Republican Autopsy: We Should Have Supported Immigration Reform

The Republican National Committee has released a surprisingly candid report that bluntly warns members of the GOP that they need to, among many things, embrace immigration reform. This quote from the report pretty much says it all:

We are not a policy committee, but among the steps Republicans take in the Hispanic community and beyond, we must embrace and champion comprehensive immigration reform. If we do not, our Party’s appeal will continue to shrink to its core constituencies only. We also believe that comprehensive immigration reform is consistent with Republican economic policies that promote job growth and opportunity for all.

Later in the report, the RNC debunks the common theory that immigrants will vote Republican despite the immigration issue:

If Hispanic Americans hear that the GOP doesn’t want them in the United States, they won’t pay attention to our next sentence. It doesn’t matter what we say about education, jobs or the economy; if Hispanics think that we do not want them here, they will close their ears to our policies. In essence, Hispanic voters tell us our Party’s position on immigration has become a litmus test, measuring whether we are meeting them with a welcome mat or a closed door.

The report hasn't stopped the internal fighting in the GOP over this issue. At the CPAC conference, former Representative JD Hayworth went on the attack against Marco Rubio and others in the Republican Party who are supporting immigration reform.

Comments

[George Chell]

Evangelicals make a big issue of gays. Similarly the GOP makes and in some quarters continue to make a big issue of illegal immigration and amnesty. I tell the evangelicals, particularly down south that had they not justified their opposition to interracial marriages by worshipping white skin while masquerading as Christians, we would not be having an argument about gays marriages today. Similarly, I tell the GOP that if they had increased skilled immigration and supported doing away with country quotas while approving some form of visa recapture by not cutting other categories, the accusation of racism against them would have been hollow and they would most likley not be in the predicament of legalizing all illegal immigrants. As it stands now, many in the GOP, including a former California Rep is mourning the passing of the traditional Valley Girl culture and it seems like some of them are desparate to preserve the white majority....at least that is what it looks like....back in the Jim Crow days the Dixiecrats and their supporters feared a black majority....this is no longer the case. Now they fear the country becoming like Hawaii or New Mexico. Let me assure you that if the country looks like Hawaii we are very lucky.

[George Chell]

"Apparently "all" refers to any foreign national who shops up in the U.S. uninvited."

And their relatives who are US citizens and who vote, and their buddies in foreign corporations who run out anti-immigrant countries such as the UK and invest in the US.

[Jack]

"We also believe that comprehensive immigration reform is consistent with Republican economic policies that promote job growth and opportunity for all."

Apparently "all" refers to any foreign national who shops up in the U.S. uninvited.

[Tobias]

Why giving coverage to a reality show (CPAC conference)?
By now President Obama should have ready in paper his Executive Order legalizing all unlawfully present immigrants who met the essential requirements dictated by National Security.

The US Government will need this significant portion of the population -at least 20 million individuals- as a supportive instrument for the upcoming wars soon to be fought (specifically against North Korea, Syria and Iran, and then, the Russian Federation and China).

It will be very interesting to see how skilled immigrants currently living in the US with working visas will react if they are offered a speedy permanent residency or citizenship in exchange to join the Armed Forces.

Shouldn't be a surprise to see an announcement similar to the one offered by the Selective Service System but this time on the DHS home page:

ATTENTION, UNDOCUMENTED MALES & IMMIGRANT SERVICING GROUPS!

Selective Service does not collect any information which would indicate whether or not you are undocumented. You want to protect yourself for future U.S. citizenship and other government benefits and programs by registering with Selective Service. Do it today.

If you are a man ages 18 through 25 and living in the U.S., then you must register with Selective Service. It’s the law. According to law, a man must register with Selective Service within 30 days of his 18th birthday. Selective Service will accept late registrations but not after a man has reached age 26. You may be denied benefits or a job if you have not registered. You can register at any U.S. Post Office and do not need a social security number. When you do obtain a social security number, let Selective Service know. Provide a copy of your new social security number card; being sure to include your complete name, date of birth, Selective Service registration number, and current mailing address; and mail to the Selective Service System, P.O. Box 94636, Palatine, IL 60094-4636.

http://www.sss.gov/default.htm

Remember folks, WW3 is just around the corner (and this is not fear-mongering)