A conservative crosses ideological border, becomes immigration Dream Act believer

Feenmi · 10-03-2010, 12:52 AM

Honestly, this isnt the first time that I have heard of a conservative being in favor of the DREAM Act.

I was speaking to a friend of mine (he doesn't know about my status) about DA 2 weeks ago. He is a pretty conservative Republican. I brought up DA and after discussing it for a good 30-45mins, he fessed up that he agreed with it. Thought that it was a good idea. Not only that, but he said that anybody that fights for the USA should not only get their citizenship, but that their wife/children should as well. No extended family tho. And that all these people against it should ask themselves "what have you done to EARN your citizenship?"

So keep your heads up guys, we have more friends that you think...

Quote:

This is the story of a political conversion — at least on one issue. But in today's polarized political climate, even that is rare.

Austin Parris calls himself a libertarian conservative. He is 22, already belongs to the Palm Beach County GOP Executive Committee and briefly entered this year's Republican primary for state representative from District 85.

He had to drop out because he was afraid of flunking an algebra course at Palm Beach State College.

He agrees with key concerns of the tea party and attends local meetings of conservative television commentator Glenn Beck's 9/12 Project on the future course for the country.

Such conservative organizations are vocal opponents of the Dream Act, federal legislation that would give undocumented people 16 to 35 years old legal status if they complete two years of college or military service. The measure failed in the U.S. Senate last week.

Some deride the act as an attempt at "backdoor amnesty."

It follows that Parris would oppose it as well. But he doesn't.

In fact, Parris is one of the most vocal proponents of the Dream Act on his college campus and increasingly in other political venues.

The bill, which would affect thousands of Florida residents, is expected to come up again during the lame duck session of Congress after the November elections.

Parris will be trying to get conservatives to change their position on the act between now and then.

"At first I didn't like it for the same reason that the tea party doesn't like it," he says. "I thought it was a form of amnesty."

Parris so opposed the Dream Act that in June 2009 he organized a demonstration against it on campus. He accused its supporters of wanting something for nothing. They hurled some choice words at him as well, including "bigot" and "racist."

"At that time they didn't know much about me and I didn't know much about the Dream Act," Parris says.

In March, the college staged a public speaking competition and the assigned topic was the Dream Act. In the first round, out of 10 participants, only Parris and one other speaker opposed the legislation.

One of the speakers on the other side was an acquaintance of Parris', Geoff Robbins.

"That day I called Austin out in front of everyone," recalls Robbins, 23.

"I told him if he knew Dreamers, he wouldn't support policies that were repressive toward them."

"Dreamers" is a term applied to those who would benefit from the law.

Another student supporter of the Dream Act, Marc Simms, also had been talking to Parris.

"I never really gave up on Austin regarding the Dream Act," says Simms, 21.

Parris did eventually change his mind, but he says it didn't have to do with peer pressure on campus or the emotional personal stories of those involved.

"There was a second round to the competition days later so I went home to do more research," he recalls. "That's when I realized that some of my conceptions of the Dream Act were just wrong."

The Dream Act would affect undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. before age 16, have lived here at least five years and have earned a high school diploma or GED. By completing two years of college or military service, they would be able to apply for permanent residence and eventually citizenship.

"And it isn't amnesty the way I thought it was," says Parris. "It is not just given to them. I didn't have to do anything to earn citizenship, but they have to earn it and that is the opposite of amnesty. Conservatives and libertarians believe in self-reliance, and this is self-reliance."

His libertarian beliefs also dictated that the Constitution should not be violated, government should be limited and problems should be fixed. He says he believes the Dream Act works on all those counts.

Some critics have categorized the bill as another government program that would cost taxpayers, but Parris said he found that also is not true.

"Dreamers don't qualify for Pell grants," he said referring to federal education grants. "And they also can't apply for student aid. The cost of it would be minimal to taxpayers and the Dreamers would end up paying more into the system in taxes."

Other critics have said the bill would allow "Dreamers" to use their new legal status to eventually help make their parents legal.

"But isn't it better to bring them inside the system?" he says. "They would be paying more into the system if they were legal and they would be costing us less. It makes sense."

But Tim McClellan, a South Florida tea party spokesman, thinks Parris had it right in the first place.

"It is, in fact, backdoor amnesty," he says. "Once that kid is 18 or older and a U.S. citizen, it is very easy for him or her to claim their parents."

McClellan says he also believes any bill opening a path for legalization of undocumented people must also improve border security. The Dream Act would not.

Palm Beach County GOP party chief Sid Dinerstein also disagrees with Parris on the issue. He says thousands of people follow the rules every year by going to the U.S. embassies in their home countries and applying for the right to legally enter the U.S.

"I don't think we should be rewarding people for breaking the rules," he says.

But Dinerstein has little but praise for Parris.

"I'm glad he has gotten involved as such a young age," he says. "And we don't have to agree on every issue."

Parris says one of the problems he and his PBSC friends have with today's politics is the pressure to conform to party positions.

"In traditional politics, people agree with certain things just because they are part of the party platform," he says. "If we are sick of party politics, we shouldn't do that. And you shouldn't take positions on issues until you have all the facts."

Simms says people of different political stripes at PBSC engage in discussions, make it a point to listen to one another and influences work in both political directions.

"We do have differences, but we can talk to each other on issues," he says of his discussions with Parris. "It's never going to be you're wrong and I'm completely right."

Robbins agrees.

"The dialogue we have should serve as a model for politicians in Washington," he says. "Things would work better that way."

Copyright © 2010, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/pal...0,336857.story

Mona Lisa · 10-03-2010, 12:59 AM

Except Meg Whitman, you could save her life and she would still say gtfo.

Alex · 10-03-2010, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mona Lisa

Except Meg Whitman, you could save her life and she would still say gtfo.

damn it, the way yo talk makes you sound soo hot..

(focus Alex don't fall for her hot brains again)..

Mona Lisa · 10-03-2010, 01:05 AM

lol quiet Alex

Feenmi · 10-03-2010, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

damn it, the way yo talk makes you sound soo hot..

(focus Alex don't fall for her hot brains again)..

ivan81 · 10-03-2010, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mona Lisa

Except Meg Whitman, you could save her life and she would still say gtfo.

damn it, the way yo talk makes you sound soo hot..

(focus Alex don't fall for her hot brains again)..

I'm a firm believer in Monalisa's hotness, cuz she's from Sinaloa.

Erik1421 · 10-03-2010, 01:45 AM

Or so I heard...

Feenmi · 10-03-2010, 01:45 AM

^^^^ Hahahahahaha

jds011 · 10-03-2010, 04:06 PM

I'm a pretty conservative guy who supports most parts of the DA. If you ever wanna bounce ideas or have a conversation with a conservative on it, I'm open.

Task_1539 · 10-03-2010, 04:11 PM

eh, similar story with a guy at my school, not exactly my friend but I've known him for a long time. I was in my free hour (one I generally use for lunch or other stuff) when I came across him and his gf at one of the tables, they invited me over so I sat and we chatted. (Keep in mind this is a guy who said "If the Tea Party was an official political organization I would associate myself with them") he brings up some article he read about the Senate giving amnesty to the children of illegals, a free ride basically so they can get citizenship. (he ment DREAM Act) obviously. I had to intervene, so I gave out a subtle rebutle of what I had heard on univision one day after watching a soccer match explaining the conditions of the DREAM Act. After I explained to him what it was he immediatly said.

"wow, you know what, those idiots in congress finally got something right. A piece of legislation that makes sense. Hopefully it passes recruitment shortages are happening all over the place (the National Guard is visiting my school 3x as much as they used to). At least its a reasonable piece of reform, it prevents more illegals from coming in because they don't benefit under the legislation it applies to the younger generation,which is all it should apply to. If you are 40 years old and living here illegaly you need to get the fuck out. But if you are 16, brought here while you were still uttering your first words I don't see why military service wouldn't be a good option for earning citizenship."

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A conservative crosses ideological border, becomes immigration Dream Act believer