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May 05, 2006

GOP seeks unity on immigration


By ED SEALOVER THE GAZETTE

Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman urged his party Thursday to unite on illegal immigration and present a unified message by November’s election.

Headlining the first day of the Republican National Committee State Chairmen’s meeting at The Broadmoor hotel in Colorado Springs, Mehlman spoke to both sides of the immigration debate. He said the party must push to beef up border security but also must welcome legal immigrants.

“As Republicans, we believe in a strong defense because we understand that freedom is not free,” Mehlman said. “Well, who shows a stronger commitment to freedom than those who leave everything


and everyone to be part of our American democracy?”

The speech came as GOP representatives in Washington, D.C., and Colorado split over how tough to be on illegals and whether to offer a guest-worker program. The issue has become one of the hottest of the election season.

“We need to get this behind us,” Colorado GOP Chairman Bob Martinez said of the party’s internal differences on the subject. “We need to get the immigration debate constructed in a civil fashion.”

Democrats believe that with President Bush’s approval rating dropping to 34 percent and support for the war in Iraq waning, they can win back many congressional seats. Historically, when a two-term president is midway through his second term, his party suffers in congressional elections.

Democrats have portrayed Republican plans to charge illegal immigrants as felons or build a wall on the border as extremist.

Mehlman said Republicans must find a solution that rises above partisan politics. He noted that 44 percent of Hispanics voted for Bush in 2004 and said immigration issues give the GOP a chance to reach out more to them.

The three-day conference features representatives from 43 states, including 32 state GOP chairmen. Mostly a series of closed-door sessions, it is meant to bring the party leaders together and teach them how to get messages out.

Mehlman exuded confidence in exhorting Republicans to stick to issues and to let the Democrats use Bush’s poll numbers against him. He noted after his speech that Republicans tried to run against President Bill Clinton rather than on ideas in 1998 — and lost five House seats.