Michael Steele: Arizona Immigration Law Doesn't Reflect Entire GOP

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: Republicans ,; Domestic Issues

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele.

(Credit: Getty Images)

Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele said today that Arizona's controversial immigration measure does not reflect the beliefs of all Republicans.

Speaking to Spanish-language television network Univision, Steele said this: "The actions of one state's governor is not a reflection of an entire country, nor is it a reflection of an entire political party."

Steele's reference is to the decision by Arizona Republican governor Jan Brewer to sign the bill.

"The governor and the people of Arizona made a decision that they thought was in their best interest, and that's the beauty of a republic, that's who we are," Steele added, as The Hill reports. (The Hill has posted video of the exchange, though it is overdubbed in Spanish.)

Last month a judge put on hold the most controversial aspects of the law, among them requirements that law enforcement must check a person's immigration status in certain situations and that immigrants carry their identification papers in public.

Steele's comments are somewhat off-message from a GOP that has largely embraced the immigration measure, along with a majority of Americans.

President Obama has criticized the measure as potentially discriminatory, and Latino leaders have suggested the GOP has "declared war on Latinos." Some Republicans have worried that while its rhetoric around immigration could help the GOP in the short term, it could alienate a key voting bloc in the long run.

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by myopinionpal August 25, 2010 1:07 PM EDT: Oh now Steele is after the Latino voters and once he get their support at the voting booth he will come out and say that he fully supports the Arizona Immigration Law. I guess this is what some would call a two faced person!!!!; Reply to this comment


by joelwisch2 August 25, 2010 12:21 PM EDT: I just don't have the room to refute the people who are throwing the hate and baloney around and so I post these links that do a pretty good job of dealing with the whole lot of them.
http://www.fairus.org

Welfare for Birthright Citizens.
http://www.fairus.org/site/PageServer?

WALPIN: 14th Amendment never meant for illegals
Proposed Texas law could force Supreme Court to decide
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/aug/24/14th-amendment-never-meant-for-illegals/

http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/blogs/gems/culturalagency1/SamuelHuntingtonTheHispanicC.pdf

This is the summary of the law itself.
http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/49leg/2r/su?

Challenge the Arizona Law? One mans opinion.?
MEXIDATA . INFO
http://www.mexidata.info/id2715.html

Bureau of Prisons
http://www.bop.gov/about/facts.jsp

City of Los Angeles welfare
http://www.the-signal.com/news/archive/12489/

http://www.numbersusa.com/content/issues.html; Reply to this comment

by addict42 August 25, 2010 10:28 AM EDT

Are the illegals responsible for the bed bug epidemic in the U.S.?
That's what I'm reading. Our country is spiralling downward immigrations laws must be enforced now!!!

Reply to this comment


by smartasss1 November 20, 2010 1:28 AM EST: Those are canadian bed bugs not mexican. thats why most cities affected have very cold winters. the epidemic is on the northern and east coast cities. If it was from mexico, the outbreak would be more on southern california or texas. It's easy to blame illegal immigrants.

by documemts August 24, 2010 10:47 PM EDT

The deal with Brewer is that her advisors in the governors' office were anticipating a huge increase in their revenues since they would benefit from the state's use of private contractor prisons that were going to take the overflow of inmates that would occur if 1070 went into effect as Pearce, Brewer et al were planning on. Too bad poor Jan and her contractor prison buddies won't be getting rich off of racist state legislation.Boo- Hoo!

Reply to this comment


by animaltoo August 25, 2010 7:28 AM EDT: Another one calling people who don't want to take on the Hispanic poor to raise racists. Sad, really. Self entitlement with a lot of attitude.

by ladyang August 24, 2010 10:47 PM EDT

No, you repugs and conservatives have it wrong.
All the talk about deporting illegals is just political talk. The 11-20 million illegals that are here will be here long after this election (no matter who wins).
You're all being bamboozled into voting in that black hole called republicans. Where their before election day rethoric will be lost by Nov 10, 2010.

Reply to this comment


by animaltoo August 25, 2010 6:55 AM EDT: A black hole is the economic drain on this country by determined, self entitled invaders that have become a burden to American taxpayers.


by animaltoo August 25, 2010 7:28 AM EDT: Yep, won't go away so long as gringos are paying the bills. Leeches.


by documemts August 24, 2010 10:40 PM EDT: Yeah,only 9/10's of it.; Reply to this comment

by PatriotMike2 August 24, 2010 8:34 PM EDT

Steele is a rogue clown with delusions of sanity. If he is not fired in 3 days I'm going Tea Party. For all you liberals who condemn SB 1070, the law targets only illegals, not any particular group. If you read the law, it is neutral on country of origin. Illegals are illegal. They are in this country illegally. They should be deported without question. If they have kids who were born here, they can take their kids with them. Steele just shows that he is out of touch with conservatives.

Reply to this comment


by animaltoo August 25, 2010 6:50 AM EDT: They do not want to and will not read the law. They only want a blank check backed by American taxpayer money.

by stevex47 August 24, 2010 8:07 PM EDT

"Michael Steele: Arizona Immigration Law Doesn't Reflect Entire GOP"

YOU LIE !

He must think the Latino's are real dumb to belive his lies.

Reply to this comment


by animaltoo August 25, 2010 7:06 AM EDT: I am a Democrat who will vote for any candidate who takes a firm stand against the ongoing invasion and economic drain on this country.

by texasborndemo August 24, 2010 6:17 PM EDT

It was reported long ago,after Brewer signed the bill,that the only reason she wanted the illegals locked up for yrs,is so her lobbyist would make millions off the taxpayers money.She has ties with CCA,largest private prison system.That's the reason she's whining to the president and everyone else cause she can't get it her way,if not she's not very smart cause eveyone knows immigration is in feds hands.Why didn't Az.gov or anyone else whine to "Boy George" about the mexicans when he was in office?

Reply to this comment


by 1renegade August 24, 2010 8:49 PM EDT: Let's see... Janet Napalitano was Governor while Bush was President. Brewer became Governor after Napalitano was appointed to head homeland security.


by 1renegade August 24, 2010 9:16 PM EDT: Let's see... Janet Napalitano was Governor while Bush was President. Brewer became Governor after Napalitano was appointed to head homeland security.