Thread: Good words (about enforcement) from Rep. Eric Cantor

Hope this hasn't been posted previously, but Eric Cantor (R-Va.) is expected to become the #2 ranking House Republican shortly.

As quoted in the Washington Times, he said this recently about enforcement and illegal immigration:

Some conservatives argue that President-elect Barack Obama should be given some leeway on his mandate, with the expectation he will overstep. Those strategists say Republicans should pick their battles, perhaps forgoing a fight over tax increases to save their firepower for issues such as health care.

Mr. Cantor said Republicans should "be very wise about the battles we fight," but that they should fight every time there's a principle involved. For example, he disagrees with pundits who say Republicans should forgo issues such as immigration.

"It's not a dead issue. It's about how do we go about finally enforcing the law, and that's both in the interior as well as at the border," he said, adding that Democrats are likely to overreach if they go for a bill that offers citizenship to illegal immigrants, which he said is "amnesty."

"This whole notion of comprehensive immigration reform, just like comprehensive Middle East peace, you know, that is too high of a bar. You've got to be incremental about it. If they were smart, they'd be incremental about it, but they can't hold back some of their factions," he said.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/200 ... -relevant/

Thanks Populist! This is very encouraging news!! Every little bit of good news makes my day brighter!!!

I wonder what he means by "being incremental about it?" Hopefully Mr Cantor can exert influence on both Republicans AND Democrats in the House. I think the Dems gained something like 18 seats this election.

I don't like the word "incremental" either (I think we all know what this means), but I'm pleased that a high ranking GOP House member is at least pointing out the need for interior enforcement and border security rather than amnesty. Obviously we still have our work cut out for us as the Dems have increased their majority in the House by at least 24, but at least Cantor (career grade B from Numbers) apparently doesn't want to ignore enforcement and illegal immigration. As CaptainRon says, I hope Cantor can use his influence.

*I'm going to add the words 'about enforcement' in title of post.