Guest Column: Tea Party vs. GOP on Immigration
I wrote about the conflicting opinions about immigration among Texas Republicans earlier, and I don’t want to beat a dead horse. But as a short addendum, the table below looks at the results of a different set of immigration items from the May 2011 survey, cross-tabulated with the survey item that provided poll respondents with the option of identifying with the Tea Party label instead of with the major parties (see this column from June for the wording of the question). While the Tea Party contingent seems to pull the party rightward in some areas, especially fiscal policy, their ...
Comments (21)
Thomas Darby
The internet posting make it look like we could balance the Federal Budget with the money we could save if we did not support the illegal immigrants. We have a very large and expensive Federal Administration, but we cannot control the spending. Medicare fraud is a major cost for Medicare. Payments to illegal immigrants are another excessive cost. Maybe if we reduced the size of the Federal Government Administration we could afford to pay for the fraud and the illegal immigrants. They are not doing their job.
Karen Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Gee, it might help if they understood the problem before they formed their opinion. They don't understand the immigration problem and spread lies either intentionally or because they have been misinformed. I'm not sure which it is.
Jalapeno Schwartz via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Their heads live in the ozone anyway!
Rodney Marsden via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Jalapeno....didn't you mean analzone? ( head up the ass syndrome)
Jason Stradtner via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Name That Candidate:
"A nation without borders is no nation at all. It just doesn’t make sense to fight terrorists abroad while leaving our front door unlocked. Unfortunately, for far too long, neither major political party has had the courage to do what is necessary to tackle the problem. Instead, we’re presented with so-called “solutions” that involve amnesty proposals or further restricting Americans’ civil liberties through programs like REAL ID.
[This candidate] opposes both of these schemes and believes they will only make illegal immigration and the problems associated with it worse. He has been proud to see states exercising their Tenth Amendment rights and protecting their citizens by refusing to comply with the unconstitutional REAL ID law.
While the federal government neglects its constitutional responsibility to protect our borders, it continues to push mandates on the states to provide free education and medical care to illegal immigrants at a time when the states are drowning in debt. This must not be tolerated any longer.
Like most Americans, [this candidate] also understands just how valuable legal immigration is to our country. Immigrants who want to work hard, obey our laws, and live the American Dream have always been great assets.
COMMON SENSE REFORMS
If elected President, [this candidate] will work to implement the following common sense reforms:
* Enforce Border Security – America should be guarding her own borders and enforcing her own laws instead of policing the world and implementing UN mandates.
* No Amnesty - The Obama Administration’s endorsement of so-called “Comprehensive Immigration Reform,” granting amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants, will only encourage more law-breaking.
* Abolish the Welfare State – Taxpayers cannot continue to pay the high costs to sustain this powerful incentive for illegal immigration. As Milton Friedman famously said, you can’t have open borders and a welfare state.
* End Birthright Citizenship – As long as illegal immigrants know their children born here will be granted U.S. citizenship, we’ll never be able to control our immigration problem.
* Protect Lawful Immigrants – As President, Ron Paul will encourage legal immigration by streamlining the entry process without rewarding lawbreakers.
As long as our borders remain wide open, the security and safety of the American people are at stake.
As President, Ron Paul will address immigration by fighting for effective solutions that protect our nation, uphold the rule of law, and respect every American citizen’s civil liberties.
Terry Meza via Texas Tribune on Facebook
But why are they concentrating on the border with Mexico when there is no evidence that terrorists have ever come thru there- well, except Pancho Villa
Jill Meredith Bergene via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Yup, Ron Paul's all for civil liberties...unless they might pertain to women.
James Williams
If this article was meant to be an indictment of any party - it fell short. I read the table as indicating that even the Democrats are divided on immigration reform. A full 25% on the Left oppose the reforms as presented. There are many of the Republicans and the identified Tea Party responders who oppose them as well. Yes, there are some leanings from each to a particular direction but each side has their moderate contingent that thinks differently.
Further, since both the Democrats and Tea Party are aligned on "Local law enforcement officials should be allowed to enforce federal immigration laws, but it should not be a primary responsibility of theirs" – or the fact that each of the three identified political parties have very similar “Somewhat Oppose” numbers on many of the questions presented - can we say that the Democrats have their heads in the analzone or that they don't know the issues as well as, has been stated by some, about the other two parties?
Mac Mcclure via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Ron Paul doesn't like women he is only an OB-Gyn.
Lance Lowry via Texas Tribune on Facebook
The Tea Party is like the rise of Nazism in Germany before WWII. The Nazi party blamed liberalism, trade unionism, and minority groups for the depression. The Nazi Party used propaganda to sell their beliefs.
The Tea Party believes the same thing and uses Fox News to spread their hatred.
The interesting thing is they were both financed by the same wealthy families. I.E. Koch Family.
James Williams
Comparing the Tea Party, Republicans or the Democrats to the Nazi Party is irresponsible and disrespectful to those who suffered at the hands of that party. Very, very poor taste.
Thomas Prentice via Texas Tribune on Facebook
That is because THEY ARE RACIST!
Dale H Curry via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I love it when the right complains about being compared to Nazi's then turn on Glenn Beck waving Obama's caricature in Hitler mustache.
Dale H Curry via Texas Tribune on Facebook
@ James - dont look now but if you think your posts are sounding moderate, your sadly mistaken. have a nice day.
Christopher Thornton via Texas Tribune on Facebook
If wanting our government to stop spending more money than it brings in and start obeying the Constitution like the Founding Fathers intended makes me a racist, then, YES, I am a racist.
David Spratt
As Constitutionalists tea party members will be maligned by all those who are reliant and depend on the federal government for their existence. Those who depend on the government are restricted and can only rise to the level allowed by that which is given them. Our welfare class is one such example. They are more enslaved today than in the days of true slavery, but yet they continue to vote for their dependence. I for one do not see anywhere in the constitution any clause that gives the federal government the right or responsibility to determine what type of light bulb I can buy. Just one simple example I am sure even the most dimwitted can grasp.
Lance Lowry via Texas Tribune on Facebook
The founding fathers waged war against England because they had taxation without representation, kind of like the working class today who pay most of the taxes and receive little representation. Billionaires like David Koch fund the Tea Party and idiots who believe Fox News blindly follow his propaganda going to Tea Party rallies to help keep billionaires from paying taxes.
voteforamerica
LATINOS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
https://www.teapartypatriots.org/
http://grassrootstexans.net/pages/home/
latinosfed@gmail.com
August 1st, 2011
Fellow Americans, we are very close to an economic collapse, and the Hispanic politicians leading
by Congressman Luis Gutierrez of illinois and the Democrats together with Hispanics organizations of traitor ( LA RAZA, MALDEF, MECHA, LULAC, THE HISPANIC CAUCUS, THE TEXAS HISPANIC CAUCUS, THE NATIONAL HISPANIC LEARDERSHIP, AND THE PROMOTERS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION) are asking Mr. Obama, to use his discretionary powers to give the illegal aliens amnesty.
Rep. Luis Gutierrez is asking Mr. Obama to trash the Constitution and break the laws of this United States, to give amnesty to the illegal aliens. Most Latinos as my self, we love Mexicans and immigrants from other countries, I have family in Mexico, we are not racist, but what differentiate us from the traitors is that we believe in our Constitution, our Sovereignty and our immigration laws, we come to this country legally, to be part of this United States, our loyalty can not be question by any one and we are not going to let the political power grabbers, let the rest of the country believe that we are part of their organization.
The huge cost of education, social service, medical, legal and other expenses are an economic burden that we can not carry any more, in Texas the cost of education is $12,000 per year for each student, not to mention all of the other expenses.
Rep. Gutierrez, Obama and all the other traitors that said that the illegal immigrants make a great contribution to our economic, are selling something that we know is not truth; the only ones that benefit from illegal immigrants are the businesses that want cheap labor at the expenses of the American workers, the truth is, that illegal aliens take our jobs and decreased our wages.
Mr Obama and all the traitors promoters of illegal immigration, should know; that we too are very concern about illegal immigration but their way to deal with this issue is wrong and unacceptable. Before any immigration reform will be considerate, the following must take place:
1- Build the fence and secure our Border. The border patrol and immigration officers should be authorize to use force if need be, and should not be discharge or put in prison for doing their job. Ours is a sovereign country and our borders must be respect by all foreigners.
2- Deport all illegal aliens and permanent residents with criminal records.
3- Cut all social service for permanents residents and illegal aliens. not immigrant should be an economic burden to the American People.
4- All illegal aliens must graduate from high school and be proficient on the use of the English language or face deportation.
5- Educate all illegal immigrants in American History, our Constitution and loyalty to the Unite States of America. We must end the indoctrination of traitors in our country.
6- Pass Legislation to review our immigration policies to control the numbers of people that will enter our country every year and from what country and their education levels. stop the family reunion clause, and pass legislation that new immigrants can not be sponsors of others to be able to come to this country.
Most Latinos are tire of the Mexicans culture of corruption, the drug traffickers, criminals, prostitutes and gangs that are taken over some communities. We are tire of La Raza and the rest of the Mexican organizations agenda, they are the promoters of socialism they are the Marxist of tomorrow, they betray this country; the country that open his door and welcome them with the amnesty of 1986 to be part of America; these people has not loyalty they are the promoters of the invasion of illegal aliens and defenders of the criminals that are here in our country in violation of our laws. Most Latinos are in support of the enforcement of our immigration laws because they are fed up with Obama and the promoters of illegal immigration refusal to enforce our immigration laws and protect our borders from the invasion of illegal aliens and the drug traffickers, that are destroying our country's values, school system, social service and most important they are taken our jobs and are a huge financial burden.
We ask all tea party patriots to stand for our country's enforcement of the immigration laws, not immigration reform must take place if our Borders are not secure and our laws are enforce.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tag/immigration-enforcement
http://www.illegalimmigrationstatistics.org/120/
http://www.mnforsustain.org/immg_costs_of_educating_legal_illegals_fair.htm
http://www.cairco.org/econ/econ.html
http://www.usillegalaliens.com/impacts_of_illegal_immigration_education.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-Verify
James Williams
Immigration reform has to occur but getting all the parties aligned for this issue will rival the deficit reduction fiasco. And really, how much of a hot button topic is this right now with the economy in its worst shape ever, when entitlement programs are dwarfing discretionary spending, and our military is fighting overseas wars that are more unpopular than ever. A prioritization of goals should be given by BHO that can be agreed upon by both House and Senate and then they should move on it. If the economy and jobs are the most important then i want to see a plan...since I sure haven't seen one yet. From anybody...
John Burton via Texas Tribune on Facebook
ALL HAIL RON PAUL! Always for states' rights, except when he's not.
Liz Theiss
Here is a video describing the disappointment of many activists who fought for enforcement.
Texas Ruling-Class- Immigration Enforcement Blocking:
http://bit.ly/nSVlcM