GOP candidates, convention steer clear of immigration
BY REID J. EPSTEIN | reid.epstein@newsday.com
September 8, 2008

During the Republican presidential primary, immigration was such an important topic that candidates were tripping over each other to be seen as the toughest defender of the nation's borders.

The issue became so hot that Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the GOP presidential nominee, was forced to disavow his own immigration reform bill because it was seen by many Republicans as too lenient.

But a parade of Republicans came to the convention podium in St. Paul last week with barely a mention of immigration. On Wednesday and Thursday nights, 38 speakers addressed the GOP crowd and only one - unknown Kansas farmer Carolyn Dunn - even uttered the word "immigration." There was not a single mention of border security or amnesty from McCain or his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford) said immigration wasn't discussed last week to avoid controversy among party members who remain divided on the topic.

"Why bring up an issue that could cause discord within the party?" he said. "Go with the issues that we know we have strong agreement [on] now."

Palin, McCain's running mate, has never publicly stated a position on immigration, according to the nonpartisan Web site ontheissues.org.

Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.), the anti-immigration crusader who in a November GOP debate accused his opponents of trying to "out-Tancredo Tancredo" on immigration, said McCain would prefer that the topic go away.

"Considering the fact that Senator McCain does not want to associate himself with that part of the party that has pushed for true immigration reform, it's not surprising," he said in a recent interview. "We lost that fight, essentially. What else can you do? Our guys lost."

It's a long way from New Hampshire, where protesters followed McCain's campaign, accusing him of offering amnesty to millions of undocumented immigrants. McCain eventually pledged to be as tough on the issues as his then-primary opponents.

But to some Republicans immigration remains a hot issue in the party. The party's official platform calls for a tough enforcement of immigration laws and the completion of a fence along the Mexican border.

Immigration activists said they plan to pull the issue back into the spotlight before the November general election. Ira Mehlman, the spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, said his group plans an anti-illegal immigration push on conservative talk radio stations this week.

"We're going to do our best to put it out there and force a discussion," he said.

Mehlman said immigration remains an important issue in some down-ballot elections. Lou Barletta, the Hazelton, Pa., mayor who passed strict anti-illegal immigration legislation, is running for Congress against 12-term Democrat Paul Kanjorski.

Immigration remains an important issue on Long Island, said Suffolk Legis. Daniel Losquadro (R-Shoreham), but it has been eclipsed by $4-per-gallon gasoline.

"Everyone realizes how much illegal immigration hurts the average taxpayer," he said. "But the price of fuel ... it's really hurting people very badly."
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