with.

[EDINVA]

Why would *I* have to read the actual law ... it passed the TX state legislature with only 4 NO votes. It’s TX taxpayer money, neither federal nor Virginia taxpayer money. If the law were so controversial in TX, the TX voters/taxpayers can vote their legislators out of office. Ten years later Texans haven’t voted out their legislators or governor, so it must be okay by them. Not your problem or mine.

[af_vet_rr]

Look, the guy is clearly not very intelligent. You don’t tell your base they don’t have a heart, especially when 75% of the country (not just Republicans) disagrees with you on the issue in question (the Dream Act).

What's bad is when his defenders claim that it was something Perry had to do in 2001 because that's what the legislature wanted. Okay, fine, but what about in 2007 when Perry was still defending it when Republican legislators were trying to file bills repealing it? At some point those folks are going to have to accept the fact that Perry was encouraging illegal immigration, whether it was defending the DREAM Act in 2007, bitching Congress out in 2007 (from Mexico City) for not passing a guest worker program, or when Perry addressed La Raza's national conference last year.

For all those FReepers who are in love with Perry, I'd like to hear their thoughts on his addressing La Raza last year at their national conference.

[af_vet_rr]

And you're right I want Obama out and if Perry wins the primaries then there isn't much choice. Once again we will have to hold Congress's feet to the fire not to give him amnesty since like Bush I'm convinced he'll push for it in the name of a guest worker program.

I am absolutely convinced that Perry will push for a guest worker program. He's got a decade of pandering to illegals and their supporters, and you do not go to Mexico City and claim that Congress is immature for not passing a guest worker program unless you are 100% behind such a program. You just don't do that.

It scares the Hell out me thinking that if Perry gets in the White House, he'll have enough Democrats and RINOs to pass such a program.

[PATX]

Well maybe that INCREASE in the number of illegals is due to the fact that we have a very long border here in Texas reaching from NM to La and it borders Mexico only.

Maybe that INCREASE is due to the fact that we need more man power down at the border that most Border states do. And they don’t even have enough man power on their borders as it is.

Maybe that INCREASE is due to the fact that everyone up in Washington has said we really have no problems down here on our border and won’t listen to us tell them we need help down here.

Maybe all your chair potatoes who know exactly how to run this country and have all the answers to the illegal problems ought to come down here make yourself an appointment with Gov Perry and tell him your plan to make sure that no more illegals come across the border.

Cause believe me in the 11 years that Perry has been Gov of Texas and has tried to enforce the border from illegals crossing it NOTHING has worked to the extent that you people want it to.

We deal with the illegals the best we can down here and little to no help from our goverment.

What more do you want from us? Every man woman and child in Texas standing on the border with a gun to shot anyone who comes across it from Mexico?

Plus there are alot of American Mexicans who help these people when they get across the border and into the US. In every state of the Union believe me. You want papers they got them just give them the money and they can make you a US citizen in about 20 minutes.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

Those who want Perry are being quiet about these revealing quotes of his. Of course if he wins it’s Bush all over again. The fight for amnesty disguised as guest worker programs began from the day he got in until he left. Only 9/11 slowed him down somewhat but he never gave up. I don’t expect anything different with Perry.

[rintense]

I want a President who wants ALL options on the table. Not a governor who has an excuse for everything.