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WASHINGTON (AP) — Divided on immigration, House Republicans bluntly challenged President Barack Obama's willingness to secure the nation's borders on Wednesday, and appeared unimpressed by George W. Bush's advice to carry a "benevolent spirit" into a debate that includes a possible path to citizenship for millions.
Like him or hate him, George Bush did all the right things when it came to Hispanic voters. He courted them, and even spoke their language. Left unsaid in the chaotic and crazy election of 2000 is the fact that Hispanic voters carried Bush over Gore, as he got 65% of the Hispanic vote in Florida. As for the national vote, Bush did well there too, and even better in 2004, when he carried 44% of the Hispanic vote nationally.
And face it, Republicans. What are we going to do about illegals today? Ship 'em all back? Won't work. There are way too many illegals to make that work in any way, shape, or form. When Reagan gave illegals a path to citizenship, he could see that. Only problem is that we did not take care of the second part of the problem, which is preventing illegals from coming in. So we are back to the same point we were when Reagan legalized illegals. So, Republicans, here we are at the same crossroads Reagan arrived at. Are you going to be pragmatic, and provide a path to citizenship, while tightening the borders so that we are not at this point again 20 years from now? You know it is going to have to be done this way because it is the only practical way right now. And, with providing a pathway to citizenship, we will also be providing the Treasury with more tax money, which will help us down the road, as more citizens who were once illegal are now paying their fair share to be here.
You have two choices:
1) Keep doing what you are doing now and continue to lose elections at the national level.
2) Be Reaganesque, by getting this bill done, and begin to recapture the Hispanic vote you lost after Bush left office, and have a decent shot of regaining the presidency.
The ball is in your court. And yes, Bush is 100% right on this.
Article is here.