Politics

Will Immigration Be a Defining Issue in the GOP Presidential Race?

WASHINGTON (The Blaze/AP) — Neither Rick Perry nor Mitt Romney can claim conservative purity on illegal immigration — and now both must deal with it. As the last few months of 2011 are unfolding, immigration is emerging as a defining issue that will likely play a role in the primaries.

The heated clashes over illegal immigration between the two Republican presidential rivals in this week’s debate, coupled with renewed calls for a fence along the U.S.-Mexico border by their opponents, made clear the issue isn’t going away. It’s a major fault line between Perry and Romney as they court a Republican primary electorate that generally takes a hardline view against people who are in the country illegally.

Immigration May Be Key Issue in 2012 GOP Presidential Primary

At every turn, Perry, the Texas governor, has been forced to defend his signing of a law that allowed some illegal immigrants to get in-state college tuition. And now Romney is having to answer for the fact that some groundskeepers who had worked on his lawn were in the country illegally.

“Mitt, you lose all of your standing from my perspective because you hired illegals in your home, and you knew about it for a year,” Perry told the former Massachusetts governor at Tuesday’s debate in Las Vegas. “And the idea that you stand here before us and talk about that you’re strong on immigration is, on its face, the height of hypocrisy.”

Romney countered, “Rick, I don‘t think that I’ve ever hired an illegal in my life” and challenged his rival to show him the facts. Romney went on to say:

“We hired a lawn company to mow our lawn, and they had illegal immigrants that were working there. And when that was pointed out to us, we let them go. . . . So we went to the company and we said, ‘Look, you can’t have any illegals working on our property. I’m running for office, for Pete’s sake, I can’t have illegals.’ It turns out that once questioned, they hired someone who had falsified their documents, had documents, and therefore we fired them.”

It was a preview of what Republicans can expect to hear in the coming weeks as the Jan. 3 leadoff Iowa caucuses inch closer, with Romney and Perry emerging as the two candidates with the best chances of winning the nomination. They’re arguably the only Republicans with the money and organization necessary to go the distance.

Even so and in hopes of gaining traction, their rivals are playing to the part of the GOP electorate that values a secure border with Mexico above all else when it comes to immigration policy.

In recent days, Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota has pledged to build two fences back to back along the 2,000-mile border. And businessman Herman Cain called for an electrified fence that could kill people trying to cross illegally.

For months now, immigration concerns have followed presidential contenders to town hall meetings from Nevada to Iowa to New Hampshire. And in some ways, immigration has shaped the increasingly bitter Republican nomination fight more than any other issue, particularly in a crowded field where the conservative candidates have more in common than not. And while conservative voters may be driving immigration chatter on the campaign trail, the candidates are stoking voter passions when given the opportunity.

Immigration May Be Key Issue in 2012 GOP Presidential Primary“I’m not surprised that immigration is playing as big a role as it is,” said Kevin Smith, a likely New Hampshire Republican gubernatorial candidate who has watched the candidates face repeated questions about the topic on the campaign trail. “This issue plays very well with Republican primary voters.”

And it‘s clear they’re listening.

Perry’s sudden drop in the polls was largely attributed to weak debate performances involving his support for the Texas law. He suggested that Republicans who oppose the policy were heartless. And Romney fueled the tuition criticism every chance he got.

But Perry tried to neutralize the attacks this week. The outspoken Texan raised new questions at the debate about Romney’s use of a landscaping company that employed illegal immigrants at his suburban Boston home several years ago.

For a moment, it looked as though Perry and Romney may come to blows as they debated the issue, with Romney at one point putting his hand on Perry’s shoulder as the conversation began to heat up.

“The American people want the truth,” Perry demanded. “They want to hear you say that you knew you had illegals working at your …”

Romney cut in: “Would you please wait? Are you just going to keep talking, or are you going to let me finish with my – what I have to say?”

For Romney, it was a frustrating return to an issue that played out in his 2008 presidential campaign.

At that time, and again Tuesday night, he said he had little control over whether a landscaping company he legally hired had illegal immigrants on the payroll. But the exchange provided one of the few moments in this presidential campaign in which the usually poised Romney showed flashes of anger.

That anger was apparent in campaign rhetoric from both sides the day after the debate.

Immigration May Be Key Issue in 2012 GOP Presidential Primary“Gov. Perry is desperate to deflect from his liberal immigration record,” Romney spokesman Ryan Williams said, calling Perry’s launching of “a personal and untruthful attack” on Romney “unpresidential.”

But don’t expect Perry to back down from an issue that may have fueled his strongest debate performance.

Perry spokesman Ray Sullivan said, “Mr. Romney has been demagoguing and distorting these immigration and border control issues for months now.“ Sullivan argued that Romney was ”exposed as someone who had illegal immigrants working in his lawn and cleaning his tennis court.”

Sullivan would not say whether Perry might exploit the issue in television advertising, but he hinted that Romney has only seen the beginning of the new criticism.

There is danger is pushing too hard on immigration.

Polling suggests the issue may help the candidates score political points with Republican primary voters but could alienate the ballooning Hispanic population or hurt the candidates among independents in a general election matchup against President Barack Obama.

Obama campaign manager Jim Messina seized on the issue Wednesday.

“Romney’s been taking hard-right positions on the campaign trail on immigration. He didn‘t object to having undocumented workers working for him because it’s illegal; he objected because he thought it would hurt his political career,” Messina said.

Comments (94)

1 2 3
  • don young
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 10:46am

    If things keep going the way they are going there will be a majority of mexicans in texas,arizona,california,new mexico and they will vote democratic so why would obama and holder want to stop them from comeing into this country.

    Report Post »  
    • mikenleeds
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 11:07am

      it cost us tax payers 187 billion dollars last year to pay the welfare for these illegals while they suck our country dry

      Report Post » mikenleeds  
    • mad_hatter
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 11:17am

      People are saying that Perry’s false, 2008 McCain campaign attack against Romney hiring illegals, attack may have actually helped Romney because he said e-Verify would have helped the landscaper keep a better handle on who he was hiring. Here are multiple pundits going over the attacks and how Perry may have helped or at least not hurt Romney: http://www.thedailycandidate.com/video/2011/oct/perry_help_romney.html

      Report Post »  
    • mad_hatter
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 11:21am

      Romney’s time as governor shows he is strong on immigration. Unlike the false claims of critics, Romney was not for amnesty. Wanting a path to citizenship is not the same way. Cut off the magnets and the illegals go home, for all the ones that help our society there is a long process, end of the line, that should be able to come be able to work their way in, not amnesty. Unless you want to do a massive 12 million person deportation. Cut off the magnets and get rid of illegals. Did you see Rick Perry try to steal Romney’s line, so did everyone else. Romney was the first in the debates to mention the magnets, then everyone else started talking about it.

      Report Post »  
    • Secret Squirrel
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 12:00pm

      .
      Why wouldn’t illegal immigration be an issue?
      We’re broke, and yet we’re being asked to give more free stuff to illegals?
      Hell, no.

      Report Post » Secret Squirrel  
    • crackerone
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 12:42pm

      Doesn’t matter that we want the border shut. One way or another, BO will find a way, to bypass the will of the people.

      Report Post »  
    • lecar
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 12:46pm

      The main stream media is fueling the discontent over immigration with their emotional filled reports of “poor children” that are being deported with their parents. The “horror” of it. It is Amercans fault since we are a nation of immigrants. BS! We are a nation of law. The constitution being the supreme law of the land. Yet the media never seems to point this out. Instead of fighting over some stupid lawnmowing ILEGAL ALIEN, try asking what changes to immigration law would help immigrants get to this country LEGALLY! Deport the ILLEGALS and import the LEGALS. Stop the crap sandwich of playing on the electorates emotional retardedness.

      Report Post »  
    • rangerp
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 8:52pm

      It is foolish to try to talk illegal immigration without also talking welfare reform.

      The Mexicans come here to fill a void. We created that void, when we pay 46 million Americans welfare. Basically, we pay people not to work, and then we snivel because the Mexicans come here and do work that those on welfare should be doing.

      If you could wave a magic wand and make every illegal Mexican be gone, you would find that your local grocery store is out of fruit and many vegetables, as there is no one to pick them. You would find the construction in places like Atlanta shut down, as they do much of the labor.

      This is such a simple fix, and we do not need a fence to fix it. Systematically end welfare, while also checking and enforcing employers not to hire illegal aliens. It would lower crime, lower taxes, and have other parallel fixes. It will never happen though, as it would take power from the democrats that are trying to put more on the system, not take them off.

      Report Post » rangerp  
    • old white guy
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 7:20am

      immigration should be at least number two right after government spending.

      Report Post »  
    • old white guy
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 7:22am

      a cheap fence would be rolls and rolls of razor wire.

      Report Post »  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 10:43am

    Sure it will, and after the election it will be forgotten once again.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
    • drattastic
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 10:59am

      If that is true this time around then the Republican party can kiss their a$$ goodbye for all time. We will be a one party country for as long as the country last.

      Report Post » drattastic  
  • FedUpMan
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 10:37am

    # 1 the economy. Fix it now.
    # 2 Illegal immigration. I will NOT vote for anyone that supports illegals in any way. THE US CANNOT SUPPORT THE ENTIRE WORLD. NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO LIVE HERE UNLESS THEY ARE LEGAL CITIZENS. Personal observation: I know a minority family, husband and wife both worked, was born in America who has 5 children and 12 grand children and all of the 5 children and 12 grandchildren are on public aide. The people who are pulling the wagon(working) are tired of the people who ride in the wagon always demanding more via politicians who are more than happy to bribe the moochers who vote to keep these pols in office.

    Report Post »  
  • The next to last american president
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 10:36am

    To all the employers who knowingly employed Illegal Immigrants, payback will be Hell! They give all the typical excuses:

    1. They take jobs that Americans won’t do.
    2. Mexicans work harder
    3. Mexicans are more reliable
    4. They don’t report injuries as often
    5. Illegal’s work for less money
    6. Don’t complain as much, at least in English
    7. Better fence climbers
    8. They don’t commit crimes in my fancy neighborhood
    9. They automatically replace themselves.
    10. Makes the greedy employers mucho money.

    Report Post »  
    • Centralsville
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 10:50am

      Better recheck that list of jobs Americans won’t do. That list grow longer every year because the illegals drop the wages down to the poverty level. Illegals have destroyed what used to be good jobs. Between that and oursourcing our jobs to China and India we are destroying the middle class. The first generation works harder because they are making ten times what they made in Mexico. Pay your American workers ten times what they make now and they too will work harder. The only thing you said that is true is that greedy American employers pocket more money once they hire illegals at low wages. If I had the power I would shut down their businesses and put them in prison with all their Mexican buddies.

      Report Post »  
  • This_Individual
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 10:35am

    ILLEGAL immigration should be. It’s a big issue to us here in the Southwest.

    Report Post »  
  • The next to last american president
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 10:33am

    Listed below are “Pros and Cons” of illegal immigration:

    Pros ————- — Cons

    Cheap labor —– Depress wages and take American Jobs
    Take over of California —– None
    Votes for Progressives —– Destroys integrity of elections
    Increased sales of used trucks—– More uninsured drivers
    Increase police employment —– Increased crime and gangs
    Make slumlords money —– Slums
    Social safety valve for Mexico —– Their problem is now our problem!
    Pleasing pot heads —– Drug cartels and violence
    Jobs for Immigration lawyers —– More lawyers
    Increased real estate related jobs —– Mortgage Loan Fraud
    Good authentic Mexican Food —– Heartburn
    increased liquor sales —– Drunken Illegal’s, American road kill
    None —– Entitlement spending into oblivion

    Report Post »  
  • elkslayer
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 10:32am

    My daughter workes for a company that hired illegals before she worked there and now she is in the hr department, they are not allowed to do a back ground check if they were hired on before the law had taken hold. They have fake papers and all.

    Our law in AZ is wonderfull. You can’t get a job here unless you show proof. Like a birth cirt. or green card. If you have fake papers now it will show up. I know a few people who moved out of state. If all the states did the same it would really help. I still think we need a good fence. Drugs are a real proplem in AZ.

    Report Post » elkslayer  
  • The next to last american president
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 10:29am

    Listed below are “Pros and Cons” of illegal immigration:

    Pros Cons

    Cheap labor Depress wages and take American Jobs
    Take over of California None
    Votes for Progressives Destroys integrity of elections
    Increased sales of used trucks More uninsured drivers
    Increase police employment Increased crime and gangs
    Make slumlords money Slums
    Social safety valve for Mexico Their problem is now our problem!
    Pleasing pot heads Drug cartels and violence
    Jobs for Immigration lawyers More lawyers
    Increased real estate related jobs Mortgage Loan Fraud
    Good authentic Mexican Food Heartburn
    increased liquor sales Drunken Illegal’s, American road kill
    None Entitlement spending into oblivion

    Report Post »  
  • The next to last american president
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 10:28am

    any legal Hispanic person in this country, should be American first, latino second. Don’t they realize that uncontrolled illegal immigration will destroy this country. We are now approaching the edge of the cliff.

    How to create Union Jobs

    Mo children of Illegal’s = Mo union teachers jobs=Mo votes and kickbacks to Demorats=Mo years of liberal oppression

    From “The Next to Last american President”

    Report Post »  
  • Centralsville
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 10:27am

    Illegals are killing America. They destroy the wages of low wage earners, they destroy what were formerly middle class wages of American men, they suck government spending on the poor, and they vote for more government spending, don‘t say illegals don’t vote because they do and all their children will be able to. The Hispanic vote goes overwhelmingly for Democrats. They send billions back home and hope to someday bring all their long lost relatives to the land of plenty where stupid sucker Americans pay for their food, housing and healthcare. They completely run many prisons now and are the kings of the drug trade. I don’t trust any of our candidates when it comes to shutting down the border and closing down businesses that hire illegals but Perry coming from Texas is the worst.

    Report Post »  
  • Harryc123
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 10:27am

    Caution:
    Woman chasing man who owes her child support.

    Report Post » Harryc123  
  • capitalismrocks
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 10:25am

    As Rick Perry found out… while Immigration is not the heart of the GOP run for the WH, it is a strong factor. When Perry scoffed at the border fence and then said it was justified to give illegal aliens in state tuition breaks over US citizens from other states, that kicked him right in the teeth.

    1. We need a full border fence, the triple layer design that has been so effective where its been built.
    2. An electronic sensor network of seismic sensors to detect digging and tunneling.
    3. Guard posts to monitor area’s, do routine inspection and check patrols.
    4. Micro UAV airports every 50 mi or so with regularly running UAV flights to monitor the border and to intercept any aircraft coming into our airspace and track aircraft until assets can be brought into that airspace to escort, or if needed, shoot down any illegal penetration into US airspace.

    5. Stop all assistance to those who are illegal, if you are not a citizen, you are not entitled to benefits of US citizens.

    6. Immigration reform – we can’t deport the millions here, but you give a 1 year “Registration” period. Yeah, its gonna be a form of Amnesty, but there is little else we can do. You have one year to go to an immigration center, register as a US citizen, finger print and SS# issued, its a 5 year probation period – no job in 1 year – deported, commit a felony – deported, fail to register and caught – deported. So you get to the front of the line, but with heavy stipulations.

    Report Post » capitalismrocks  
    • hidden_lion
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 10:37am

      at this point, it would be more effective to just have Mexico become a state, then there would be no more illegal problem. We could actually arrest the criminal elements and bring them to judgement. The new citizens would be entitled to actual, legal wages which would mean everybody would be competing fairly. As a bonus, we could actually defeat the drug cartels, which right now are stronger than mexico’s miiltary and police forces. It would be win-win for all concerned. Nobody likes the talk of amnesty type solutions, but in the end, how do you get 12 million illegals out? it is not possible. If you can‘t beat em’, let them join you.

      Report Post » hidden_lion  
  • GulfPeg
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 10:22am

    Yes, unless Congress passes MANDATORY National E-Verfiy and abolishes right of citizendhip for the “Anchor babies”.

    Report Post »  
  • TomFerrari
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 10:11am

    ! Si !

    LOL

    Report Post » TomFerrari  
  • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 9:56am

    “with Romney and Perry emerging as the two candidates with the best chances of winning the nomination”
    ————————————————————————-
    Why in hell do they keep saying this and pushing it on us? I thought Perry plunged and Cain was surging in the polls?
    Cain/Gingrich 2012

    Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
  • CCHMoore
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 9:55am

    Some people claim that the US needs an underclass – that is why the border is not secure. But when the children and/or grandchildren of illegals take jobs that should go to children of legal US citizens that is a problem – and that is what is reflected now in the high unemployment number

    Report Post »  
    • Brizz
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 10:02am

      Agreed! It needs to be addressed because it’s modern day slavery. The effects are devastating for illegals and citizens!!!

      Report Post » Brizz  
  • EqualJustice
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 9:47am

    YES! Especially as this administration makes their OWN LAWS as they go along, totally IGNORING the existing ones. PATHETIC that a MAYOR can now sign an EXECUTIVE ORDER to make DC a SANCTUARY CITY? Our NATION’S CAPITOL.. overrun with criminal illegal aliens! What a disgrace. This administration, Obama, Reid, the DOJ, the DHS.. all using so called “prosecutorial discretion”.. WTH is that?

    Report Post » EqualJustice  
    • Stuck_in_CA
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 9:56am

      Will Immigration Be a Defining Issue in the GOP Presidential Race?
      Oh man… I sure hope so! We are being invaded, and the government obliged to protect us, doesn’t g.a.s!

      I wish all the GOPers were at least as strong on this as Bachmann.

      Report Post » Stuck_in_CA  
    • EqualJustice
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 10:05am

      We may need Herman Cain yet.. and yes, Michelle has it right.

      Report Post » EqualJustice  
  • Kara_ite
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 9:47am

    http://dailycaller.com/2011/10/19/the-best-of-the-rest-of-occulist/?utm_source=MadMimi&utm_medium=email&utm_content=TheDC+Morning&utm_campaign=The+DC+Morning+&utm_term=2__29+Comrade+Stalin+would+approve

    OWS’ers (aka flea baggers, are they being issued flea collars?) These people are dangerous because…there would be a huge list after that statement, but we just added the above compromise on what to kill.

    Report Post » Kara_ite  
    • EqualJustice
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 10:04am

      Well we know where they are getting all their TALKING points and tactics from.. Socialists and Communists! They are putting everything they have into this movement to destroy capitalism in the USA! It’s a coordinated effort! http://www.dsausa.org/docs/Jobs.html and http://cpusa.org/
      WE BETTER start standing up to these people or our Republic will be lost. SUPPORT ALL CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATES AND CAUSES with your time and resources! Continue to write and call and voice your opposition. THERE ARE MORE OF US. We must stay the course. Their goal IS TO WEAR US DOWN. STAY STRONG!

      Report Post » EqualJustice  
  • 13th Imam
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 9:45am

    No, it’s the economy, stupid

    it’s the out of control Spending

    it’s about Fast and Furious

    it’s about unentitled entitlements

    it’s about bringing our service people home

    and yes

    it is about securing our borders and interior from illegal’s, wherever they are from.

    Report Post » 13th Imam  
    • 4truth2all
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 10:30am

      The border issue is not JUST illegels…. it’s terrorists, drugs, disease… which in many cases is worse and also the same… illegel terrorists running drugs… that will destroy a nation without bombs.

      Report Post »  
  • joe1234
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 9:45am

    hope so, but as with cutting government spending, we’ll get a lot of empty promises from the republicans.

    Report Post » joe1234  
  • hidden_lion
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 9:42am

    Actually, the economy is the #1 priority, there are already 12 million people here illegally, that one can’t be fixed overnight. They just need to put tarrifs on all goods by American companies that are made outside our borders and shipped back in. These companies need to quit sending the work overseas, and our stupid government needs to quit over regulating and taxing the ones operating from home turf. I think the billionaires should consider a voluntary, adopt a city program where they hire everyone on the unemployment roles. Put them to work, and take the steam out of these commie protests at the same time. Warren Buffet should put his money where his mouth is and be the one to begin. In detroit they could be put to work cleaning the entire city, dismantling crumbling, decrepit houses in burnt out neighborhoods, cleaning out the gutters and washing away the blight. That would be a true stimulus. If I were a billionaire, that is what I would do. Heck even millionaires could get in on the action, creating community refurbishment companies.

    Report Post » hidden_lion  
  • JohnQTaxpayer
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 9:40am

    Look back at history; did any entity who did not keep their borders ever survive? This concept is real simple a King protects his castle with a moat, a country secures its citizens with a border, city has the city limits, your house has barriers to unlawful entry called, doors. All the rest of the world understands this why don’t we? Very simple Illegal immigrant = lawbreaker, if we cannot get this simple concept right we do not deserve to continue as a nation.

    Did anyone think this was going to end well?

    Report Post » JohnQTaxpayer  
  • 68Truthseeker
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 9:38am

    Trump Still Wants Obama’s Birth Certificate Analyzed 10-18-2011

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEeZFhDG4_E

    Report Post »  
    • EqualJustice
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 1:05pm

      Maybe he’s right, but the liberal media has made questioning anything OBAMA like having the SWINE FLU.. stay away.

      Report Post » EqualJustice  
  • GhostOfJefferson
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 9:36am

    We’re so far in debt that we have now, without question, committed our children to indentured servitude (which would be involuntary since they didn’t have a say, which makes it slavery).

    I understand that the illegal immigration question plays a part in the whole question of how to solve our spending problem, however, if it is the “key issue” then we’re doomed to another horse and pony show over something that is minor compared to the monster sitting in our living room.

    Don’t take that as me saying that illegal immigration itself is a trifling matter, I mean within the context of the much larger problem, if you see what I’m saying.

    Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
    • joe conservative
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 9:42am

      I see what you’re saying indeed. The economy is the big issue by far. While illegal immigration plays a role, nowhere near as much as the out of control spending. Until we get that under control, everything else is merely a side show at best. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouyNzCfsAq4

      Report Post » joe conservative  
  • JLGunner
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 9:34am

    First, seal the border. Then lets talk about all the illegals in the U.S..

    Report Post » JLGunner  
    • hi
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 9:40am

      Exactly. Close the border.

      Report Post » hi  
    • loriann12
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 10:00am

      It‘s interesting that he said he couldn’t have illegals on his property because he was running for office. What if he hadn’t been running for office, would that be ok? And Perry uses the excuse that it’s a federal issue, not a state one, maybe he has less b@lls than the Arizona governor?

      Report Post »  
    • JLGunner
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 10:26am

      The exploitation of slave labor is live and kicking in the U.S. and China (many other countries as well). Just take a look at the sugar cane fields in south Florida, the strawberry fields in Plant City, Florida and how about that lovely Disney company exploiting the slaves in China to make their Toy Story dolls our children love so much. Don’t think Wal Mart is not involved. Look at the Chinese imported garbage they sell.

      Report Post » JLGunner  
1 2 3

Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In

Sign Up For Our Newsletter!

Glenn Beck Radio

Listen to Glenn Beck 24/7 Listen Now
Restoring Love