The alliance of talk radio, blogs and grassroots efforts was a winner when it came to defeating the "shamnesty" bill. Conservatives were enraged and showed just how much power we possess:
A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of 15,000 adults in June found that just 32.0% now say they're Republicans. That's up more than a full percentage point from a month ago and is within a tenth-of-a-point of the GOP's best showing in ten months.
This is purely because of the efforts put forth to defeat a bill that would've rewarded those who broke our laws. The Bush administration suffered its worst legislative defeat because of the actions of fellow Republicans.
This is interesting as it shows that immigration is an important issue and it shows that President Bush, Ted Kennedy and John McCain were on the absolute wrong side of it. The Democrats actually stayed out of the fray for the most part and the media portrayed it for what it was; a major disagreement between conservatives and the president. The president lost, conservatives won and the public went against the president. That should be telling to the Bush administration.
Note also that the people who identified themselves as Democrats decreased. That is telling as well since the Dems were associated with this bill largely by the presence of Teddy Kennedy.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: McCain lost the election on this issue and candidates such as Fred Thompson and Tom Tancredo stuck to their guns and ended up on the side of the American people. Others such as Lindsey Graham and Sam Brownback came out looking like fools and severely misjudged the public reaction to illegal immigration.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. The good news is, its over. The bad news is, the problems weren't solved. The result is, another issue kicked down the road.
Steve Bonomo at 10:02PM on Jul 1st 2007
2. The reason stated in the article for the rise in people declaring themselves to be Republicans is NOT the immigration issue. The public at large is disappointed by the performance of the Democratic-led Congress and President Bush, and they see a real need for change.
There is a candidate who is bringing disaffected Republicans back to the GOP, who is bringing over moderate Democrats and who is attracting the attention and support of people who never had a candidate they could vote FOR.
That candidate is Ron Paul.
Scottimack at 9:06AM on Jul 5th 2007
3. I read your article regarding immigration today. This is to show how out of touch our government is with the people. Everyone has the right to feel the way they did about the bill and illegal immigration but the Republicans basking in their glory are headed for their defeat in a major way. All we ever heard about was border security, illegal immigrants, what to do with the 12 million illegal’s, sucking up our public services, poor people, and chain migration.
You also heard from all these politicians that they are in favor of legal immigration. In this bill was also help for legal immigrants stuck for 5, 10 and yes 15 years still waiting to come here. This is not the future legal immigrants. These are people who have filed to come here, followed our laws, follow our processes and do not complain. The exact kind of people we do want here. Because of the outdated laws, bureaucracy, ridiculous quota and old distribution visa number system they are and now got punished again for doing things right. When that bill went so did their help. These people are not illegal. These people are not part of the so called new point system. They are people stuck in a broken system and our politicians say they are for legal immigration but they left these people high and dry again and no one cares.
I was born in this country. I married a woman from Minsk, Belarus. We followed the law and today she is a legal naturalized citizen. My stepdaughter was 20 when they came here, a minor. Because she turned 21 before she could get an interview because of government backlogs she had to go back. We followed the law. She is now 27 and still not here. Has a bachelor’s degree in linguistics, speaks fluent English, speaks, writes and interprets 4 languages, masters in American literature. Under today's rules and outdated quota system she could be projected for another 5-7 years before she gets here making her 32 years old from being here when she was 20.
I am not talking about illegal immigrants at all. I am not talking about how to process future legal immigrants. I am talking about people who respect us and deserve to be treated better.
When they killed the bill these people should immediately pass something to get these backlogs cleared in 3 years and free up the quotas until this current backlog is over.
I am an independent. The gloaters will not receive my vote and also the people who were in favor.
All of them on both sides of the fence just forgot these people. They and all Americans should hang their heads in shame for doing this.
Thank you.
Paul Burns
Wrentham, MA
Paul Burns at 2:41PM on Jul 5th 2007
4. I am a very longtime Republican who views what happened to the immigration bill as a disaster for both the Party and the nation. Truth be told, illegal immigrants are a big plus for the United States (hard working and, except for the visa issue, law abiding people). They would be an even bigger plus if we made it possible for more people to come to the U.S. legally.
For the Party, few Hispanics will ever believe that the GOP restrictionists were motivated by a concern for law and order. Nor will any major ethnic group where people know from friends and family how bizzare and inhumane the immigration bureaucracy is (the only part of the government that makes IRS look good). No other "amnesty", for taxes or even for draft dodging, was ever opposed with this fervor.
I do not want the Republican pary to be a "Populist Party" responding to, and encouraging the basest instincts of the mob.
Mark at 4:40PM on Jul 5th 2007
5. no one will be happy with the immigration issue. for it does not help those who have waited in line for their chance to come to America legally (the correct way), but help those who are here illegally. no voter should allow that to happen. illegal immigration does not help America. it causes cheap labor, lower wages, higher medical cost, crowded classrooms, and i could go on. as for legal immigrants...remember, they have to be sponsored by an American who can afford to house, feed, clothes, etc. them just as if they were one of their own dependents. that legal immigrant cannot get government assistance of any type. how are the illegals getting assistance...? thru their kids. it should be put into law, until their child can support itself, then that child can come back to America with his/her birth certificate. until then, that child needs to go back to the country of orgin of its parents!
immigration is not the issue. it is the LEGAL or ILLEGAL part of it. NO AMNESTY ALLOWED!
iamchavira at 1:36AM on Jul 6th 2007
6. Tancredo has been fighting the illegal alien problem in this country, in front of God and everybody, long long before it was "popular" in an election year, but for YEARS. It's not only been the "one" issue during his candidacy, but throughout his political service. I use to think he was a little whacky about it even, but NOW, I realize he's the only one who speaks the truth of it in great detail. His one focus is to save our country's sovereignty, literally.
Jean at 9:47PM on Jul 6th 2007
7. Theodore Roosevelt's ideas on Immigrants and being an AMERICAN in 1907.
"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."
Theodore Roosevelt 1907
Jean at 4:06PM on Jul 7th 2007
8. Scott,stop lying through your teeth.Since when did Fred Thomson take a lead in blocking this amnesty bill when it first air nor Tom Tancradoe?They didn't,it took Mitt Romney to have the guts to expose this nonsense.Fred didn't make any noise then and Tancredo just starting to make some noise towards the very end of the debate.Stop trying to promote those failure like you.Come on you too misleading and twisting the truth huh,speak the truth and people will respect you.
Jor at 4:21AM on Jul 9th 2007
9. BUILD THE DAMN FENCE.
Take a number ,get a backgrond check(a real one),find an(employer in america),Learn the language.
Employer MUST pay minimum wage.
WELCOME TO AMERICA.
ps.
Numbers are Only available in Mexico!
Randum at 8:25AM on Jul 9th 2007
10. What a crock, Jor, Mitt Romney's all about importing alien corporate "talent" at the expense of American "talent" here at home. He bought Bill Gates' spiel hook line and sinker! Another corporate sell out!! Just check his web site. I had an inclination to vote for him, but did my research.
Jean at 11:35AM on Jul 9th 2007