Posted on 07/25/2013 10:45:49 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
House Republicans have steered clear of the Senate’s comprehensive immigration reform bill and its approach, pledging to proceed in steps to overhauling the nation’s immigration system instead. Democrats have been using that strategy as a way to paint the GOP as callous and unconcerned (at the least) about immigrants, especially their children. National Journal reports that Eric Cantor will try to turn the tables on that argument, daring Democrats to support border security in exchange for legalization of minors:
An emerging coalition of House Republicans is arguing that young immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children constitute “a special protected class” that should eventually be eligible for citizenship, an approach they say combines sound policy with smart politics. …
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., is the driving force behind the strategy to focus on legalizing undocumented youths. According to Republican aides, passing such a bill would equip Republicans with a reasonable answer to the question of what to do with the 11 million people living in the U.S. illegally. It would also force Democrats into a political lose-lose: Either endorse a GOP proposal that legalizes so-called “Dreamers” or oppose this longtime policy goal and hold out for blanket legalization for the entire undocumented community.
As one House leadership aide framed it, “How can they say no to the kids?”
Cantor’s push, which has the blessing of Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, is also endorsed by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., and several influential conservatives such as Reps. Raul Labrador of Idaho and Jim Jordan of Ohio. It’s still early—Cantor and company have yet to release any legislative language—but lawmakers predict that such a measure will garner majority support in the oft-fractured House Republican Conference.
That would turn the calculus back onto the Democrats. Polls show that Americans back a path to citizenship anyway, but have much more sympathy for children whose only crime was that their parents carried them into the country. Polls have definitely shown that Americans want border security addressed as the priority in reform, even if they prefer a comprehensive approach rather than piecemeal. Such an offer would combine the most popular parts of the plans floating around Washington for most of the last decade, and force the Democrats instead of the Republicans to decide between children and their political hobby horses.
That is, it will — if Cantor and Boehner can get enough Republican votes to force Democrats to choose. So far, the strategy seems to be gaining ground, at least since this weekend. Trey Gowdy, who would normally be considered a tough vote, pointed out at a hearing this week that our law treats children as a different class in other ways, too — and that minors brought by parents “have not committed a crime,” a key position for those opposed to any form of amnesty for border violators. Ted Poe (R-TX) emphasized that children did not have the determination to act illegally, and “therefore, they should be treated in a special way.”
This all hinges on the border-security package developed by the House, of course. The Corker-Hoeven amendment turned out to be Swiss cheese in practice, and the White House made the issue all but moot by declaring that it could ignore statutes in ObamaCare that specifically had to do with mandates and triggers. Unless the House comes up with a tougher border security package and a way to ensure that the Obama administration has no choice but to fund it — perhaps by holding up the DREAMer funding until specific metrics are met, especially on a border fence — then this is probably all academic anyway. But at least Republicans may force Democrats to “say no to the kids,” and get rid of that noxious talking point for a while.
Id like to know how hard it would be to primary Raul Labrador. I dont understand how an immigration lawyer is the most conservative person they could send to congress from Idaho.
What is Lynn Jenkins position on this? Id like to see if someone would primary her regardless to try to take out members of the leadership. Unless she comes out seriously against any amnesty.
Steve King has more knowledge and experience than Gowdy, Labrador and these other weak Tea RINOs. Steve King is the moderate and Luis Guiterrez is the extreme candidate.
Steve King has opposed amnesty since 1986 so he’s been thinking seriously about the issue for so long. He’s crunched the numbers on hispandering.
Morissey's article: House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., is the driving force behind the strategy to focus on legalizing undocumented youths. According to Republican aides, passing such a bill would equip Republicans with a reasonable answer to the question of what to do with the 11 million people living in the U.S. illegally. It would also force Democrats into a political lose-lose: Either endorse a GOP proposal that legalizes so-called “Dreamers” or oppose this longtime policy goal and hold out for blanket legalization for the entire undocumented community.
So the Rats should cringing about what the GOP is doing, but instead are smacking their lips. At the CAP (from lefty website slate.com):
Morissey's plan might work if the Dems were disorganized and the GOP trustworthy, but no such luck.
My Rep talked to a pro-amnesty lobbyist (disguised as the head of a think-tank) and posted a picture of the 2 of them talking about "immigration" on his facebook page. I called about that and related matters, and also printed out the page with his phone numbers, and passed it out to neighbors. I also sent the image to my insurance agent via email.
If the parents leave, their litters can stay?
Cantor, Boehner, and the rest of the scumbag House GOP “leadership” absolutely cannot be trusted.
The question to all of them........why is border security being held hostage by amnesty?!?!
Maybe they all forgot but their #1 JOB is defense of the country.
Apparently they need reminded.
We’ll legalize “DREAMers” if border gets secured first...
Yes, and “IF” gold coins start magically flying out of my ass, I’ll be a wealthy man and Glenn Beck will probably try to get people to invest in me on the radio. But as the “if” of the “if-then” proposition is not going to happen, I’m not holding my breath for the “then” part to happen either.
This is just stupid. Legalization is permanent, securing the border can be reversed at whim.
So-called immigration reform is a done deal. Once the dance set has been decided upon, all that remains is the choreography.
The gop wing of the uniparty wants the cheap labor. The ‘rat wing of the uniparty wants the future voters. Another less talked about issue is that both wings of the uniparty want to use amnesty as a way of hobbling the unofficial economy.
You see, we have 10 million plus people surviving and in some cases thriving on the margins where DC’s regulatory dictates and taxes are generally ignored. They don’t want the folks toiling in the official economy getting any wise ideas.
I got an image of a million armed men in the park that says you’re wrong.
*the mall
Was the guy who raped and killed a 93 yr. old woman and her husband a DREAMER?
False promises seem to be the ointment of the American Republican voters.
I don’t think the Republicans have anywhere near an understanding of how serious a threat to the nation the legalization of illegal immigrants poses. The idea of border security is and always has been a myth. Once legalized, not only will the US have a one-party socialist rule delayed only by the time it takes to get the “dreamers” registered to vote but the core value of rule-of-law will be erased from our culture and aystem. The consequences are devastating, permanent, and not reversible. No act or effort can be made that can overcome the damage.
Because they have no actual interest in border security. Talk about "securing the border" is just the carrot being used to sell amnesty.
Only one thing ought to be on everyone up on the hill’s lips: Ben Gha Z! the 5 basics of Journalism have YET to be answered WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE and WHY? Come on - 4 AMERICANS are DEAD and yet here we are almost a year later with NO ANSWERS and particularly 1 Secretary of State whom the democrats want running the White house after THIS DISASTER of A PRESIDENT gets through ruining our nation. PUT HILLARY CLINTON front and center of the news 24/7 about what she knew, when she knew it and why did she NOT call back our field staff at 2:00 AM with a response to HELPING our BRAVE US SOLDIERS?
I AM FED UP WITH THE POLITICIANS who sit up on capital hill like GODS and ruin our lives and the lives of our brave men and women in uniform.
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