Can GOP Hopefuls Win Over Hispanics?

Immigration Rhetoric Creates Uneasy Relationship Between Republican Candidates And Spanish-Speaking Voters

(CBS)  This story was written by CBSNews.com's Brian Montopoli and Alfonso Serrano.

---

You won't find Spanish on the Web site of most of the GOP presidential candidates. But click on a link on the upper right corner of Mitt Romney's site and you're greeted by a fresh faced young man speaking the language in an almost-perfect accent.

"Hola," he says. "Soy Craig Romney."

Craig, one of Romney's five sons, spent two years as a Mormon missionary in Chile, and his appearance in the half-minute video, in which he introduces his father in Spanish, is telling: Among the GOP candidates, Romney has been perhaps the most aggressive in courting the Spanish-language community.

The former Massachusetts governor, unlike his rivals, has a Spanish-language page on his Web site. He's run Spanish-language ads in Florida, including one featuring Craig. His campaign has a Latin America Policy Advisory Group, and Romney was the only Republican to attend the Republican National Hispanic Assembly's annual meeting. His press shop has pushed the ways in which Romney is "putting conservative principles to work for the Hispanic community."

"I don't think we're trying anything specifically different with Hispanic voters than with the voters in Iowa or anything else," Craig Romney, who has been doing Spanish-language interviews in Orlando and Miami, tells CBSNews.com. "We're just presenting my dad for who he is."

But Mitt Romney faces an uphill battle with Hispanic voters, and not just because a Miami Herald poll last month put rival Rudy Giuliani at 70 percent support among Hispanic Republicans in Florida. According to a new Pew Hispanic Center poll, Republicans have seen the gains they made among Hispanic voters under President Bush evaporate; Hispanics now favor Democrats over Republicans 57 percent to 23 percent.

That gap can be explained, in part, by the increasing prominence of illegal immigration as a campaign issue. Romney and Giuliani spent the opening portion of last month's CNN/YouTube debate sparring over who has taken the hardest line on the issue, and rival Mike Huckabee has taken criticism for backing a plan to offer college scholarships to the children of illegal immigrants. Huckabee and Fred Thompson have taken strong anti-illegal immigration positions, and Tom Tancredo and Duncan Hunter have made their opposition to illegal immigration central to their campaigns. Tancredo has aired two sensationalistic ads in Iowa, one linking illegal immigration to terrorism and the other focused on crime and South American gang activity in America. (Watch the ad.)

When asked in a November CBS News/New York Times poll which issues the candidates should be discussing, likely Republican caucus-goers in Iowa put illegal immigration at the top of the list, ahead of the war in Iraq and the economy. 44 percent said illegal immigrants should lose their jobs and leave the country.

Reverend Luis Cortes, a prominent Latino evangelical who supported Mr. Bush in 2004, recently invoked Nazi Germany in discussing Republican rhetoric over illegal immigration, saying a solution to the immigration problem needs to be found that does not "vilify an entire race."

At 46 million, Latinos make up 15 percent of the U.S. population and about 9 percent of the eligible electorate, and the Pew Hispanic Center estimates that they will make up 6.5 percent of voters in the upcoming presidential election. It's a relatively small group, but one that could make a big difference in a general election. Latinos represent a sizeable slice of the electorate in four of the six states Mr. Bush carried in 2004 by less than five percentage points: New Mexico (37%), Florida (14%), Nevada (12%), and Colorado (12%).

In the key early primary states of Iowa, South Carolina and New Hampshire, however, Hispanic voters make up just three percent of the electorate, according to Hispanic Business Magazine.

"It's important to point out the difference between enforcing the laws on immigration and respecting Hispanic culture," says Craig Romney. "There's a line that gets crossed sometimes when it comes to disrespecting the Hispanic culture and it's not something my dad is willing to do."

Raul Romero, National Chairman of Viva Rudy, Giuliani's Hispanic outreach program, stressed that Giuliani, despite the illegal immigration rhetoric, has a "very, very strong" record on Hispanic issues.

"There are very many issues that pertain to the Hispanic community that are not just the illegal immigration issue," he tells CBSNews.com.

That's particularly true in Florida, a crucial early primary state in which Hispanic voters are disproportionately Cuban and Republican. Giuliani's dominance in the state can be explained in part by his image, according to Luis Clemens, editor of CandidatoUSA, who closely follows the candidates' outreach efforts to the Hispanic community.

"He's the kind of politician - temperamental, strong character, strong mayor - that has traditionally appealed to Cuban voters in Miami," says Clemens.

Romney, who does not speak Spanish, made a gaffe in the state in March when he uttered what he characterized as an inspiring phrase - "Patria o muerte, venceremos" - which is associated with Cuban leader Fidel Castro.

According to Clemens, Arizona Sen. John McCain, who has urged restraint from his colleagues in their illegal immigration rhetoric, "is seen as someone, by virtue of his support of immigration reform, who is particularly receptive to the Hispanic populations' support of immigration and is sensitive to the notion of not using strident language."

But McCain has not been particularly active in reaching out to the Hispanic community, though he recently launched a Hispanic Advisory Council. Thompson, who has a Hispanic media consultant, has done more outreach, and polls a distant second to Giuliani nationally among Hispanic voters, followed by McCain and Romney.

On Sunday, most of the GOP candidates gathered at the University of Miami for a Univision-sponsored debate broadcast in Spanish. (Tancredo boycotted, suggesting in a Miami Herald op-ed that the Spanish-language format "offends the spirit of democracy.") Many stressed that their values were also the values of the Hispanic community.

"I think some of the rhetoric that many Hispanics hear about illegal immigration makes some of them believe that we are not in favor of or seek the support of Hispanic citizens in this country," McCain told the audience.

[afmca]

No .. Repubs are proven bigots and racists. They fooled many Americans into thinking they were christians, but are really hypocrites. The "love fest" last night will be seen for the lie it really was. The next debate they will be back to their old hateful selves. Repubs have associated themselves with the sewer rats of christianity ... their ideals remain in the slime which they created.

[prinzowhales]

I will be waiting with bated breath for the debate in Mandarin Chinese.

[brianbwb-2009]

After decades of racial intolerance directed at them, if any of my Latino bretheren are convinced that the Republican party has good intentions towards them, go ahead and vote for them, then you will at least deserve some of the reaming you will receive from them.

[brianbwb-2009]

I will be waiting with bated breath for the debate in Mandarin Chinese.
Posted by Prinzowhales

Which won''t do any good, most American Chinese are of Cantonese or Hokkien dialect. Mandarin will be marginally more understandable to them as it probably is to you.

[lanefiller1]

Anyone interested in a very different story (and analysis) on illegal
immigration should try:
http://goupstate.us/index.php/lanefiller/2007/11/14/the_illegal_immigrant_next_door

[madeupnews]

Mitt Romney will show up for the debate driving a 66 Chevy Impala all tricked out. Bill Clinton eats at Taco Bell at least twice a week............Hillary''s a winner!

[mudrose-2009]

No .. Repubs are proven bigots and racists. They fooled many Americans into thinking they were christians, but are really hypocrites. The "love fest" last night will be seen for the lie it really was. The next debate they will be back to their old hateful selves. Repubs have associated themselves with the sewer rats of christianity ... their ideals remain in the slime which they created.
Posted by afmca

That''s why people like you don''t belong in America. Hate to inform you but this country was founded on religious principles. No religion, no America. Don''t like the stance we take against illegals entering our borders, taxing our cities, hospitals, schools, don''t come here. Go to Venezuela. Chavez loves you.

[prinzowhales]

The Demo-savages try to paint the immigration issue as a racial issue when it is an economic issue--that is how they keep hold of most of the black vote which has the effect of dividing working Americans against themselves while both party leaderships work assidiously to serve the corporate interests.

As we face water shortages and food and energy price hikes and environmental pollution issues...is it really sane to bring more people into the country to increase scarcity--for no other reason than that they speak Spanish and will for for marginal wages?...

...Does that really build a better nation???--if it does then Mexico--not America--should be the model to which working Americans aspire!...Not surprisingly, they don''t.

It was the Democratic and Republican party that brought you NAFTA...that brought you the tin shanty towns around the glistening south of the border factories....that are in the process of getting under way the trans-Texas corridor which will be part of a continent wide system leading from the Mexican ports where goods from China will be unloaded by cheap labour, transported by cheap labour northwards and distributed in mega-stores staffed by smiling non-union drones as high tech jobs are exported abroad.

We have enough people in America and in the world, thankyou very much...we don''t need to import any more--regardless of race, creed or national origin.

[prinzowhales]

The US economy requires much more energy usage than any other in the world...when you move people from low energy usage areas to high energy usage...you increase the use of fossil fuels and pollution. It makes no economic sense--looking at the big picture-- to allow more people to immgrate into the US.

But, the immigration serves the momentary needs of Capitalists to keep wages down--if low wages build a better nation and make better lives for our people, then CEOs should be the first to climb aboard the Mexican train to prosperity and reduce their salaries from the multi-millions to the minimum wage that brings prosperity in the minds of bizzaro-world labour economists.

[hwy71so]

All the Republicans ask is that if you want to enter our country, do it by legal means.

The libs really diserve the credit for turning a deaf ear to law breakers. Then, to answer for this deaf ear, they try to cover it by making more laws that they can turn a deaf ear to. Organized chaos. Bring on the illegals...

[b-easy63]

Which won''''t do any good, most American Chinese are of Cantonese or Hokkien dialect. Mandarin will be marginally more understandable to them as it probably is to you.

Posted by brianbwb at 08:33 AM : Dec 10, 2007


I don''t know about that. We have a substantial population from Taiwan and the primary dialect was Mandarin. Most Chinese can understand Mandarin like English, it is often viewed as the ''official language'' used to conduct business in.

[b-easy63]

No .. Repubs are proven bigots and racists. They fooled many Americans into thinking they were christians, but are really hypocrites. The "love fest" last night will be seen for the lie it really was. The next debate they will be back to their old hateful selves. Repubs have associated themselves with the sewer rats of christianity ... their ideals remain in the slime which they created.
Posted by afmca

That''''s why people like you don''''t belong in America. Hate to inform you but this country was founded on religious principles. No religion, no America. Don''''t like the stance we take against illegals entering our borders, taxing our cities, hospitals, schools, don''''t come here. Go to Venezuela. Chavez loves you.

Posted by mudrose at 09:15 AM : Dec 10, 2007


DID ANYONE ELSE NOTICE THAT MUDROSE DID NOT DEBATE THAT REPUBLICANS ARE PROVEN RACISTS AND BIGOTS? LMAO. Guess THAT part of the post was a foregone and accepted conclusion.

[clestes-2009]

These whitebread bushies are out of touch with the America of today. They still are appealing to white conservative males and females. That is no longer the majority of the population.

Idiots! They are out of touch with reality as the dumb Bush/Cheney whitehouse with their cries of "victoty" in Iraq.

[hwy71so]

"DID ANYONE ELSE NOTICE THAT MUDROSE DID NOT DEBATE THAT REPUBLICANS ARE PROVEN RACISTS AND BIGOTS? LMAO. Guess THAT part of the post was a foregone and accepted conclusion.

Posted by b-easy63 at 10:15 AM : Dec 10, 2007"

Why should mudrose debate a lie you libs wet your pants over and over and over and over again to spread? Do you actually read what you''ve typed, or just throw a bunch of nonsense up there and keep going?

[hwy71so]

Yeah, "whitebread" was outnumbered in Texas too. Remember the Alamo? Well, I just hope the liberal pacifiers don''t make it necessary for the AMERICANS to rally to the same type of cause. But, you will. I''d almost guarantee it; you will.

[mudrose-2009]

DID ANYONE ELSE NOTICE THAT MUDROSE DID NOT DEBATE THAT REPUBLICANS ARE PROVEN RACISTS AND BIGOTS? LMAO. Guess THAT part of the post was a foregone and accepted conclusion.

Posted by b-easy63

I don''t debate that kind of ***, because the Dimnowits are the ones that are racists and bigots. The have been holding the black man hostage for generations. Everytime one of them defects to the Republican Party and its principles they call him an Uncle Tom. The Dimnowits will do the same to the hispanics as well, but not until after the elctions. Any party that upholds traditional values, family, God and Country is always considered racist and bigoted by secular mongrels. What else is knew?

[mudrose-2009]

Personally i could care less that the Repugs need my vote.....
Go Hillary!!!
Posted by rokero0666

You''re not old enough to vote, Moniker Man.

[briannorwood]

GOP win over hispanic voters? That''s laughable, considering the republicans want to make illegal immigrants the new bogey men.

You know, we americans need to be scared senseless so the GOP strongmen can look...well, you know...strong. Fear swung the election in 04'', so they figure it should work in 08'' too.

[mudrose-2009]

jejejeje whatever....
u have no clue who i am.....
Posted by rokero0666

As you know not I

[harp1963]

Well, let''s see, just about 99.9% of all the legislation initiated during Dictator, I mean President Bush''s first six years in office while the REPUBLICANS had an overwhelming majority in Congress and the Senate was to help people who had millions and billions in the bank. But, 99.9 % of any assistance legislation aimed at the rest of the nation was pretty much non-existant.

I hope and pray, even though the Democrats are the lesser of two evils, hispanic Americans are not tricked by the snake charmers in the Republican Party ever again.

[mudrose-2009]

Posted by harp1963

Did the funding go for putting insured families with an income of $70,000 and over on Schip? Did it go for hate crimes legislation? Did it go for subsidies on spinach? How about the Bridge to Nowhere? Did it go for funding a Woodstock Museum? Where did all the funding go? Gee, to fix the AMT, a program initiated by the Dimnwots years ago, because they always like to tax the rich, but they forgot to index it for inflation which means the few rich guys faired better than the rest of us, because that AMT is falling on the middle class which will cost us $2,000-$4,000 extra in income taxes thanks to the Dimnowits unless they finally this week fix it. Oh, and by the way, if they don''t fix it this week, it can delay everyone''s income tax return. I am not a rich man and I need that money to pay my real estate taxes. Also their pay-go ********* on the AMT would cost the taxpayer an increase of $50 billion. How do ya like them apples?

[mudrose-2009]

Describe who i am?
Posted by rokero0666

Listen I''m God. I won''t describe who you are, because that''s between you and me and eternity.

[johngoodnews]

When voting comes down along racial lines, the only thing elected is hate. And hate is a good, healthy thing for people like me. It satisfies the media-driven paranoid needs of the masses and keeps them on their toes; watchful, critical, full of self-righteous outrage at something or another the other "race" is doing instead of focusing on me. And that''s really important to me, you see, because my agenda is to make sure that you race-conscious folks are more worried about things like your racial differences than whether my friends and I control the Nation''s wealth and realpolitik. Go for it! My 3 children and 7 grandchildren all had no problem getting into Yale, Harvard, Brown, and Princeton because I have ensured that my family has enough money to send them to the best prep schools in the nation and for them to be automatic enrollees at those schools. My money and my friends'' and relatives'' money grows by leaps and bounds and is safe under Administrations which get into power because of the votes of folks who think things like race, religious belief, gun ownership, etc., are important enough to use as a criterion for voting. What is absolutely amazing is that even when you know you are being duped you will still cast your vote for absolutely stupid reasons like race. And that protects my wealth and makes my day.

[afmca]

Mudrose, #1 - I am already here ... Why do Repubs always tell people to leave (or in this case, don''t come) if they don''t agree? This lack of intellectual depth I find most disturbing. I probably have lived longer in the US the mudrose and most probably contribute more to society than he does. This is the usual Repub attack - if you don''t agree you are unpatriotic and should leave. The real issue with illegals is that they are brown skinned and Repubs need another group to focus their hate on. If they could they would put all Muslims in camps just like America did to the Japanese during WWII. Of course we did not put the white skinned Germans and Italians (which we were also fighting) is similar camps. It has been pretty well proven that, although the founders might have been religious, they DID NOT intend to form a christian nation. They found many principles of religion important to society such as empathy and kindness, but Repubs seem to reject those. Exactly what principles of religion do you Repubs follow when it comes to illegal immigrants? I doubt that Jesus would have found your arguments very convincing and I am sure he would have been saddened by your bigotry.

[three-o-six]

Actually around here (a stones throw from the Mexican border) the Hispanics (they call themselves Mexicans) that have immigrated into the country hate the illegals more than the gringos do. You can%u2019t blame them, they went the legal route and are not happy that someone that didn%u2019t could be getting the same benefits that they had to work for. So maybe a tough anti-illegal immigration stance would attract the Hispanic vote.

[three-o-six]

mud rose -- so you think that you are God huh? The next knock on you door will be some nice men in wite suits. They have a nice new shirt for you to wear. So go ahead be nice and let tham in.

[mudrose-2009]

Posted by afmca

What does Jesus have to do with border security. If you aren''t defaming Him one way, you are glorifying him another way. Leave Jesus out of border security. We are a sovereign nation. Violating our borders and squating on people''s property, taking jobs away from young people and other Americans, overloading our hospitals, invading our schools and just plain ignoring the fact that many people who can come into this country legally are not able to because you stole their place does not make us respect, or want the likes of you here. Go to Venezuela, Chavez needs you people for his revolution. Why doesn''t your President give you a means of support. Why doesn''t your President provide for your well being and Mexico''s economy. Why doesn''t your President create jobs. Because your President like all the other illegals here bleeds our economy and doesn''t have to be responsible for it''s actions.

[mudrose-2009]

mud rose -- so you think that you are God huh? The next knock on you door will be some nice men in wite suits. They have a nice new shirt for you to wear. So go ahead be nice and let tham in.
Posted by three-o-si

Mind your own business. It''s between a friend and me.

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by mudrose at 11:22 AM

Yeah right. LEAVE JESUS OUT OF IT! You''re only interested in his opinion when it suits your self-righteousness.

[hwy71so]

afmca,
there are Asian, Canadian, and Euro, etc illegals here as well that need to leave or comply. Why do you say only brown? That is a stereotype.

I went through the legal channels, paid the price tag and did the foot work to get my wife over here and for her to become a citizen. Why should I sympathize with the illegals who are stealing from those of us who are contributing AMERICANS?

[marcodele]

I''m sure if the GOP promised to send them a check for $300 or $600 if they got elected, they could get the hispanic votes. Unless the hispanics are smarter than the neocons who fell for the same bait under Bush. And that''s quite likely they are.

[rudy654-2009]

Why should I sympathize with the illegals who are stealing from those of us who are contributing AMERICANS? Posted by Hwy71So at 11:47 AM

Why sympathize? Do you need a reason? For example, we don''t allow people to migrate here who are poor and under-educated. That means we don''t allow people to migrate here that want the same opportunities that our forefathers had when they came here several decades or centuries ago when there were virtually no immigration laws that discriminated against their status of wealth. Most Americans are descendents of people who were dead broke and illiterate. Just check the Ellis Island project. Then, Americans started getting upset about immigrants, started passing laws against the poor and the "idiots" who couldn''t speak English as they got off the ship. Suddenly, this country isn''t about receiving immigrants anymore. However, we were more than happy to receive several rich Arabs who were on terrorist watch lists and who wanted to fly airplanes into tall buildings. No, as long as you have money, you will find the "legal channedls" to come here, just like you did.

[mudrose-2009]

I am a Dem, and a moderate, but I have to say that I agree in general with the Repugs on this.

If you''''re an illegal alien, you''''re NOT a citizen so STOP acting as if you DESERVE something and get the F**K out of my country.

Posted by gopsux

THANK YOU. IT''S OUR COUNTRY AND WE CAN FIGHT FOR IT ANYWAY WE WANT TO. BUT TO THE REST OF YOU WHO HAVE NO BUSINESS HERE, STAY OUT OF OUR AFFAIRS.

[rushlimpdrug]

Can GOP Hopefuls Win Over Hispanics?

With a little waterboarding they can win over anybody.

[rudy654-2009]

If you''''re an illegal alien, you''''re NOT a citizen so STOP acting as if you DESERVE something and get the F**K out of my country. Posted by gopsux at 12:06 PM

WHOA! You must think this list is full of illegals just waiting to hear those words!!! LOLOL! Just because their hispanics, dip stick, doesn''t mean they''re not AMERICAN CITIZENS. Doh! Bet you think anybody speaking another language must be an illegal. This is the criteria of the lot of you! LOL!

[rudy654-2009]

IT''''S OUR COUNTRY AND WE CAN FIGHT FOR IT ANYWAY WE WANT TO. BUT TO THE REST OF YOU WHO HAVE NO BUSINESS HERE, STAY OUT OF OUR AFFAIRS.
Posted by mudrose at 12:24 PM

And all caps too! I''m impressed! "OUR COUNTRY." Did you beat your chest as you said it?? Say a little prayer to Jesus and say "It''s our country Lord! STAY OUT OF IT?" LOL!

[sgtrds]

The GOP is losing ground with Hispanic voters because of it''s racist attitude toward them. The same reason most Black people vote Democrat. Not every republican is a racist that''s true, but you best believe that every committed racist is a republican.

[sgtrds]

Actually around here (a stones throw from the Mexican border) the Hispanics (they call themselves Mexicans) that have immigrated into the country hate the illegals more than the gringos do.

Posted by three-o-six at 11:15 AM : Dec 10, 2007

I live in L.A. and am surrounded daily by Hispanics who immigrated here legally and illegally. There is absolutely no animosity between them It is a right wing fantasy that there is a split of some kind between legal Hispanic immigrants and undocumented ones. It''s simply not there. Quite to opposite in fact as many of the undocumented are actively being helped by the legal ones.

[infidel_us]

who cares? all th illegals are just gonna vote for democrats. why should we waste our time?

[wv4huckabee]

Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio, one of the most prominent Cuban Americans in Florida, got behind Mike Huckabee''s fast-rising presidential campaign Monday. A huge endorsement!! Huckabee is tough on immigration, but his record shows he is also compassionate and fair. He is the only Republican candidate that can pull a huge number of votes back from the Democrats.

[usbrit-2009]

What exactly is a mudrose anyway?

[tibu987]

Sure they can get the Hispanics to vote for them.
Just lie to them as the political hopefuls lie to everyone else.
Make promises that you have no intention of fulfilling.
Hey, it works for non-Hispanics.
Cynical, you betcha.

[sgtrds]

What exactly is

Posted by USBrit at 01:51 PM : Dec 10, 2007

It''s another word for as*shole...........

[oneifbyland]

I live in Los Angeles too and since 57% of the
city is Hispanic( Yes it''s true,they do identify themselves as Mexican not American!)and over 50%
are illegal aliens from south of the border,every
Hispanic in town acts as if is a Race War on Mexicans... not Citizens of the USA demanding that their Government secure its borders and protect the
country''s sovereignty!
WE ARE ALL MINUTEMEN NOW!

[oneifbyland]

I live in Los Angeles too and since 57% of the
city is Hispanic( Yes it''s true,they do identify themselves as Mexican not American!)and over 50%
are illegal aliens from south of the border,every
Hispanic in town acts as if is a Race War on Mexicans... not Citizens of the USA demanding that their Government secure its borders and protect the
country''s sovereignty!
WE ARE ALL MINUTEMEN NOW!

[oneifbyland]

I live in Los Angeles too and since 57% of the
city is Hispanic( Yes it''s true,they do identify themselves as Mexican not American!)and over 50%
are illegal aliens from south of the border,every
Hispanic in town acts as if is a Race War on Mexicans... not Citizens of the USA demanding that their Government secure its borders and protect the
country''s sovereignty!
WE ARE ALL MINUTEMEN NOW!

[sgtrds]

WE ARE ALL MINUTEMEN NOW!

Posted by OneifbyLand at 02:42 PM : Dec 10, 2007

Your poor wife.........

[oneifbyland]

I too live in Los Angeles and the 57% of the
city that is Hispanic call themselves Mexican!
NOT American.. and the overwhelming majority
of them want Illegal Aliens to be legalized
to gain more political power to change our
laws to allow even more illegal aliens from
south of the border here! They seriously believe
their socialist/marxist ethnocentric leaders
and are acting as if in a race war NOT like legal U.S. citizens demanding that our government secure our border and protect U.S. sovereignty!
WE ARE ALL MINUTEMEN NOW!!

[sgtrds]

The GOP hates Blacks. The GOP hates Hispanics. The GOP hates Muslims. The GOP hates Ga*ys. The GOP tolerates Jews only because they think Israel is going to bring about the 2nd coming of Christ, other then that they hate Jews. The GOP hates anyone that is not a White Christian. So what makes them think anyone who is not a White Christian is going to vote for someone who hates them? A Hispanic/Black/G*Ay/ Jewish Republican would be like a Hispanic or a Black or a G*ay or a Jewish KKK member. Technically I suppose it''s possible, but why would they?

[nottellin1]

It''''s simply not there. Quite to opposite in fact as many of the undocumented are actively being helped by the legal ones.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by SgtRDS at 01:25 PM : Dec 10, 2007

Oh but Randi, it is true, at least in some cases. I am quite sure that for every legal immigrant who has no animosity towards illegals, there is a legal immigrant who does, like the ones that I know. So lets all be realistic and stop making blanket statements just because it is what we personaly believe.