GOP opposition to immigration reform is falling away
“Now, you have the standard-bearer of the Tea Party saying that we should welcome undocumented immigrants as Americans,” said Frank Sharry, executive director of America’s Voice, a pro-immigration group. “It’s one of the fastest turnarounds I’ve seen on any issue. It’s mind-blowing.”
Bob Dane, a spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which opposes a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, conceded Tuesday that “it certainly appears to be settled if one assumes that the inside Republican elite strategists represent the core of the Republican Party.”
But it remains to be seen how Republican voters and conservative activists across the country will respond to proposals that allow illegal immigrants to live in America and compete legally for jobs. Mr. Dane’s group is meeting with 52 talk radio hosts in Washington next month for a two-day session intended to bolster opposition to the idea…
“I think they’ve found themselves on the road to Damascus, or they understand that this issue is very, very important,” said Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, who is part of the bipartisan group in the Senate working on immigration legislation.
Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina and another member of the Senate group of eight, put it more bluntly: “I just think the 2012 election was a bit of a wake-up call.”
Blowback
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Like hell it is falling away.
I will never support amnesty-pushing Rand Paul for the nomination.
Many of you underestimate the intensity of those who oppose amnesty.
Many of you are trying to make excuses for Rand and his amnesty-supporting ways because you liked his filibuster. It’s disppointing.
bluegill on March 20, 2013 at 8:35 PM
I need to go bang my head against a concrete wall, maybe then I can see things the way these dunces do.
12 million low skilled, uneducated peasants gaining U.S. citizenship = The United Socialist States of Aztlan.
Yeah, we’ll get that budget under control real quick.
Daemonocracy on March 20, 2013 at 8:37 PM
Hey John remember how you Hispandered your ass off between ’04 and ’08 and still lost the Latino vote to Obama 65-35? Yeah, those were good times.
Kataklysmic on March 20, 2013 at 8:37 PM
LOL– See they report this stuff and think the base will fall in line because it is being report. Guess what idiots. It doesn’t change what I think politically. I am not a Democrat sheeple. I cannot be fooled with a meme like “war on women.” I am against amnesty and will still be against amnesty no matter how many of you fools come out for it. It is party suicide you idiots.
melle1228 on March 20, 2013 at 8:39 PM
The R party is fast becoming a snake more likely to strike the hand that wields it, rather than a sword to deal blows to Marxism with.
It’s collective insanity. The party is being euthanized by its leadership.
I can’t believe Rand Paul actually believes what he’s saying. If he does, he’s as naive as a small child. If he doesn’t, what is he?
This will not end well.
rightwingyahooo on March 20, 2013 at 8:41 PM
The neo-whig party is dead, time for a new party.
FloatingRock on March 20, 2013 at 8:41 PM
The New York Times isn’t a news source…
“All the (WH) faxes that are sent to print.”
viking01 on March 20, 2013 at 8:42 PM
It’s impossible for them to comprehend that there are people with actual principles who are impervious to the bandwagon effect and their other tired propaganda attempts.
Kataklysmic on March 20, 2013 at 8:43 PM
Its funny to see the pro amnesty Rs tout the need for Latino votes. We’ll see what they say in 2017 after Tx is blue.
rightwingyahooo on March 20, 2013 at 8:45 PM
Rs are careless with language, which just always annoys me no end. They tend to use the language of the Left, then wonder why they can’t win.
They slander their supporters with labels like anti-immigrant. They set up straw men then knock them down…just like barry does.
I don’t think many people are seriously Anti-Immigrant. There are serious issues (if you have a brain) with how generous to be with chain migration, how do we balance immigration with economic growth and economic value of the country.
There is a lot of wonky stuff about immigration and the current system. Slandering voters, like they did in the Autopsy report, and like McCain/Graham routinely do is a Loser strategy
We have a boat load of losers in the party. They need to be called out as losers….and they materially harm the R party. The R party has a dim future anyway…losers need to stfu and stfd
r keller on March 20, 2013 at 8:47 PM
He wishes. He actually pulled only 31%.
xblade on March 20, 2013 at 8:49 PM
The only reason GOP opposition to immigration reform is because people like me are pretty much done with the party, and thus no longer in the party specifically to oppose from inside.
astonerii on March 20, 2013 at 8:53 PM
A vote for Rand Paul is a vote for Lindsey Graham.
bluegill on March 20, 2013 at 9:03 PM
Where is Sarah Palin to speak out against Rand Paul’s amnesty plan? Do she have the guts? Come on, Sarah! Rand Paul and his illegal immigrant amnesty scheme must be rejected now.
bluegill on March 20, 2013 at 9:08 PM
You do remind us quite often that Sarah isn’t running for anything.
melle1228 on March 20, 2013 at 9:42 PM
Not just no but HELL no!
annoyinglittletwerp on March 20, 2013 at 9:50 PM
Big Lie technique. Say it often enough, and it becomes true. Or you’ll get enough sheeple feeling that herd instinct kick in and, not wanting to be an oddball, say they are for “comprehensive immigration reform”. The same thing is happening with SSM.
ddrintn on March 20, 2013 at 10:15 PM
Remember McCain and his SINGLE BUSINESS DAY waiting period for the Z visa in his 2007 version of McCain-Kennedy? If the FBI couldn’t complete a criminal background check on an illegal alien in that time, he would get immediate, permanant residency, right to work, right to leave and re-enter (like a passport), etc. One business day! Not a problem for just one guy — but for 12 to 20 million applicants??? McCain said: “Screw you, America. We’re going to let them ALL in!”
(too tired to re-type:)
I held my nose in 2008 and symbolically voted for Palin, NOT McCain.
If the GOP accommodates illegal aliens in ANY WAY, I am gone forever. American citizenship will have been rendered valueless by the GOP.
Why this crazy rush for amnesty by the GOP? Do they think the vast majority of Hispanic-American citizens (the only ones who should be voting) demand amnesty for illegal aliens? WRONG!!
40% of Hispanic-Americans want attrition through enforcement. Only 54% want amnesty.
Do these idiots think the 4 Dems on the Gang of Eight have the best interests of the GOP at heart?
Do these GOP idiots think a policy of rewarding the criminals (illegal aliens in this case) with their ill-gotten goods (residency in this case) will EVER reduce the crime rate (illegal border crossings) ?
Are they stupid?
Are they (misguidedly) so desperate for votes and political power that they insult every LEGAL immigrant who has waited years to become a citizen? Yup. A pox on all of them.
The GOP should be appealing to the the 40% of Hispanic-Americans who respect our laws and KEEP the GOP base (even energize it!) instead of trying to out-pander the Democrats while chasing after the 54% (who are ALREADY DEMOCRATS!!) and LOSE the GOP base.
fred5678 on March 21, 2013 at 3:19 AM
No it’s not.
Fail more, slimes.
dogsoldier on March 21, 2013 at 5:42 AM