There are very few nice things I can say about the anti-immigrant group NumbersUSA. But they do the pro-immigrant community a favor with their detailed ratings of members of Congress. And now they have done the same on presidential candidates for next November's election. Just flip the scores and you can tell which candidates pro-immigrant folks should consider supporting. The candidates are graded generally on their positions on legalization of unauthorized immigrants, immigration enforcement and ending legal immigration (which includes opposing non-immigrant visas like the H-1B as well as family and employment-based green cards). They are then graded on more specific issues in each category.
The long and short of it is that the Democrats all did poorly with the antis (which means they would score an "A" from us). The Republicans generally scored high and The only GOP candidates that did poorly with the antis on all measures is John McCain.
I received a couple of negative comments on a post the other day called "Sleeping Giant" discussing how the anti-immigration rhetoric being heard from many GOP candidates would come back to haunt that party as Hispanic voters exacted retribution at the polls. Some suggested that the GOP is only anti-ILLEGAL-immigration. But the NumbersUSA ratings tell a different story. So to the legal immigration advocates who somehow think that if they abandon the advocates for unauthorized immigrants, I ask that you take a look at the ratings of GOP candidates on legal immigration. Only three of the eight GOP candidates scored poorly with the antis on legal immigration - McCain, Romney and Guiliani. All seven Democrats scored poorly with the antis on the legal immigration question.
I'm not simply being partisan. If John McCain got his party's nomination, I would be very pleased to encourage his candidacy. I'd probably also have kind things to say about Mayor Guiliani if only because his record on immigration as mayor was commendable. But in general, every Democratic candidate can boast a pro-immigration record as strong as the strongest Republican.
Patrick - My original post attacked by IndianGuy listed NumbersUSA's ratings of all of the GOP and Democratic candidates. NumbersUSA is non-partisan and while it makes no bones about being anti-immigration, it doesn't favor one party over the other strictly on partisan grounds. I was reporting the actual fact that NumbersUSA gave great ratings to the GOP candidates (except McCain) and poor ratings to all of the Democrats (except Kucinich who scored a little better due to his opposition to some of the guest worker bills). That's just fact. IndianGuy seems to be upset that I'm portraying the GOP as being against BOTH illegal immigration and legal immigration. While their rhetoric is only focused on illegal immigration, their voting records and issue papers are a different matter. NumbersUSA based their ratings on actual votes cast and public positions. Again, the facts. Sorry if you think that sounds childish, but I'm sure confronting the cold, hard reality that the party he some how come to identify with is actually not what he thought, getting defensive and hurling accusations is an understandable reaction.
Tell him to work to bring the GOP back to its traditional pro-business, small government views.
Posted by: Greg Siskind | December 10, 2007 at 10:27 AM
"I don't see Indian immigrants loitering around parking lots and looking for work. "
Right!!!! you got the football beer drinking indian buddies of yours that fit in to your stereotype Immigrants.
Posted by: Another voice | December 10, 2007 at 10:20 AM
"Why don't you refute him by posting facts about SensenBrenner?"
Everyone knows Sennsenbrenner's record on these things but okay. Here is Sennsenbrenner's report card from NumbersUSA/ABI (the most trusted name if you are an anti):
http://grades.betterimmigration.com/testgrades.php3?District=WI&VIPID=880
On work visas Sennsenbrenner gets an A meaning he wants to reduce/eliminate EB immigration. Those who favor work visas would be graded F or F-.
Posted by: USC | December 10, 2007 at 09:28 AM
Greg,
You posted information that you claimed to be 'facts' and IndianGuy did the same. Is there anything wrong with that approach? Responding to him saying "deal with it" would be something a five year old would do. Why don't you refute him by posting facts about SensenBrenner? Now that would be a mature response which I guess is asking too much from you. FYI, I agree with IndianGuy. I don't see Indian immigrants loitering around parking lots and looking for work. In fact one of my neighbors who is Indian mentioned that his brother left to India when he lost his job rather than stay here illegally. I think that is most commendable.
Posted by: Patrick | December 10, 2007 at 09:11 AM
This Guy has a personal vendeta against Greg because he has shut him up many times on his postings. IG if you are really indian, if you have nothing to contribute to the blog but show us that you ar a Tancredo/Sensenbrenner fan go do it at the NumbersUSA blog you'll find lots of friends there.
Posted by: Another voice | December 10, 2007 at 07:35 AM
"and quite honestly your name is a disservice to many decent Indian immigrants out there."
LNLR, anyone can pick any handle. He may or may not be Indian.
Posted by: USC | December 10, 2007 at 06:40 AM
"Greg is simply trying to intimidate non-hispanic LEGAL immigrants here."
Where did you get this from? Your perception is totally skewed, and quite honestly your name is a disservice to many decent Indian immigrants out there. Go, root for Sensenbrenner, he will give you a green green card alright... in the next century, maybe if you kiss up to him more, and maybe he even think your kids deserve citizenship, but he is still thinking about it.
Posted by: Legal and no longer waiting | December 10, 2007 at 06:32 AM
IndianGuy - You're really not making yourself appear very credible with this kind of post. Please re-read my message. NumbersUSA has only provided rankings of candidates. I am only reporting those rankings. It so happens that almost every GOP candidate ranked poorly on BOTH illegal immigration and legal immigration issues. That's a fact. Deal with it.
Posted by: Greg Siskind | December 09, 2007 at 05:46 PM
Another sad sad attempt at spreading misinformation.
NumbersUSA is not GOP. They constitute less than 1% of GOP. If they had so much power, Tancredo would be republican front-runner. But, he ain't.
This kind of fear-mongering by Greg is comparable to what some people call fear-mongering by new-coservativess during the run up to Iraq war. Greg is simply trying to intimidate non-hispanic LEGAL immigrants here.
As an example, consider HR 4437, a very very anti-lillegal immigration bill, sponsored by Jim Sensenbrenner. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H.R._4437 . Sensenbrenner is one of the most hated perople among the hispanics since he is very anti-illegal immigration. Now, Sensenbrenner has a bill called HR 4065. He calls for tougher santions on illegals along with an INCREASE in h-1b. Read about the bill here. http://programmersguild.blogspot.com/2007/11/congress-set-to-triple-h-1b-quota-in-hr.html . All 12 co-sponsors of this bill are republicans, not a single democrat. People like Jim Sensenbrenner are our friend.
I now have only one question, Greg. Who are you trying to fool here?
Posted by: indianGuy | December 09, 2007 at 04:11 PM
These people the may as well change the name of their organization to Tancredo for president 2008.
Posted by: Another Voice | December 09, 2007 at 09:10 AM