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People and Politics by Patrick Roberts

Republican split on immigration deepens

Posted on Wednesday, February 24, 2010 at 04:39 AM

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Some Republicans tried to add in more anti-immigrant sentiment into the recent $15 billion jobs bill in Congress by stating that if it passed it would allow employers to hire illegal aliens.

Even when it was pointed out that the language of the bill was exactly similar to one drafted by Republican Senator Orin Hatch the anti immigrant voices would not let up.

That has now drawn a sharp rebuke from Republicans who know that the Latino base of the party is deeply upset at all this tub thumping and in danger of disappearing.

As the Washington Post reported yesterday, Dan Bartlett, a senior George W. Bush strategist, said "Hispanics are going to be a dominant political force in the state of Texas and around the country for the next 100 years, and the Republican Party's blowing it. There's a real dearth of smart thinking on the Republican side of the aisle."

That Republicans are alienating Latino voters is clear but the fact that some members are insisting that they go even deeper into the demonizing business is beginning to trouble many of the party's most prominent thinkers.

Congressional Quarterly picked up on this growing schism during the Conservative Political Action Conference last weekend which they said featured "diametrically opposed themes" on immigration.

Commondreams.org noted that ." On one side, conservative activist Grover Norquist said, "you can't talk to someone from the immigrant community, threaten to deport their relative and then ask them to vote with you because you're pro-life...some conservatives and some Republicans have used harsh and insulting rhetoric that has chased away Hispanic voters unnecessarily," and former Reagan official Linda Chavez noted, "I want to see conservatives triumph in the United States...If you share that view, then we better begin to figure out a way to talk about immigration that does not alienate the fastest-growing demographic in the United States."

Commondreams noted that "The other side featured such anti-immigration zealots as former Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ), who has published an anti-immigration book Whatever it Takes, in which he likened Republican support for tough anti-immigrant measures as a way "to stand up for our culture." At CPAC, in remarks at a screening of the film Border War: The Battle Over Illegal Immigration, Hayworth said, "The problem in Washington is that so many people - including my opponent - view this as a political problem to be managed instead of seeing what really is going on...This is an invasion that must be stopped."

"No matter the policy issue, a contingent of Republicans remain convinced that raising the specter of illegal immigration is sufficient rationale for opposition and obstinacy," said Frank Sharry, Executive Director of America's Voice. "Unfortunately for the GOP, like its campaign counterpart the immigration wedge issue, the ‘blame the immigrants' approach to legislation is a death knell for attempts to improve outreach to the Latino electorate. The Republican Party needs to recognize that its long-term ambitions will remain elusive unless it improves its stance on immigration and distances itself from its anti-immigration zealots."

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kilgara | Feb 24, 2010, 11:53 PM EST

Once society winks at lawbreakers[every day they are here they are commiting and then recommiting a FELONY ]It is the beginning of the end for our beloved republic,sadly we are well on our way.

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mrkennedy | Feb 24, 2010, 07:52 PM EST

It's ironic when I think of the complaints by illegals to come into our beloved country. In 1922 my father tried to get into the U.S. but because of a quota for inividuals from each european country that existed then he had to spend 2 years in Argentina before he was eligible. Why can't quotes be establshed from Mexico now along with a real tightening of the border? r

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Spiritranger | Feb 24, 2010, 01:58 PM EST

You obviously do not understand the mind of the illegal. There is a culture of desperation created by those who push them north. It needn't be that way... and it's not the US taxpayer's fault. The rotten fruit of illegal alien activity is unrecognized by the blind who never lived in places like S. California where schools, streets and hospitals are in a state of anarchy due to this problem.

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Spiritranger | Feb 24, 2010, 01:55 PM EST

pmunited, please, where do you live? Having resided in both the American southwest and Hawaii I have known dozens of "green card" holders, legal residents in the process of becoming naturalized. I attended a ceremony recently in which a friend -- a MEXICAN citizen -- took his oath of allegiance and became a US citizen. That is one Hispanic American who has ZERO sympathy for illegals as he did it the LEGAL (and not too hard) way.

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irishmoonfrog | Feb 24, 2010, 01:14 PM EST

This is why the Republican party is doomed. There is a huge groundswell of Libertarian sentiment in the US: government governs best when it governs least! Open borders, but eliminate welfare, food stamps, free lunches of all types for immigrants and natives alike. This would eliminate most of the valid objections to immigration and unveil the underlying cultural bigotry.

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pmunited | Feb 24, 2010, 01:03 PM EST

So how are people to come legally? By changing the laws as they certainly do not work at the moment! All the illegals would come legally if the law reflected the true reality on the ground.

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Spiritranger | Feb 24, 2010, 12:03 PM EST

There is a difference between legal and illegal immigration. One is LEEEEE-GAAAAALLLL (read it slow for your liberal friends) the other is called ILLEGAL immigration but let's just call it a CRIME for our liberal readers who cannot handle three syllable words.

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irishwxman | Feb 24, 2010, 10:45 AM EST

So let me get this straight...we need to allow law breaker to haev amnesty, just so corrupt politicians can get re-elected? I think not. You want to come live in America? Do it LEGALLY!

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mhichil | Feb 24, 2010, 10:44 AM EST

goes to show, some have a soul, others....

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Derrylass627 | Feb 24, 2010, 10:18 AM EST

I agree with jmchrystal, these anti-immigration bunch are like facists! Where's the love - as in love thy neighbor?

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jmchrystal | Feb 24, 2010, 09:27 AM EST

There is a lot in common between the anti-immigration zealots and the Nazi party. All they need are the Brown Shirts!

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