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The study is a detailed analysis of every single Republican seat lost in the 2008 House Race, and shows in virtually every race the Republican supported amnesty or the Democrat supported tough border security.What's interesting -- and Bay Buchanan touched on this -- is how effectively open-borders politicians in both parties are able to hide their positions when challenged in elections. Candidates with miserably pro-amnesty records suddenly learn to talk tough about border security the minute an opponent raises the issue. The media willingly cooperate in this blurring of the issue, so that voters are seldom presented a clear choice.
Jim Pinkerton said that working-class "Reagan Democrats" still constitute the vital swing constituency, but observed these voters tend to "win the politics, but lose the policy" -- that is to say, these voters (whom I've called "Ordinary Americans") are the decisive factor in elections, yet their interests are routinely ignored by the policy-making elite, who naturally favor policies that advance elite interests.
I'll try to update later this evening.
UPDATE: Oddly enough, while I'm unable to find any conservative coverage of the National Press Club event, liberals seem to be all over it, including "America's Voice," a group whose Web site proclaims their mission as "MOBILIZING IMMIGRANT VOTERS." Gee, ya think?
UPDATE II: And why would they want to "mobilize"? To get a piece of that "stimulus" pie, perhaps?
The $800 billion-plus economic stimulus measure making its way through Congress could steer government checks to illegal immigrants, a top Republican congressional official asserted Thursday.Carol Platt Liebau at Townhall.com:
The legislation, which would send tax credits of $500 per worker and $1,000 per couple, expressly disqualifies nonresident aliens, but it would allow people who don't have Social Security numbers to be eligible for the checks.
Undocumented immigrants who are not eligible for a Social Security number can file tax returns with an alternative number. A House-passed version of the economic recovery bill and one making its way through the Senate would allow anyone with such a number, called an individual taxpayer identification number, to qualify for the tax credits.
This has nothing to do with stimulating the economy, and everything to do with paying off Democrat constituencies.Gee, ya think?
If you need an example of a Republican who talks tough on immigration during a campaign, look no further than Texas Gov Rick Perry. Prior to his re-election, Gov Perry spoke about how he was going to improve border security; after he was re-elected he told everyone that border security was a 'Federal problem'. What a joke. The classic bait and switch.
ReplyDeleteThis is how Gov Perry's made good on his promise to improve security on the border:
http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_11552806
The only real contender to Perry in the next election is Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson, who by some accounts, is just as squishy as Perry on border issues.
Funny how Sen. Maverick (R, Media) made nice about securing the borders by saying, 'Yeah, I got the #$$%ing point.'
ReplyDeletenothing much since then.
JD Hayworth lost because the D opposing him ran to the right even further on the border..
and JD was somewhat of a squish on border enforcement who was late to the game.. and it obviously cost him
Dave C. gets one thing right-- my successor tried to run to my right on immigration in 2006...blasting me for not single-handedly getting my "Enforcement First Act of 2006" enshrined as law, and conveniently forgetting the constitutional process required that makes a bill law.
ReplyDeleteYet to call me a "squish" on border enforcement who was "late to the game" is as inaccurate as it is uncharitable.
My position is clearly outlined in my book "Whatever It Takes," and my views evolved after spending time with people directly affected by the illegal invasion of our nation.
Certainly I gave President Bush the benefit of the doubt initially...but I also had the guts and gumption to confront him directly over his continued advocacy of open border policies...once at the White House, and once aboard Air Force One en route to Yuma, Arizona.
Of course, my successor has voted for benefits for illegals...most recently with his "aye" for the misnamed "stimulus" bill.
Meantime, the New York Times still feels the need to attack me, opining in an editorial today that I'm a "single issue xenophobe."
Guess trading in my House voting card for a radio microphone still worries the Open Borders Crowd...but I will continue to advocate strict border enforcement, whether attacked as a "xenophobe" by the NYT, or criticized as a "squish" by the likes of Dave C.
my apologies, Rep. Hayworth.
ReplyDeleteI was going off of fuzzy memory from my parents who still live in AZ.
I moved out of state right after you won your first election. (I lived in the Prescott area anyway, not in your district).
See, now this is why I enjoy reading conservative blogs and comments. So much more civil. A conservative commenter overstates or misstates, gets corrected, and APOLOGIZES. Classy. Most liberals who get corrected, not so much. Hats off, Dave C. Your parents raised you well!
ReplyDeleteApology accepted, Dave C.--and a "tip of the keyboard" to Michael Moon as well!
ReplyDelete