Posted on 06/23/2012 10:01:11 PM PDT by Mozilla
Mitt Romney may be attempting a shift to the center on immigration, but word has yet to trickle down to the hardcore nativists of the Arizona Republican Party.
As the GOP presidential hopeful was in Florida yesterday trying to woo the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials with his softer, gentler, made-for-the-general-election immigration stance, a civil war of sorts erupted in local Republican ranks over statements made by conservative-blogger-turned-state-GOP-spokesman Shane Wikfors during a recent appearance on Channel 12's Sunday Square Off.
Here's what I wrote in my column this week regarding Wikfors' comments:
One moment of Republican clarity came during a discussion of the president's DREAM Act order on the Channel 12 news show Sunday Square Off. Asked his opinion on the decision, state GOP spokesman and conservative blogger Shane Wikfors gave a shockingly sane response.
"This is a conversation that's not going to go away anytime soon," he said. "And it's a conversation the Republican Party has got to have at our national convention at Tampa in August.
"I think this party needs to re-evaluate its position on how we deal with people [who] are part of us, part of our community," he added.
Wikfors noted that what he said "went against the grain," but he averred that state party Chairman Tom Morrissey was of the same mind. Below is an e-mail blast that committed nativist and former state GOP chair Randy Pullen sent out to the AZ GOP executive committee Thursday:
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com ...
Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2012 10:04 AM,
To: rpullen13@gmail.com
Subject: AZGOP Chairman Unilaterally Changes Platform on Illegal Immigration
AZGOP Executive Committee,
This past Sunday on 12 News Square Off (Here is the link http://is.gd/bdhJb9 ), Shane Wikfors, the Communications Director for the AZGOP effectively changed our party's position on illegal immigration. He condoned President Obama's action of last Friday. He went on to state that the position of the party needs to change. When questioned on it, he stated that this is the position of Chairman Morrissey and Russell Pearce. While I do not know Tom Morrissey's position, I know that Russell Pearce does not agree to changing his position on this important issue.
Securing our border and ending employment of illegal immigrants in the workplace are the key points in our STATE and RNC platforms. I have attached the section of the national platform on illegal immigration, most of which I wrote in 2008. It is clear what our position is. It is my understanding that this is the position of Governor Romney as well as the Governor of Arizona. Many of us have worked long and hard to establish our position on illegal immigration and build a consensus in the Party. It is not up to Shane Wikfors or Chairman Morrissey to unilaterally change that position.
Chairman Morrissey needs to clarify his position on this issue. If he stands by what Shane has said, he needs to resign his position as Chairman, if he disavows the statement by Shane, then Shane should be terminated immediately as Communications Director. There is no excuse for misrepresenting so emphatically the position of the Chairman on such an important issue in Arizona.
Randall Pullen
Wikfors is out of his mind if he thinks Russell Pearce has changed his mind about illegal immigrants.
Mitt Romney may be attempting a shift to the center on immigration
Romney has never been right of center. He’s only to the slight right of obama. Slightly.
When you call someone a “nativist” you’re tipping your hand.
The left-wing tilt of the GOP under Romney has already started and not one General Election vote has been cast.
It’s in New Times, a progressive weekly, and the article was written by Stephen Lemon who, until recently, was writing about the bar scene. Now he’s a “political” writer, lol. Typical leftist idiots.
Mrs. Prince of Space
Seems “Nativist” is only used by Liberals to describe Americans who are against Illegal Alienism....when in fact “Nativists” are the racist organizations like La Raze, MEChA, MALDEF, and others....who want Illegal Alien Amnesty for their own racist “nativist” purposes
BINGO!
Someone tell me how the following is the "moderate centrist" position.
Step One - borrow money from China.
Step Two - give it to illegal aliens, who came here at no fault of their own.
Step Three - return to Step One and repeat the process expanding on those eligible.
The American People have wanted the borders secure since at least 1986. That is priority one. Priority two is enforce the current laws on immigration. Do both for several years, then we'll look at other issues.
The Federal Government has ZERO credibility. Any idea at "comprehensive immigration reform", the "dream act" or any other BS will be dismissed out of hand without enforcing the law and securing the borders.
I guess the Establishment thinks it's been enough time since the last attempt at pushing amnesty that people have fallen asleep. Big Mistake!! And it's even a bigger mistake to bring this up during the presidential election season. They're throwing gasoline on a raging fire. Obama's latest usurpation has re-opened a wound. Why is Obama increasing the number of legal workers when real unemployment is around 15%? Obama loses even more with white working class people, Blacks, legal Hispanics. People who are forced to compete economically with illegal workers.
The media, establishment and RINOs somehow believe the polls that this Dream Act is a winning issue. In abstract maybe, in the real world it's a big loser.
Arizona lawmakers enacted a law approved of by 70 percent of the US population.
Hmmm. Its down to ONLY 65 percent!!
A new Fox News Poll by Robbins Research and Shaw & Company Research indicated Americans support Arizona’s immigration law.
The poll suggested that 65 percent of registered voters surveyed approved of Senate Bill 1070, while 35 percent did not.
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