Immigration Issues
With the Latino vote so important, expect to hear more about two issues, from the Obama camp, and probably at Thursday’s debate:
1) Drivers licenses for illegal aliens. It’s a big issue for Hispanics. Obama supports them; Clinton does not. Her flip-flopping on this topic first got her in trouble back in a November debate. Obama has maintained a consistent position.
2) Deporting illegals who have committed crimes. This is the first I’ve heard of this. Clinton seems to want to “ship ‘em out and ask questions later.” Unsurprisingly Clinton Irks Immigrants’ Advocates with such statements:
Immigrant-rights advocates and some Latino leaders are voicing concern at Senator Clinton’s campaign-trail rhetoric about swiftly deporting immigrants with a criminal past.
A vow to give the boot to criminal aliens has become an almost daily part of the New York senator’s presidential campaign spiel on overhauling the immigration system.
“Anybody who committed a crime in this country or in the country they came from has to be deported immediately, with no legal process. They are immediately gone,” Mrs. Clinton told a town hall meeting in Anderson, S.C., Thursday. On Wednesday, she told a crowd in North Bergen, N.J., that such criminals “absolutely” need to be deported. A day earlier, she told a rally in Salinas, Calif., that aliens with criminal records “should be deported, no questions asked.”
An important point here about the arithmetic of bloc voting. When you can ‘flip’ a voter (from your opponent’s bloc), that almost counts as 2 votes. Suppose the vast majority of Latvian Buddhists support candidate Jones. Jones is counting on the significant Latvian Buddhist bloc, who make up some big chunk of the electorate. Suddenly, the opposing candidate Smith, successfully panders to Latvian Buddhists, offering them free temples or something. Each voter he gains is subtracted from Jones’ total and added to his own. 1 + 1 = 2.
So, getting back to the Hispanic vote on Super Tuesday … Clinton has a big lead among them, her “brown firewall.” Every single Latino voter that Teddy and Obama peel off is worth two.
Note: Immigration has never been a critical issue for me, one way or the other. As far as I’m concerned, within the respective nominating battles: “Pander Away!” For all I care, the Republicans can propose the Great Wall of Texas, replete with .50 caliber machine guns mounted in turrets every 50 yards, with orders to shoot to kill. And the Dems can promise instant dry-foot citizenship to anyone who gets here.
The Problem with George
Immigration and Ferengi
Tonight’s GOP Debate - McCain on hot seat
Bush-McCain 2005
Personal Note