Op-Ed Contributor
Unfair Iowa Republican Poll Rejects Hucakbee Immigration Plan 6 to 1
By Alan Gray, NewsBlaze

Some Conservative groups have been attacking Mike Huckabee over what they say is his plan to allow "touchback amnesty," in which illegal immigrants could leave the US and return within a few days.

In my investigation for this story, I don't see anywhere that Huckabee says this. The closest he came to that is saying it shouldn't take very long to make a decision, the way that decisions on elegibility for a credit card are decided. Huckabee did say at one point that illegals who left the US could possibly return relatively quickly, to work. He also said that if illegals did not leave when given the chance, then they could be deported, without the possibility of returning for ten years.

Huckabee stated that immigration should begin with securing the border, possibly the northern border as well as the southern border.

Strangely, Immigration group Americans for Legal Immigration PAC reads into Huckabee's remarks that he is pro-illegal immigration. They held a poll of Republican voters in Iowa. The question asked was, "Do you support or oppose Mike Huckabee's touchback amnesty plan to allow the illegal aliens to leave the US and return legally in one day?" Initial responses show GOP voters reject Huckabee's plan by a factor of 6 to 1.

This is an unfair polling question because it is likely most responders take the ALIPAC statement at face value, when it is actually disingenuous, because Huckabee does not have such a plan. Huckabee's own statement does not talk about amnesty or permanent residence, he is talking about workers being allowed to "pick lettuce."

ALIPAC says that of the thousands of voters that responded to the automated poll, 65% said they opposed the plan, 25% were undecided, and 10% supported the plan.

"It is hard to say which reading is more telling," said William Gheen. "The 65% opposition is a devastating result for any campaign, but the 10% support level should send a clear message to Mike Huckabee and Mike Pence about how Americans feel about touchback amnesty."

ALIPAC's William Gheen, Dan Smeriglio of Voice of the People, and Peter Gadiel of 9/11 Families for a Secure America are on the ground in Iowa spreading the word about Huckabee's Dec. 9th comments about letting the illegals return in a day. They are conducting many talk radio interviews, while the phone bank poll continues to contact voters.

ALIPAC reports they are considering buying radio ads and launching volunteer phone calls to further warn voters.

"There is absolutely no way that Mike Huckabee can be in the lead in Iowa among Republican voters, unless they are in the dark about his record and stances on immigration issues," says Gheen who is a veteran campaign consultant. "Before our team leaves Iowa, we will have done our best to rectify the situation."

ALIPAC says they do not endorse any Presidential candidate and is not financially supported by any rival campaign, but they do appear to be going all-out to destroy Huckabee.

The group says their true loyalties are to the American public and they are focused on warning voters that all Democratic candidates and GOP candidates McCain, Guiliani, and Huckabee favor amnesty for illegal aliens.

NewsBlaze expects to receive updated polling results on Friday, after more Republican households are contacted.

The National Press isn't asking Huckabee any clarifying questions, they seem to be playing a game of allowing the mud to stick.
http://newsblaze.com/story/200712272340 ... nions.html