Thread: GOP says backlash in party due to Kyl

GOP says backlash in party due to Kyl

http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/184151

By Daniel Scarpinato
arizona daily star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 05.22.2007

PHOENIX — The head of the Arizona Republican Party launched criticism Monday at a U.S. Senate immigration compromise bill, saying the party base is "incensed" by the deal and, particularly, by Sen. Jon Kyl's involvement in drafting it.

We have people coming in every day, tearing up their registration cards and throwing them on the floor, or coming in and changing their registration from Republican to independent," said party Chairman Randy Pullen during a press conference at the state headquarters in Phoenix.
Pullen held up what he called a "graphic" representation of how Republicans feel. It was a drawing of a hand with the middle finger pointing up and highlighted.

"This is basically the outlook that many of our party faithful are feeling right now about the Republican Party," he said.

Kyl defended his stance on the Senate floor, referencing criticisms from his Arizona constituents, noting in a chamber now controlled by the Democrats that it's necessary to work with them to get things done.

Kyl's involvement in the compromise — he was a lead negotiator in the deal and has defended it on the national stage — has exacerbated conservative border activists' ire over the proposal.

"He understands that the party base is unhappy with it," Pullen said of Kyl. "He also understands that a lot of that unhappiness is with him and where he is on this issue."

While Pullen said criticism has also been directed at Sen. John McCain — someone accustomed to ruffling the right-wing base — Kyl's prominent role has drawn most of the fire his way.

Pullen isn't the only Arizona Republican taking aim at the bill. Former U.S. Rep. J.D. Hayworth, who lost his congressional seat in November, appeared Monday on the Fox News Channel to criticize the bill.

Kyl, whose Washington staff did not return late-afternoon phone calls, has said while he doesn't like every aspect of the bill, with Democrats now controlling Congress, the legislation is the best opportunity for action on immigration.

He reiterated that position Monday on the Senate floor, stating: "Of all of the criticism that I have received for being one of the sponsors of this legislation, the one that I don't quite understand from my constituents is, why would I sit down with Sen. (Ted) Kennedy," Kyl said, according to a transcript provided by his office.

"And what I've tried to tell them is, I understand your anxiety about sitting down with Sen. Kennedy, but on the other hand, in a body of 100 senators that are supposed to try to work together to find solutions to problems, do you not at least acknowledge that every now and then you have to sit down and talk to each other, even when you're on the other side of the aisle?"

But Pullen and others in the conservative wing of the party think the bill amounts to amnesty, since illegal immigrants will be allowed to remain in the country if they pay fees, $5,000 in fines and the head of the household returns to his or her home country to apply for citizenship.

Pullen said the bill is "10 percent Republican and 90 percent Ted Kennedy."

Nevertheless, the issue has divided pro-business Republicans from border activists in the party.

Margaret Kenski, a Southern Arizona Republican strategist who has worked for Kyl, said the plan divides both parties.

"I think we're seeing a real bipartisan effort to solve a problem that bothers a lot of us, and in the process, not everyone got what they wanted," she said. "In the long run, I have a hard time seeing the core Republicans voting for Democrats because they are unhappy with the compromise."

Democratic Party Chairman David Waid said although he would have preferred for Kyl to have been an advocate for comprehensive overhaul during his campaign last year against Democrat Jim Pederson, Waid defended Kyl's support for the Senate bill.

"He's come around to a position that is in the best interest of the people of Arizona," Waid said. "The inflexible, complete partisan approach doesn't work."

"In the long run, I have a hard time seeing the core Republicans voting for Democrats because they are unhappy with the compromise."

Third party!

When hubby and I moved to Pa. two years ago we both switched our party affiliations to independent. We can't vote in primarys but it is a small price to pay to let the GOP know we are fed up

Exactly! I don't prefer one Party over another one anymore! They are all the same....money grabbing, vote grabbing slime balls!

Working more for special interests groups than the Country or American citizens!

3RD PARTY IS ON THE WAY!

Steelerbabe wrote:

When hubby and I moved to Pa. two years ago we both switched our party affiliations to independent. We can't vote in primarys but it is a small price to pay to let the GOP know we are fed up

So you can't vote for Hunter, Tancredo, or Paul in the primaries?

I believe it is good to call all state party offices. Yesterday, I called both the Washington office of the Republican National Committee (RNC) and the state office of the Republican party. I informed both offices that people were outraged, would mobilize against anyone who voted for any type of "amnesty," however worded, and that for over a year now we had been passing out flyers to educate the public on this issue, its impact, and what our representatives and senators were or were not doing on illegal immigration in our state and on the national level.

Both Republican and Democratic constituents should do the same and let the party bigwigs know their futures are not so rosy when betraying millions of American citizens and voters.

Republican Party of Tennessee
www.tngop.org

2424 21st Ave S # 200
Nashville, TN 37212
(615) 269-4260

Republican National Committee
310 First Street, SE
Washington, D.C. 20003
phone: 202.863.8500
fax: 202.863.8820
email: info@gop.com


Psalm 32

You would think even politicians would pay attention to Lou Barletta winning both the Republican and Democratic mayoral nomination for 2008.

Originally Posted by MW

Steelerbabe wrote:

When hubby and I moved to Pa. two years ago we both switched our party affiliations to independent. We can't vote in primarys but it is a small price to pay to let the GOP know we are fed up

So you can't vote for Hunter, Tancredo, or Paul in the primaries?

Currently I am not registed with any party. However, in my County you can register Republican or whatever 2 months before the primary, thus I will be able to vote for one of the above. Then right after the primary I will cancel my affiliation until the next primary!

I suggest this is what everyone should do. My voter registrar always sends out a flyer so I know when it is time for me to register for the primary.

Was listening to Dorgan propose his amendment (co-written with Boxer) who opposes the guest worker program. Dorgan gave a good talk about how American workers wages are being supressed due to employers wanting cheap labor, etc. Then Sen. Kyl came on opposing it and I could stomach listening to only a small portion. He is so bought and paid for by big business.