How Immigration Reform Could Split the Right

lilbawler2001 · 04-16-2010, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid recently declared that Democrats would take up immigration reform "this year," defying the conventional wisdom that the issue is too perilous for the party to push during an election year. But maybe it's Republicans who should be nervous—because a high-octane immigration fight could drive a wedge between the Republican Party and the Tea Party right.
"It becomes a very explosive argument when you talk about legitimizing immigrants," says retired GOP representative Tom Davis, the former chair of the National Republican Campaign Committee. "From a Republican point of view, there is a dilemma.

"Republicans ought to be embracing them instead of chasing them away," says Davis, referring to immigrants. "It hasn't. It’s gone from bad to worse in some ways."

But Davis, the former NRCC chair, offers some strategic advice. If he were a Democrat, immigration reform "would have been been one of my first orders of business. If you were to pass it...it would bring eight to 10 million new voters" to the Democratic Party, Davis says. "Game, set, match. I'm surprised they've waited this long."

http://motherjones.com/politics/2010...splinter-right

On a different note

Quote:

We're not giving up on immigration reform," vowed Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) as he addressed an event hosted by the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform.

Schumer was a surprise speaker at the packed immigration meeting which was held at the community services center in Sunnyside Thursday night.

He outlined the challenges facing the Senate bill which he has co-authored with South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham.

Schumer pulled no punches when he said the effort needed another Republican backer in the Senate.

"But," he said, "that's why we need your help."

"We're about ready to go...We're not there yet but we're getting there."

Schumer said there was one solid reason for backing immigration reform, "Immigrants make America better."

And he said, "the more Irish there are in America, the better America is!"

He emphasized that the effort was truly bipartisan and also enjoyed broad support from Labor, big business and religious groups.

About 350 people attended the meeting which was addressed by Bruce Morrison and Ciaran Staunton from the ILIR and representatives from leading Irish organizations including the AOH, GAA and United Irish Counties.

Schumer reminded the crowd that one of the requirements for the new bill would be the ability to speak English.

"That shouldn't be a problem for the Irish," he quipped

http://www.irishcentral.com/story/ne...-91002874.html

How long is he going to keep saying that? Do they really need another republican co-sponsor to introduce the damn bill?

dtrt09 · 04-16-2010, 10:55 AM

"But Davis, the former NRCC chair, offers some strategic advice. If he were a Democrat, immigration reform "would have been been one of my first orders of business. If you were to pass it...it would bring eight to 10 million new voters" to the Democratic Party, Davis says. "Game, set, match. I'm surprised they've waited this long."

See, the difference between Republicans and Democrats is that Republicans are actually loyal to their voters.

DREAMactASAP · 04-16-2010, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilbawler2001

He outlined the challenges facing the Senate bill which he has co-authored with South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham.

So the bill is ready? It's written and final?

It should be introduced then, more republicans will come on board I'm sure.

Feenmi · 04-16-2010, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtrt09

"But Davis, the former NRCC chair, offers some strategic advice. If he were a Democrat, immigration reform "would have been been one of my first orders of business. If you were to pass it...it would bring eight to 10 million new voters" to the Democratic Party, Davis says. "Game, set, match. I'm surprised they've waited this long."

See, the difference between Republicans and Democrats is that Republicans are actually loyal to their voters.

WTF???

angeleno · 04-16-2010, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtrt09

See, the difference between Republicans and Democrats is that Republicans are actually loyal to their voters.

Yeah, remember how Republicans were oh-so-embracing of immigrants in the last eight years when they were in power? I can still see Vitter holding little brown kids, while Sessions heedfully whispered enchanting lullabies in the background.

Bush won 40% of the Latino vote, mind you.

Jelly Bean Lover · 04-17-2010, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DREAMactASAP

So the bill is ready? It's written and final?

It should be introduced then, more republicans will come on board I'm sure.

It's not like they are inventing the wheel or something. They already know the broad outlines of what they want to do, and certainly they could borrow a lot of the legislative language from the last time around. Gutierrez mentioned that fact in an cable interview he gave back in March about the time of the march in Washington (to CNN I think).

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How Immigration Reform Could Split the Right