Posted on 03/18/2013 9:18:23 PM PDT by montag813
WASHINGTON — On Tuesday Sen. Rand Paul will urge conservatives to abandon their long standing opposition to a pathway to citizenship for the millions of undocumented workers in the United States, bluntly warning to not do so Republicans "will need to resign ourselves to permanent minority status," according to excerpts of a Tuesday speech obtained by BuzzFeed.
In a speech to the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Legislative Summit, Paul will lay out his case for a conservative, and Republican, embrace of comprehensive reform. "The Republican Party has insisted for years that we stand for freedom and family values. I am most proud of my party when it stands for both … Republicans need to give birth to a new attitude toward immigrants, an attitude that sees immigrants as assets not liabilities," Paul will say, according to excerpts of the speech.
Like many Republicans who back a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, Paul argues Latinos should be a natural wellspring of GOP votes that the party has increasingly abandoned.
"Hispanics should be a natural and sizable part of the Republican base. That they have steadily drifted away from the GOP in each election says more about Republicans than it does Hispanics," Paul will say, arguing that "Defense of the unborn and defense of traditional marriage are Republican issues that should resonate with Latinos, but have been obscured by the misperception that Republicans are hostile to immigrants."
Although Paul has long been supportive of comprehensive reform that includes some form of a pathway to citizenship for undocumented workers, Tuesday's speech represents his most detailed comments on the topic.
"Those who work for reform must understand that a real solution must ensure that our borders are secure. It must modernize our immigration controls and databases. It must allow for as much legal immigration as our workforce requires. And it must treat those who are already here with understanding and compassion—without also unduly rewarding them for coming illegally," Paul will say.
"We should be proud that so many want to come to America, that it is still seen as the land of opportunity. Let's make it a land of legal work, not black market jobs. Let's make it a land of work not welfare. Our land should be one of assimilation, not hiding in the shadows."
Paul also will take on many of the talking points used by conservative opponents of comprehensive reform. For instance, Paul will outright dismiss claims that undocumented immigrants have become a drain on the nation's welfare system, saying "I've never met a new immigrant looking for a free lunch."
So Governor Sarah Palin is the only significant holdout?
Libertopians are ever thus.
If you think the US can absorb an entire 3rd world country and survive you should check out how hard it is on the mighty EU to keep Greece and Cypress afloat.
heh
When is one of these buffoons going to explain WHY we need “comprehensive immigration reform”. What is wrong with the laws we already have?
No, Mr. Paul, I am not willing to let those who stole into my country vote to determine my and my country’s fate.
As buffoons, they like the word “comprehensive.” It sounds important.
Defense of the unborn and marriage obviously don’t resonate with hispanics at large. If they did, they wouldn’t vote 65-70% dem in every election. Reminds me of the same Republicans who say that blacks are natural social conservatives. Maybe personally or something, but it’s not a political issue that matters to them.
Obama could have performed a DX live onstage in Charlotte and he’d still have gotten 71% of the hispanic vote. Maybe more.
Frustrating to see all the major players(Paul, Rubio, Christie, Bush, Ryan) all get behind amnesty.
Ah well, I guess it’s up to the people now. They’ll have to stop them again, like they did back in 07
Another one bites the dust.
Potential Republican leaders are falling like rocks.
I don’t agree with Coulter on everything, and her defense of Romney was nauseating at times, but she’s right on this
“The Republican Party has insisted for years that we stand for freedom and family values.”
We also stand for the rule of law. He conveniently forgot that. Without that there is no freedom or family value.
He who embraces Amnesty, embraces THE HYDRA.
We are NOT the United States of Mexico!
Correct. 65% of Hispanics support "gay marriage". Natural social conservatives, my ass. They want big government.
Never thought a communist was correct, but Nikita Khrushchev looks to have been. He said they would overrun the US without firing a single shot. Never thought our leaders would help Nikita Khrushchev’s dream to come true. I was wrong.
“hiding in the shadows”
Utter nonsense and a LIE.
Recall the millions of foreigners marching in our cities with the stated purpose of causing harm, the so-called “Day Without Immigrants”.
Foreigners here in violation of law are illegal aliens. They are not “undocumented workers” or any other euphemism and they most certainly are not “immigrants”. Immigrants obey the law!
The arrogance of these people is exceeded only by the cowardice of our politicians.
Nope. THEY are the United States of Mexico... unless they actually got around to changing their official name.
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