How the GOP Should Talk (and Not Talk) to Latinos About Immigration
When making the case that Republicans have cooked their goose with Latino voters because of how they talk about immigration, it helps to be specific.
I had the chance to do just that recently when I was asked to participate in a panel discussion on immigration at the renowned Lincoln Club of Orange County in Southern California. Panelists were free to discuss whatever facet of the debate we wanted to focus on, and I titled my remarks: “How the GOP Can Talk About Immigration Without Pissing off Latino Voters.”
But first, I explained to the audience why I was even making the effort. I’m not a Republican, I said, but nor am I Democrat. I’m just someone who likes a good, close game and I’m angry, frustrated, and bored with the fact that — when it comes to winning over Latino voters — the scoreboard always reads: “Democrats, 100; Republicans, 0.” That’s not good for anyone — not Democrats, Republicans, or Latinos.
It’s also not good to take this issue lightly, I told them. You can’t continue to alienate 16 percent of the U.S. population — an estimated 10 million voters representing 8 percent of the U.S. electorate — and expect to survive for long.
I broke the presentation into two pieces. In the first, I spelled out six things that Republicans are doing wrong when talking about immigration. In the second, I gave them six things they could do right that might help make the GOP brand less toxic among Latinos.
What they’re doing wrong:
1) They approach the issue dishonestly by trying to convince the rest of us that they have no problem with legal immigration, that race and ethnicity don’t have anything to do with the debate, that Americans would gladly do jobs that illegal immigrants are doing, that Mexico is to blame for not providing sufficient opportunities for its own people, and other tall tales;
2) They divide the country by framing the debate in terms of “us” vs. “them” and casting themselves as real Americans who love their country more, and care more about the rule of law, than do their opponents and they invariably place Latinos in the “them” camp, which only helps reinforce the idea that all Latinos are foreigners, outsiders, and interlopers;
3) They pander to racists and nativists, by either using divisive and mean-spirited rhetoric or turning a blind eye to those in the party who do and by perpetuating notions of inferiority where immigrants — especially those from Mexico — are dismissed, degraded, and demonized as coming up short when compared to the immigrants of old;
4) They propose simple solutions to what is actually a complicated problem, proving that they haven’t thought deep enough about the issue and forgetting the “bumper sticker rule” which holds that any solution to our immigration woes that fits on a bumper sticker — i.e., “Deport All Illegals” or “Build A Wall” or “Seal the Border — probably isn’t going to work;
5) They cast illegal immigrants in negative terms, as spongers and takers and cheats who suck resources out of the economy when the truth is that, without an illegal work force, whole industries like agriculture would dry up and blow away and that illegal immigrants contribute as much as they take or more in terms of taxes and increased economic activity;
“5) They cast illegal immigrants in negative terms, as spongers and takers and cheats who suck resources out of the economy when the truth is that, without an illegal work force, whole industries like agriculture would dry up and blow away and that illegal immigrants contribute as much as they take or more in terms of taxes and increased economic activity”
Republicans are doing it right with this one, though. Talking economics instead of morality doesn’t work in this country. People can think with their hearts easily in America, rather than stomachs. The moral high ground remains enforcing the law, the bottom line being incidental. GDP is nothin’ but a number.
Immigration won’t be accepted until the TRAFFIC is fixed. No one who commutes to work over an hour and a half, driving 35 in a nominally 55 road, is going to care for a greater population. If people went motoring at 140 miles an hour like in Germany, there would be a FAR greater perception of plentiful space and opportunity. As it is now, though, the country just plain feels full.
How did this counrty become so great w/o the help of the uneducated illegal to our south?! I know migrant towns and cities where they have no interest in the American experiment, history or language. Instead, they breed, get on welfare and become gang members. They break the backs of our schools and emergency rooms, our jails and prisons. They don’t make enough money to pay taxes. They are takers who with arrogance and false pride seem to feel like this country and the white man owe these carpet baggers a living on our backs. Here’s the answer to agriculture-make all the mexican prisoners who polute our prisons and jails pick the fruit. Make all the cockroaches with gang tattoes pick our fruit. Illegal Mexicans lower our living wage because there is too much labor in american compared to jobs. They trash our deserts and kill our ranchers. They import the drugs that enslave your chrildren. And yet,they protect their southern border by murder, rape and theft. The racist group, “La Raza, wants open borders while they show their contempt for the white man that made a country for the mexican to escape to. Mexicans who are loyal to mexico should be sent to mexico.Mexicans who love America and Her history are welcome. And, if your sorry donkey won’t stand on the southern border to protect American, then you are NOT an American but just another cockroach. To damn with “mexican vote”! Deport ‘em 1 by 1. These rats are NOT loyal to America. Oh, and by the way..my children are half mexican.
How immigrants should not talk to the GOP.
1.Don’t assume your audience has no first hand experience with immigrants. How many Asian or Eastern European immigrants have you had over to dinner? How much effort do you make to understand other immigrant groups?
2.Don’t end your essays with a threat.
Re Marco Rubio: I won’t speak for anyone else, but I like him because he seems to have studied civics, because he has a philosophical base for his opinions, and because his political stands concern all Americans, not just those of Cuban or Hispanic descent. He can tell us of his experiences without demanding that the whole country revolve around him.
right on target and to the point.
If the illegal labor was, well, illegal, then the agricultural industry would have to raise wages and offer other benefits to attract workers. That’s how free market works. At worst they’ll hire unionized workers or resort to guest worker programs, which is certainly preferable to illegal immigration since our government gets to dictate the terms of their stay, qualification, or visas. But that actually presents a dilemma for the left, for reasons that Ruben understood in the past.
With due respect, Mexicans aren’t cleaning up toilets and doing field work in Korea, Japan, or other racially homogenous nations. The lowest rung of the social ladder in need for menial jobs will work those jobs. For the more ethnically and socioeconomically diverse United States, they happen to be Latino illegals. You don’t see too many Asian illegals working in fields.
If we could abolish Medicaid and all other Federal socialized programs for the supposed “poor”, and we had voter ID programs, and we had no “anchor child” program, I would not be so concerned about illegal aliens. Unfortunately, they come here specifically because these Progressive programs exist. And, guess what, they support Progressives. I don’t!
Milton Friedman had it right – Welfare state or immigration, you can’t have both.
RN emotional arguments about the hard toiling immigrants ignore the basic econominc fact that they consume infinitely more in benefits than they and their children will ever pay in taxes.
Illegally immigrating the US and having children here is like handing a $250K check to each child born. Public education, subsidized health care, entitlements for the children born here – and once legalized entitlements for the illegal immigrant, their spouses, and eventually their parents and siblings will bankrupt the state, but not before bankrupting many individuals on the way.
Another good point..strike!!
“How the GOP should talk to Latinos about Immigration”
See what Navarrette says. DO THE OPPOSITE.
Since Navarrette projects the conduct of Democrats onto the GOP, the slightest thing of this rant makes no sense.
The same thought occurred to me. It sounds like the recommended course of action is to accept the Democrat’s platform in toto. I don’t have a solution to this problem. If I did everyone would have heard of me. I suspect it will involve the private sector/citizen to find a way to do take on the tasks we don’t want the Government controlling. I still think some kind of reform in Mexico and Central America, in particular, will address the problem in some measure. More difficult, it seems to me, is for the US Conservative to undo the horse ordure that has been fed to our children in the public schools for the past 40 years. And by the way, Mr. Navarrette, all issues involve “us” versus “them” in some measure. Without this they would not be issues.
1. I support LEGAL immigration. I do not support ILLEGAL immigration.
2. If the demand for migrant labor is there, then my government needs to do its job and provide a guest worker, temporary green card or some mechanism to accommodate it.
3. I don’t believe that failure to enforce laws that are inconvenient has any valid excuses.
4. What, in the mind of Latinos, gives people to illegally cross the US-Mexico borders some special privileges not accorded to any other people?
5. If the Latino vote is bought by special privileges not afforded to other immigrants, or indeed, US citizens, then Republicans should write those votes off.
6. Why should illegal aliens get special privileges and benefits denied to US citizens? Try, for example, in-state tuition and tax payer funded scholarships.
I’m willing to bet that a large number of immigrants who came to the US legally resent the fact that a group gets special privileges.
I’ve worked in an industry that is predominantly immigrant (meat packing). I’m very aware that those folks earn every penny doing a very hard job. Still, they should be here legally. If the people in the government cannot do their constitutional job, then they need to be allowed to find other work and replaced by people who will.
Maybe Republicans should give straight up talk to Latino’s indicating that we are going to obey the law and that they are not a special class deserving special consideration. I very seriously doubt the US economy will collapse if we insisted on enforcing the law.
Bob:
I think most of us are with your #1 point — it is THE issue. If you’re here to become an American and make a better life for yourself and family, God bless you. That still remains what this country is about. But please respect our laws and follow the correct path to citizenship. If you’re here to collect handouts because we’re “rich” (HA!) and owe them to you, get lost.
Another point that Republicans should remind Hispanic immigrants: the Left despises your “barbaric” religion. They are already marginalizing Christianity. Th next step is demonization.
(Great first name, by the way.)
I have heard these lies all my life growing up where I did (Denver). My Uncle Don Genera and his daughter CJ spent their lives working for the Hispanic community against people like this author. Don believed that the community just wanted to be Americans and would be totally assimilated in his life time.
We might also note the Latin America is a cesspit, and people coming here from there are tracking in that culture as evidenced by the author of this piece. Why aren’t they staying home to build their countries with their own efforts, rather than coming here for the social benefits? We might also note the Hispanic poverty levels have out paced Black in the US. So much for their contribution other than providing work for social services.
Some people were ready to hear the message, and others looked like they were ready to kill the messenger. Some stuck around after the panel to meet me and pose for pictures, and others hightailed it out of there.
And Ruben, how many laughed out loud at your lack of awareness and intellectual honesty? And as for being “the messenger” it should be noted that one of the most common questions asked within the “Latino community” is: Quien es Ruben Navarette?
I had to read this loser’s pandering stuff for years at the Arizona Republic. I had no idea he would go on to have his stuff reproduced here at PJ, and if it continues, I think I’ll look elsewhere. But as to this:
1) They approach the issue dishonestly by trying to convince the rest of us that they have no problem with legal immigration, that race and ethnicity don’t have anything to do with the debate, that Americans would gladly do jobs that illegal immigrants are doing, that Mexico is to blame for not providing sufficient opportunities for its own people, and other tall tales;
Every one of those points is valid. Legal immigrants have sharp sticks poked in their eyes DAILY by people who believe that managing to run across the border and remain undetected is good enough to be in America. Doesn’t matter that they have no interest in being Americans — they want to bring their country here, and they want the money to send home.
As far as race and ethnicity go, Mexicans are a NATIONALITY, for Pete’s sake. They are not a race any more than Americans are a “race,” although it serves their purposes to claim that they are.
And as far as Ruben acting as though Americans won’t do these jobs — I made my college money during the summers shoveling sheep manure out of buildings where animals had had the entire winter to pack it down as they stayed inside and ate hay and grain during the Oregon winter. I wash my own car, and I mow my own lawn.
If this “cooks Republicans goose,” it isn’t because point number one is BS, it’s because they don’t want to hear it. Let’s be honest, OK? And if he brings up “this is a nation of immigrants,” hand me the barf bag. And then give me ONE EXAMPLE of a nation that is NOT a nation of immigrants. There must be one nation somewhere that you can point to who, as someone once said, simply sprouted from the soil.
Ruben, honesty is apparently not your forte. Stay in California.
At the bottom of this page is a CONTACT US link; USE IT to tell PJM what a POS you think this author is. Many of us have asked PJM to dump him. The more that DO, the better the chances are someday they will LISTEN.
I’m with you-If this site continues to publish Navarettes’ crap I will no longer subscribe nor will many others I suspect. This guy won’t be happy until the country falls to the third world with him as the overseer of the new latino populace. He’s almost there thanks to the corrupt media and treasonous poliricians.
Agreed, Reuben hasn’t a clue what Republicans really think. All he does is recycle crude stereotypes and Democrat talking points. It’s embarrassing.
Ruben, the point man for La Raza, says – “Because, unless Republicans kiss and make up with Latinos over immigration…”
What he means is “Unless Republican kiss the ass of Latinos on immigration”.
Ruben,
Many hispanics vote GOP because they are business owners, veterans, etc., so the 100 – 0 quote is frankly a lie! In my town, which is in federal court trying to limit rentals to illegals, a third of the hispanic residents support the law, because they own their homes, and the illegals negatively affect property values and tax expenditures.
The GOP does need to be honest about the situation, and create a guest worker program for needed workers, after tending to the border for drugs, guns, and immigration. Most folks who oppose illegal immigration are NOT racist at all, though there certainly are some of those. Just like our “friend”, La Raza, is most definitively a racist bigot himself. Oddly, Ruben never calls him down.
Some of what Ruben discusses holds water, but his basic world view is so skewed to the injured discriminate view, that he can never have an even-handed perspective.
1) The USA is the property of its citizens. As such, we have the right to say who comes here the same as any other sovereign nation. Squatters are going to squat somewhere nice. That is no reason to let them.
2) Manipulating the discussion of by introducing race into whether or not we need more people in this country is dishonest at best. That an American would choose foreigners interests over those of their fellow citizens is treacherous.
3) Given our commitment to social services for our less fortunate citizens, adding more persons to our society who do not in net taxes pay for the services they use is a disservice to our fellow Americans. Those who advocate for more immigration apparently want the burdens of those who are paying for our government to increase. Americans obviously want otherwise. Note: it is not mathematically possible for a person earning minimum wage in the US to pay for the government services they use and eat at the same time.
4) Sometimes simple solutions really do work. Deport every illegal that the police come into contact with and soon enough the rest will get the message. It worked in 1953 under President Eisenhower’s Operation Wetback and will again if tried. Kind of like Mexico does now with illegal immigrants from its neighbors. Ditto putting those who employ illegals in jail.
5) Americans will do those jobs. And yes we’ll have to pay them a bit more. Whole industries will adapt, and working Americans will be better off because of it. Better a job picking fruit than a welfare check.
Hey Navarette, move your wife and kids down to the border – Phoenix doesn’t count. Try Sierra Vista, Douglas, or Nogales. Live there for a year or so if you can handle it. Watch your neighbors’ houses (and possibly even yours) get broken into by illegals. Watch their cars get stolen. Spend everyday you’re away at work, worried that your wife might be assaulted by these savages in your own home. Spend nights wide awake as border patrol helos circle your house with spotlights, wondering who’s hiding right outside. Keep a loaded shotgun next to your front door. Wonder everyday if it’s safe to let your kids play out in the yard. Then you can come wag your self-righteous finger in my face about “immigration.” Until then, you have nothing to say that’s worth my time.
Hmmm…imagine that. Ruben Navarette, the ethno-centric pro-illegal alien supporter telling Republicans how they should talk to illegal aliens and illegal alien supporters. Anyone see anything wrong with that picture?
We’re rich. And the rich should take care of the poor. It’s their mantra. But they use welfare and handouts. It’s like dealing crack. There’s no dignity involved, just dependency.
The Law on Illegal Immigration:
Under Title 8 Section 1325 of the U.S. Code, “Improper Entry by Alien,” any citizen of any country other than the United States who:
- Enters or attempts to enter the United States at any time or place other than as designated by immigration officers; or
- Eludes examination or inspection by immigration officers; or
- Attempts to enter or obtains entry to the United States by a willfully false or misleading representation or the willful concealment of a material fact;
has committed a federal crime.
Immigration and Nationality Act Section 237 (a) (1) (B) :
“Any alien who is present in the United States in violation of this Act or any other law of the United States is deportable.”
Statistics on Illegal Immigration:
NUMBERS
• 850,000 illegal immigrants successfully enter the United States each year
• Over the last two decades 1,001,715 LEGAL immigrants were admitted to the U. S, on average, each year. That is more LEGAL immigrants admitted each year than all the rest of the world’s countries admit COMBINED
• 90 percent of illegal immigration comes from Latin America, with 70 percent of the total from Mexico
• About 80 to 85 percent of the immigration from Mexico and Central America in recent years has been illegal
• 10% of Mexico now lives in the United States
• 4,300 American citizens lose their lives each year by the actions of an illegal immigrant
COSTS
• Illegal Immigrants cost U.S. taxpayers $113 billion per year; a total sum count of their education, medical, law enforcement and public assistance costs. This is based on a population calculation of 13 million illegal aliens within the U.S. The actual number could actually be as many as 20 million or more
• Illegal immigrants receive $4.2 billion in Refundable Tax Credits annually from the IRS
• Illegals send $30 billion annually in remittances (transfer of money) to Latin America, $21 billion of which goes to Mexico
• The annual total combined impact from illegal immigration is $147 billion dollars
SOLUTION
What about Deportation? (Remember – every illegal alien is deportable by law)
Wouldn’t it cost too much to deport all the illegals?
• In Dec. 2010, DHS stated to Congress it would cost “$135 billion to apprehend, detain and remove the nation’s entire illegal immigrant population.”
• Therefore, it is less costly to deport all the illegal immigrants from our country than to keep them around ($147 billion negative annual impact to the economy)
good stuff
No.1: you want all conservatives to simply fess up to being endemic racists and all will be forgiven. The idea that Mexico is not to blame is a fantasy which makes you Baron Munchausen.
No.2: You’re saying non-racial La Raza (the Race), has defensively circled the wagons ala the Jews of old Europe because of forced segregation in the form of conspicuous stupid tattoos they are made to wear and the Us VS. Them is entirely a construct of that good old standby, endemic white racism.
3. “Notions of inferiority?” You mean notions like inventing things, which no one in Latin America has shown the slightest sign of doing in 5 centuries. If every American and European innovation were taken away from South America, they’d be driving to work in a horse and buggy. That’s a fact but a racist fact. Even so, Guatemala for decades has used Blue Bird school busses built for kids for inter-city transport.
4. It IS a simple solution, just not the one you like: it’s called obeying and enforcing the law. Something you have no interest in because it doesn’t go in your favor. Usually this is the domain of a criminal personality so I would recommend a visit to a therapist.
5. Pure BS you seem to be well acquainted with.
If Republicans have cooked their goose with Latinos it is because they are not going along with breaking the law. Hardly something to recommend yourselves or to make a case Latinos are the same as the old criminal immigrants like the Germans and English, who sent every native American without a photo ID to a concentration camp.
I agree with 4 Ceteris Paribus: End the Welfare State, and you will see that mostly hard working immigrants will come.
If I am sure the immigrants are really hardworking and not parasitic, I wouldn’t even mind whether they are legal or not. Of course, there has to be Rule of Law, but Law can also be changed. The main point is, IMO, changing the bad incentives that attract the wrong people, like the Welfare system.
I have read enough Navarette to never read him again, and that includes this PJM piece.
How Latinos Should Talk (and not talk) To Americans About Breaking Our Laws
What they’re doing wrong:
1) They approach the issue dishonestly by trying to convince the rest of us that they have a problem with illegal immigration, that race and ethnicity don’t have anything to do with the debate, that Americans are incapable of doing jobs that illegal immigrants are doing, that Mexico shares no blame for not providing sufficient opportunities for its own people, and other tall tales;
2) They divide the country by framing the debate in terms of “us” vs. “them” and casting themselves as oppressed victims who love this country, and want only to provide a better life for their poor starving kids, that they respect the rule of law, and are more open, tolerant and innocent than their opponents and they invariably place Latinos in the “us” camp, which only helps reinforce the idea that all non-leftist Americans are racist, xenophobic, nativists, and ignorant;
3) They pander to leftists, communists, atheists, by either using divisive and mean-spirited rhetoric or turning a blind eye to those in the party who do and by perpetuating notions of inferiority where non-leftists — especially those from the South — are dismissed, degraded, and demonized as coming up short when compared to the propped up myth of the “tolerant” leftists of old;
4) They propose simple solutions to what is actually a complicated problem, proving that they haven’t thought deep enough about the issue and forgetting the “bumper sticker rule” which holds that any solution to our immigration woes that fits on a bumper sticker — i.e., “Dare to Dream” or “Amnesty Now” or “Give us back our stolen land” — probably isn’t going to work;
5) They cast non-leftists in negative terms, as racists and nativists and greedy capitalists who suck resources out of the economy when the truth is that, without a the free market guardians, whole industries would seize up like they are doing in Europe and would dry up and blow away and that border crashers would have no place to break into to take in terms of entitlements and freebies in the decreased economic activity;
6) And finally, once they determine that they are, in fact, raping the American system of its natural protections, rather than change their tone and improve their policies, they go for a “quick fix” such as proposing that whoever eventually wins the democratic presidential nomination can call the rest of us “enemies”, work with UNO…run guns to the drug cartels…and there is not a single peep out of them about that. They would rather sit silently and watch Marco Rubio get slandered and slurred…than to stand up for honor, integrity, and truth.
Hypocrisy…they name is La Raza. WE are the host country. If you are a border crasher, and you come from a land where corruption is rampant, where the drug cartels murder people with impunity…what kind of barnyard manners does it take for you to then try to scold us for caring about our country…when you seemingly care so little for your own. Instead of building yours better…you think it’s ok to come steal some of ours.
And, you start from a position that our concerns are less noble than yours…yours coming from the starting point of a crime. Neat trick.
Here’s my tip for you. Stop calling anyone who views the problems of gang warfare, drug running, gun running, terrorist threats, identity theft, and theft of services…a racist and nativist…and you will remove the barnyard manners from your pitch.
Respect is earned, when respect is given. YOU are asking the host country to be MORE compassionate, to give MORE, to be MORE tolerant than it already is. Do that with manners and respect. Quit doing leftist dirty work…and pretending you are a neutral.
Heed your own advice, or declare yourself a hypocrite, fold your cheap tent and go away.
!!!7 STARS!!!
IMO everything should start by completely closing the southern border, stoping ALL imigration and drafting a new imigration law that caters to America’s needs. Navarrete says Latinos are p.o., well so am I at them. I barely talk to friends and neighbors on the suspition that they may have voted for Obama. If I confirn it, it is the end of any communication forever. It is a fact that Latinos have fought innumerable wars against communist and leftist in their own country, and the American govenment in its poor judgement, have permitted millions of leftist Mexicans, Salvadorans, (name your country) to imigrate legally and illegally in order to benefit the Democrat party and the welfare state. So Navarrete, Latinos are not monolithic and we still hate communist socialist, Muslims and ideology agains free markets and the dignity of the individual.
I am sure your neighbors would miss all your pleasantness, as you seem like a very likable person. You exemplify the most negative aspects of discourse in our country.
The day I listen to anything this treasonous ‘Mexican Pusher’ says is the day I give up on this country entirely.
Nice Mary, spoken like a true bigot. Why does the GOP cater to the worst human emotions of Hate and intolerance? Sad!
No, what’s “sad” is that’s apparently the best you can do: throw up the word “bigotry” (even though there was none in Mary’s comment) and then ask a rhetorical question based on a false premise. Why does the Left despise honest debate and intellectual honesty?
I have voted Republican in every election Moira so nice try with the “Liberal” label. You support Obamas immigration policies of record deportation while I support Ronald Reagan and GW Bush policies of allowing immigrants to work here in a true free market based policy. Freer markets used to be a foundation of the GOP platform, but now you and others support closed borders and protected jobs and industries in the way that would make Karl Marx proud. Bravo!!(roll eyes here).
I have voted Republican in every election Moira so nice try with the “Liberal” label. You support Obamas immigration policies of record deportation while I support Ronald Reagan and GW Bush policies of allowing immigrants to work here in a true free market based policy. Freer markets used to be a foundation of the GOP platform, but now you and others support closed borders and protected jobs and industries in the way that would make Karl Marx proud. Bravo!!(roll eyes here).
Pat, thanks for bringing up Reagan in this debate. As great as he was (the greatest president of my lifetime so far), he was dead WRONG on giving amnesty to illegals. Their numbers in our country ballooned after he did that. That policy decision has led us directly to where we are today, which is under attack by invading hordes of people who don’t give a damn about becoming Americans.
This whole thing about how Reagan and Bush 41 allowed a guest worker program is a lazy smoke and mirrors argument on your part. Those were programs that were administered LEGALLY. We who oppose open borders are talking about keeping people out who break the law to get here, suck up billions of tax dollars in welfare, commit violent crimes, terrorize border communities, send millions back home every year in non-taxed remittances, and try to force us to speak their language and adopt their jacked-up culture that drove them here in the first place. Nice try.
I have voted Republican in every election Moira so nice try with the “Liberal” label.
Don’t talk like one and there won’t be any confusion.
Because the GOP are devils and the Dems angels; from the tone of your wry and nuanced wit, I would’ve thought so much was obvious.
Where’s your list for Democrats, Mr. Navarrette? It should go something like this:
1. Stop using identity politics to divide Americans and pit them against each other.
2. Nominate candidates who represent and work for all their constituents, not just those who fit certain racial, ethnic or gender profiles.
3. Democrats should be honest about why their party welcomes waves of illegal aliens: They’re a ready supply of reliable Democrat voters, dependent on the social programs dear to the hearts of Democrats who buy their votes with the promise of continuing entitlements (paid for by taxpayers).
4. Democrat politicians need to honor their oath to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law instead of actively ignoring laws and encouraging illegal migration.
5. Stop manipulating the language to erase the distinction between immigrant and illegal alien. There is no such thing as an “illegal immigrant”. The proper legal term is “illegal alien”. It may sound harsh to the PC crowd, but it’s accurate and correct. Under the law, only those who come to this country by following the rules qualify to be called immigrants. Those who sneak across our borders are properly and justly called “illegal aliens”.
6. Stop falsely accusing those who support existing immigration law of being “anti-immigrant”. It’s possible to be in favor of immigration and at the same time be against illegal migration. Democrats know this but purposely hurl the “anti-immigrant” slur to demonize those who want immigration laws upheld.
7. Democrats should stop making the false claim that the Right’s only answer to the illegal alien invasion is deportation. Those who understand the real reasons for our current problems advocate turning off the benefit spigot and enforcing the current laws both internally and on the border, knowing this would result in the self-deportation of most of the illegals currently in the country and a sharp curtailment in the influx of new illegal border-crossers.
8. Democrats should stop blocking voter ID laws. Whenever a state introduces common sense voter ID legislation it’s met with the Left’s hysterical comparisons to Jim Crow Laws (conveniently ignoring that it was Democrats who were responsible for the real Jim Crow Laws). This predictable reaction only proves the logical suspicion that Democrats are employing a thinly disguised strategy to give illegals access to the ballot box (casting votes for Democrats, of course).
9. Stop making the absurd claim that hard-working, honest illegals (oxymoron intended) pay their fair share of taxes. Most illegals work minimum wage jobs so withholding is nominal and is paid under a stolen social security number. Fearing discovery of their status prevents most illegals from filing taxes and those who do usually qualify for the earned income tax credit, which means taxpayers pay them. Many receive their wages under the table and participate in the underground economy (garage sales, swap meets, barter), therefore avoiding payroll and sales taxes.
10. Last but not least, stop insisting (ad nauseam) that our current immigration laws are “broken” and need to be “fixed”. They are not broken, they are purposely not enforced. For Democrats, the only acceptable “fix” is amnesty, which goes back to point #3 and would instantly legalize 10 million-plus new voters. Democrats (and their fellow travelers the unions) salivate at the prospect.
Mr. Navarrette’s article is emblematic of the deceitful arguments put forth by the Left. He’s hypocritical to lecture Republicans when his own indefensible positions are based on lies and evasions. He probably likes to believe he’s helping his “people”, when he’s really just enabling their cynical exploitation by Democrats eager to garner votes and retain power.
“They approach the issue dishonestly by trying to convince the rest of us that they have no problem with legal immigration…”
Great, Navarrette, accuse those who disagree with you of being dishonest! Can you not comprehend that there actually are people who have no problem with LEGAL immigration but oppose ILLEGAL immigration? He should stop being so holier-than-thou (as he always is).
“They propose simple solutions to what is actually a complicated problem…” Yes, enforcing the law is a “simple solution,” but it is hardly unreasonable. The problem is not, in fact, complicated.
“They could stop taking an all or nothing approach to the immigration debate, be more flexible in their demands…” By “flexible” does Navarrette mean allowing only half as many illegal immigrants into the country? Why cannot La Raza and Navarrette be “flexible” and agree to an enforcement of existing laws? Any compromise with a leftist always results in a win for the leftist. If the left argues that 2+2=10 you do not compromise and agree to 2+2=7. If you do, next year they come back and want further compromise, eventually getting you to agree to the 10 they always wanted.
Enforce existing laws and be done with the problem once and for all.
I do not imagine that your audience was impressed with this content-free speech. I know I am not. If you have concrete in the future suggestions, please make them.
All latinos are scum and they need to get out of this country. The sooner the better.
Clearly no racism to see here folks.
Mexicans are an addictive drug and America needs to go cold turkey.
“You can’t continue to alienate 16 percent of the U.S. population — an estimated 10 million voters representing 8 percent of the U.S. electorate — and expect to survive for long.”
There Are 20 Nations in Latin America, Why Can’t Hispanics Go Back To The Countries Of Their Origin And Leave The Rest Of Us Alone. The Nation Would Be A Better Place Without These People.
Anonymous: “Why Can’t Hispanics Go Back To The Countries Of Their Origin And Leave The Rest Of Us Alone.”
Because their children who are born in America are automatically U.S. citizens.
Then you’re faced with the problem of either deporting a young U.S. citizen who has broken no laws, or tearing him from his parents as you deport the parents and send the kid to an American orphanage.
So you would first have to fix this problem of birthright citizenship. And that would require either a Supreme Court decision reversing earlier decisions, or a Constitutional Amendment. (Otherwise any such law passed by Congress could be thrown out as unconstitutional)
Anomymous
I agree. These “16 percent” need to be deported. Mexicans back to Mexico, Cubans back to Cuba, Puerto Ricans back to Puerto Rico, Salvadoreans back to El Salvador, Dominicans back to Dominican Republic, and leave the rest of us alone.
Puerto Ricans are American Citizens. How do you not know that?? I guess some people are just ignorant.
We’re all against illegal immigration.
How would you feel about the GOP championing *legal* immigration?
Streamlining the bureaucracy and the paperwork and the regulations could make it possible for more Hispanics to immigrate to America legally, rather than illegally.
Of course, there do seem to be some conservatives (like Mark Krikorian of National Review) who are just against immigration, legal or illegal.
I’m not one of those.
Ruben, the demise of the GOP has been forecast many, many times and generally comes in following formulation: Adopt these policies – or else. Most recently in the form insisting upon adoption of the HCAA, the various stimulus/jobs bills, various proposals to increase taxes and regulation. What’s been the result? The 2010 blowout in the House, and more importantly in state legislatures around the country with the GOP party poised not only to sweep at federal level but extend and deepen it control at the state level in 2012.
Perhaps you will be proven right in the long run. But your messages has more than a little ring to it of the concern troll. No one is focussing on the long run now, they are focussing on 2012 and for this your threats ring hollow. It is also a fact which you elide that the Hispanic vote is monolithic despite your claim to the contrary. How do you explain the success of politicians like Rubio – there are others like him and there will be more to follow. The GOP doesn’t require a majority of the Hispanic vote to maintain dominance in future years. Therefore it doesn’t have to capitulate to a form of identity politics. You paint a picture in which the US economy collapses for lack of illegal labor from Mexico and Central America. I wouldn’t bet too heavily on that.
Low-skill, low cost labor is fungible and when labor costs are driven up for jobs where low skills suffice, mechanization and automation have replaced labor – that has been a long term trend that will continue even in agriculture. The problems for Hispanics in the Americas will not be solved by addressing immigration in the US and the long term future for the GOP will not be secured by pandering for the Hispanic vote.
In other words, Navarette is saying Republicans/conservatives should act like Democrats/liberals. That’s a buncha crap! Illegal is illegal… what part of it do you not understand? I’ve heard too many times, “These people aren’t criminals”. Well, guess what… YES they are. As soon as they stepped their illegal behinds over that border they became felons… period! Mexico has very severe ways of dealing with illegal aliens, why should the U.S. be any different? I guess because a leftist hispanic says we should. The only fair way to deal with this issue is to enforce the laws already on the books, deport ALL illegal aliens (it’s been done twice before), put up a fence that none would dare touch and defy anyone to try crossing… at the expense of their life.
I disagree with almost every single word out of this guys mouth. In fact, it pisses me off that he would “paint” a picture of who I am and what I think in a broad brush.
1. Turn off the spigot, it will dry up on its own.
2. Bring home troops, secure our borders with Fire Towers, communications, and a fast reaction force… OR … Create a BORDER GUARD like COAST GUARD and have young folks enlist, get benefits, but secure PORTS, and BORDERS against: Terrorists, Drug Runners, and Illegal Aliens.
3. See Number 1 and 2.
Do everything opposite of what this writer has said. Respect for LAW is the primary code of the American Dream.
To argue with any of this seriously is to accept Navarette’s false narative about what the GOP or Conservatives think or say. He presents “What they are doing wrong” boldly as it were true, but it’s all false. I’ve never heard anyone from the GOP or any conservative say or do any of these things he presents. And after presenting a false narrative, he then proceeds to divine unvirtuous motives to propagate other lies. So where does he get this? Just another liberal advocate projecting their flaws onto their opponents to divide us for political gain.
The GOP and conservatives believe in color-blind, race-blind meritocracy (read the Federalist Papers), not what Navarette pretends them to believe. Only liberals think the way Navarette thinks, in “us vs. them”. Only liberals can think in such finely honed politically correct distinctions to separate us from our common good.
PJM, I’m disappointed that you would propagate Navarette’s bald propaganda as honest opinion.
Ruben Jr., Sweetie; Bless your little heart! You’re a carbon copy of your daddy; no offense intended.
You have it ALL precisely backward and upside down. You see, the lawbreakers are the Bad Guys. It is NOt okay to lie, cheat and steal from the Gringos. Not ever. You know that, sooner or later, the Rinches(Texas Rangers) will get you. And, if they don’t, God will- unless, of course, you wear a Brown Scapular or Our Lady of Mrs. Gonzales Holy Taco intercedes for you.
Racism, such as yours, is evident in each and every place in America where folks with Mexican ancestry predominate. That Racisms’ siamese twin is a genetic incapacity for lawkeeping, planning, organization, moral conduct, supervision, budgeting, thinking logically and unselfishness. Bribery, revolution, irresponsible conduct, are the mainstays of all hispanic governments. For example, look at the cesspool in Mexico today.
Illegal aliens bring those ways, their ways, to the USA when they bless us with their uninvited hands out for all they can beg, steal or extort.
Legal immigrants, real people, are the opposite. They come here to become Americans; not Mexicans living in America; plotting to turn America into that purgatory we label “Mexico”. Fly your Mexican flag, eat your Mexican food, sing your Mexican songs, make your day by cutting in front of the White Guy be as selfish and inconsiderate as you possibly can, and continue to whine that your ways are not acceptable to civilized people.
Ruben, tell me if you would have your same opinions about immigration, if it were Chinese illegals coming in? Let’s say to reduce their population, the Chinese government decides to ship 20 million Chinese to the US. What would you say?
Here’s the issue, the Mexican government is doing just this. They are pushing Mexican citizens into the US. The Mexican government has claims on American territory. They are supporting these illegals with political support and are trying to keep them from becoming Americans. They want a Fifth Column and support organizations in the US to back this campaign. This is the background to the illegal immigration issue.
American immigration policy is supposed to be set by the elected representatives of the American People, the US Congress. Instead, we have immigration policy set by foreign governments. We see the Federal Government refusing to enforce the valid law of our country. We see the Federal Government promoting the division of our country with support for bilingualism. It seems they want to create a Quebec-type situation in this country. Who’s doing this and why?
And Ruben, you are part of this effort to divide our country, demonize Americans, promote YOUR ethnic group (admit it, you wouldn’t feel the same if it were 20 million Chinese) and overall seek to ILLEGALLY transform this country outside of our Constitution and legals means of elections.
Ruben, you are a subversive (and racist). The sad fact is that you have basically universal support from the Media/Government/Elite axis. Only the People oppose you. At some point, the wishes of the AMERICAN People will be carried out.
Responses to “what Republicans are doing wrong”.
1. Republicans DON’T have a problem with legal immigration. These candidates know that to compete in a global economy we have to attract as many high-skilled and entrepreneurial immigrants as possible, no matter where they emigrate from. Race and ethnicity are not factors and in fact the GOP candidates understand that most Hispanics are pro-family social conservative Catholics and like that. What are factors is that many Latinos living either legally or ilegally don’t view themselves as American. Look at the immigration riots that occured a few years ago; the protesters were carrying Central and South American flags and pulled down American flags from flagpoles.
2/4. No one is getting a better life when illegals bring drugs and gangs to the US. Look at the border provinces; it is a literal war down in Mexico that is spreading to the US because we have not secured our border. We secure our border and no more gangs or drugs or crime is imported from Mexico. I’m pretty sure that’s what Hispanics want because that is why they left in the first place.
5. The industries where illegals are employed would not go under and in fact the small and medium sized farms that rely on illegal labour would simply be taken over by large agribusiness which are able to sell agricultural products at a lower price due to volume. The free market works.
This IS a simple solution. Increase LEGAL high-skilled immigration. PROTECT our country by securing the border. Illegals currently in the country who have not committed a crime (other than coming here illegally) will be granted guest worker status for a year or two. End welfare to illegals, end “sanctuary city” policies and end birthright citizenship and chain migration.
I predicted the response to your piece as soon as I saw you mention the “Bumper Sticker” rule. For this crowd, supporting a policy that can’t fit on a bumper sticker is the epitome of weak-kneed liberalism
Wow. I had no idea that by wanting people to be legally present in the United States, I was actually a raving racist! I guess this means I should break up with my boyfriend of almost a year now. I didn’t realize that I hate him for his DNA. I also must be a ethnic elitist. I guess that means that I should drop my Spanish minor quickly as well.
I for one am a conservative, and I really do think that the issue has nothing to do with race. If you’re here illegally, you should be punished, and that goes for if you are from Mexico or any other Central or South American country, Canada, England, or any other country. I’m not going to allow myself to be denigrated by some fool who thinks that we can talk about this situation in theoretical, hypothetical terms when this is a real issue that is really happening right now.
I’m disappointed, PJ media. Very disappointed. You should never let this person write for you again.
1) They approach the issue dishonestly by trying to convince the rest of us that they have no problem with legal immigration, that race and ethnicity don’t have anything to do with the debate, that Americans would gladly do jobs that illegal immigrants are doing, that Mexico is to blame for not providing sufficient opportunities for its own people, and other tall tales;
This is where, right off the bat, you undermined your entire argument, by assuming that everyone who opposes illegal immigration is racist and a xenophobe opposing all immigration. I oppose allowing anyone who blithely ignores the laws of my country in order to come here and work, and I’m damned sick and tired of being called a racist because of it.
RE no. 1, show me where all the white, non-Hispanic illegal immigrants are that the GOP doesn’t mind being here. Exactly, I call BS.
RE no. 2, explain to me how a total disregard for the laws of this country regarding legal immigration makes Hispanic illegal aliens indistinguishable from law-abiding Hispanic legal aliens, much less anyone else.
RE no. 3, anyone of Irish or Italian descent should explain to Mr. Nadaclue why almost every word of this point is offensive to the memories of their experiences in this country.
RE no. 4, Legal Immigrants First
RE no. 5, So Mr. Nadaclue wants to continue the exploitation of downtrodden illegal aliens just so his beloved welfare state and soulless corporate agriculture can continue to thrive? Who is the racist again?
RE no. 6, He’s right on this one, putting Rubio up for VP might appear cynical. How about we just put him in the top spot, instead?
Kudos to PJ Media for publishing this, even though it is from a racist writer who writes from emotion and has no concern for the truth. It is important in the marketplace of ideas to let all ideas be heard. Lies make the truth shine more clearly. As Milton said, in his defense against censorship: who ever knew Truth put to the worse, in a free and open encounter?
First, Mr. Navarrette say’s this, “simple solutions don’t work and instead offer substantive and complex proposals for dealing with illegal immigration that reflect a deeper understanding of just how complicated the issue can be,” but Mr. Navarrette’s whole argument is simplified to six simple solutions.
Second, the solutions are very simple. We DO NOT need more new laws, rules, regulations, mandates or bodies to stop the ever consistent flow of Illegal Aliens. Just simply uphold the existent laws.
Third, ILLEGAL Immigration is not a unique situation to America we can seek solutions that other nations have used to accomplish hindering illegal entrants into their countries. ILLEGAL Immigration is also NOT unique to the Central and South American Latin populations. By a majority, sure, that is from where most Illegal entrants come but not unique to Latinos.
Because Illegal Immigration is not unique to North America and the U.S., ALL Americans, Democrats, Republicans and whatever your Party affiliation or Political Philosophy have a duty to defend our society from those illegal entrants who DO come here for their own self interest and do not care about our Nations well being.
And if these people who want better for their families and personal lives then “they”, Illegal Aliens, from whatever ethnicity, race, color, and creed should take their Nations back from the Tyrannical leaders who have stolen and relegated them to serfdom.
Lastly, ever heard of the Rule of Law? This is how America Governs and we do not break down our topics on law or discussion to approach certain groups or people so as to ultimately alienate the American People. Whatever the historical philosophy of how this Nation came to be, the U.S.’s borders are such due to historical activities and Americans are defending our sovereignty in order to not become Nations long forgotten. For when Freedom and Free markets fail here where will the entire world’s poor and downtrodden turn?
While I agree that the Repubs have made political stupidity, a nailed down immigration party plank, I believe they have a natural constituency in the Hispanic community. To win the Hispanic vote, they must start telling the truth to their natural ally.
These are the truths:
America welcomes legal immigrants, of every race. They enrich our society in many ways.
Americans are a law abiding people; we abhor anyone gaining wealth by illegal means.
America has a massive and long standing illegal immigration problem. This is due to three factors: our crummy government, some thieving employers, and people who cheat, enter illegally.
At its root, our illegal immigration problem is due to crooked governments in neighboring Hispanic nations. Mexico is a big one. It is wealthy from exploiting its oil and gas resources, yet spends almost nothing on public infrastructure: roads, water, sewerage, schools, or hospitals. If flushes its desperate poor on the US.
The same Mexican crime lords who smuggle dope into the US, also smuggle illegals to American employers. It is the exact same evil as slavery, whereby most of the value of a person’s work goes to others.
The solution is obvious: organize and arm the slaves. The US should announce, on a given date, that several new policies will exist on our border with Mexico. All captured able bodied male illegals will be given a choice: Step to the right and earn citizenship, or step to the left, board a bus, and see you next week. The ones on the right will get basic military training, arms, and will be organized for one purpose. At the date of our choosing, they will reenter Mexico and kill designated drug lords, governors, police officials, judges, and bankers. If Senor Killer has 1,000 armed men, we will send 20,000 militia against him, and repeat this as necessary. His Haciendas, warehouses, air planes, boats, trucks, dogs and cats go up in flames. No American will enter Mexico. Whoever returns earns citizenship; whoever dies gets a burial and widow benefits, whoever wishes to stay in Mexico gets a payment. All will be honored by Americans. We will share the list of named targets with the Mexican President; he may suggest additions, he may not remove one. He may wish to advise people to leave Mexico.
On our side, we will enact laws that makes the possession of one kilo of any drug a capital offense. Any employee, or employer who profits from illegal immigration, goes to jail.
Mr. Navarrette is wrong; it is not complicated. It just takes political will. It is armed struggle, war, against corruption, drugs, and slavery. This tactic worked for the Viet Cong in Cambodia, and is working now in Pakistan for the Taliban. What Uncle Sam has done, for 25 years, has only harmed both honest Americans and Mexicans.
Viva a prosperous, independent and free neighbor, Mexico.
Mr NAVARRETTE
Could you please cite a study to validate the “net benefit” claim. I have seen studies that verify that fact for immigrants, but never for illegal immigration. The fact is that our immigration policy favors immigrants who can demonstrate their self-sufficiency so of course it is of net benefit to society. I have also seen actual numbers for the cost of a typical illegal immigrant household that puts the cost to taxpayers at near $600,000 over 20 years. (Mostly due to the high cost of K-12 education and the larger than average family size of an illegal immigrant household)It is hard for me to believe that is compensated for in any meaningful way by the taxes an illegal immigrant might pay as it exceeds their average lifetime income. I do understand that by taking money from one family and giving it to another in the form of SNAP benefits, Medicaid, EITC etc, you guarantee that money gets spent rather than saved and that may have some effect on GDP. However the original earner of the money would have more likely spent it as well so whatever effect is likely small.