Thread: Utah vote could decide immigration plan's future

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4004696.html

June 27, 2006, 10:24AM

Utah vote could decide immigration plan's future
A Republican who backs Bush is fighting a hot primary contest
By GEBE MARTINEZ
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle Washington Bureau

WEST VALLEY CITY, UTAH - As Republican U.S. Rep. Chris Cannon rode in the back of a pickup in the West Fest Parade last weekend, just ahead of the float carrying Miss Samoa, the conservative lawmaker knew that for every voter who waved back, there may have been another who was angry with him over immigration.

In this GOP stronghold, advocates of further restrictions on immigration have targeted Cannon for defeat in today's Utah primary because he favors a broad immigration plan similar to President Bush's.

The race is so emotionally charged by the single issue of immigration — in a district that has fewer than 50,000 illegal immigrants and is 12 hours by car from the Mexico border — that the election could decide whether Bush's ailing immigration policy limps forward or is declared dead.

House Republicans are watching the GOP primaries, especially this one between Cannon and businessman John Jacob, as they try to chart the safest political course before the November congressional elections.

Do Republicans run on the House immigration bill, which even some conservatives say is too harsh because it makes felons out of illegal immigrants and humanitarians who provide aid?

Or do they negotiate a compromise, in good faith or not, with the Senate over its bill favored by Bush, which combines tougher immigration law enforcement with the opportunity of "earned" legalization for most of the 12 million illegal immigrants in the country?

Many Republicans like Cannon say the party must back Bush's call for a pragmatic, workable solution that does not offer amnesty, because the public demands action on immigration and GOP lawmakers must show they can reach a solution when their party controls Congress and the White House.

But Team America, an immigration control group founded by Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., and chaired by conservative pundit Bay Buchanan, is determined to defeat Cannon. The group warns House Republicans that any immigration bill that goes beyond enforcement only is a political loser.

"Defeating Cannon will send shock waves through Congress," Buchanan said.


Poll shows voters split
Cannon said he may lose his seat in a low-turnout primary in this central and western Utah district because the anti-immigrant message "certainly tapped into the anger of a few people ... (who) are going to vote because they are angry and threatened." And a local, independent poll shows voters in the district are split evenly over the House and Senate approaches to the issue.


A former Mormon missionary in Guatemala and El Salvador, Cannon said he is angered that voters are being driven "by Bay Buchanan's rhetoric that (immigrants) 'will overrun us if we don't beat Chris Cannon.' It's as harsh as you can be, I think, in America."

Cannon has run ads featuring endorsements from Bush and first lady Laura Bush, who remain highly popular here despite strong disapproval of Bush's immigration plan.

Jacob, the challenger, hopes Bush's opinion does not matter: "No matter how powerful he may be, he does not vote in (Utah's) 3rd District."

But does the devil? Jacob has claimed that the devil is "the force" trying to keep him from getting to Congress. Also, in recent days he had to clarify that his past gambling was "entertainment" rather than an addiction.

"There's no question I should not have said it," Jacob said of the phrase about the devil. "The devil made me do it. That's a joke."

Jacob said Cannon is soft on illegal immigration.

"He has been there for 10 years. In 10 years, we've gone from 5.5 million illegal immigrants to over 12 million illegal immigrants," Jacob said. "I can't do worse than that."

Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., a key supporter of the Bush plan, said Republican lawmakers need to act on comprehensive reform.

"We act like we are going into the fourth quarter as if we have a lead. Last time I checked, the last poll I saw had the Democrats leading on immigration. What lead are we trying to protect?" Flake asked.

But GOP opponents of Bush's plan said recent elections bolstered the argument for an enforcement-only approach.

In Nebraska, Rep. Tom Osborne, a popular former football coach at the University of Nebraska, lost a bid for the GOP gubernatorial nomination against incumbent Gov. Dave Heineman. He backed a state measure — vetoed by Heineman — that would have allowed illegal immigrants pay in-state tuition at public colleges.


California race
Rep. Brian Bilbray, R-Calif., narrowly won a recent special election because, he said, of his enforcement-first approach to immigration.


"Ladies are scared to go to the bank because there are so many illegals waiting for work around the banks," he said.

But other Republicans argue Bilbray's tough rhetoric almost lost to a weak Democrat who received 45 percent of the vote in a district that Bush carried two years ago by 55 percent. The Republican National Committee also poured $4.5 million into the race.

In Utah, reaction from spectators at the parade framed the issues in stark terms.

"We need to get rid of the riffraff!" an elderly woman yelled, cheering on Jacob.

But another voter sided with Cannon.

"If the truth be known, we should all leave the country and give it back to the Native Americans," electrician Pat Rolfe said.

gebe.martinez@chron.com

As proof of how out of touch Cannon is....

Look up the population of his district, and that 50,000 illegals is a HUGE NUMBER that he dismisses!

Let us hope that the people who are against amnesty show up at the polls that is what is going to decide this election. Go John Jacobs