From the way that some of the leading Republican contenders act, you'd think there was a holy trinity of issues that anyone hoping to capture the party's presidential nomination must never defy.
I speak of abortion, the war in Iraq, and immigration. Of course, a true GOP candidate must be against Roe vs. Wade, for continued support of the surge, and, above all, show a strong antipathy for any position that might be painted as allowing "amnesty." While there may indeed prove to be room for some nuance here or there, as illustrated most vividly by the likes of Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney, to go solidly against any one of these sacred cows spells trouble. Just ask John McCain.
Yet, as a Democrat, I can't help but notice that all three of these issues are losers for the GOP. Consider the rather overwhelming polling data. On abortion, a solid majority of Americans wants abortion to remain legal, if not limited in some circumstances. On the war in Iraq, overwhelming majorities disapprove of the way the war has been handled, and think we shouldn't have gone in there in the first place. Lastly, on the question of how to solve the immigration issue, the numbers are somewhat less decisive. But even here, a majority of Americans seem to want the bill the president put forth to be passed. And when you break down the specific provisions of the bill, such as whether we should allow people to go home, pay a fine, and come back, the public is strongly pro-immigrant, and doesn't much care about the cries of amnesty.
Granted, immigration is the least equivocal of the three, but it certainly isn't the slam dunk issue that will propel the party to victory. Perhaps the party should go back and read Tuesday's Wall Street Journal Op-Ed by Fred Barnes, in which the Fox commentator suggested that the way to avoid being trounced again in 2008 is for Republicans stop acting like Republicans. Good luck on that.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 4)
1. 99% of American against Amensty,it's an asset for the GOP.Mitt Romney will reap the benefit of it.
KaM at 4:27PM on Aug 24th 2007
2.
That is true about abortion and Iraq, a solid majority of Americans want freedom to choose, and want us out of Iraq.
But the lastest Zogby Poll (left leaning) has 95% of Americans wanting deportation of illegals. The latest Rasmussen poll (right leaning) put the number at 69%. Just google illegal immigration and you see the number of states, counties, towns and cities that are gearing up to do all they legally can to force the illegal aliens to go home or get them deported.
There is a lot of spin going on by the adminsitration to try and sell their anti rule of law amnesty idea, including assertions that that is what the majority of Americans want. Bush's "tough" enforcement which is again a another con. He has pulled half the national guard off the border and will not put new agents in place until December 2009. So all the violent criminals ICE is arresting, and deporting, will turn around and thanks to Bush, walk back in.
Illegal aliens will be THE issue in the election and the Democrats do not have single candidate that is pro-America.They are either open border or anti rule of law amnesty givers. Our leaders may have forgotten how important the rule of law is, but our fellow citizens have not. And when the general public realizes that Bush has been negotiating a North American Union with open borders, and some of the Democratic candidates believe in this, the roof is going to blow off.
cdnbirch at 4:43PM on Aug 24th 2007
3. #1 KaM
That is interesting. Romney barely discussed illegal immigration at all as Governor of Massachusetts. He has also flip flopped several times of the issue of abortion and gay rights..and I might add..he continues to do so.
And the Mormon issue - I have NO issue with it, but the fundamentalist wing of the GOP will.
David S. at 5:24PM on Aug 24th 2007
4. Mormons are American citizens and they are well known throughout the land for their kindness and charity to the poor.No other religion come close to the Mormons in terms of charity to each and every race on the planet.The world love the Mormon church because they are true Christians and Saints in that they don't backstapp their fellowbeing like the fake ones.All you have to do to show you are a christian is have a pure and clean mind,heart and don't speak evil of your fellowmen.Those are the basic principles that leads you to become a real Christian.But unfortunately there are so many individual profess to be Christian but are flaming sword by the way they accuse another Religion and screamed as if they own the whole world.I say to those individual get out of the small box you're squeeze in it and get some fresh air.
Pen at 8:22PM on Aug 24th 2007
5. The election is to choose a President of the United States not a Religion or Church figure.I would like to see Mitt Romney the Mormon lead this nation to a better direction than the one we've been traveling for the last two hundred years.There are too many Rapists,Murderer and Adulterer in a Country that pride itself of being a God loving Nation.
Hallelujah at 8:35PM on Aug 24th 2007
6. I wonder where Knowles got the info that Americans want the shamnesty bill passed?
I would suggest that Americans are very much against amnesty for lawbreakers.
The illegal invasion will be a big part of the upcoming presedential election.
I am a democrat who is very much against amnesty.
RJ at 1:55PM on Aug 25th 2007
7. RJ,
Thank you for taking the time to comment. Please follow the links (words in blue) for various surveys and polls on each topic.
Best wishes,
david knowles at 2:10PM on Aug 25th 2007
8. Isn't it funny how illegal immigration has been placed front and center of political debates. Before Lou Dobbs of CNN took this issue as his own
crusade, we were worried about our ports. Now, is it fair to focus on these law breakers, making them a criminal class? Our current Administration has voilated our laws more severely, yet no one is calling them what they are--criminals. What a bunch of hypocrites!!
cherokeechild at 2:01PM on Aug 25th 2007
9. It seems to me that the person that wrote the article is more out of touch with what the American people want. The big issue that the democrats will fail on is Illegal Immigration, they just don't get it.
tim at 2:36PM on Aug 25th 2007
10. i THINK mR kNOWLES HAS GOT IT WRONG. tHE AMERICAN PEOPLE DON'T WANT AMNESTY.
Neville Ramdeholl at 2:38PM on Aug 25th 2007
11. there will never be a mass deportation of illegals. even the conservative congressman will somehow block it as american business cannot function without it. it's here to stay, and as the younger crowd says,"deal with it".
james at 2:51PM on Aug 25th 2007
12. Pen, I realize you probably are well meaning but don't know much about Christianity. Absolutely no one who has not accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior is a Christian. When we do this earnestly, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us and we become new creatures, as the Bible says. Mormonism is a cult, pure and simple. Do your research and you will find this to be true. Yes, they are usually kind and charitable people but, again, kindness and charity alone will never get anyone to heaven. How good would you have to be? What is the measure? Romney is nice looking and speaks well but in these times we need a president who is a Christian and understands and practices Biblical principles...especially now with so many prophecies being fulfilled, especially in the Middle East.
Dee at 3:24PM on Aug 25th 2007
13. 99% of Americans against "Amensty?"
You certainly can't mean that. How about the 52 million willfully ignorant folks who voted for Ernest T. Bass, AGAIN(!), in '04? He's the originator of all the amnesty talk.
Reese at 7:55PM on Sep 10th 2007
14. The only bunch I know that wants amnesty for illegals is La Raza and and the illegals themselves, which turns out to be a pretty big group. Otherwise, AMERICANS (as in American citizens) are overwhelmingly AGAINST AMNESTY for illegal aliens.
Jean at 3:30PM on Aug 25th 2007
15. I think the very idea of amnesty is terrible. Those irish and italian immigrants neesd to be sent back where they came from...
Oh sh*t, we're talking about the mexicans? Why am I always behind on these things?
Well, why didn't we get rid of the irish and italians??? They came here to take over the country as surely as anyone else did, including the pilgrims...
(Note: My heritage is 50% irish, 50% italian)
Well, they're different... I guess... They are all islamic terrorists, right?
I need to stop eating fruit... It's all picked by them... No telling what they slip into it...
Let's get rid of ALL the immigrants!!! Give the land back to the native americans that it was stolen from... It's the only fair way.
I need to go back to two different countries at once when I'm deported, I guess... So pardon me as I split.
Brian at 3:38PM on Aug 25th 2007