Free Republic

Like his mentor Jack Kemp, he’s pro-immigration.This week, there was a new development in the House: Paul Ryan may be the key to passing comprehensive immigration reform. But that should hardly come as a surprise. Long before he was a vice-presidential nominee, Ryan was an adviser to former New York congressman Jack Kemp at Empower America, a conservative think tank. It was there, in his early twenties, that Ryan began to share Kemp’s politics. Beyond fiscal issues, that meant supporting pro-immigration policies, such as an expanded guest-worker program. Kemp often spoke passionately about how immigration was necessary for economic growth...

The two lead negotiators in the Senate’s Gang of Eight said on Thursday that they believe their immigration reform bill will not just have a filibuster proof majority in the Senate — but majority support from both parties. “I think it is doable,” Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said at a breakfast sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said the bill cannot slip by with 60 votes because the House would feel less pressure to take it up. Others in the negotiating group have said they think the bill could win at least 70 Senate votes. But...

While I oppose the immigration bill, given the border-security issue and Obama's record of non-enforcement, among other things, I regret linking to a post that refers to Senator Rubio as a slick used car salesman. He is earnest and thoughtful and deserves much better. He loves his country and means well, unlike too many politicians. There are slick used car salesmen on Capitol Hill, many come to mind, but Rubio is certainly not one of them. Also, while I'm on the subject, there are bloggers, columnists, and radio hosts who will personally trash Rubio because they think that shows how...

In an apparent turnaround, Speaker John Boehner and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell have decided that the Basic Principles of the Republican Party, as espoused by Ronald Reagan, will now be the SOP for dealing with Democrats and President Barack Hussein Obama (mmm mmm mmm). "We see that approving Homosexual Marriage, Illegal Aliens invading our borders, confiscating 40-60% of what everybody earns, is a disaster for America, said Boehner, with a tear in his eye. "I agree", added McConnell. "For too long, President Hussein Obama has been getting backrubs and his feet kissed by me and the rest of the...

Angela Sailor, the Republican National Committee’s Director of Coalitions, called me today to inform me that Michael Steele will speak as scheduled at the annual conference of Al Sharpton’s group, the National Action Network (NAN). On April 4, NLPC asked Steele to withdraw from the event, which takes place tomorrow through Friday in New York City. When I went through each of our objections, Ms. Sailor gave me some permutation of the following: Chairman Steele is going to New York to speak to 500-1,000 people in a ballroom to ask them to support Republican candidates. When I asked if Steele...