"Tell me what company you keep and I'll tell you what you are" (Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra - author of Don Quixote).
Mitt Romney's company certainly tells us who he is.
This week both he and President Obama went before Hispanic voters in a forum sponsored by Univision. Not surprisingly, the topic of immigration came up. The President answered questions about his failure to enact immigration reform during his first term and Romney was asked whether he would cancel the deferral of deportation for DREAM Act eligible youth. The President candidly pointed to immigration as the biggest failure of his first term, a tacit admission of his inability to fulfill a campaign promise he made in 2008 to Hispanic voters. Romney, on the other hand, dodged, ducked and evaded direct answers, particularly about what he'll do about the Deferred Action process put in place earlier this year which grants a temporary deportation reprieve to DREAM Act eligible youth. Nor did he offer specifics about how he'd go about fixing the broken immigration system which threatens American families, stifles American business, and hurts American global economic competitiveness.
Romney also failed to explain why, during the early Republican primaries, he sought political refuge in the dark corner of the anti-immigrant fringe by embracing the likes of Kris Kobach, a radical anti-immigrant lawyer and Kansas Secretary of State. Kobach became an "informal advisor" to the Romney campaign and his influence has been obvious. Romney endorsed "self-deportation," a draconian policy proposal (and a Kobach idea) that would effectively target immigrant families, particularly Latino families, by making their lives so unbearable that they flee the U.S. Yet when it came to building a safe, orderly and fair immigration system designed to keep America's borders secure, keep American families safe and together, and meet the needs of American business Romney's message was -- and remains -- woefully devoid of substance.
Richard Nixon famously taught Republicans to play to the far right in the primaries and steer back to the center in the general election. And when it comes to immigration, that's exactly what Romney's been doing since the GOP convention, perhaps heeding the words of Nixon or, more likely, because he's trailing President Obama by double digits among likely Latino voters. Of course, the problem for Romney is that in the digital age, we have all of his debate performances and policy positions from the primary available to remind us what he said before. So to avoid being labeled as a flip-flopper, instead of changing his policies to move toward the center he's just trying to change his message. For example, in a recent speech to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the GOP candidate predictably attempted to strike a more moderate tone on immigration. "I will work with Republicans and Democrats to permanently fix our immigration system" Romney said. "I believe we can all agree that what we need are fair and enforceable immigration laws that will stem the flow of illegal immigration, while strengthening legal immigration."
Yet it's difficult to take Romney at his word given his connection to Kobach, who runs around the country drafting mean-spirited anti-immigrant laws. During the Republican convention Romney allowed Kobach to sully the platform with language endorsing "self-deportation" and opposing any pathway to lawful compliance for undocumented immigrants. Running a presidential campaign that is offensive to Latino voters is certainly Romney's prerogative; after all, he's the Republican nominee. But voters are entitled to answers about his alliance with Kris Kobach.
Kobach's extremism is hardly limited to immigration. The Kansas City Star reported recently about a half-cocked attempt by a "birther" to challenge President Obama's U.S. citizenship and knock him off the state ballot. Yet rather than do what he could to maintain the integrity of the Kansas elections process -- as his is solemn duty as Secretary of State -- Kobach went out of his way to give credibility to the ridiculous complaint, going so far to suggest that an evidentiary hearing before the Kansas State Objections Board was in order. Not surprisingly, the complaint was withdrawn.
Kobach has shown himself to be nothing more than an ambitious politician with a dangerous and radical vision of America. Yet as voters consider who will lead the country for the next four years, they are entitled to know why Romney continues to associate with him and his extremist nativist agenda.
Follow David Leopold on Twitter: www.twitter.com/DavidLeopold
David Paul: Romney Comments Threw Ronald Reagan as Well as 47% of America Under the Bus
 |
 |
|
| Obama | Romney | |
|---|---|---|
| Electoral Votes (270 to win) |
332 | 206 |
| Obama | Romney | |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 65,899,660 | 60,932,152 |
| Percent | 51.1% | 47.2% |
| Democrats* | Republicans | |
|---|---|---|
| Current Senate | 53 | 47 |
| Seats gained or lost | +2 | -2 |
| New Total | 55 | 45 |
| Democrats | Republicans | |
|---|---|---|
| Seats won | 201 | 234 |
He believes immigration law should be enforced. Guess what? So do the majority of Americans so, by definition, support for immigration law and its enforcement is not "extremist". Most Americans are NOT open borders and do not favor either de jure or de facto unlimited immigration. If you think uninvited aliens should get to stay regardless of what the law says (or simply pay a fine) that is de facto unlimited immigration. Poll after poll shows that only a small percentage of Americans favor increasing the immigration level at all, let alone going unlimited. Thus, those for unlimited immigration and non-enforcement of immigration law are the extremists. This distinct minority view is a well-funded special interest (of which immigration lawyers are one faction) and the media is biased in that direction so it can seem like open borders is less extremist than it really is. For the vast majority of people, whatever their nationality, limited immigration is simply common sense.
Yeah, insisting that we enforce our nation's immigration laws - that's so radical. Repatriation of foreign nationals to their homelands is something every nation on earth does to preserve the integrity of its laws, society and resources.
All the While? The entire 21-member Congressional Hispanic Caucus done for their 50.5 million Hispanic Constituents? Other than collect their $173,500 annual paychecks?
Answer = nothing!
Kobach's interest has always been a private network of taxpayer-subsidized anti-immigration lawyers. That is why he always includes in his laws a clause that permits anyone to sue the police for failing to 'adequately' enforce those laws. He is a rainmaker.
But feel free to distract with a non sequitur.
Are Not?
Legal Immigrants granted entry into the USA at the rate of 1 every 38 seconds, 24/7 since 2001? That's 11 million legal immigrants in 11 years, vetted with background checks to determine Criminal history, Medical history, Education level & Skill set beneficial to the USA.
Doesn't appear broken to me.
All the while? 12.5 million Americans are out of work.
Just ASININE
Frank Sharry of the ironically named "America's Voice" and similar professional propagandists like Ali Noorani, "Angie" Kelley, etc.
NDLON - National Day Laborer Organizing Network (the name speaks for itself)
Luis "The Gestapo agents at Homeland Security!” Gutierrez. Recently announced Chicago as a “Welcoming City” for ALL immigrants.
Casa de Maryland
"Essential Worker Coalition" - a coalition of cheap labor/guest worker lobbyists
SEIU (Service Employees International Union), Eliseo Medina
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-union-sg,0,237951.storygallery
Cato Institute, Dan Griswold (He LOVES proven to fail "temporary guest worker" programs)
Rosa "they're not aliens. They're not from outer space" Rosales
No one told Gov Romney how hard this was going to be. Ordinarily, he would just have his people do it, but we actually expect answers from him, and he's never done that except in the most superficial ways.
Also, a majority of Americans support the Arizona laws that Kobach drafted. Anyone can Google this. Romney should be embracing Kobach and riding this issue into the White House.
Instead, he will go down in flames.
Because we haven't been taken over by the tin-foil-hat-wearing lunatic fringe.
If Rs ever want to win another election ever, they must give up pandering to under-educated, christian, white males. There are too few left to make a difference in an election.
What are the polls like asking if we should give illegal aliens amnesty?
Did you know the California Dream Act did not have 50% support in California?
During the Great Migration 150 years ago, A MAJORITY of people "self-deported" when they could not find work. They went home. Now we offer social benefits that encourage people to stay.
Those illegally would go home if they could not find someone to break the law and hire them.