"Arizona law is good politics" from SFGate

[dammitgibs]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/05/08/INS81D45GB.DTL

Really interesting article, and surprising position coming from SFGate. Some highlights of interest:

why should Republicans stick their necks out for a demographic that abandoned John McCain in the 2008 presidential election? He risked his political ambitions by pushing for a federal bill with a pathway to citizenship in 2007 and then, according to an Edison/Mitofsky exit poll, McCain won a lousy 31 percent of the Latino vote- down from George W. Bush's 44 percent in the 2004 presidential contest.

Obama helped kill that bill, and he won 67 percent of the demographic.

President Obama called the Arizona law "misguided" and said he favors "commonsense comprehensive immigration reform." It's all lip service. President Obama reneged on his 2008 campaign pledge to push immigration reform - with a path to citizenship for undocumented aliens - during his first year in office because, well, it's political poison.

That's what gets me about republicans is that they have been just as soft on illegal immigration as democrats, but why?? It doesn't matter what you do the democrats already have the latino vote wrapped around their finger, there are a certain percentage of latino voters who are opposed to illegal immigration so try and get their vote, you don't have a chance in hell of getting the rest of the demographic.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

The reason is that the Hispanic vote is large enough to sway elections when they are close. Not that Hispanics will support Reps as a rule, but if riled the fear by Republicans is that more of them will turn out.

This is an example of playing to party more than constituents. What the Reps have forgotten is that immigration is an issue for many Americans especially in areas where it has real impact.

Rather than taking a stand, they wait and try to gauge what they can use without upsetting the metaphorical apple cart.

Now that AZ has acted and the Reps see a favorable response by citizens at large they'll fall all over themselves to identify with the AZ government.

Vultures don't attack. They wait and feed on the dead.

 

[blackangst1]

Yes, both sides have been soft. Im starting to see campaign ads for McCain now here in Phoenix, and its all about shipping 3000 national guard to the border, build the fence, etc and PISSES ME OFF the flip he did.

That said, I understand politicians and change their stance on things. Its just questionable when they do it as the wind direction changes.

 

[shortylickens]

Yes, both sides have been soft. Im starting to see campaign ads for McCain now here in Phoenix, and its all about shipping 3000 national guard to the border, build the fence, etc and PISSES ME OFF the flip he did.

That said, I understand politicians and change their stance on things. Its just questionable when they do it as the wind direction changes.

Republicans wanna win.
And they are finally starting to realize that the descendants of those given amnesty in the 80's are now of voting age. Not to mention all the pro-illegal people we have in America now. I must admit I had no clue that was an actual demographic.

 

[lsd]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/05/08/INS81D45GB.DTL

Really interesting article, and surprising position coming from SFGate. Some highlights of interest:

So one OPINION article by a conservative writer for the SFgate makes it their position?
From Wiki
"Debra J. Saunders (born 1954) is a conservative columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle. Syndicated by Creators Syndicate, her thrice weekly column is also carried by newspapers throughout the country and on townhall.com.

Between 1987 and 1992, Saunders was a columnist and editorial writer for the Los Angeles Daily News. She has previously worked for conservative advocacy groups and for a Republican leader of the California State Assembly."


Do you think here opinion about the matter would be any different?

 

[dammitgibs]

Republicans wanna win.
And they are finally starting to realize that the descendants of those given amnesty in the 80's are now of voting age. Not to mention all the pro-illegal people we have in America now. I must admit I had no clue that was an actual demographic.

Reagan signed that bill to give them amnesty so you're saying they should remember that and vote republican?

 

[ElFenix]

sf chronicle was known as the more conservative of the city's major papers when i was there

 

[DucatiMonster696]

sf chronicle was known as the more conservative of the city's major papers when i was there

In the past (pre-late 90's) the SF Chronicle could of been considered a moderate if not center left paper but it swings heavily toward the left nowadays. Most folks in the city have renamed it the SF Comical due to its hard left slant.

 

[Rainsford]

I don't know, I think Republicans SHOULD be courting Hispanic voters. Hispanics are, as a rule, more socially conservative than many other demographics. I wonder if Republicans could gain a lot of support among Hispanics if they weren't widely seen as the party of white people. It's true that Republican economic positions aren't going to win them any friends with much of the Hispanic community, but for quite a while, Republicans have been just as much about social issues as economic ones. They might not even win the Hispanic vote, but making Democrats fight for it instead of handing it over for free like this could be good politics.

On the other hand, I wonder how much support Republicans would LOSE by changing their policy on immigration.

 

[shortylickens]

Reagan signed that bill to give them amnesty so you're saying they should remember that and vote republican?

My point was Reagan was a hard ass, crazy bastard. And he couldnt get rid of them.
And I am pretty sure by this point people have forgotten that he he let them stay, and one could argue thats the reason theres so many now, cuz illegals know no one is gonna get rid of them.

 

[xj0hnx]

On the other hand, I wonder how much support Republicans would LOSE by changing their policy on immigration.

A lot. The pro-illegal crowd is generally already going to vote democrat, so the people they would piss off would be republicans, and sympathetic independents.