Jeb and Walker’s Immigration Double-Talk

The Daily Beast ^ | March 27. 2015 | Ruben Navarrette Jr.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Scott Walker and Jeb Bush were bound to collide sooner or later. It turned out to be sooner.

As the son of a Baptist minister, and the son of the 41st president of the United States, these two were destined to be the odd couple of the 2016 election. Walker is running against the establishment and the Washington elites. Bush embodies both. Walker will need at least $100 million to compete in the GOP primary, and more if he makes it to the general. Most of the Republican donors who write those kinds of checks are on Bush’s speed dial.

Bush could be successful in a general election but he first must survive what is likely to be a brutal primary battle for the GOP nomination. He’ll have to convince far-right voters that he is conservative enough, and those are some of the very people who seem so enamored of Walker. Small world.

The collision was over immigration. During a recent trip to New Hampshire, Bush was asked by a reporter if he believed the Wisconsin governor had changed his views on the issue to appeal to the far right.

“He changed his views on immigration,” Bush said of Walker........

What will the Walkeristas—not to mention assorted members of the Tea Party—say about that? Sounds like Walker himself has a pretty good idea what they’d say, because the same afternoon the Journal posted its piece, a Walker spokeswoman said, “We strongly dispute this account.”....

Walker and Bush certainly aren’t the only politicians on the planet who have altered their views on immigration.....

[trebb]

No problem about confusing the post - I get so sick of folks trashing Walker because he isn't as strongly anti-amnesty as Cruz that when they seem to be trashing him for it, I point out that Cruz has not called for much different than what Walker is saying.

I won't trash either Walker or Cruz - I believe that if we don't have one or the other to vote for, we are royally screwed.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Thanks - I mistook your post as being from another and felt terrible about it.

[ansel12]

No problem about confusing the post - I get so sick of folks trashing Walker because he isn't as strongly anti-amnesty as Cruz that when they seem to be trashing him for it, I point out that Cruz has not called for much different than what Walker is saying.

Walker's offering citizenship is vastly different than Cruz fighting with everything that he can, to deny citizenship.

As far as having to defend Cruz against Cincinatus' Wife, she is forcing us into that position.

[SoConPubbie]

And you obviously don't realize truth is truth, even if it comes from the high quality opposition.
I notice neither of you made even the smallest attempt to refute Cruzes position.

On Immigration, Cruz Aims for Middle Ground

Here, just for you:

Neither in the Texas Tribune nor at any other time has Senator Cruz ever said he supports legalization for undocumented workers currently residing in the United States.

Senator Cruz’s campaign spokeswoman Catherine Frazier told us Cruz’s goal in the Gang of Eight amendment was three fold: to get Senators on the record showing where they stood on the issue, that it was a good faith effort to improve the bill, and to stop a pathway to citizenship. Frazier explained it was not intended to suggest support for legalization.

“Cruz supports strengthening the border and fixing our legal immigration and interior enforcement systems before we deal with those who are here illegally,” Frazier said. “It’s premature to discuss what to do with those who are still here illegally until we have made these reforms. Indicating that there may be the potential for amnesty in the future, only encourages more illegal immigration.”

Frazier reiterated Senator Cruz’s consistency on the issue, that the Senator is in favor of expanding legal immigration, and that he vocally opposes President Obama’s executive immigration overreach.

While MSNBC’s claim that Senator Cruz has not specifically detailed his stance on legalizing undocumented immigrants is true, the inference that he supports legalization, is false.

[SoConPubbie]

Please, tell me Cruz’s position on illegals living in the United States.

How does he plan to address the millions living here if he becomes president?

Here, just for you:

Neither in the Texas Tribune nor at any other time has Senator Cruz ever said he supports legalization for undocumented workers currently residing in the United States.

Senator Cruz’s campaign spokeswoman Catherine Frazier told us Cruz’s goal in the Gang of Eight amendment was three fold: to get Senators on the record showing where they stood on the issue, that it was a good faith effort to improve the bill, and to stop a pathway to citizenship. Frazier explained it was not intended to suggest support for legalization.

“Cruz supports strengthening the border and fixing our legal immigration and interior enforcement systems before we deal with those who are here illegally,” Frazier said. “It’s premature to discuss what to do with those who are still here illegally until we have made these reforms. Indicating that there may be the potential for amnesty in the future, only encourages more illegal immigration.”

Frazier reiterated Senator Cruz’s consistency on the issue, that the Senator is in favor of expanding legal immigration, and that he vocally opposes President Obama’s executive immigration overreach.

While MSNBC’s claim that Senator Cruz has not specifically detailed his stance on legalizing undocumented immigrants is true, the inference that he supports legalization, is false.

[SunkenCiv]

Compare and contrast with the demagogue and Democrat in name only, Rand Paul:

• Rand Paul Wants Bigger GOP: 'You Go to a Republican Event and It's All White People'
• (Rand) Paul: GOP Needs to 'Look Like the Rest of America' to Win Again (again)
• Rand Paul slams Cliven Bundy's racist rant
• Rand Paul: Bundy's racist remarks are 'offensive'
• Rand Paul: I'm Open to Voting for Immigration Bill
• Paul: Still hope for immigration reform this year

Rand Paul's immigration speech

...The Republican Party must embrace more legal immigration.

Unfortunately, like many of the major debates in Washington, immigration has become a stalemate-where both sides are imprisoned by their own rhetoric or attachment to sacred cows that prevent the possibility of a balanced solution.

Immigration Reform will not occur until Conservative Republicans, like myself, become part of the solution. I am here today to begin that conversation.

Let's start that conversation by acknowledging we aren't going to deport 12 million illegal immigrants.

If you wish to work, if you wish to live and work in America, then we will find a place for you...

This is where prudence, compassion and thrift all point us toward the same goal: bringing these workers out of the shadows and into being taxpaying members of society.

Imagine 12 million people who are already here coming out of the shadows to become new taxpayers.12 million more people assimilating into society. 12 million more people being productive contributors.

[Posted on 03/19/2013 7:04:07 AM PDT by Perdogg]

---

Rand Paul calls on conservatives to embrace immigration reform

Latinos, should be a natural constituency for the party, Paul argued, but "Republicans have pushed them away with harsh rhetoric over immigration." ...he would create a bipartisan panel to determine how many visas should be granted for workers already in the United States and those who might follow... [and the buried lead] "Imagine 12 million people who are already here coming out of the shadows to become new taxpayers...

[Posted on 04/21/2013 1:52:42 PM PDT by SoConPubbie]

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[but he's not in favor of amnesty, snicker, definition of is is]

[Thunder90]

I am sorry to tell you but the only way we will get rid of all of the illegals is to change the makeup of the US SCOTUS, and in a big way. The Courts are going to block any wholesale mass deportation.

[Thunder90]

Where did Walker come in and say that he wanted to give illegals citizenship? I want quotes.

And, again, see my line above about how the courts will block any mass deportation. The law was not enforced for years (since Clinton), thus it was like the law was not there.

[ansel12]

Which is it?

You want to see proof that Scott Walker supports citizenship, or that when you see that proof, you want to switch to arguing that they can’t be deported anyway?