[Jeff Head]

Good talking points...but how does he sqaure them with his "compassionate" view of allowing illegal aliens to remain in this country and their kids to get state subsdidized educations with tax payer monies?

I like most of what Perry says and what he has done...but I cannot condone or let pass his stance on the immigraion issues...nor will I forget his pandering to La Raza in his speech to that organization in San Antonio in 2010 while campagning for governor.

IMHO, he should never have set foot there. He should have called them what they are...that organization is a racist organization dedicated to the dismembering of the United States and not worthy of recognition in any form IMHO.

Having said that, if it comes down to Obama or Perry, Perry will get my vote. But through the primaries, I must support somone who not only gets the economy and other critical issues right, but also get it right on immigration.

[DRey]

Jeff, you are way too reasonable for FR these days.

[noinfringers2]

I can go that path with you. For me there must be someone down the path that doesn’t have the social linen to clean that Perry must do.Perhaps some Cain, some Bachmann, some Palin and even some Trump can be used to make a platform for even Perry. I do like much of what Perry is showing.

[TomGuy]

...but I cannot condone or let pass his stance on the immigraion issues...

The problem is that most of the contenders are pro-illegals. Yes, they use the 'secure the border' canard, but most are on to same page -- can't deport 20 million illegals, yada yada yada {although Mexico did}.

[Sudetenland]

You're right about Perry and his weakness on illegals, but like it or not, they're here and we have to deal with them in some way. I would like to see them all carted up and shipped back home, but it's very clear now that no one is going to advocate that--at least no one who will ever get near the Oval Office--so we are left with how to deal with them.

Perry wants to lock down the borders to stop both the drug traffic and the coyotes smuggling illegals, I'm pleased with that. He is for some sort of permitted work status for illegals; not great, but better than leaving them completely undocumented and still within the borders.

. . . And then there's the Texas Dream Act . . . again, not what I would want, but better to have them educated and literate than ignorant and on welfare--and the Texas Dream Act is not the total sell out that the Democrats "Dream Act" is.

Yeah, illegal immigration is his weak point, but he is strong in so much else in which I believe, that I must support his campaign.

Perry is by far the most electable conservative in the race. He is capable of galvanizing the American electorate behind the right like no one since Reagan.

[hocndoc]

I disagree that the Governor of a State should not give a talk to citizens of the State when invited. He’s everyone’s Governor, not just those who agree with him.

We’re told to be salt and light in this world. Sometimes that means meeting with the people the Pharisees don’t like.

[Quicksilver]

But through the primaries, I must support somone who not only gets the economy and other critical issues right, but also get it right on immigration.

---

I think that Gov. Perry's stance on immigration is symptomatic of the political realities in Texas, a border state on the front line of the immigration issue, and therefore a microcosm of what we all face. That doesn't excuse it, however, it explains it to a degree. I'm looking for a candidate that will at a minimum, as president, lead the charge to secure the border. That one action would be a giant step in beginning to control illegal immigration. The House and Senate are bigger hurdles to overcome, IMO.

[lonestar]

but I cannot condone or let pass his stance on the immigraion issues

How do you describe Perry's stance on immigration? What, specifically, do you not like?

Where do you draw the line where the Fed gov't responsibility to defend borders ends and the border states reponsibility begins.

[Lakeshark]

...but I cannot condone or let pass his stance on the immigraion issues...nor will I forget his pandering to La Raza in his speech to that organization in San Antonio in 2010 while campagning for governor.

IMHO, he should never have set foot there. He should have called them what they are...that organization is a racist organization dedicated to the dismembering of the United States and not worthy of recognition in any form IMHO.

The illegal immigration record of Perry is not good, and once people on FR understand what a panderer he has been to LA Raza and the open borders/amnesty crowd, his popularity will diminish.

I don't just want a candidate who can beat Obama (most of the GOP candidates can beat him), I want one I can trust as president. I'm not sure I can trust him over this huge issue.