Don't Forget About Amnesty

ObamaCare repeal/delay is getting a lot of attention during the August recess but don't forget they'll be back pushing amnesty soon enough.

The Democrats and their MSM wing are doing their part. In his headline post Gabe had the story of a little girl who asked a GOP Congressman about how he could help stop her father from being deported. The Congressman handled it ok. He wasn't dismissive of the little girl and complimented her on her courage to ask the question but then gave a kind of flat "the laws the law" answer. Now, there's not much you can say to a little kid in that case but in addition to talking to the kid and the people in the hall, Republicans need to realize they are talking to the whole country (or will be if they screw up) compliments of Democratic "trackers" and a compliant media.

So what should opponents say? If they are faced with a kid they should be nice and recognize that the kid doesn't care about policy. Say something nice and then make it clear they are addressing the adults.

First it's important to remind people that this isn't about singling out illegal aliens and their families. US citizens break the law and get separated from their kids all the time. There's no reason why we should feel worse for kids of illegal immigrants than we do those kids who are punished for things they didn't do.

Then remind the audience that being anti-amnesty actually means supporting other people, people who haven't broken our laws....

People who are waiting years to come here legally and be reunited with their families deserve our sympathy. The also deserve a legal immigration system that isn’t bogged down by processing the claims of millions of people who jumped the line and came here illegally.

We should remember the kids of parents who have had their identity stolen by illegal immigrants or brokers who cater to illegals. It must be awful for a child when your parents are stressed by being the victim of a crime, have to spend a lot of money to get their good name back or can’t buy a house or a car because someone has wrecked their credit history.

And mostly we should remember the children of Americans who can’t find work or make less money than they would otherwise because millions of illegal aliens are taking jobs from their parents or driving their wages down.

So while I’m not unsympathetic to this young girl’s fears, she’s not the only one with skin in the game. Maybe we could occasionally remember the people her dad and people like him are hurting. It might even make people realize we are compassionate too.

On another front, Politico has a piece on the death of the GOP in California. Naturally the solution proposed by many California Republicans is...amnesty.

Considering the rise in the state's Hispanic population basically tracks with the downward spiral of the GOP there, I'm unclear on how amnesty helps the problem.

To believe amnesty will win votes now or in the future requires you to believe that on average Hispanics support the policies that are destroying their state's economy simply out of spite for the GOP's opposition to amnesty.

Personally, I don't believe Hispanics as a group are stupid. I think they vote overwhelmingly for Democrats and big government because...on average they are Democrats who support big government. Supporting amnesty is not going to change that.

If your Congressman is holding an event, go and bring up amnesty. If they are in hiding like mine, contact them.

[Update - Andy] Related: Townhall Tactic 2013: Why do you want to deport my daddy?

posted by DrewM. at 10:48 AM

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