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Is immigration a dead issue now in politics? After Sen. John McCain acknowledged his stance on the issue nearly killed his campaign last summer, his campaign manager now says they've reached "convergence," where the Republican Party shares the same view. That, said Rick Davis, the campaign manager, has helped immigration "mature" into a non-issue:
"I do believe that the convergence of our party on sort of a single approach to immigration is part of what has done that. In other words, today, there's a different debate going on than there was a year ago. And I think that part of that is because Senator McCain went out and exercised a position on this issue, vigorously, that didn't work. And he was not able to pass a piece of legislation that addressed the issue in away that he thought would benefit the country the most. Part of the message he got was how little confidence the American people have in the institution of Congress and the administration to implement that law. I don't think there's much other reason — you can debate the merits of it from a public policy point of view, but clearly the American public opposed it because I don't think they thought anything was going to get done. Now the issue is, we need to exert every resource we can as a government, whether Congress or the administration, to get control of our border before we can effectuate a real change in our immigration plans."
"It doesn't even come up in conversations. You hear a lot of things, immigration's not one of the hot topics anymore. So wihtin our own party I think that issue has matured into something that's less divisive."
— Stephen Dinan, national political reporter, The Washington Times
Comments (10)
Make no mistake. Illegal Aliens is NOT a dead issue.
The American people want our borders secured and they want to stop benefits to illegals.
The only reason this issue is not at the forefront is because the mainstream media doesn't want it to be. So they downplay or outright ignor it.
We don't want a pro-illegal in the white house.
McCain is pro-illegal alien, so is Obama and Clinton.
So where does that leave us? In the toilet.
Posted by Marie | February 15, 2008 4:42 PM
No John, this issue is not dead make no mistake about that.
But you John McCain, you were not born on American soil, but in Panama, so how is it you get to run for office of the President of the United States? Is it because your mother was a United States citizen? So that means your mother's country, is your county? Okay then John what the hell are we doing with all these damn anchor babies you are giving citizenship and benefits to?!!! Benefits that our military vets returning from wars can not even get! Health care and scholarships you will give to, let's see what did you call them, "God's Children"? But our wounded and returning vets get dick, right John? No buddy, you and the rest of your elite buddies in Washington will not have an easy time ramming this immigration crap down our throats! You think it's dead? Wait until your lame old ass gets in there. This has just started.
Tim
Darien IL
Posted by Tim | February 15, 2008 7:42 PM
I imagine they'll start asking questions when McCain loses 48 states. Is immigration dead as an issue? No. Are we tired of talking to morons like Mr. Davis...yes. People are considering leaving the Republican party in droves. We're tired of the establishment telling us that the guy who average 30% of the vote through February 9th is our guy. 70% of Republicans wanted non-amnesty candidates.
Convergence? Wait til the see their fundraising tallies and volunteer status? The crickets chirping will be louder than the supporters of McCain. Political suicide will be interesting to watch.
Posted by Troy | February 16, 2008 11:01 AM
I am a registered Democrat. I will not vote for a Democrat due to their Pro-Illegal Alien Stance. How many votes are you going to throw away by taking the same stand? I will vote Republican IF we are talking about securing our borders and deporting illegal aliens.
Our laws were designed to protect the citizens of this country. Read the Constitution and then follow it. The ACLU has become a power hungry group that has stepped all over our Constitution and everything they were designed to protect.
There will come a time when, we the people, will be forced to make a stand. If our government continues on this path of self destruction they just may find themselves in the midst of a major revolution by the people. And don't think for one minute that our military men and women wouldn't stand up and be counted amongst the citizens! They are sworn to protect this country and our citizens and you are giving away their earned benefits to criminals!
It's time to wake up to the facts and do your job. Stop walking on the sidelines for fear of losing and step up to bat to defend our country!
Posted by Noreen | February 17, 2008 11:41 PM
I've written to John and Rick several times over the immigration issue. I've told them they are wrong on the issue and that it's a bellweather issue for me and most everyone I've talked to about it. The only reason its not at the fore of the debate is because the liberal media isn't reporting on it.
I doubt that there are many people in this country who are anti-immigrant, meaning anti-LEGAL immigrant. However, there is a vast majority of people in this country who are very definitely anti-illegal aliens, a point most of our money-grubbing local, state, and federal politicians seem to ignore in their rooting in the mud for the almighty campaign dollar. Unfortunately, the entire crop of front-running 2008 presidential candidates, Democrat and Republican alike, are ignoring the public's unhappiness with illegal aliens.
Posted by Geoffrey D. Cullison | February 23, 2008 2:09 PM
I think Obama is making a mistake on the illegal immigration issue.
Obama is ignoring the fact that both republican and democrat controlled congresses failed to pass "COMPREHENSIVE" immigration reform. Republicans, independents, and conservative democrat voters simply do not believe the govt intends to secure the borders. That is why both dems and repubs killed immigration the last two times around.
Obama's "platitude" that he can enact such reform given the past failures will be understood as just another fairytale. McCain will on the other hand garner votes from Repubs, Dems and Indies and even Hispanics for being a straight shooter.
The fact is that the majority of the public wants the borders to be secured first before the issue of 'amnesty" or whatever legalizing those who are here is called. As McCain says, he learned that Americans want to be humane but they do not believe that govt will secure the borders.
Therefore, border security must come first and it has to be honest and effective. Then the immigration issue can be dealt with.
McCain should argue that Obama's refusal to be honest on this issue will just lead to four more years of devisiveness and NO immigration reform at all. It is just another election year platitude. But leadership requires honesty to get things done and not empty unfufillable promises. There can only be imig reform once the borders are secured. Therefore, that should be the policy and politicians for the good of all should be honest about it.
To McCain illigal immigration is not a dead issue, but the concept of comprehensive immigration is. I think that will ulitmately be a winner for him and the country as a whole.
Posted by JAZ | February 23, 2008 3:02 PM
I used to love this country. What's to love? Rotting infrastructure, Crime, Lack of immigration reform, No energy policies, Ballooning budget & deficit, Gun rites eroding, taking away our private health care, Nafta, Damm, the list goes on & on!
Posted by David Barsness | February 25, 2008 6:11 AM
I think Bill Gates should quit asking to allow more immigrants into this country to work for him and start a program with some of his billions to better educate some of the American youths to be better qualified. My children would love an affordable opportunity to become more educated.
Posted by ken | March 14, 2008 2:57 AM
It is foolish to think illegal immigration is a dead issue, for Independent voters it is actually more important than the Iraq war or electing a woman or a black man as President of the United States.
Posted by chris | April 27, 2008 11:06 PM
It is sad that illegal immigration affects blacks and other minorities at the job level severely, take for example anywhere there is unfettered illegal immigration. California, Texas, Florida, and states like New York, Maryland, New Mexico, Arizona. Its a positive that states like Arizona, Georgia and Virginia are fighting back with nice laws against illegal immigration. Proper enforcement of the laws on the books as well as securing the borders are the only solutions to get back to a pre 1970 level of legal immigration and harsh penalties for illegal immigrants as well as the apologist employers.
Posted by Anonymous | May 24, 2008 11:00 PM