On Wednesday, September 19th, both the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post published a piece by former G W Bush speechwriter, Michael Gerson, which said, in part, “Immigration used to be a debate among Republicans. Now the issue survives mainly as a weapon.
“Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney - who once commented on illegal immigrants, "I don't believe in rounding up 11 million people and forcing them at gunpoint from our country" -- attacks Rudy Giuliani for not rounding up enough illegal immigrants when he was mayor of New York. Giuliani -- who once said, "If you come here and you work hard and you happen to be in an undocumented status, you're one of the people who we want in this city" -- criticizes Romney for tolerating "sanctuary cities" in Massachusetts.
“One gets the impression of decent men, intimidated by the vocal anger of elements of their own party.
“That anger is pushing Republicans into some powerful symbols of indifference to Hispanic voters...
“...It is a strange spectacle. Conservatives are intent on building a more appealing, post-Bush Republican Party. But their most obvious change so far is to reverse remarkable Republican gains among one of the fastest-growing groups of American voters. The renovators seem more like the wrecking crew.
“From the beginning of his political career, George W. Bush refused to support amnesty for illegal immigrants. He did, however, take a principled, middle-ground position that also appealed to Latinos -- a proposal that would give legal status to those who want to work in America and return home, while also providing a realistic (but not easy) path to citizenship for those who want to stay.
“The political effects were immediate. Bob Dole got about 21 percent of Hispanic votes in 1996. Bush won about 35 percent in 2000. In 2004, Bush ran in the Latino media on the slogan "Nos conocemos," or "We know one another" -- and both he and Republicans in Congress averaged over 40 percent of the Hispanic vote.
“The political effects of conservative opposition to immigration reform have been swift as well. Latino support for GOP candidates dropped back to 30 percent in 2006. According to one poll, Latinos under age 30 now prefer a generic Democrat over a Republican for president by 42 points. A harsh, Tancredo-like image of Republicans has solidified in the mainstream Hispanic media. And all of this regression will be even more obvious in the next few months, because more than half of the Hispanic voters in America live in states that are part of the new lineup of early primaries.
“I have never seen an issue where the short-term interests of Republican presidential candidates in the primaries were more starkly at odds with the long-term interests of the party itself. At least five swing states that Bush carried in 2004 are rich in Hispanic voters -- Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Colorado and Florida. Bush won Nevada by just over 20,000 votes. A substantial shift of Hispanic voters toward the Democrats in these states could make the national political map unwinnable for Republicans.
“There is a moral hazard as well. Surfing on a wave of voter resentment is easier than rowing on the calmer waters of inclusion and charity. But the heroes of America are generally heroes of reconciliation, not division.
“In politics, some acts are so emblematic and potent that they cannot be undone for decades -- as when Republican presidential candidate Barry Goldwater voted against the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Goldwater was no racist; his constitutional objections were sincere. Members of the Republican Party actually voted for the Civil Rights Act in higher percentages than Democrats. But all of this was overwhelmed by the symbolism of the moment. In his autobiography, Colin Powell says that after the Goldwater vote, he went to his car and affixed a Lyndon Johnson bumper sticker, as did many other African Americans. Now Republicans seem to be repeating history with Hispanic Americans.
“Some in the party seem pleased.
“They should be terrified.”
.
“Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney - who once commented on illegal immigrants, "I don't believe in rounding up 11 million people and forcing them at gunpoint from our country" -- attacks Rudy Giuliani for not rounding up enough illegal immigrants when he was mayor of New York. Giuliani -- who once said, "If you come here and you work hard and you happen to be in an undocumented status, you're one of the people who we want in this city" -- criticizes Romney for tolerating "sanctuary cities" in Massachusetts.
“One gets the impression of decent men, intimidated by the vocal anger of elements of their own party.
“That anger is pushing Republicans into some powerful symbols of indifference to Hispanic voters...
“...It is a strange spectacle. Conservatives are intent on building a more appealing, post-Bush Republican Party. But their most obvious change so far is to reverse remarkable Republican gains among one of the fastest-growing groups of American voters. The renovators seem more like the wrecking crew.
“From the beginning of his political career, George W. Bush refused to support amnesty for illegal immigrants. He did, however, take a principled, middle-ground position that also appealed to Latinos -- a proposal that would give legal status to those who want to work in America and return home, while also providing a realistic (but not easy) path to citizenship for those who want to stay.
“The political effects were immediate. Bob Dole got about 21 percent of Hispanic votes in 1996. Bush won about 35 percent in 2000. In 2004, Bush ran in the Latino media on the slogan "Nos conocemos," or "We know one another" -- and both he and Republicans in Congress averaged over 40 percent of the Hispanic vote.
“The political effects of conservative opposition to immigration reform have been swift as well. Latino support for GOP candidates dropped back to 30 percent in 2006. According to one poll, Latinos under age 30 now prefer a generic Democrat over a Republican for president by 42 points. A harsh, Tancredo-like image of Republicans has solidified in the mainstream Hispanic media. And all of this regression will be even more obvious in the next few months, because more than half of the Hispanic voters in America live in states that are part of the new lineup of early primaries.
“I have never seen an issue where the short-term interests of Republican presidential candidates in the primaries were more starkly at odds with the long-term interests of the party itself. At least five swing states that Bush carried in 2004 are rich in Hispanic voters -- Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Colorado and Florida. Bush won Nevada by just over 20,000 votes. A substantial shift of Hispanic voters toward the Democrats in these states could make the national political map unwinnable for Republicans.
“There is a moral hazard as well. Surfing on a wave of voter resentment is easier than rowing on the calmer waters of inclusion and charity. But the heroes of America are generally heroes of reconciliation, not division.
“In politics, some acts are so emblematic and potent that they cannot be undone for decades -- as when Republican presidential candidate Barry Goldwater voted against the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Goldwater was no racist; his constitutional objections were sincere. Members of the Republican Party actually voted for the Civil Rights Act in higher percentages than Democrats. But all of this was overwhelmed by the symbolism of the moment. In his autobiography, Colin Powell says that after the Goldwater vote, he went to his car and affixed a Lyndon Johnson bumper sticker, as did many other African Americans. Now Republicans seem to be repeating history with Hispanic Americans.
“Some in the party seem pleased.
“They should be terrified.”
.
THIS, as much as anything, shows why the Country Club Republicans or the “GOP Moderates” STILL, just don’t get it.
What follows is an open letter to Michael Gerson and all those who think like he does;
No offense sir, but my God, what a pathetic plea!
The Republican Party does not and will not ever be a Party that gains the respect of Hispanics, certainly NOT if it takes the tack that illegal immigration is good for America and illegal immigration is part of the “immigration problem,” rather than the “crime problem.”
Hispanics, aren’t DUMB, they know as well as any working person that the Republicans don’t favor “Americanization” for the Illegal Aliens here,” they favor the status quo and CHEAP LABOR. And those Hispanics who’ve come here legally deeply resent Hispanic illegal immigrants, as much as they resent ALL illegal immigrants.
The Democrats will now and forever garner the bulk of poor and working Hispanic support because poor Hispanics can easily see the “cheap labor” taint of the Republican’s support. While poor Hispanics may respect and accept the Democrat’s reason for supporting veritable “Open Borders” for “diversity’s sake,” they don’t respect the GOP’s “respect” for cheap labor.
.
American immigration law has been established.
If the Republican Party felt it was flawed, they COULD HAVE, SHOULD HAVE and I can only presume WOULD HAVE changed it, not merely ignored it. By merely ignoring it, the GOP has said VERY LOUDLY that they desire CHEAP migrant labor, but support restrictions on immigration.
The Democrats have, to their credit, been the ONLY Party that has actually stood on principle and CHANGED U.S. immigration law. They eradicated the GOP supported “Europeans only” standards, and passed the Kennedy Bill that restricted European immigration and opened immigration up to other parts of the world.
The GOP cannot simply agree with that now, claiming that “in hindsight that was a wise move.”
It was NOT.
Certainly Asian immigrants have been a boon to this nation. Recently the Washington Post (WaPo) published a study that noted, “The Asian-born register far higher than the Latin American-born on every socioeconomic scale. Fifty-eight percent of the area’s Asian-born residents have a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared with 19 percent of the Latin American-born. Fifty-five percent of the Asian-born work in managerial or professional jobs, compared with 20 percent of the Latin American-born.”
But the fact remains that stalwart Republican, Patrick Buchanan was and remains right in his assertion that, “It would be far easier for Virginia to assimilate 1,000 Englishmen than 1,000 Zulus,” or Malaysians, for that matter!
For better or for worse, the Republican Party is dominated by its workingclass conservative roots. Roots that it cultivated since the mid-1960s, with their vaunted “Southern Strategy” and their wooing working people with the “crime issue” and their stance AGAINST race/gender preferences, etc.
So now, Mr. Gerson, you want to grow a conscience?
Well, maybe not a real conscience, right?
I mean your plea isn’t really based on any principle other than the Country Club Republican’s demand for ever more CHEAP LABOR.
Mr. Gerson, one of the problems the “Moderate-wing the Country Club wing) of the GOP has in wooing more blacks and more Hispanics is its conservative base, people very much like myself.
When the GOP courted the likes of me and my white, ethnic workingclass cohorts, you spat in the face of blacks who felt that racial preferences were a “means to equalizing opportunities that were earlier denied,” and because the “Moderate Republicans” caved in on that issue and others, they will never be able to woo those black supremacist type voters back to the Republican Party...short of jettisoning the bulk of your own conservative base.
It’s the same thing with Latino-supremacists, those who support ANYTHING that will result in more Hispanics entering America. They KNOW that “the GOP ONLY wants them for CHEAP LABOR,” while the Democrats seem to embrace ethnic and racial “diversity.”
The fact is that working people, like myself, simply DON’T believe “America needs the cheap labor and dynamism of the illegal immigrants here right now.” We simply DON’T.
We do KNOW that illegal migrant labor puts a persistent downward pressure on the U.S. wage-floor and ultimately on ALL wage rates in America.
We DON’T much like that, and we’re prepared to fight...by either NOT voting and letting the Democrats have all the seats now peopled by our Moderate Republicans, OR perhaps even voting Democratic in some instances.
At least the Democrats can claim (almost with a straight face) that THEY support a more open immigration system for “diversity’s sake.” At least their Liberal-wing has consistently espoused that.NO Republican is going to get away with claiming support for the current Amnesty Bill for any other reason than for their affection for CHEAP migrant LABOR, which is akin to pronouncing one’s antipathy for American labor, and America’s working people.
Think twice before you advance such a travesty Mr. Gerson, think twice.
American immigration law has been established.
If the Republican Party felt it was flawed, they COULD HAVE, SHOULD HAVE and I can only presume WOULD HAVE changed it, not merely ignored it. By merely ignoring it, the GOP has said VERY LOUDLY that they desire CHEAP migrant labor, but support restrictions on immigration.
The Democrats have, to their credit, been the ONLY Party that has actually stood on principle and CHANGED U.S. immigration law. They eradicated the GOP supported “Europeans only” standards, and passed the Kennedy Bill that restricted European immigration and opened immigration up to other parts of the world.
The GOP cannot simply agree with that now, claiming that “in hindsight that was a wise move.”
It was NOT.
Certainly Asian immigrants have been a boon to this nation. Recently the Washington Post (WaPo) published a study that noted, “The Asian-born register far higher than the Latin American-born on every socioeconomic scale. Fifty-eight percent of the area’s Asian-born residents have a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared with 19 percent of the Latin American-born. Fifty-five percent of the Asian-born work in managerial or professional jobs, compared with 20 percent of the Latin American-born.”
But the fact remains that stalwart Republican, Patrick Buchanan was and remains right in his assertion that, “It would be far easier for Virginia to assimilate 1,000 Englishmen than 1,000 Zulus,” or Malaysians, for that matter!
For better or for worse, the Republican Party is dominated by its workingclass conservative roots. Roots that it cultivated since the mid-1960s, with their vaunted “Southern Strategy” and their wooing working people with the “crime issue” and their stance AGAINST race/gender preferences, etc.
So now, Mr. Gerson, you want to grow a conscience?
Well, maybe not a real conscience, right?
I mean your plea isn’t really based on any principle other than the Country Club Republican’s demand for ever more CHEAP LABOR.
Mr. Gerson, one of the problems the “Moderate-wing the Country Club wing) of the GOP has in wooing more blacks and more Hispanics is its conservative base, people very much like myself.
When the GOP courted the likes of me and my white, ethnic workingclass cohorts, you spat in the face of blacks who felt that racial preferences were a “means to equalizing opportunities that were earlier denied,” and because the “Moderate Republicans” caved in on that issue and others, they will never be able to woo those black supremacist type voters back to the Republican Party...short of jettisoning the bulk of your own conservative base.
It’s the same thing with Latino-supremacists, those who support ANYTHING that will result in more Hispanics entering America. They KNOW that “the GOP ONLY wants them for CHEAP LABOR,” while the Democrats seem to embrace ethnic and racial “diversity.”
The fact is that working people, like myself, simply DON’T believe “America needs the cheap labor and dynamism of the illegal immigrants here right now.” We simply DON’T.
We do KNOW that illegal migrant labor puts a persistent downward pressure on the U.S. wage-floor and ultimately on ALL wage rates in America.
We DON’T much like that, and we’re prepared to fight...by either NOT voting and letting the Democrats have all the seats now peopled by our Moderate Republicans, OR perhaps even voting Democratic in some instances.
At least the Democrats can claim (almost with a straight face) that THEY support a more open immigration system for “diversity’s sake.” At least their Liberal-wing has consistently espoused that.NO Republican is going to get away with claiming support for the current Amnesty Bill for any other reason than for their affection for CHEAP migrant LABOR, which is akin to pronouncing one’s antipathy for American labor, and America’s working people.
Think twice before you advance such a travesty Mr. Gerson, think twice.
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