Scott Walker Endorses Path to Citizenship for Illegal Immigrants at Private GOP Dinne

Scott Walker Endorses Path to Citizenship for Illegal Immigrants at Private GOP Dinner

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http://media.breitbart.com/media/201...02-640x478.jpgAP Photo/Jim Cole

by Dan Riehl26 Mar 2015Washington, DC4092
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker may be on the verge of burning himself down before he actually gets started, given what is now becoming something of a circus regarding his actual stance on immigration.

According to this new Wall Street Journal report, it’s quite possible a supporter of Jeb Bush, or another candidate went to the media regarding Walker’s recent comments at a private GOP dinner, it doesn’t matter. With three sources now (anonymously) on record, he appears to have Walkered himself right into this one. If his name becomes synonymous with waffling on a critical issue like immigration, his next nickname may be toast!

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker told a private dinner of New Hampshire Republicans this month that he backed the idea of allowing undocumented immigrants to stay in the country and to eventually become eligible for citizenship, a position at odds with his previous public statements on the matter.

Given the history here, it may now be impossible to know precisely where Walker stands, with supporters left to assume the worst — that he’s just another open borders Republican — becoming the default across the conservative grassroots whose support he needs to win.

Mr. Walker’s “no amnesty” position was itself a change from his prior decadelong support for a pathway to citizenship. He has explained in public that his recent shift to a more restrictive view came after consulting with border-state governors and hearing from people opposed to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.

http://www.breitbart.com/big-governm...te-gop-dinner/

Scott Walker spokeswoman disputes report on immigration shift, says his position hasn't changed


March 27, 2015 5:30 am • By Jessie Opoien | The Capital Times

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Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker answers questions Saturday at a training workshop for the state Republican Party in the auditorium at Concord High School in Concord, N.H.
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Just one day before Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is set to tour the Texas-Mexico border with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, the Wall Street Journal's Reid Epstein reports the governor indicated yet another shift in his immigration stance.

A spokeswoman for Walker's political organization, Our American Revival, says the Wall Street Journal report is "erroneous."
According to Epstein's report, Walker told New Hampshire Republicans at a private dinner that he would support allowing undocumented immigrants to remain in the United States and eventually become eligible for citizenship.
The article cites "three people present" at the dinner as confirmation of the governor's remarks.

"We strongly dispute this account. Gov. Walker has been very clear that he does not support amnesty and believes that border security must be established and the rule of law must be followed. His position has not changed, he does not support citizenship for illegal immigrants, and this story line is false," Walker spokeswoman Kirsten Kukowski said in a statement.

It wouldn't be the first time Walker has indicated he would back a path to citizenship, but that's a position he's done a public about-face on in recent months.

Meeting with the Wausau Daily Herald editorial board in 2013, Walker was asked whether he could support a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.
"Sure. Yeah. I mean, I think it makes sense," Walker said.

In February, he told Fox News' Bret Baier he had been misquoted. But eventually, in a March 1 interview with Fox's Chris Wallace, he owned the shift in his position.

He doesn't support amnesty, he has said on several occasions this year.

Asked whether his position had changed since 2013, he said, "Absolutely. I look at the problems we've experienced for the last few years. I've talked to governors on the border and others out there. I've talked to people all across America. And the concerns I have is that we need to secure the border. We ultimately need to put in place a system that works. A legal immigration system that works. And part of doing this is put the onus on employers, getting them E-Verify and tools to do that. But I don't think you do it through amnesty."

Walker wasn't shy about his course reversal at the time.

"My view has changed. I'm flat out saying it," Walker told Wallace. "A candidate can say that."
The March 13 New Hampshire dinner was organized by New Hampshire Republican Party Chairwoman Jennifer Horn, Epstein reported.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Walker mocked Mitt Romney's 2012 comments about "self-deportation" and said undocumented immigrants should not be deported.
An owner of the restaurant where the dinner was held told Epstein, "He said no to citizenship now, but later they could get it."


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