Posted on 06/09/2007 2:02:29 PM PDT by AuntB
It was only a matter of time that immigration would become a major platform issue.
And U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., was the one to strike the pose despite not being up for election for another three years.
His campaign released the results of an online immigration survey this week that showed 97 percent of South Carolina respondents believe the current Senate bill will not solve illegal immigration problems and 95 percent don't support it.
DeMint hit several of the state's key cities last week trying to gauge reactions to the proposed Senate bill that calls for increased border security, increase penalties for businesses hiring undocumented workers and the opportunity to gain citizenship over a period of years.
The majority of the people at these events have been outspoken critics of the immigration bill and its supporters. The general feeling is that Congress won't do any of the previsions of the bill, and it will lead to blanket amnesty.
"This isn't shocking to me," DeMint said in a statement. "After traveling the state last week and listening to constituents talk about this bill, I am convinced the vast majority of South Carolinians do not support amnesty for illegal immigrants."
The survey was placed on DeMint's campaign site, which previously had not been updated since his 2004 victory over Democrat Inez Tenenbaum.
However, dissatisfaction over immigration in South Carolina has led to several rumblings amongst conservative activists about running candidates against Republican incumbents, so it is not surprising that DeMint's team is making it a campaign issue for him.
DeMint has been an outspoken critic of the immigration bill. He offered nine amendments to the bill since it was introduced in May, and each one failed to pass. Those bills ranged from eliminating Z visas to requiring full border security before amnesty could be given.
"This proves to me that the Senate isn't serious about responsible reform," he said.
This week, his campaign e-mailed an immigration survey to more than 10,976 South Carolina voters. As of Thursday, 2,518 votes were tallied from South Carolina IP addresses.
It showed 98 percent said illegal immigration was a serious problem, 96 percent don't support amnesty, 98 percent said borders must be secured and 96 percent said businesses need to be held accountable when verifying Social Security numbers.
"I know this online survey isn't a scientific representation of the electorate, but it is a good indication where a number of grassroots activists in South Carolina stand on this issue," DeMint said.
Enforce existing laws.
DeMint, the REAL Senator from the great state of South Carolina.
Doesn’t bode well for Graham.
Among the bigger fibs the pro-amnesty crowd has been spewing is that there will be no electoral consequences for the supporters thereof.
Senator DeMint seems to have a different take. Care to guess who’ll be proven right?
“Doesn’t bode well for Graham.”
____
Graham is out- no telling who will replace him.
That’s why they are in such a hurry to push through a bill, they want this over with before the election.
Go AWAY LINDSEY GRAHAM!
But, but...
Goober Graham said the bill wasn’t “amnesty!” So he interprets the poll as supporting his position, and expects the voters to reelect him, apparently.
What’s the expression? If you don’t think you are drunk, but everyone else tells you you are, maybe you should sit down.
We need a constitutional amendment that provides for the recall of US Senators.
And that my friends is the ONLY WAY to put the fear of God in these traitors.
It is just up to us to do it. Call your local Republican office and tell them point blank that you will neither send money or support candidates that propose or vote for pro-illegal laws. And mean it when you say it.
There is a learning curve here, and most Members of Congress are way at the bottom of that curve.
Congressman Billybob
Given the stinging defeat they just suffered, I cannot envision the pro-amnestias reintroducing this bill.
It was the constitutional "reform" that made Senators popularly elected, rather than chosen by the state legislatures, which cut the link between the views of the state and the actions of their Senators. But, we are NOT going backwards in that selection. We have to live with what we've got.
Congressman Billybob
>>The general feeling is that Congress won’t do any of the previsions of the bill, and it will lead to blanket amnesty.<<
BUILD THE DUNCAN HUNTER FENCE ALREADY!!
*It’s already signed into law*
>>If the Senator didn’t want to follow those Instructions, they were expected to resign, and they actually did that on occasion.<<
Senators “are expected” to represent faithfully their constituents today, but of course many do not. McCain signed a pledge to resign if a recall vote went against him. I hope AZ voters test him on that promise.
“online immigration survey this week that showed 97 percent of South Carolina respondents believe the current Senate bill will not solve illegal immigration problems”
So does this mean DeMint is going to ignore the enlightened 3% who believe the bill will solve immigration problems? I just don’t know if that strategy can work.
I predict Graham will spend more time with Teddy Kennedy that he will in South Carolina. There are lots of grass-roots South Carolina citizens waiting to boo Graham. Graham will be AWOL from SC for a while.
Why not. it’s not going backwards it’s recognizing a mistake -— and fixing it.
nice feudin post as well
I’m certain DeMint knows doing this probably isn’t indirectly helpful to Lind’s re-election campaign. Good for him. hehe.
Someone like DeMint need to challenge Linds NOW.
South Carolina, another state primary for Sen. McCain to duck out on.
Has Sen. Graham returned from Fire Island yet?
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