Mark Steyn scolds Perry on illegal immigration: 'Cheap racism demagoguery'

Daily Caller ^ | September 23, 2011 | Jeff Poor

[Rufus2007]

As the rest of the 2012 Republican presidential field ganged up on Texas Gov. Rick Perry during Thursday night’s GOP debate, illegal immigration was the evening’s hottest-button issue — particularly the granting of in-state tuition rates to children of illegal immigrants in Texas. Now Perry’s defense seems to have struck nerve with National Review columnist Mark Steyn.

Filling in for Rush Limbaugh on his radio program Friday, Steyn, the author of “After America: Get Ready for Armageddon,” took issue with Perry’s response to those attacks.

Rick Perry “has basically adopted the Democratic line now on the whole illegal immigration issue,” Steyn said. “He says that you know, if you want to demonize him for providing education to the children of illegal immigrants at in-state tuition rates, then you don’t have any heart. That’s a Democrat talking point.

...more (w/audio)...

[GlockThe Vote]

I think Cain needs to be our guy.

[manc]

waiting for Sarah or Christie here in north east FL

Rick S I like but he was treated unfairly by this pro queer cross dressing media and
Michelle is prone to slip ups as for the others they can all piss off.

[RitaOK]

>>> “ How do I fuction in political warfare? Better than usual when the man that wants to be the general is not SHOOTING ME IN THE DAMNED BACK! “ <<<

Poor you. “CORPMAN!” “CORPMAN!” “WE HAVE ONE DOWN!” “He took a splinter! “

[Vigilanteman]

You, like so many of us in flyover country, get it. The elites do not.

The Perrybots tell me that if I don't support their boy, then we get Mitt Romney by default.

So what? Romney is basically Perry without quite the affection for illegal aliens. Perry is basically Romney without quite the affection for socialized medicine.

There are better choices available. I'm not playing that game.

[DesScorp]

Steyn is right. Rick Perry slit his wrists on TV last night with his “heartless” response. He sounded exactly like a liberal Democrat. And I’ve supported the guy up till now. But no way do I support a closet amnesty supporter, and that’s what Perry looks more and more to be. I’m depressed now, because on the one hand, we have an un-conservative technocrat in Mitt Romney, and a pro-illegal immigration man in Perry (yes, supporting state-subsidized tuition for illegals make you a supporter of illegal immigration. The truth hurts).

[New Jersey Realist]

Perry is so wrong on this issue. I no longer support him because supporting illegals cost “we the people” over 4 billion dollars a year and they take jobs that Americans should have.

[forgotten man]

“This could be a problem for Perry. Not only does he sound like Bush on immigration, he sort of acts like him as well.”

This IS a problem for Perry. “Stay oud of da Bushes!” We don’t need another compasionate conservative. How the hell can you justify illegal immigration when we have unemployment/underemployment over 20%. I will bet that Perry has a gaggle of illegals working on his property.

[CGalen]

Texas politicians have not been conservative Presidents.

Not the Bushes, not LBJ, ................

[freespirited]

I guess I must have a heart because I’m heartsick over the state of the GOP field.

[SMARTY]

I have not followed Palin's speeches that closely. Has she been forceful against current immigration policies and our failure to enforce existing immigration laws?

[Grunthor]

Yeah I think Perry needs the medic, he shot himself in the foot last night and you damned well know it.

[WOBBLY BOB]

TX is well on it’s way to becoming the next CA thanks to “compassion” like G W and Katie Perry.

[GraceG]

I liked Mark Steyn’s comment that Legal Immigrants have all sorts of hoops they have to jump through and his whole rant on how illegals “opt out of” immigration law.

Mark Steyn is 100% correct! He is a legal immigrant and he knows all the crap legals have to put up with.

[Sir Napsalot]

>>> These bozos in the debates seem to be making an effort to look bad to conservatives.

That’s because none (I should say, Perry and Romney) are conservatives. They all say they represent true conservatives, but they only slept in the Holiday Inn Express.

And no doubt about it, Perry did not help himself. Forget about him saying himself not a good debator, it is his thinking which led to his actions that is troubling.

[Servant of the Cross]

LOL. I admire much about the man W. One thing he seemed to always get right was with his use of nicknames (think TurdBlossom). It’s been reported here that his nickname for Gov. Perry is Dumba**.

[from occupied ga]

The GOP field is hard at work clearing themselves out and making room for the arrival of Gov Palin.

Unlikely. Most Republicans INTEND to be Democrats lite.

[Road Warrior ‘04]

I heard Steyn and he could be right. I was backing Perry wholeheartedly until I heard him speak of his immigration policy at the Tampa debate. Gave me pause. That said, I still think he's the best of this bunch....albeit, he's starting to sound like a liberal on immigration.

[John W]

Is “children of illegal immigrants” the proper classification here? As I recall, I thought an Indiana law passed and effective this year allowed no in-state tuition for illegals, period. I wondered then why if someone identified themselves as such and lost in-state tuition, why the next step wasn’t deportation?

[org.whodat]

I have no doubt that is Perry's true nickname. It sure fits the bill.

[dragnet2]

This could be a problem for Perry. Not only does he sound like Bush on immigration, he sort of acts like him as well.

Sort of??

Ya turn off the television and you'd swear it was Bush speaking or trying to speak.

Then look at his animated, facial expression, and demeanor...It's pathetic.

The last thing America needs is more of this.

The man can't even repeat a rehearsed, canned message.

This guy will *never* be elected president.

America is not going to elect another person who openly aids and abets a violent invasion of our country.

Not going to happen.