GOP Feuds: Foreign Policy & Immigration
Written by Mark Harris on January 22nd, 2005When one looks at the Republican Party there are two glaring examples of possible feuds inside the GOP: foreign policy and immigration. Now Bush has managed to cojole otherwise skeptical GOPers into his camp, for the most part on foreign policy, though many of us feel its a possible neccesary evil, but on immigration there is a tremendous split between the party upper levels (mainly run by business) and the party base.
The party base almost universally is vehemently against illegal immigration and largely skeptical of the benefits of wave after wave of immigrants, but the upper level is bankrolled by corporations that make large sums of money off of cheap illegal labor. So the schism continues. The upper levels also largely are not big supporters of gun rights or the pro-life planck, but since it doesn’t really affect their bottom line they are willing to give into the base, but on immigration don’t look for them to budge.
So future GOP leaders, and indeed, even this President risk totally destorying the broad party coalition by pushing for immigration growth. So while we aren’t as split as the Dems, we still have our cracks and President Bush would be wise to throw some bones to Rep. Tancredo and others who schilled for his re-election, but want real immigration reform.
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Everyone is against illegal immigration. The question is simply what to do. By creating a larger temporary worker program where people get legal and can come and go and keep strong ties with their family, and pay into a social security program which will give them their money in their own country, we will improve the situation. People just need to understand all of the good aspects of Bush’s temporary worker program.
The divide isn’t between evil capitalist corporations and normal people who don’t want illegals. It is mostly small businesses which take advantage of this system.
I think Bush is as usual ahead of the pundits. I’ve heard no alternative proposals to Bush’s
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Mark,
Immigration is the main issue(there are others) that makes it clear why the Reagan wing will not unite behind Sanford.(he isnt running anyway)
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Are you really sure about that? I don’t think so…
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Keep it up (like I do :-)) Great site - loved the bit about yourselves.
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We loved the site, really loved it!
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Thank you. You have helped someone more than you could know.