Opinion: The GOP's Short-Sighted Immigration Strategy

[Crabtownboy]

This was a group the GOP had been courting and making inroads to .... until now. I believe they have nailed the coffin shut on the Hispanic vote. There are something like 45 million Hispanics in the US. That is a whole lot of votes. I do not believe the law will stand up in the courts. The only positive thing I can think of is it may get Congress off their duffs and begin working on a comprehensive immigration bill.

(April 27) -- America has always been a country of immigrants. But this historical legacy notwithstanding, it's also been a country that engaged in its fair share of anti-immigration hysteria at times of economic and social uncertainty.

Case in point, the passage last week of legislation in Arizona that would make illegal immigration a state crime and would allow law enforcement officials to demand proof of citizenship based on simply a "reasonable suspicion" that someone is an illegal immigrant. If unable to immediately provide proof, individuals -- even U.S. citizens -- can be arrested by the police.

Pushed through by a Republican state legislature and a GOP governor, the law is a virtual recipe for police intimidation and harassment of both legal and illegal Hispanic residents. After all, in a state with a significant number of illegal immigrants from Mexico, what exactly is "reasonable suspicion" for being an illegal other than being Hispanic?

 

[targus]

The short sighted view is to continue to allow unlimited illegal immigration.

 

[Cutter]

I believe they have nailed the coffin shut on the Hispanic vote. There are something like 45 million Hispanics in the US. That is a whole lot of votes.

Hispanics should not be the swing vote that decides who represents us anyway.
Of the 45 million how many are illegal?

 

[Revmitchell]

It is quite obvious from the op that the detractors do not even know what the Arizona law is all about. They are so blinded by their desire for open borders and to ignore the rule of law that they are not even paying attention.

 

[Robert Snow]

I am enjoying seeing the Republican Party make a fool of themselves again. This is more than I could hope for. I only hope they pass more laws like the one in Arizona so that most all of the Hispanics, legal and illegal will keep the republicans out of the White House and the Congress for years to come.

 

[Crabtownboy]

Hispanics should not be the swing vote that decides who represents us anyway.
Of the 45 million how many are illegal?

How many do you believe are here legally?

Presidential elections this century have been very close. A swing of not very many votes could have changed each election result.

In 2000 a difference of 550 votes in Florida would have resulted in Bush loosing the election.

Bush Gore
2,912,790 2,912,253

A change of 2.5 million votes would have changed the election result in 2004. 2.5 million is a very small number when you consider that something over 112 million people cast ballots.

Obama won by about 8 million votes ... a landslide compared to 2000 and 2004. It was the Hispanic vote that ensured his win.

Close elections may well be swung by the Hispanic vote in many places whether you like it or not. And the number of legal Hispanics is growing.

 

[matt wade]

Obama won by about 8 million votes ... a landslide compared to 2000 and 2004. It was the Hispanic vote that ensured his win.

Please...you honestly believe that it was the Hispanic vote the ensured his win? Look at the following graph and let me know which ethnicity you think really ensured his win.

 

[Crabtownboy]

Please...you honestly believe that it was the Hispanic vote the ensured his win? Look at the following graph and let me know which ethnicity you think really ensured his win.

I said ensured his win and I would say now the GOP would not get 15% of their vote ... and that is probably optimistic. Without the Hispanic vote going heavily for Obama then Obama would not have carried Florida, Arizona and New Mexico. Obama could have won without these states, but carrying those states ensured his election.

 

[targus]

I am enjoying seeing the Republican Party make a fool of themselves again. This is more than I could hope for. I only hope they pass more laws like the one in Arizona so that most all of the Hispanics, legal and illegal will keep the republicans out of the White House and the Congress for years to come.

So you hope that illegal immigrants will vote against the Republicans?

 

[sag38]

That's exactly what the left wants. They want illegals to be given the right to vote. And, when this happens you can kiss this country as you know it good bye. In fact, I think we are already hearing the fat lady warming up to sing the eulogy.

 

[Thinkingstuff]

So you hope that illegal immigrants will vote against the Republicans?

You've proved my point. All hispanics to you are illegal. So even though I am a second generation american who has given service to this country and pay taxes and have supported my community in many ways, must be considered an illegal immigrant because I'm hispanic who doesn't even speak spanish. Jawol mein commerad!

 

[Robert Snow]

So you hope that illegal immigrants will vote against the Republicans?

I believe that many of them already vote, and as long as they are voting, I hop they vote for the democrat.

 

[targus]

You've proved my point. All hispanics to you are illegal. So even though I am a second generation american who has given service to this country and pay taxes and have supported my community in many ways, must be considered an illegal immigrant because I'm hispanic who doesn't even speak spanish. Jawol mein commerad!

And you are not reading with any degree of care.

First - I quoted RobertSnow and bolded his word "illegal". He specifically said that he hopes that hispanics legal and illegal vote against the Republicans.

Second - I said nothing about illegal immigrants being hispanic or hispanics being illegal immigrants.

Please read what others actually write rather than what your emotions are saying to you.

I find it ironic that your screen name is thinkingstuff.

Might I suggest that you change it to feelingstuff?

 

[rbell]

Translation of CTB's drivel is below:

Crabby wants unlimited immigration. The "rule of law" is an outdated concept. We might hurt people's "feelings" if we have laws, or (gasp) enforce them. If we'll be nice enough, tolerant enough...no one would ever try to hurt us. Furthermore...can't you see what irreparable damage is being done to our people's democracy? Asking for identification? You might as well kill a man!

 

[rbell]

I believe that many of them already vote, and as long as they are voting, I hop they vote for the democrat.

This statement clearly proves that Robert Snow does not respect the rule of law, and consequently has little respect for the United States.

 

[rbell]

Crabby...besides wanting more illegals to gain voting rights so that dems stay in power....why is it so important to you that folks who are breaking the law be given status they are fraudulently attempting to obtain?

Why do you want to reward lawbreaking?

Why should people who enter this country illegally be rewarded for their lawbreaking with citizenship?


How unjust can you get? Many immigrants, trying to obey the law, spend years and years--not to mention lots of money and headaches--trying to do it the right way.

Others jump a fence, and are rewarded with a free ride, voting rights, and a lifelong membership to the Democratic party.

 

[NiteShift]

Mexico annually deports more illegal aliens than the United States does.


Mexican law specifies that:

• foreign visitors are banned from interfering in the country’s internal politics;
• foreign visitors who enter under false pretenses are imprisoned or deported;
• Immigration officials must "ensure" that "immigrants will be useful elements for the country and that they have the necessary funds for their sustenance" and for their dependents. (Article 34)
• Foreigners may be barred from the country if their presence upsets "the equilibrium of the national demographics”
• Foreigners who are deported from Mexico and attempt to re-enter the country without authorization can be imprisoned for up to 10 years. (Article 118)
• Federal, local and municipal police must cooperate with federal immigration authorities upon request, i.e., to assist in the arrests of illegal immigrants. (Article 73)

And the funny thing is that in Mexico they are not worried about offending the Gringo Vote.

 

[Crabtownboy]

Crabby...besides wanting more illegals to gain voting rights so that dems stay in power....why is it so important to you that folks who are breaking the law be given status they are fraudulently attempting to obtain?

Why do you want to reward lawbreaking?

Why should people who enter this country illegally be rewarded for their lawbreaking with citizenship?


How unjust can you get? Many immigrants, trying to obey the law, spend years and years--not to mention lots of money and headaches--trying to do it the right way.

Others jump a fence, and are rewarded with a free ride, voting rights, and a lifelong membership to the Democratic party.

I have never defended any of the positions you say I have. What I am against is the violation of or the destruction of your and my civil rights by gestapo tactics. This type of law is exactly what we used to point to the USSR, China and others and proudly say, "We do not do such things to our citizens." I guess I am old enough that the free America I grew up in is willingly being destroyed by fearful right-wing folk and they do not even realize they are destroying our liberties.

 

[targus]

I have never defended any of the positions you say I have. What I am against is the violation of or the destruction of your and my civil rights by gestapo tactics. This type of law is exactly what we used to point to the USSR, China and others and proudly say, "We do not do such things to our citizens." I guess I am old enough that the free America I grew up in is willingly being destroyed by fearful right-wing folk and they do not even realize they are destroying our liberties.

Have you read the bill?

How about entering into this discussion about the specifics of the bill?

http://www.baptistboard.com/showthread.php?t=65831

 

[Thinkingstuff]

And you are not reading with any degree of care.

First - I quoted RobertSnow and bolded his word "illegal". He specifically said that he hopes that hispanics legal and illegal vote against the Republicans.

Second - I said nothing about illegal immigrants being hispanic or hispanics being illegal immigrants.

Please read what others actually write rather than what your emotions are saying to you.

I find it ironic that your screen name is thinkingstuff.

Might I suggest that you change it to feelingstuff?

I might especially with this topic. I've been in countries where on my way into church Military personnel pointed their AK-47s at me and told me that there would be no worship going on because it was secretly a meeting against the government. I've had a drunk soldier at a road block place his AK against my head while his friends searched my car looking for something to steal or accuse me of something. And everytime and everywhere it always starts with legislation like this. However I read what Robert said and he specifically said this

legal and illegal will keep the republicans out of the White House and the Congress for years to come.

his point was that both groups legal and illegal would be reason enough to keep the republicans out of the white house. So when you suggested illegals only voting my assumption was based on you classifying both together. A reasonable assumption. I don't know how many of you lived in a restrictive regime but I'm sure not enough to understand the seriousness of this legislation. Liberty in exchange for security ends in slavery.