the sad fact of the matter is that in the most conservative state in the country, in the most conservative primary in that state, the anti-illegal immigration candidate only got 42% of the vote.
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Posted on 06/26/2004 9:52:50 AM PDT by madfly
"I just wish the special interests would quit their negative attacks," a woman's voice said in one radio spot for Cannon. And it was true that for months, Cannon was attacked in the media for sponsoring a bill that would provide temporary legal status to undocumented workers. The ads, on radio and billboards and in newspapers, were paid for by out-of-state groups that want to unseat Cannon and other like-minded Republican members of Congress to bolster their efforts to gain tighter immigration laws. Cannon's victory may have wounded that effort, some say. It's not known how much organizations like ProjectUSA and the Coalition for the Future American Worker spent in Utah's 3rd District Republican primary, but Cannon's camp says the total was $80,000 — more than challenger Matt Throckmorton raised and spent on his campaign. Those efforts drew the attention of political insiders in Washington, D.C., including the Wall Street Journal's editorial page. Arizona Reps. Jeff Flake and Jim Kolbe were among those who watched with interest. Cannon beat Throckmorton, 58 percent to 42 percent. The Journal called it a "Throckmorton thumping" and said it should convince Republican candidates that Cannon-style immigration reform can be a political winner. Throckmorton called the loss disappointing on a national level. "The two races in Arizona won't be as close as this one," he predicted. "This is carte blanche. There's no incentive now not to run open-borders legislation. The political message sent is that if you run, you'll get some folks upset and you'll have to run hard, but taking that stance will have little impact." Arizona's Flake said Cannon's victory provided a good indication of where American voters stand on immigration policy. "I think the relatively large margin of victory and his position on the issue indicate people understand our immigration policy is a massive failure right now, at huge costs to Utah, Arizona and other states," Flake told the Deseret Morning News. "The president has embraced meaningful immigration reform, and people want this serious issue taken seriously. People who believe we can seal the borders and throw people out aren't being serious." Utah political strategists said Throckmorton's loss was striking because Cannon's last primary opponent, Jeremy Friedbaum in 1998, picked up 24 percent of the vote without campaigning. "That means a quarter of Republicans in his district will always vote against Chris," said one source close to both Cannon and Throckmorton. "It's disappointing for Matt to do only 18 points better" after his campaign and other groups targeting Cannon spent $130,000 to $150,000. However, ProjectUSA president Craig Nelsen refused to throw in the towel. In fact, he claimed in an e-mail to supporters Friday that "immigration realists scored a major victory Tuesday" because Cannon managed 58 percent of the vote. "Here's a candidate who spent a fraction of what the incumbent did," Nelsen told the Deseret Morning News. (Cannon spent more than $300,000.) "(Throckmorton) was fighting the establishment and running basically on one issue, immigration, and got 42 percent of registered Republicans. That's hugely encouraging." Throckmorton didn't see it that way. "I expect over the next six months to a year we'll see some pretty sweeping bills," he said. Cannon expected his AgJOBS bill, which would provide temporary legal status to thousands of illegal immigrants working American agricultural jobs, to come to vote in October. If successful, he planned to introduce a larger bill to similarly deal with the other 10-12 million undocumented aliens in the United States. He believed the proposals would strengthen U.S. security by requiring registration in exchange for legal status and would fix a broken system. Opponents such as Nelsen and Throckmorton said that rewards illegal behavior and that Cannon is giving away the store. They favor stronger border restrictions. Throckmorton also expressed concern about attempts to tighten Utah's immigration-related laws after Utah Rep. Michael Thompson's, R-Orem, upset loss on Tuesday to Lorie Fowlke. The loss is a blow to Throckmorton's long efforts to repeal two Utah laws, one that provides drivers' licenses to illegal immigrants and another that gives in-state tuition to undocumented students who graduate from Utah high schools. Thompson sponsored the failed bill to repeal the driver's license law last year. While immigration wasn't an issue in his campaign, Utah lawmakers will still tie the losses together, said Throckmorton, a former state legislator from Springville. "When you run campaigns on tough issues, it's kind of winner-take-all," he said. "For other legislators, the message is pretty clear: Don't touch the issue. This will certainly have long-lasting impact." Immigration still could become a flashpoint in the general election, where early polls show Cannon with a wide lead over Democrat Beau Babka. Babka won't formalize an immigration policy until he meets Hispanic leaders and others, but he predicted immigration wouldn't be a key point in his campaign. However, he did say that Cannon's policy has "dangerously ignored the need for better protection of our national borders."
OREM — Rep. Chris Cannon's radio ads in the weeks before his convincing Republican primary victory conjured up images of a vast national conspiracy mobilized against him.
We can spending our time lamenting what Chris Cannon and that poster fail to appreciate but the sad fact of the matter is that in the most conservative state in the country, in the most conservative primary in that state, the anti-illegal immigration candidate only got 42% of the vote.
Post #22 spending ---> spend
You work for open borders all you like and say hello to the boys in blue helmets while you're at it. If you do make sure you're clear of the fire they will draw.
the sad fact of the matter is that in the most conservative state in the country, in the most conservative primary in that state, the anti-illegal immigration candidate only got 42% of the vote.
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... and in the most conservative district in that state... actually, 42% is a good accomplishment for the challenger to the incumbant. Utah has a relatively low number of illegals compared to most states, and if this were a one issue primary, Throckmorton can be proud of the outcome.
I believe many of the voters of the district went with who they knew.
I don't think that would be Mexico though that we should merge with --- have you been in the slums of Mexico City any time lately? Why import all that here?
I find your liberal views to be both naive and suicidal.
You are right, a world without borders would be a wonderful proof of the power of freedom. Unfortunately you minimize the overwhelming security risks of proceeding too rapidly in that direction.
The American experiment in democratic institutions is in its embryonic stages. It remains to be seen whether such a state can survive in a world where power is measured by strength.
Will the citizens of a free state, having achieved economic vitality and the comforts of civilization, jealously protect the freedoms that are the source of that well being; or will those same people retreat from the strenuous efforts required to assure survival simply because they have become passive in their leisure?
Will the America which exists as a product of open borders in a hundred years be composed of citizens who appreciate liberty and the opportunities it brings or will the population, overcome with a lazy sense of entitlement, slowly yield it's freedoms to those who thirst for power, and for nothing more than a little bread and entertainment?
Silvestre Reyes was elected to Congress and by a hispanic region just because he did do something to close the borders. There isn't anyone living along the border who wants the border more open --- compare the crime rate of a city like Ciudad Juarez with El Paso's.
Until Mexico fixes up it's own society and culture none of what you propose is feasible --- and Vicente Fox is doing nothing except make things worse so more people leave --- it's own citizens are willing to die to leave that country --- how can we be be more open with a garbage-pit like that?
A previous article indicated that Cannon only won because of rural areas countering the urban ones. Rural areas where illegal aliens are used as agricultural machinery.
Throckmorton is suffering the post-election loss blues and shouldn't be spreading defeatism. He (and anyone else running) should focus on the reasons and adjust tactics to compensate for incumbants courting corruption.
When I do drop in to post I can only post 1 article. Second try always gets a perl error message saying "no data in form". Have to log off/on to post 2.
freepmail me a copy of the letter please. :)
Whether Cannon lied about his record or not, it is the voters responsibly to determine what the candidates record is.
The sad fact remains, in the most conservative state in the country, in the most conservative district in that state and in the most conservative party primary in that district, the anti-illegal candidate got only 42% of the vote.
"You assume incorrectly"
When will the burden be lifted? (Probably not until we get fed up enough and throw the weight off, ourselves.) 'Sounds like you're working on a plan', what is it?
Have you deeply researched the NWO plan? Start immediately!
Strangely, lots of conservatives don't mind illegal immigration as you note with your above example and also, lots of liberals do mind illegal immigration.
That's why the R's can't get any traction on this and that's why the R pols don't bother.
This country's Federal government and major political parties have SOLD OUT their obligation to protect and defend the Constitution, for more than a century. The two major parties are far worse than simply UNWILLING to support the Constitution -- are the major OBSTRUCTORS to its enforcement.
So, what, pray tell, should well-meaning people propose to defend? The government status quo, which is obstructing the Constitution, or provisions of the Constitution itself?
I choose to defend the principles of the Constitution: the right of states to determine the majority of what occurs in side them, the right to own property, the right to a solid, gold-based currency, the right to speech and freedom of expression, the right to bear arms, and the rest.
I don't choose to defend border against Spanish speakers, if they present a valid visa. And I don't propose to defend English (unless you can find that in the Constitution).
Hey Mr Globalist ... when I start to see the Tyrants who have had Mexico under their heel since forever, and kept it locked up in a Turd-World hole ... when I start to see some democracy, freedom and a Middle Class evolving down there, I'll START to consider taking the locks off my doors and leaving my house open to anyone who wishes to come and go ... I'm sure you've already done this for your family, right ??
... all together now ... ' I'd like to teach, the world to sing, in perfect harmone-e-e-e-y'
Whether Cannon lied about his record or not, it is the voters responsibly to determine what the candidates record is. The sad fact remains, in the most conservative state in the country, in the most conservative district in that state and in the most conservative party primary in that district, the anti-illegal candidate got only 42% of the vote.
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I choose to defend the principles of the Constitution: the right of states to determine the majority of what occurs in side them, the right to own property, the right to a solid, gold-based currency, the right to speech and freedom of expression, the right to bear arms, and the rest. I don't choose to defend border against Spanish speakers, if they present a valid visa. And I don't propose to defend English (unless you can find that in the Constitution).
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Also, the continual smear attempts by Cannon and the WSJ aren't mentioned. This mostly coherent smear probably didn't help either: http://www.slweekly.com/editorial/2004/feat_2004-06-17.cfm
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