Thread: ALIPAC: Gingrich on Top of GOP Polls, Takes Big Risk Articul

Gingrich on Top of GOP Polls, Takes Big Risk Articulating Illegal Immigration Policy

Published November 23, 2011
| FoxNews.com


Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich threw down the gauntlet to conservative Republicans at Tuesday night's presidential debate, challenging his rivals to upend his argument against mass deportations of illegal immigrants while also taking a huge risk with the law-and-order GOP base.

The Republican presidential hopeful, who has sprung to the top of the polling charts in the past two weeks, warned against a policy that proposes deporting illegals who have been in the country for 25 years. Gingrich said he would not "expel" those who have come to the United States illegally if it happened decades ago.


And in an appeal to family values, he said long-residing illegal aliens shouldn't become citizens, but neither should they be torn apart from their families.

"I don't see how the party that says it's the party of family is going to adopt an immigration policy which destroys families which have been here a quarter century and I'm prepared to take the heat for saying let's be humane in enforcing the law," he said.

Heat is what he got.

Rep. Michele Bachmann and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney both pounced on the suggestion, calling it a form of amnesty that attracts illegal immigration. Romney added that he wants to encourage immigration, especially among those educated at U.S. colleges.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry said the priority should be securing the border.

"The failure of the federal government to enforce immigration laws costs federal, state and local governments billions of dollars annually," Bachmann said in a statement released by her campaign while the debate was still ongoing.

"Our nation was founded on the rule of law, and we must ensure U.S. immigration laws are respected and enforced not only to preserve our national security, but to protect federal, state, and local budgets, and to curb the unfair strain on our country's job markets," she said.

On Wednesday, Bachmann continued, telling Fox News that Gingrich likes the DREAM Act that gives illegal students in-school tuition and other breaks on a federal level. She added that Gingrich implied that all 11 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. would "in effect" get a form of amnesty.

Gingrich campaign spokesman R.C. Hammond warned that Bachmann ought to be careful not to disfigure Gingrich's position on amnesty. Gingrich, he said, opposes the DREAM Act but agrees with a provision to allow illegals who came to the United States as children to earn citizenship if they serve in the U.S. military.

“Michele Bachmann should start telling the truth because people in Iowa can tell when somebody is lying . It won’t be long before they figure out that Michele Bachmann is lying about Newt’s immigration plan," Hammond said.

"We want it made clear Newt is not for amnesty. He is the only candidate with a solution for what to do with illegal immigrants who are already here. Nobody else is being honest and leadership requires honesty. What would Michele Bachmann do? What would Mitt Romney do? Do they have a plan that would actually work? Anything more is lies and rhetoric, and the next president can’t lead on lies and rhetoric," Hammond continued.

[b]Americans for Legal Immigration Political Action Committee Chairman William Gheen predicted that Gingrich's campaign will “implodeâ€

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http://www.alipac.us/article6799.html

Illegal immigration should not be a political/partisan issue! Politicians should not be able to use this issue to score cheap political points, while sacrificing the future of this country in order to win elections by pandering to the open border traitors and La Raza racists of this country! ANY politician even suggesting these lawbreakers should receive any type of amnesty, tuition breaks, benefits etc., is not fit to hold public office.

Moreover, being able to avoid detection for 20 years in this country, should not be akin to some degree of accomplishment, worthy of citizenship! To suggest as much is troubling to say the least.

Illegal immigration is a rule of law issue, not a political issue!

They always bring up seperating families. These parents knew the full risk before coming here. Take the kids with you back to where you belong!