[Cincinatus' Wife]

NRO (April 22, 2015) - Ian Tuttle: On Immigration, Scott Walker Bucks the Beltway Consensus"Scott Walker’s most recent comments on immigration may make possible an honest-to-God debate about America’s immigration policy.

It’s about time.

Chatting with Glenn Beck on Monday morning, Walker said:

>>>The next president and the next Congress need to make decisions about a legal-immigration system that’s based on, first and foremost, protecting American workers and American wages. . . . What is [current legal-immigration policy] doing for American workers? What is this doing to wages? We need to have that be at the forefront of our discussion going forward.<<<

But, Walker observed, among elected officials, questioning our current legal-immigration policy is “a fundamentally lost issue.”

And Republicans quickly proved him right. Utah senator Orrin Hatch dismissed as “poppycock” Walker’s insinuation that high levels of legal immigration might have negative effects on employment and wages. Arizona senator John McCain declared that immigrants were necessary to supplement an aging population: “I think most statistics show that they fill part of the workforce that are much needed.” South Dakota senator John Thune, head of the Senate Republican Conference, admitting that he had not heard Walker’s comments exactly, still declared: “We have a workforce issue in this country. . . . So having a robust legal-immigration process helps us fill jobs that otherwise wouldn’t be getting filled.” And Ohio senator Rob Portman retreated to sentiment: “As a party, we’ve always embraced immigrants coming here legally, following the rules. And it’s enriched our country immeasurably.”

But these are, of course, responses to a straw man — namely, that Scott Walker opposes legal immigration. His campaign has been clear that that is not the case: He “strongly supports legal immigration,” said spokeswoman AshLee Strong, “and like many Americans, believes that our economic situation should be considered, instead of arbitrary caps on the amount of immigrants that can enter.” Walker is simply suggesting that American policymakers consider Americans when making policy.

That is controversial? Apparently, since even leading Republicans refuse to engage Walker’s question.

That refusal should alarm every prospective Republican voter............................."

[Erik Latranyi]

Walker has clearly divided the GOP along those who are concerned about this nation and those who care more about foreign invaders.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

Congratulations Walker.

Now bring back American manufacturing.

[Cowboy Bob]

Question for Sen. McCain: why are immigrants necessary to supplement America’s aging population?

I’ll tell you the answer - because the US government punishes US citizens who have children through its unfair tax policies. If American families weren’t punished for having children, the need for a large number of immigrants would disappear.

[nathanbedford]

Some have voiced concerns about Scott Walker's position on immigration and asserted that he is a flip flopper on the issue, becoming more conservative as he advances his campaign.

Assuming this history is accurate, it seems to me that Scott Walker is now placing himself definitively in our camp by: A) shutting down the border; B) opposing amnesty; C) deporting illegals by self deportation-a conclusion I infer from his conditioning immigration on wages for citizens.

Two observations are in order: first, Scott Walker has changed the equation to our advantage by stressing the need to protect American citizens in their jobs; second, Walker has an unimpeachable record as governor in holding to his promises and carrying them out in the teeth of violent opposition and at great personal and political risk.

I therefore do not find Scott Walker to be disqualified on the issue of immigration and he comes in close to Ted Cruz as a favored candidate.

[Timber Rattler]

GOP-E “young Republican’” plants.

[trebb]

Cruz is still my first choice, but Walker is making some serious waves. Even being a Cruz fan, I find it amusing to see the rabid pro-Cruz/anti-Walker folks trying to adjust their meme to “account for” Walker now coming out even g=harder against the illegals and anyone else who might harm American workers. I actually prefer Walker’s harder stance to Cruz’s latest statements about protecting legal immigration. I hope that at least one of them is left standing for the final ballots.

[RKBA Democrat]

Seems like a conversion of convenience.

[Rides_A_Red_Horse]

I prefer Ted Cruz. I’ll accept Scott Walker. I’ll never vote for Christy, Bush or any other liberal regardless of party affiliation.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Several things here:

Walker is treating immigration as an economic issue, when it should be addressed as a national security issue. Militarize the border and deport all illegals; the American workers will get taken care of.

A moratorium is needed on legal immigration. Ted Kennedy's 1965 Immigration Act needs to be repealed and we need to return to a quota system. No immigrants from Muslim or Latino countries.

The 14th Amendment needs to be clarified and U.S. citizenship needs to be stripped from all anchor babies born after the 1986 Reagan amnesty.

[SpeakerToAnimals]

As I type this there are 50 replies. This is one of the most civilized threads on a subject like this I have ever read.

I want Cruz. I might be convinced to vote for Walker. I thank you for providing lots of information for me for decision making.

[xzins]

It is absolutely stupid for any American to pretend that former times of immigration are the same as what we have today. At that time, we did NOT have a welfare state that made it possible for newcomers to live off the pocket books of those already here and working hard.

They had to work or they starved. Same as everyone else.

[Mariner]

His position on this issue ascertains he will be elected POTUS.

[kindred]

[That refusal should alarm every prospective Republican voter]

The 48 republican US Senator rinos who support gay marriage alarm me all to hell! We conservatives gave them seats in Congress where they ally with the communist democrat party. To hell with them all.