Conservative says GOP needs Latinos
As the White House begins to prepare for opening a debate on immigration reform later this year or perhaps early next year, Democrats worry that the controversy could be one more challenging political issue in a tough political climate.
But the challenge could be even greater for Republicans, given that so many of their partisans are openly hostile to immigrants (whether legal or illegal), especially Latinos. Michael Gerson, former speech writer and adviser to President George W. Bush, warns that the issue could be “an invitation to political suicide” for the GOP.
In ethnic politics, symbolism matters. And recent Republican signals to Hispanics have often been crudely unwelcoming. During the 2006 congressional debate on immigration reform, Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.) grabbed the Republican microphone to call Miami a “Third World country.” The same year, Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-Ariz.) darkly warned of illegal immigrant murderers as a “slow motion nightmare” greater than Sept. 11. A provision of the House immigration reform bill would have made it illegal for priests, ministers and volunteers to “assist” illegal immigrants — criminalizing a religious duty. Republican presidential candidates conspicuously avoided Hispanic forums during the 2008 primaries. Conservative shock radio, on its frightening fringes, can be overtly racist, referring to Mexican immigrants as “leeches,” “the world’s lowest primitives” and diseased carriers of the “fajita flu” who may “wipe their behinds with their hands.” Pat Buchanan sells books with this title: “State of Emergency: The Third World Invasion and Conquest of America.”
Gerson’s fears are well placed. Given that so few leading Republicans are willing to stand up to the haters in their constituency, the unhinged fringe could take over the debate. If so, the GOP could sign over the Latino vote to the Democrats for a generation.
A note: I hope my readers will be able to discuss this issue with less of the vitriol and juvenile name-calling that accompanied my last post on immigrants.
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34 comments Add your comment
jconservative
October 7th, 2009
12:44 pm
“note: I hope my readers will be able to discuss this issue with less of the vitriol and juvenile name-calling that accompanied my last post on immigrants.”
Sorry ma’am, this will not happen.
jconservative
October 7th, 2009
12:57 pm
Estimates from the Census Bureau – 8/2008.
1) Minorities, now roughly one-third of the U.S. population, are expected to become the majority in 2042, with the nation projected to be 54 percent minority in 2050. By 2023, minorities will comprise more than half of all children.
2)In 2030, when all of the baby boomers will be 65 and older, nearly one in five U.S. residents is expected to be 65 and older. This age group is projected to increase to 88.5 million in 2050, more than doubling the number in 2008 (38.7 million).
The job of the Republican Party is to find some way to increase their strength in the various ethnic communities as their base of over 60 whites & white southerners turn into just another minority.
If they do not, by 2042 the Republican Party have permanent minority status in the US Congress. And they can kiss the White House goodbye
unless they come up with a charismatic candidate like Obama.
righty
October 7th, 2009
1:11 pm
Cynthia, consider the source. A speechwriter for W would naturally be more inclined to take the side of Latinos. Remember, Bush pushed for amnesty, a point that still burns with real conservatives.
The problem is not the Republican party accepting Latinos. The problem is that there are upwards of 12 million here ILLEGALLY and all the Democrats want to do is make them citizens after they’ve been breaking the law. And the reason that many legal Latinos find trouble with the Republicans is in their own mind: they stick up for the illegals (though I must point out that many Latinos who are here legally are opposed to amnesty because they recognize the trouble they went through to come here the right way and do not want to see others rewarded for breaking the law).
It’s not about being “haters” or “bigots”, it’s about the rule of law. Of course, that concept went out of the Democratic playbook decades ago and RINOs are now trying to do the same. Let the immigrants come, but let them come here legally and assimilate into American culture, rather than sneak over here and send half of their paycheck south of the border and not pay the taxes for the services they enjoy here on our dime.
Shawny
October 7th, 2009
1:18 pm
No party is hostile to legals, latinos or otherwise. Retract that statement. And no, one or two data points does not make a trend.
Some conservatives aren’t hostile toward illegals, but are intolerant of their failure to recognize our laws. Many, many, many non-US citizens wait to become US citizens and the illegals cut in line and come here knowing that it is against the law. They do so (and I don’t blame them) for reasons that help them make more money for the most part. We refuse to enforce our own laws and prosecute illegals and return them to their point of origin, allowing them the opportunity to get in line legally. That is our fault, particularly the executive branch of govt responsible for enforcing laws.
While the GOP should not be hostile, but should remain steadfast in enforcing existing laws. At the same time, each Dem should go on record as to their position on this matter. Do the allow amnesty or do they respect the law? Choose.
News Hound
October 7th, 2009
1:19 pm
Headlines proving beyond the shadow of the doubt that global warming is upon us:
SNOW PILING UP: Idaho school kids enjoy ‘earliest snow day in history’…
Colorado ski resort boasts ‘earliest opening day in 40 years’…
Vegas ski resort to open ‘earlier than it ever has’…
Jack
October 7th, 2009
1:20 pm
We’ve just learned that vitroil does not include calling someone a hater and being unhinged.
Charlie
October 7th, 2009
1:23 pm
As a Hispanic, who is also a former US Armed Forces servicemember, I staunchly support enforcing our borders and immigration laws. This is not about “race”, but about the unoficial transfer of liabilities from one country to another and the effect that it has on the receiving country’s population. Not only do we have to pay health, education and social benefits for illegal aliens and their offspring, but they displace our own poor and recently freed convicts from jobs they used to do before illegals took over any of them. Next time a parolee commits a crime, because he was not able to earn a decent living in wage depressed jobs where illegals have penetrated, ask yourself if it might not have happened if we enforced our immigration laws as stringently as Mexico…
The Conservatives only need to get the vote out. Given our low turnoput rates, that is the only truly relevant strategy to win.
Jack
October 7th, 2009
1:35 pm
We’re being called haters and unhinged and at the same time asked to not use vitroil. I consider that request to be juvenile.
DWB
October 7th, 2009
2:07 pm
GOP to Sign over the Latino vote to Democrats? Just how does the GOP loose something it never had? This is about a silly as saying Obama is going to loose the African American vote. The Democrats are all about the law when it looks at the CIA, or ACORN while looking at an open border policy that treats lawbreakers like errant school children.
lovelyliz
October 7th, 2009
2:10 pm
And yet, the GOP doesn’t understand why Latinos just don’t like them
lovelyliz
October 7th, 2009
2:18 pm
To be fair here, the GOP understands that illegals don’t vote and don’t see any risk at making them the bad guy and scoring easy political points with those who oppose this type of immigration and the neo-confederates.
The problems is that the Republicans can’t seem to tell this difference between an American of Hispanics decent and an illegal immigrant and treat both the same. Then they act surprised when the old “I didn’t know you were one of us” excuse doesn’t work. They also don’t understand that when it comes to bigotry and racial/social epithets, Hispanic Americans do take things personally.
Truth
October 7th, 2009
2:20 pm
Have any of who write get in line come in legally tried to come in legally? it takes YEARS. Fix the system.
Kevin
October 7th, 2009
2:22 pm
Calling a BS flag, Cynthia.
Please provide proof or documentation that the GOP is hostile toward legal immigrants. Legal and illegal are two very different things. I realize that’s you libs are all about gray zones, and that the difference is a challenge to comprehend.
A classic Tucker maneuver of painting with a broad brush without supporting facts.
Estoban
October 7th, 2009
2:22 pm
Millions upon millions(no one knows how many!) of lawbreaking illegal aliens have overstayed visas and stolen across our borders, invading and occupying our land. They are of all races, ethnicities and from all countries. Recently there has been a surge of Chinese lawbreaking illegal aliens across our southern borders. They all have but one thing in common. They have disrespected our culture and laws by breaking them. We do not hate them, but be sure, we are very angry at them and the corrupt greedy employers and the incompetent Presidents, Senators, Representatives of BOTH parties that have failed to do their duty and enforce our laws. The great majority of Americans of all races and ethnicities are fed up to here with illegal aliens.
Truth
October 7th, 2009
2:25 pm
Latinos / Hispanics are not follies to vote Republicans, while the GOP are calling them ILLEGAL.
NO HUMAN IS ILLEGAL. ALMIGHTY GOD CREATED ONE RACE THE HUMAN RACE.
To all thos who oppose the poor Undocumented and blame them for your own GREEDINESS & FOLLIES. TRY THIS
:)
What would you see yourself as if you were looking thru the Eyes of Almighty GOD ?
BECAUSE,
How you Treat others is how God TREATS You.
How you Forgive others is how God FORGIVES You.
How you See others is how God SEEs You.
When you show Empathy for the plight of another HUMAN BEING, God takes empathy in YOUR PLIGHT.
When others slight you and you ignore the call to Vengeance that burns inside, God erases all memory of your failures towards him.
When you SEE THE IMAGE OF GOD in ANOTHER HUMAN BEING, Then the IMAGE of GOD Becomes REVEALED WITHIN YOU.
The way You Judge other HUMANS is HOW GOD Judges You.
All Humans are EQUAL, ALL Humans are created and are the same in Almighty GODS VISION.
What You wish for the other is what GOD Gives YOU.
Happiness keeps You Sweet,
Trials keep You Strong,
Sorrows keep You Human,
Life keeps You Humble,
Success keeps You Glowing ,
But Only God keeps You Going.
Truth
October 7th, 2009
2:28 pm
Estoban Hi I see that you’re awake and positing your hate. GOOD LUCK , IT WONT WORK.
The smallest matchstick will light up the largest darkest stadium.
HATE WILL NEVER WINS, IT ONLY CONSUMES THE ONE THAT HAS IT.
ctucker
October 7th, 2009
2:34 pm
Kevin wrote: Calling a BS flag, Cynthia.
Please provide proof or documentation that the GOP is hostile toward legal immigrants. Legal and illegal are two very different things. I realize that’s you libs are all about gray zones, and that the difference is a challenge to comprehend.
A classic Tucker maneuver of painting with a broad brush without supporting facts.
Kevin, Did you read Michael Gerson’s column? I included the link to make it easy for you to read his column for yourself. Those are the words of a conservative who worked not just for George W. Bush but for several other Republicans.
Unapprove | Spam | Delete | Edit | Quick Edit | Reply
TnGelding
October 7th, 2009
3:14 pm
Jack
October 7th, 2009
1:35 pm
Are you among the fringe? Their rhetoric gives them away.
I think conservatives are where America is on this issue.
ctucker
October 7th, 2009
2:34 pm
How about letting us provide links?
TnGelding
October 7th, 2009
3:18 pm
jconservative
October 7th, 2009
12:57 pm
It’s projected. We have to make drastic changes to reverse the trend.
Ivan
October 7th, 2009
3:26 pm
If the GOP listens to blatant racists such as Senator Jeffrey Beauregard Sessions (Alabama, stereotype, anyone?), Sen . Jim Demint (South Carolina, another walking stereotype), the party is doomed for generations to come. The GOP’s rhetoric has scapegoated anyone who doesn’t look or talk like Billy Bob. Well, Billy Bob is on its way of becoming the minority in the US, and this will signal the demise of the WASP, good’ole boy GOP.
And, Billy Bob, you have lost this battle, you just don’t know it yet. Racism always loses in America…
DebbieDoRight
October 7th, 2009
3:30 pm
There is a simple solution to this problem. If you want to stop illegals from coming here and getting jobs, then imprison the people hiring them. If there is no one hiring illegals, then there are no more jobs for them, then they won’t come over here for work. Told ya it was simple!!!
jt
October 7th, 2009
4:17 pm
Michael Gerson is about as conservative as his boss was.
The republican party is NOT anti-immigrant, no matter how many times the left repeats it.
jconservative
October 7th, 2009
4:41 pm
jt
“The republican party is NOT anti-immigrant, no matter how many times the left repeats it.”
I agree. But it is the perception, not the reality, that matters in politics. It always has been. The Latino, African, Asian & Jewish communities “perceive” the Republican Party as “anti” them.
Fortunately it is not the great majority of Republican politicians who are creating the perception; unfortunately, it is the cheerleaders of the social conservative wing of the party, Rush, Sean & Glenn, who are feeding that perception. And we understand they are not in it for party building, but for personal gain.
This is a burden the Republican Party must bear for the foreseeable future.
ted salladore
October 7th, 2009
5:07 pm
Enter your comments
Not to worry Ms. Tucker. I am not going to join the vitriol and the demagoguery of the right wing fringes of the GOP. Frankly, I used to be a Rush Limbaugh “apostle” but I’m glad I am out of that right wing web i.e. GOP .It took a while for me to discern as I was in their maelstrom.Not anymore. The GOP’s political obituary is already written . Just like you said, their leaders have sublimated to their angry ,old white southern population—which is their last bastion. I would not shed a tear for leaving them. Immigration reform will happen without their cooperation.
Kevin
October 7th, 2009
6:43 pm
Thanks for the feedback, Cynthia.
I hadn’t read the link. Now I have, and it’s alarming and unfortunate.
I stand corrected. My apologies.
sakibaba
October 7th, 2009
7:18 pm
There are thousands of legal immigrants waiting patientlly for years. Organizations like FAIR,NumbersUSA,Progammers(aka Losers) Guild dim the line between legal and illegal immigrants and try to scapegoat all of them together.
I am a legal immigrant and a conservative by principle. The biggest obstacle to any sensible reform of the legal immigration system has been blocked by the CHC(congressional hispanic caucus of the democratic party). Their excuse is that if amnesty is not going to be part of the bill they will hold other backlog reduction measures(for legal immigrants waiting decades). However when I listen to Glenn, Rush or Dobbs trying to club all immigrants together it makes me so mad that I do not want to be assosiated with the party that they represent. Their are many like me and I am not of hispanic descent.
sakibaba
October 7th, 2009
7:21 pm
If GOP wants the minority/legal immigrant vote then they should show that by moving ahead with “legal immigration reform” minus amnesty.
That will prove that they are not hypocrites and get the law abiding, educated high skilled minorities on their side.
sakibaba
October 7th, 2009
7:28 pm
But I guess the dems have the GOP cornered big time on this issue. It does not matter whether amnesty will pass or not. All they have to do is introduce the bill.
GOP will oppose it and the right wing will start spewing hate taking away any logical discussion.
If the bill passes: The dems have the hispanic vote.
If the bill fails: GOP will take the fall as the right wing nuts would have pushed even the most moderate of minorities away.
Want to call on the Dems bluff: Support “Legal Immigration Reform”. That will break the Dems vote bank and expose their hypocracy.
Delaware Bob
October 8th, 2009
12:06 am
With so many Americans out of work, it is time to get rid of the illegal aliens. I also believe we should cut way back on the VISAS and the legal immigration until we get our economy back and all the Americans are working. Illegal aliens are destroying this Country and one must have poor eye sight not to see that.
Illegal aliens have made America the dumping ground for all their illegal alien children, then we have to school them and give them free medical care.
I for one, am sick and tired of these ILLEGAL ALIENS snubbing their nose at our immigration laws and the many other laws of this Country. If our Federal Government can not ENFORCE our immigration laws, and get these ILLEGAL ALIENS out of this Country, then let the States do it! One way or another, an end has to come to this illegal immigration, and not with AMNESTY! Amnesty will only encourage more ILLEGAL ALIENS to invade our Country and reward those who broke our laws and raped the American taxpayer in many ways…depressing our wages, taking our jobs, overwhelming our schools with their ILLEGAL ALIEN children, driving without a license or car insurance, all the crime from stolen identities to rape, drugs and everything else.
It’s time for ZERO TOLERENCE with these ILLEGAL ALIENS. It’s time for them get out of this Country and back in their own Country where they belong. When we get rid of the ILLEGAL ALIENS, we will get rid of all the problems that go with them. THAT IS A FACT!
Joe
October 8th, 2009
12:56 am
The solution is simple, if one exhibits patience to look at the root cause of this issue….the current legal immigration system is broken as it does not address the dynamic labor needs of our great nation…once we fix this, we can enforce the immigration laws and ensure that illegal immigration is minimized (no practically feasible solution can assume that there will be 100% fix to illegal immigration). If it takes 10+ years for an immigrant who follows legal immigration process then we are indirectly encouraging illegal immigration.
So, instead of arguing about whether Americans can do the low-paying jobs being taken by illegals or about whether we need to send packing the 12 million plus illegals, let’s focus on constructive approach and figure out what to do with these 12 million illegals…it’s easy to say that we should send them packing back to their homes but we should look at practical solutions, not empty rhetoric
Joe
October 8th, 2009
1:19 am
7 point solution that I can think of (revisions, suggestions, additions are welcome as long as they are practical)
1) Enforce all US employers to adhere to E-Verify system by Oct 2010 (Fiscal year for immigration starts every October)
2) Revamp Legal Immigration System to address the dynamic labor needs for all industries, small businesses and religious/seasonal workers…make it a point-based system driven by the employee’s contribution to our country and not the employer’s contribution to our country
3) Enforce Smart Technology Monitoring Systems on our borders and Create more tangible immigration detention center procedures
4) Encourage 12 million illegals to voluntarily sign up into a parole based system, learn english, pay back taxes and get into the Legal Immigration System mentioned in #2
5) Review our immigration policies every year instead of every 25+ years so that this problem does not grow into a monster. If some policies don’t work them revamp them on a regular basis based on the economic needs of that time
6) Ensure that the legal immigration system clearly identifies the policies for temporary Vs permanent jobs. We want to keep the permanent immigration numbers lower than the current levels and ensure that these permanent immigrants are high skilled (read it as job-creating business leaders)
7) Remove the lottery system for permanent immigrants and exclude the anchor babies related policy from our immigration system
Indy
October 8th, 2009
2:32 am
Both parties have dropped the ball on this. I do not know if they realize the harm they are doing by not enforcing the laws. I too sympathize with the poor nations to the south, but all we have been doing for the last 20 years is giving them fish. We need to teach them to fish.
They come here because the liberals look the other way and give them social services in the name of compasion, and the republicans look the other way and give them sanctuary in the name of business. In either case the taxpayer either directly or indirectly foots the bill. It is easy to be idealistic when you are not spending your own money. Let’s face it, we just can’t afford to support Mexico. We have come to the point where we may not support ourselves.
To have an outsider come into your house and make demands on you should make you angry. And to have our elected leaders bow to pressure from groups of illegals while dismissing the citizens of this country is even more disconcerting.
If we are going to continue this way, why don’t we just annex Mexico, at least we would get some oil out of the deal. Na, still not worth it.
Paul Carter
October 8th, 2009
10:57 am
The biggest threat to the world is also the BIGGEST THREAT to the US and that threat is EXPONENTIAL POPULATION GROWTH! According to the Census Bureau, 87% of US population growth is the direct result of immigrants and their children. It doesn’t matter whether the immigrants come here legally or illegally they are the primary engine of the exponential population growth in our country, thus the very real problems their presence here causes. US population growth since the 1960s is not the result of the choices of US citizen to have more children. Instead it results from the choices of Congress to impose this population growth through immigration policy changes made over the objections of the majority of US citizens. If you believe it is OK to have massive immigration so long as it is legal, then you should embrace AMNESTY because it will transform the BAD illegal aliens into GOOD legal immigrants. Legalizing 12-20+ million illegal aliens will only accelerate our exponential population growth, and exacerbate the consequences we are already seeing.
Just how bad is our population growth? The Census Bureau makes three population projections (high growth, medium growth and low growth) based on current law and a number of other assumptions. Well the medium growth projections for 2060 was 460 million people and for 2100 it was one billion the last time I looked. It should be noted that the Census Bureau’s medium growth projections have consistently under estimated our actual population largely I think because they don’t include illegal aliens and their children.
What do Americans think about massive immigration? While are polls not necessarily a definitive measure of public desires on this subject (polls can be designed to return a specific outcome, and polls almost never give respondents accurate background information to consider when responding to poll questions) they are non-the-less one measure of public opinion. Below are a few polls you should consider.
• 83% of U.S. voters say that citizenship verification should be part of any health care reform legislation (Rasmussen, September 2009).
• 78% of likely U.S. voters believe that mass immigration has adversely impacted the quality and cost of the U.S. health care system (Pulse Opinion Research, August 2009).
• 78% of likely U.S. voters oppose amnesty, with 19% in favor. 88% of African-Americans oppose amnesty. (Pulse Opinion Research, August 2009).
• 70% of American voters feel that increased border control should be the most important priority in immigration reform. Only 22% prioritized legalization of illegal aliens (Rasmussen, August 2009).
• 50% of American think immigration to the U.S. should be decreased, while only 14% want to see an increase in immigration to the U.S. (Gallup, August 2009).
• 68% of adults think limiting care to illegal aliens is a good to excellent way to reduce overall health care costs (Zogby, July 2009).
• 80% of likely voters oppose healthcare coverage for illegal aliens (Rasmussen, June 2009).
• 67% of liberals and progressives believe that the level of immigration into the U.S. is too high (Pulse Opinion, April 2009).
• 68% believe that employers who hire illegal aliens should be punished (Rasmussen, March 2009).
• 79% of voters say the military should be used along the border with Mexico (Rasmussen, March 2009).
• 73% believe law enforcement officers should check immigration status during traffic stops (Rasmussen, March 2009).
• Only 32% of Obama voters considered his support for amnesty as a factor in their decisions to vote for him (Zogby, November 2008).
The kind of country we have in the near term and the kind of country we bequeath to our children will be largely determined by the number of people we allow into our country today, IF WE STOPPED ALL IMMIGRATION TODAY, OUR POPULATION WOULD CONTINUE TO GROW BEYOND OUR CONTROL FOR THE NEXT 70 YEARS. There are many sources of information readily available on the WEB; some, like NumbersUSA, provide good information and do not bash immigrants, legal or illegal, while others are nothing but propaganda organs of various groups whose goals are inconstant with the interests of US citizens who work for a living.
You must take the issue of exponential population growth seriously or the consequences of not doing so will be disastrous.
Brittancus
October 8th, 2009
8:09 pm
The House-Senate committees has completed its funding in the Homeland Security Appropriations bill as of yesterday, undermining long-term security of unemployed American workers. They omitted the language that would have implemented the E-Verify application on a permanent basis to eject illegal workers. Instead, the conference extended the agreement limits of reauthorization for just three years. Even as E-Verify is gaining in nationwide popularity in businesses, the politicians are still catering to illegal immigrants. A assessment to extend E-Verify for only three more years is further evidence that Sen. Reid and the administration’s effort, to raise a façade, but all the while dismantling effectual controls against immigration invasion. So although the open border organization, headed by quasi-leadership of the Council of Foreign Relations, US Chamber of Commerce and anti American organizations such as the ACLU, La Raza didn’t win in Federal Court they still determined to corrode the laws.
These special interest lobbyists are well organized in the Democratic Senate and House to undermine any enforcement of immigration laws, including the 1986 (IRCA) that is a law that was never enforced. Same day Sen.David Vitter offered an amendment to sever Federal funds to SANCTUARY CITIES AND STATES, but as always they failed to observe the “Rule of Law.” The vote went along party lines except for three Republicans who voted with the Democrats to table the amendment. One Democrat voted against the motion – Landrieu (LA). Even though we can throw the conspirators out, when they come up for re-election it will have little effect? Even though they lose their seats, they will be reimbursed by their corporate friends with nice civilian desk jobs, with bloated pay checks.
NUMBERSUSA is an American people’s website that removes the propaganda placed on us by the Liberal press. At this location is raw evidence–YOU NEED TO KNOW–of the Democratic Leadership who is conspiring with industry, so that millions of illegal immigrants can still cross the border, so they can feed like leeches from American taxpayers and take the jobs. Everything you need to know about corrupted officials, mayor’s judges, governors and politicians is available at JUDICIAL WATCH. Learn where billions of dollars are going for undisclosed welfare programs for illegal aliens and families. Go to these websites and become a political advocate and keep the names of each treacherous politician in your long term memory.
Throw out Sen. Harry Reid, as he has been in the forefront of de-funding, derailing all the active laws such as 287 G. Janet Napolitano should join him on the garbage heap, along with speaker Pelosi who has an (F-) in immigration grading for enforcement. Mark your own lawmaker and drag him across the hot coals by calling 202-224-3121 Find out the buried truth at NUMBERSUSA, JUDICIAL WATCH & CAPSWEB, for overpopulation facts. They even went after Sheriff Joe Ariapo in Arizona for carrying out his duties, under the 287 G fed law. His deputies were so successful in the removal program; big business went crawling to the Democratic leaders pleading for assistance. GET THE FACTS–NOT THE LIES! REMEMBER NO TAXPAYER HEALTH CARE FOR FOREIGN NATIONALS! NO AMNESTY! NO NOTHING! THEY BROKE OUR LAWS OF SOVEREIGNTY!