Romney’s Best Bet: Embrace the Dream Act

freshh. · 05-24-2012, 06:52 AM

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The Hispanic voting in presidential elections has traditionally been more bipartisan than most people realize. Upward of 30 percent of Hispanics voted for Presidents Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush ( 1988 ) and George W. Bush, with Reagan and George W. Bush winning more than 40 percent in their re-election bids. But since Republican candidates decided to make illegal immigration a wedge issue in recent elections, Hispanics have been fleeing the G.O.P. This year doesn’t bode well either.

In an effort to woo conservatives needed to secure the nomination, Mitt Romney took tough rhetorical stands on illegal immigration. He suggested that the 11 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. should “self-deport,” a fantasy that, if it came true, would devastate the American economy. And he counted some of the nastiest anti-immigrant characters around among his supporters, including Joe Arpaio, sheriff of Maricopa County in Arizona.

Romney has to turn his image around among Hispanic voters, and if he doesn’t his chance of winning in November becomes tougher.

Romney will have to work hard to turn his image around among Hispanic voters, and if he doesn’t his chance of winning in November will become tougher. He needs to win in key states where Hispanics make up a significant portion of eligible voters: Colorado, Florida, Nevada and New Mexico.

But all is not lost. While Romney may favor “self-deportation,” President Obama has actually deported more illegal immigrants than any president in history — and he’s done so without regard to whether deportation splits families that include U.S. citizens. And the president has done almost nothing to advance immigration reform, never making it a top legislative priority or using any political capital even when Democrats controlled both houses of Congress.

Romney’s best bet if he wants to soften his image is to embrace the Dream Act, which would grant legal status to illegal immigrants who came here as children if they join the military or attend college for at least two years. If he doesn’t, he could lose not just the overwhelming majority of Hispanic votes, but also the election. - Source

Linda Chavez was the director of public liaison in the Reagan White House and the G.O.P. Senate nominee from Maryland in 1986. She is the chairwoman of the Center for Equal Opportunity, a conservative research group focused on race and ethnicity.

Jelly Bean Lover · 05-24-2012, 08:49 AM

This is about as accurate an analysis of the state of things as I have seen in some years. What kills me is this part:

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President Obama has actually deported more illegal immigrants than any president in history — and he’s done so without regard to whether deportation splits families that include U.S. citizens.

How can any U.S. citizen support such a policy, no matter how racist or xenophobic they are. It is an attack on the rights of actual citizens, and nobody even cares. There is something fundamentally wrong with a country, a government, and a president that is willing to impinge on citizens' rights.

hollisterco · 05-24-2012, 02:38 PM

GOP SPAM, lets post versions that dont include dumb or dumber in the title

elihu · 05-24-2012, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jelly Bean Lover

How can any U.S. citizen support such a policy, no matter how racist or xenophobic they are. It is an attack on the rights of actual citizens, and nobody even cares. There is something fundamentally wrong with a country, a government, and a president that is willing to impinge on citizens' rights.

Anti: It's their fault for deciding to marry a criminal.
Supreme Court: It's not a right. No citizen has the fundamental right to marry a noncitizen and expect that person to have a right to remain in the country. That person can go elsewhere. But it's not our business to meddle in what the legislature and presidency decide.

It's sucky and wrong, but there's a way for nativists to attack even their own compatriots. Think of Sirius Black's family in Harry Potter.

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Romney’s Best Bet: Embrace the Dream Act