Oct. 23, 2007
GOP Seeks To Rally On Immigration Issue
Washington Post: Special Election In Massachusetts Could Be Indicative Of Democratic Weak Spot
-
Photo
Though Democrat Niki Tsongas, left, defeated Republican Jim Ogonowski in a special House election in Massachusetts last week, the tightness of the race (in a district where John F. Kerry took 57 percent of the vote) has rekindled Democratic concerns about the illegal immigration issue. (AP)
-
Interactive
Immigration And Naturalization
Who's coming to America? Find out what's being done to screen for terrorists and take a citizenship quiz.
-
Interactive
110th Congress
The balance of power shifts and new leadership takes control as the latest session convenes.
From Our Partner:
When Republican Jim Ogonowski launched his long-shot bid for Congress, he prepared for an upbeat campaign in his Democratic, working-class district of Massachusetts, based on a winning resume: affable hay farmer, former Air Force lieutenant colonel, and brother of an American Airlines pilot whose hijacked plane slammed into the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.
But by last month, although opinion polling showed that he was well liked, he was still running 10 points behind Democrat Niki Tsongas with just weeks to go before a special election. The campaign needed a way to go beyond biography, to persuade Northern Massachusetts to vote Republican. They found it in illegal immigration.
On Tuesday, Ogonowski still fell short, but Tsongas's 51 to 45 percent victory was a shocker in a district where both John F. Kerry and Al Gore took 57 percent of the vote, and where liberal Democratic Rep. Martin T. Meehan served comfortably for eight terms. The underwhelming victory of the wife of deceased former senator Paul Tsongas has rekindled Democratic concerns about an immigration issue they had hoped had been put to rest.
"This issue has real implications for the country. It captures all the American people's anger and frustration not only with immigration, but with the economy," said Rep. Rahm Emanuel (Ill.), chairman of the House Democratic Caucus and an architect of the Democratic congressional victories of 2006. "It's self-evident. This is a big problem."
Republicans, sensing a major vulnerability, have been hammering Democrats, forcing Congress to face the question of illegal immigration on every bill they can find, from agriculture spending and housing assistance to the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).
House Democrats are so concerned that they have resumed talks on a new legislative push, even though the collapse of an immigration deal in the Senate this spring has left virtually no chance that a final bill can be passed in this Congress.
But even in the early stages of this renewed effort, negotiations have only underscored the party's problems. Some Democratic leaders want what they call a "mini bill," emphasizing border control, penalties on firms that employ illegal immigrants and stronger efforts to deny illegal immigrants government benefits. But Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez (D-Ill.), the point man on the bill, said he will never accept a measure that does not include a pathway to citizenship for the 12 million undocumented workers in the country.
"I think the Democrats are on the wrong side of this issue, and if they continue down this path, they are going to lose a lot of seats," said Matt Wylie, a strategist for the Ogonowski campaign.
The issue has shifted since concerns about illegal immigrants triggered angry calls for border fences and deportation two years ago. Now, voter anger appears to revolve around the belief that illegal immigrants are unfairly consuming government benefits, a fear that stems more from economic ncertainty than culture clashes, Democratic and Republican pollsters say.
Those concerns are not everywhere. But they are glaring in some of the white, working-class districts in Kansas, Indiana, North Carolina and New Hampshire that gave the Democrats control of the House last year. And they were on clear display in Lowell, Mass.
"Immigration played into the economic issue," said Francis Talty, a political science professor at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell who followed the Tsongas-Ogonowski contest. "Do you want illegal immigrants to get in-state [university] tuition? Do you want them to get driver's licenses? Do you want their children to get benefits under SCHIP? It was the benefit side that has real resonance, not the deportation thing."
Quote
A new national poll for National Public Radio, conducted by the Democratic polling firm Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, and the Republican firm Public Opinion Strategies, found that voters are more likely to side with Democrats than Republicans on war, taxes and spending, the economy, health care and health insurance for children, often by wide margins. On immigration, the Republicans hold a 49 to 44 percent lead.I think the Democrats are on the wrong side of this issue, and if they continue down this path, they are going to lose a lot of seats.
Matt Wylie, a strategist for the Ogonowski campaignBut even that might be deceptively tight, said Glen Bolger, a partner with Public Opinion Strategies. In the poll, the GOP position was framed as getting control of the border, requiring illegal immigrants to reenter the country legally, stopping illegal immigrants from getting government benefits and sending illegal immigrants who are criminals packing. The Democratic position was, "It is impractical to expel 12 million people, but we need tougher controls at the borders, tougher penalties on employers who hire illegal immigrants and we should bar illegal immigrants from getting most government benefits, while allowing the law-abiding immigrants to get on a long path to citizenship."
That Democratic message is much tougher than the one most voters are hearing, Bolger argued. "They're actually in worse shape than they think they are," he said.
Dustin Olson, Ogonowski's campaign manager, said the candidate did not intend to make government benefits for illegal immigrants a centerpiece of the campaign, but it came up unbidden, again and again.
Internal polling found that Ogonowski's tough stance was winning 60 percent to 30 percent over the positions articulated by Tsongas, said Rob Autry, another Public Opinion Strategies partner who served as Ogonowski's pollster. Ogonowski's position on taxes had a narrower, 13 percentage point lead. Every other issue "was dicey," he said.
Then, just two days before Tuesday's balloting, Tsongas said illegal immigrants should each be allowed to get a driver's license. The final radio ad of the Ogonowski insurgency intoned, "And now for something truly incredible. You already know Niki Tsongas supports amnesty for illegal immigrants, but today we learned Niki Tsongas would go even further. Tsongas told the Boston Herald she wants to give driver's licenes to illegal immigrants."
John Walsh, chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic Party, said the final vote proved the limits of the immigration message. The district may be less Democratic than the presidential numbers make it appear, he cautioned. Republican gubernatorial candidates have carried it handily since 1990, until Deval L. Patrick, the current Democratic governor, won it with 51 percent of the vote, the same percentage Tsongas took.
If Ogonowski's internal polling showed him trailing by 10 points in September, his immigration blitz made up only five points, he said.
But in districts where Democrats do not have five points to give, those numbers loom large. "For the American people, and therefore all of us, it's emerged as the third rail of American politics," Emanuel said. "And anyone who doesn't realize that isn't with the American people."
© 2007 The Washington Post Company
|
|
- 1
- 2
- next
See all 74 CommentsIf they listened to any of the voters in their states, they would have gotten the hint that we are not happy with the current illegal immigration situation as it is.
The Dems have been dead from the neck up because their heads have been buried in the sand--they don;t want to know or do anything.
The Dems are behaving as if they have to walk on eggshells, when all this time they could have made great strides in the important aspects-such as, getting the wackos our of the white house!
I''m disgusted with the lot of them, and those that don''t get re-elected in 08 deserve what they get!
At this point in time, we shouldn''t be in the same situation we were in last year at this time.
At this point in time, we shouldn''''t be in the same situation we were in last year at this time.
Posted by liberalme
I totally feel your pain, but the problem begins and ends with one name...Pelosi. Too many lack the backbone or are allowing her to take all the heat for her obstructionist/polarization style of politics, but she has become nothing but a stone around the necks of the party. Nothing constructive can be done under her direction. Either they like the idea of committing political suicide by sticking with her, or they really are in the same arena with her thinking and need to go. Either way, they are not winning points.
Obama: No Hand on Heart for National Anthem
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/mark-finkelstein/2007/10/20/obama-no-hand-heart-pledge-either-will-msm-notice
Posted by antoniof123
You''d have to ask the Clintoons, they seem to know mmore about *** their mothers.
Amnesty now. Full and complete.
They%u2019re getting the racists all fired up about the invasion of brown people while giving a free pass to their rich friends who hire them.
(Because their rich friends donate to their campaign)
Amnesty now. Full and complete.
Posted by SgtRDS
Tie a noose around their necks and hang em.
They%u2019re getting the racists all fired up about the invasion of brown people while giving a free pass to their rich friends who hire them.
(Because their rich friends donate to their campaign)
Posted by sparks224
By "they" I presume you mean President Harry who intends to ram the Dream Act down everyone''s throat. We aren''t afraid of brown people. The browner the better. Who cares. Don''t come through the back door. And wait you turn to come in through the front.
The Ant and the Grasshopper
In a field one summer''s day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart''s content. An Ant passed by, bearing along with great toil an ear of corn he was taking to the nest.
"Why not come and chat with me," said the Grasshopper, "instead of toiling and moiling in that way?"
"I am helping to lay up food for the winter," said the Ant, "and recommend you to do the same."
"Why bother about winter?" said the Grasshopper; we have got plenty of food at present." But the Ant went on its way and continued its toil. When the winter came the Grasshopper had no food and found itself dying of hunger, while it saw the ants distributing every day corn and grain from the stores they had collected in the summer. Then the Grasshopper knew:
It is best to prepare for the days of necessity.
http://www.pagebypagebooks.com/Aesop/Aesops_Fables/The_Ant_and_the_Grasshopper_p1.html
I''m disgusted with the fearmongering of people like Lou Dobbs, etc. Illegal immigrants have been coming in here for years. Now, all of a sudden, everyone''s all freaked out about it and saying terrible things about the immigrants.
Instead of making this a political issue, why not we pass a reasonable piece of legislation and work on securing the border to prevent this problem from continuing to grow. (Building a fence is, of course, ridiculous. We need guards and we need them on the Canadian border as much as the Mexican border, and we need REAL security for our ports.)
Also, "Period" is so very very wrong. This I do know. We (Congress) can change the law. Just like we changed the law to give women the vote and prohibit slavery. We need some changes in the law regarding immigration. We clearly have an unworkable system.
There are 2 problems with that approach:
1. You would hurt you campaign contributors.
2. You wouldn%u2019t have the boogie man to get people all riled up about.
It%u2019s amazing that Republican voters still fall for this ***.
Posted by sparks224 at 02:34 PM : Oct 23, 2007
Well no one has ever accused the republican base of having any intelligence.
Posted by gretagreen
What do you think the law says. Let me put it to you this way. If someone pried open your door and moved in and decided that they had the right to live in your house without your consent, would you think they had squatters rights?
Posted by geezer62 at 02:15 PM : Oct 23, 2007
I think that is already on the record. Of the ten lepers healed, one came back to offer thanks--he was a foreigner. Of the woman at the well when asked to provide water, she said why would you talk or ask anything of me, she was a foreigner. Of the woman who asked for healing for her child, and was given the response if it was right to give food from the table reserved for others, her faith suggested that even the dogs eat scraps from the table--she was a foreigner, and her child was healed.
More and more evalgelicals of the GOP ilk--are not Christians.
it is a misdemeanor the first time and a felony everytime after that,,,
Reporting Illegal Aliens: A Citizen Takes Up Arms For His Country
http://www.vdare.com/king/citizen_takes_up_arms.htm
Theodore Roosevelt''s ideas on Immigrants and being an AMERICAN in 1907:
"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person''s becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something
else also, isn''t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."
Theodore Roosevelt 1907
Righteous!
Posted by gretagreen at 02:17 PM : Oct 23, 2007
A minor misdemeanor. Even the chimp Bush has likened it to a minor traffic offense.
Posted by SgtRDS at 02:52 PM : Oct 23, 2007
only the first time,,, repeat offending is a felony,,,
Reporting Illegal Aliens: A Citizen Takes Up Arms For His Country
http://www.vdare.com/king/citizen_takes_up_arms.htm
Mexico''s Immigration Law: Let''s Try It Here at Home
Mexico has a single, streamlined law that ensures that foreign visitors and immigrants are:
in the country legally;
have the means to sustain themselves economically;
not destined to be burdens on society;
of economic and social benefit to society;
of good character and have no criminal records; and
contributors to the general well-being of the nation.
The law also ensures that:
immigration authorities have a record of each foreign visitor;
foreign visitors do not violate their visa status;
foreign visitors are banned from interfering in the country%u2019s internal politics;
foreign visitors who enter under false pretenses are imprisoned or deported;
foreign visitors violating the terms of their entry are imprisoned or deported;
those who aid in illegal immigration will be sent to prison.
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=14632
obama disrespects usa flag
Obama: No Hand on Heart for National Anthem
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/mark-finkelstein/2007/10/20/obama-no-hand-heart-pledge-either-will-msm-notice
Posted by ConDumism
You are a sick little *********. You just about hate everyone. Really, you make a good posterchild for your party. The Dimnowits, Hypocrites to their very core.
Why Don''t You Know Ron Paul??????
The corporate media will not give Ron Paul any Exposure. Because, NBC is owned by GE. GE is one of the world''s largest war-makers. They make things that go boom. They make $Billions on war. A Ron Paul administration would be bad for business. CNN is owned by AOL. Majority share holder is Saudi Royal Talal who is also partners with GHWBush in The Carlyle Group. Another major warmaker. And on and on. You get the picture. This is why they are doing a Media Blackout on him. Because they don''''t WANT YOU TO KNOW THE TRUTH!
Who is Ron Paul?
http://www.ronpaul2008.com/about
Ron Paul WON The GOP Debate On Sunday!
Again No EXPOSURE!
***************************
RON PAUL IS THE ONLY POLITICAN REPUBLICAN OR
DEMOCRAT THAT WILL STOP THE WAR! NO ONE ELSE
WILL, PERIOD! WAKE UP AMERICA! VOTE RON PAUL 2008
TAKE CARE OF AMERICA AND OUR PEOPLE FIRST, INSTEAD
OF HAVING OUR CHILDREN DIE IN A B.S. WAR!
***************************
You are a sick little *********. You just about hate everyone. Really, you make a good posterchild for your party. The Dimnowits, Hypocrites to their very core.
Posted by mudrose
Mud...don''t stoop to Dums level. Dums doesn''t even process anymore...just whips out the global hatred of anything not a perfect reflection of what looks back from the mirror...and I''m guessing it ain''t pretty.
Posted by ozilot at 04:39 PM : Oct 23, 2007
He can''t see the diversity. I''m guessing it might be because he has the eye holes in his white hood cut too small or that he damaged his retinas at the last cross burning........
Illegal (aliens) workers are criminals, those who hire them are criminals and those who aid-and-abet them are criminals.
Illegal aliens in America have NO rights. We are required by law to arrest and prosecute, deport them. (Title 8 U.S. Code)
No, matter your political party affiliation, and setting aside your thoughts on issues. We all need to remember what it is to be an American Citizen. We need to make sure our elected representatives obey their Oath of Office and keep their Oath of Allegiance.
See http://tinyurl.com/2znnvl Know whom you are voting for.
Don''t forget to kiss Pelosi''s cheeks as she hires another undocumented worker. And do remember to cut her a check, Andy Stern, while undermining real American workers, you fascist pig.
Since you love ILLEGALS so much do America a favor and move to your beloved Mexico. You can boast about your military record, or was it your circus record - makes no difference in YOUR case, to your boyfriend Vicente Fox.
And speaking of cross burnings, something you specialize in, Randy - how''s that other fossil KKK Byrd these days ? You ought to know as you constantly stick up for the Racist.
Though a Hispanic American myself, and a liberal Democrat to boot, I am against any immigration reform in the US, unless and until Mexico begins to treat its immigrants with the samse respect it demand its citizens to be treated in the US!
Posted by hopetrumps
That is really an interesting perspective, and I had never thought about it that way.
Millions of Americans buy this logic, and in accepting it, believe they are doing the right thing for themselves, their family, and their friends, neighbors, community and country. They are sadly wrong. If you accept this argument, you have been badly fooled.
Because of the way electronic traffic is directed from foreign countries through the United States, the FISA Court had previously rejected requests to intercept certain foreign-person- to-foreign-person communications in the United States. It was a technical problem, arising from the fact that FISA was written before modern data routing had been designed, and FISA thus needed fixing. On this, everyone agreed.
Currently, the telecoms are not likely to be particularly worried about being prosecuted by the very same government that instructed them to violate the law, and is leading the way in doing so itself.
But what about under the next Administration? The five-year statute of limitations will make them potentially criminally liable after Bush is gone -- at least, unless the Bush Administration gains for them retroactive and future immunity. In a new Administration, the telecoms may be viewed not as cooperative patriots, but rather as criminal co-conspirators.
Meanwhile, civil liability for these companies is also a realistic prospect. For example, in a San Francisco federal court, AT&T customers are seeking to protect their privacy with actions under laws like 18 U.S.C. 2520, which provides a civil remedy and hefty damages -- ranging up to $10,000 per day per violation. Since it is possible that, over five-plus years, there have been tens upon tens of thousands of such violations, the, if liable telecoms could be looking at hundreds upon hundreds of millions of dollars of damages.
Privacy advocates are horrified at the prospect of Congress''s potentially protecting this activity through immunity legislation. Yet, in sharp contrast, most people could care less. Indeed few people seem to care about their loss of privacy, notwithstanding the fact that, like an invisible pollutant to our air or water, it is increasingly eroding our freedom. Unfortunately, it seems that the invasion of our privacy, like the destruction of our atmosphere, may be tolerated until it is too late to fix it.
Understanding the misunderstanding about privacy
For several years I have been reading the work of George Washington University Law School Professor Daniel J. Solove, who writes extensively about privacy in the context of contemporary digital technology. The current apathy about government surveillance brought to mind his essay "''I''ve Got Nothing To Hide'' And Other Misunderstandings of Privacy."
- 1
- 2
- next
See all 74 Comments