Thread: California Republicans are split on possible anti-illegal im

Another example of the white surrender flag waving in California. This is what happens when you have the most illegals by far of any state.
~~~~

California Republicans are split on possible anti-illegal immigration measure

Opponents of the measure, similar to Arizona's suspended law, fear alienating the fastest-growing voting bloc and further hampering the party's ability to win elections in the state.

By Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times

December 6, 2010

A nascent California ballot measure that seeks to replicate Arizona's controversial crackdown on illegal immigrants is dividing the state's Republicans, with a number of prominent strategists and leaders fearing that it could further harm their party's already fraught relationship with Latinos — the fastest-growing segment of the electorate.

It's unclear whether the ballot's backers will have the financial resources to gather enough signatures to place the measure on the 2012 ballot.

Several Republicans said that even the effort to do so has the potential to increase the chasm between the party's candidates and the voting bloc whose record-breaking turnout tilted races in November and delivered a clean Democratic statewide sweep in a year in which Republicans celebrated major victories in the rest of the nation. They equated it to 1994's Proposition 187, which would have stopped illegal immigrants from receiving any state services had it not been largely voided by the courts.

"It's completely counterproductive to the future of the party as well as counterproductive to the immigration debate and coming to a real solution," said Rob Stutzman, a GOP strategist who advised failed gubernatorial nominee Meg Whitman. "It allows those who make a living off the demagoguing of immigrants to continue to do so."

Supporters of the measure counter that the party's nominees suffered deep losses because the party has no clear message on immigration.

"I think a greater damage to the future of the party in this state is that we have no position or message on immigration," said Mike Spence, a conservative Republican activist. "That to me is the bigger problem. I don't see how we can be damaged more than we already are."

The debate mirrors one taking place at the national level. Several prominent GOP candidates who were successful in recent elections have taken a hard line on immigration. Party operatives and leaders who have grown worried about alienating Latinos this week announced a major outreach effort, led by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

But while national leaders are looking toward an approaching demographic shift, the clout of Latinos already is in full bloom in California.

In November, one in five voters was Latino; 80% of them cast ballots for Democratic Gov.-elect Jerry Brown, while 15% voted for Whitman despite her multimillion-dollar effort to woo them. Their participation, driven by labor unions who used the Arizona immigration law to pull Latinos to the polls, was nearly double what it was in the last gubernatorial contest. And those numbers are expected to grow.

In California, Republican candidates have long faced a quandary when dealing with immigration, frequently touting their "tough as nails" credentials as they seek the GOP nomination from the party's most conservative voters, then modulating their tone as they try to sway moderate Republicans, independents and Democrats in the general election.

The next elections will be conducted with an open primary, but it's unclear what effect that will have on the tenor of the immigration debate or which GOP candidates might have an advantage.

The California proposal, known as the Support Federal Immigration Law Act, is modeled on Arizona's suspended law, SB 1070, but has tweaks that supporters believe will allow it to survive legal challenges.

The proposal would require law enforcement officers to swiftly check the immigration status of those they stop whom they suspect are in the country illegally, as long as such verification does not hinder an investigation. It would create new hiring requirements for businesses and new penalties for those who knowingly or negligently hire illegal immigrants.

The measure also addresses prospective employees, day laborers, immigrant smugglers and sanctuary cities.

Backers need to collect 433,971 valid signatures by April 21, 2011, to qualify the measure for the ballot, which they hope to do with a combination of paid signature-gatherers and "tea party" volunteers, said Michael Erickson, the initiative's proponent and a former member of the state Republican Party's executive committee.

A key question is whether Erickson will be able to raise at least $1 million to hire signature-gatherers. Another crucial question among Republicans is what effect the effort will have on Latino voters. The issue has become a staple of newscasts in the Spanish-language media.

"What message does that send to Latinos in terms of our commitment to represent their values?" asked GOP strategist Adam Mendelsohn, adding that, based on shared values related to social issues and the economy, "Latino voters should be our voters."

Tony Quinn, a GOP demographer, said that in addition to harming the Republicans' prospects in statewide races, the measure could damage their "last vestige" of power in Sacramento — being able to stop tax increases, which require a two-thirds vote in the state Senate and Assembly.

Legislative districts will be redrawn before the 2012 election, resulting in an increase in competitive contests. Democrats and Latinos will probably be drawn to the polls by a ticket with President Obama at the top and would be further spurred by such an initiative, he said.

"It could contribute to Democrats' winning a two-thirds majority in both houses, which would then make Republicans totally irrelevant on tax matters," Quinn said.

Erickson said these are flawed arguments and said immigration issues cut across party and demographic lines.

"Hispanics who live here legally understand viscerally the necessity for immigration reform. They understand Hispanic communities are the first victim of the violence that is perpetrated by drug cartels and human smugglers and violent gangs," he said.

Polling earlier this year does not bear that out. The May survey by the Los Angeles Times/USC College of Letters, Arts and Sciences poll found that 24% of registered Latino voters in California favored the Arizona law, while 71% opposed it. Overall, 50% of voters supported the law and 43% opposed it.

Party leaders have argued, without much luck, that even without a change in the party's position on illegal immigration, a respectful tone would help repair their relationship with Latinos.

"Nobody cares what we think their capital gains tax rate should be if they believe we want their grandmother deported," said Ron Nehring, chairman of the California Republican Party, who declined comment on the proposed initiative.

Other party leaders also have not weighed in on the ballot measure, a lack of reaction that some find troubling.

Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado said he had little faith that party leaders would oppose the measure, a stance that he believes will be a fatal mistake.

"You can pull the life-support machine off the party, just pull the plug," he said. "Because there's no secret, if you look at obituaries and you look at the birth notices in any newspaper, I can tell you what California is going to look like in the next 10, 15, 20 years. If you continue to alienate the fastest-growing population, then you can continue to be a party that is successful in certain areas, but you won't be able to run the state."


www.latimes.com

Politicians in CA: Just enforce the laws and deport all illegal aliens.

Originally Posted by immigration2009

Politicians in CA: Just enforce the laws and deport all illegal aliens.

Our spineless politicians in this state are more worried now about pandering to latinos in an effort to get their vote. They're literally terrified of offending the “fastest growing voting bloc,â€

RELATED

CALIIFORNIA'S GOP SPILT OVER PROPOSED ARIZONA-LIKE LAW

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-220418.html

Originally Posted by immigration2009

Politicians in CA: Just enforce the laws and deport all illegal aliens.

Under current FEDERAL LAWS only the FEDEAL government can deport anyone.

The problem is 'Bama & Co. They figure that sooner or later the economy will pick up, people will forget about having been undercut by illegals, and they'll get amnesty for all those undcumented Democrats.

************************************************** ***********
Americans first in this magnificent country

American jobs for American workers

Fair trade, not free trade

Originally Posted by vistalad

The problem is 'Bama & Co. They figure that sooner or later the economy will pick up, people will forget about having been undercut by illegals, and they'll get amnesty for all those undcumented Democrats.

RELATED

REPUBLICANS TO PUSH AMNESTY (Just like Obama)
(The BUSH family, McCain, Palin, etc.)

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-192736.html