Illegal immigration is flash point for Republican White House hopefuls

[alp227]

KEENE, N.H. — Mitt Romney opened his town hall meeting here talking about the economy — his thoughts on growing business, getting government out of the way — just as he does nearly every other campaign event. But when he opened last week’s forum for questions, the first voter he called on didn’t seem concerned about any of that. He wanted to know the Republican presidential candidate’s stance on border security.

A similar scene played out in South Carolina a few days later, when Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) attended a town hall meeting she assumed would center on the economy, jobs and the federal deficit — only to see the assembled voters react most passionately to her comments on illegal immigration.

Polls may not suggest it, and the candidates may not be catering to it, but immigration is an issue that voters won’t let the GOP White House hopefuls escape.

Republican primary voters keep bringing immigration up as the candidates campaign in back yards, opera houses and recreation halls across Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. To a sizable chunk of those who will pick the GOP’s presidential nominee, immigration is an urgent issue, even a litmus test.

full: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/illegal-immigration-is-flash-point-for-republican-white-house-hopefuls/2011/09/01/gIQAUb0LvJ_singlePage.html

Well, where's the discussion about how free trade is affecting Latin America so much that it influenced illegal immigration, or how American employers seek cheap labor from such immigrants (in fact I've heard one or two of the candidates oppose the minimum wage!) Anyone remember when it was revealed that Meg Whitman, the former CEO of eBay who ran against Jerry Brown in last year's California governor election, once hired an undocumented Mexican as a housekeeper?

[bluestateguy]

1. Due to Republican nativism, Obama will do better with Hispanics than 2008

And there will be more Hispanics voting every 4 years.

[nevergiveup]

2. Marco Rubio could well be the VP candidate for the Republicans.

I am not sure how many Hispanics voters he will pull from Obama but it is possible it could be enough to make a difference in states like Florida and Colorado.

[tibbiit]

4. I agree

and it will probably hurt us.
tib

[alp227]

5. so would Herman Cain as VP candidate? n/t

[OffWithTheirHeads]

3. Meanwhile, here in Arizona, farmers are not planting large swaths of

farmland because they can no longer find folks to work it. Be careful what you wish for...

[alp227]

6. ever heard of unemployment? n/t

[OffWithTheirHeads]

7. WTF are you even talkinhg about?

Never mind, I stopped listening to idiots on the internets years ago.

[alp227]

8. to clarify, are there NOT US citizens willing to do the farm work? n/t

[COLGATE4]

9. Not back-breaking work for a pittance. They couldnt' even get

prisoners to do it in Georgia.