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GOP Rivals Battle Over Immigration

Reut Cohen |
September 22, 2011 | 9:05 p.m. PDT

Executive Producer

Texas Rep. Ron Paul argued there should be “no free education, no subsidies, no citizenship” for illegal immigrants. (Gage Skidmore, Creative Commons)
Texas Rep. Ron Paul argued there should be “no free education, no subsidies, no citizenship” for illegal immigrants. (Gage Skidmore, Creative Commons)
Republican hopefuls sparred over immigration at the Fox News/Google Republican presidential debate in Florida Thursday evening.

Rep. Michelle Bachmann said that as president, she would build a fence along America's southern border Thursday evening at the Fox News/Google Republican presidential debate in Florida.

“On every mile, on every yard, on every foot, on every inch of the southern border,” said Bachmann. “I think that's what we have to do."

The Minnesota congresswoman criticized Obama on Arizona.

“It’s reprehensible that President Obama has sued the state of Arizona for trying to protect the people of Arizona,” said Bachmann, referencing the president’s objection to SB1070, which requires law enforcement to determine a suspect’s immigration status during a "lawful stop, detention or arrest."

Bachmann squared off with Texas Gov. Rick Perry, suggesting Perry has allowed for “tax-payer funded benefits for illegal aliens or for their children.”

“End the magnets for illegal aliens to come into the United States of America," said Bachmann.

Perry said that he supported Arizona’s law and joining in a lawsuit against the federal government which called the law “unconstitutional." However, he also said the immigrant children need to be educated or they will end up being a “drag on society.”

“If you say we should not educate children who come into our state by no fault of their own, I don’t think you have a heart,” Perry said.

Texas Rep. Ron Paul seemed to agree somewhat with Bachmann, arguing there should be “no free education, no subsidies, no citizenship” for illegal immigrants. 

Thursday's debate also included former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman and former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson.

 

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Comments

Anonymous (not verified) on September 25, 2011 1:49 PM

In order to understand where Ron Paul is coming from, you must understand his criticism of the Federal Reserve banking cartel, which is the CHIEF CAUSE of the global economic mess we find ourselves in. To Paul, foreign policy is joined with monetary policy at the hip. Paul makes the most sense of any of the candidates when you see the whole picture.

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Dave Francis (not verified) on September 23, 2011 3:17 PM

Texas Governor Rick Perry obviously doesn't realize that any benefits for illegal aliens, whether it’s the $100.000 tuition fee in the University of Texas or any number public assistance programs is just a tremendous draw to foreign persons, from across borders or a visitor’s visa ticket from anywhere abroad. Anything that is free is going to entice people, especially when their own country is corrupt or have no interest in gaining support from its people. What is seriously unconstitutional is giving advantages to illegal children over the rights of citizen children, who must pay full tuition as out of state students. In yesterday’s melee, this became a highlighted issue of extraordinary importance to the audience. In a partnership with YouTube and Fox News featured the Republican Presidential Primary candidates in a debate answering questions from the online community.

Perry was confronted by boos, and hecklers who gave no-quarter to this seemingly special preference to the children of illegal aliens. Senator McCain in 2007 felt the brunt of this condemnation, for the passage of a "Path to Citizenship" and equally abhorrent his pursuance of another mass amnesty. This immediately wrecked his chance of the Presidency, as his campaign money machine ground to a halt through this irrational agenda. Make no mistake that large majorities of the Hispanic people are not going to fall in this political trap, as hundreds of thousands do not believe in pandering to the illegal immigrant onslaught. Like all Americans their jobs are in jeopardy as well, as it is for Latino's, Blacks, Whites, Asians and others who qualify as lawful residents. The TEA PARTY doesn't condone any type of official pardon, for those who stole into our country. Voicing her opinion, Bachmann said: "We will not have taxpayer-subsidized benefits for illegal immigrants or their children." She pledged to build a fence along the U.S.-Mexican border, a shift that Perry opposes. In the latest report surveyed by (FAIR) Federation of American Immigration Reform, Texas is subsidizing illegal aliens with 4.7 billion annually in contributions from its taxpayers.

These payments cover education, medical care and incarceration that are just one state forced by the federal courts in unfunded mandates. Fair states, "State and local taxes paid by the unauthorized immigrant population go toward offsetting these costs, but they do not come near to matching the expenses. The total of such payments can generously be estimated at slightly less than $1 billion per year." In addition Fair acknowledged, “The fiscal costs of illegal immigration do not end with these three major cost areas. The total costs of illegal immigration to the state’s taxpayers would be considerably higher if other cost areas such as special English instruction, welfare programs used by the U.S.-born children of illegal aliens, or welfare benefits for American workers displaced by illegal alien workers were also calculated.

All 50 states are burdened by illegal immigrant costs, but in ratio the Sanctuary State of California beats them all, with a rising entitlement program of $9 Billion. Californians should not be expected to presume this already large and growing encumber from illegal immigration simply since businesses or other special interests benefit from being able to employ lower cost workers. In all the Heritage Foundation has analyzed a cost projection of every state, with an inclusion of federal funding--but not limited to $113 Billion dollars a year. All this money taken from the American taxpayers pay check. Even more astounding is the US government allowing illegal workers, to send an average of $46 billion dollars out of the country, to foreign banks?

Rick Perry may have cooked his own goose, for as a Governor of a state he should be protecting his citizens and legal populace. Giving out taxpayer dollars to foreigner’s children is not just a Texas issue. There is no doubt in the TEA PARTY ticket, illegal immigration is going to take center stage, next to jobs and our wilting economy. Rep. Lamar smith is correct, when he impressed on the issue of his mandatory E-Verify proposal in Congress, this an imminent in vote right now, "That the only people losing their jobs--will be illegal aliens." Of course the usual radical voices are raised, as critics opposing this Historical Immigration Bill, H.R. 2885 are searching for any loophole to drag it down. They are using what inflammatory rhetoric or lies they can muster against the passage of E-Verify “the Legal Workforce Act." First they contest it that legal American workers could be turned away in being hired. So that person just addresses that grievance by going to their local Social security office; illegal aliens will stay well clear of this agency. None of the media will inform their readership of this?

Following through with this is an expensive proposition for small businesses, when it’s a simple computer generated program and cost nothing to operate. The usual suspects are behind this bombardment of hoping to terrorize the people with this verbal garbage. Adverse entities such as Tea Party Nation or Tea Party Express have limited influence on the millions of in the Tea Party members, who want to see our 1986 Immigration laws severely enforced. They also want the instant citizenship law amended, so billions of dollars are not going to parents of these babies snuck into the United States, so they can get free hospital care, free housing, free food stamps and cash payments for every child. The misinterpretation of the 14th Amendment, has given 300.000 children at an annual rate for illegal parents, free access to the American people's welfare safety-net.

The people who vote in 2012 have probably the hardest selection in choosing a new president. Obama's immigration enforcement was on the right track, until he began issuing executive orders and not complying with the "Rule of Law." After all Liberal oriented presidents think they are not subject to the US Constitution. The job of his administration is to deport--ALL--illegal aliens, not select who can stay, because they hadn't committed a crime. The next man/women in the White House must follow the law, which has been manipulated successfully by the public servants in the Dept of Justice. They should not be intimidated by the Church, unions, business, giant agricultural corporation, farmers or the open border groups. Instead of trying to undermine financially hurting states from converging crowds of illegal immigrants, they should be enforcing the laws in the border regions, where states like Arizona, California, Texas and New Mexico are in constant conflict with drug cartels and the tracks of foreigners moving Northwards in to America.

Who amongst presidential contenders will really fit the bill, to beat Obama later next year? Businessman Herman Cain, a true partier who has a great plans and addressing the crippling Tax code, we have now and so does Bachmann? Being that illegal immigration has become an oppressive financial problem, finding the best candidate with an antidote is not for former for Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich as they have little to say about this controversial battle that is unceasing.

We can all stand with our fellow jobless countryman by Calling House and Senate Leadership NOW Call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121. In winding up, Arizona, Georgia, Alabama and other states have been persecuted by Dept of Justice Eric holder and his mob. All these states need our help from years of a neglected border and the flow of--ECONOMIC--foreign nationals. Don't take my word for the facts, as you can find the ugly truth of the illegal settlement at NumbersUSA that has been forced upon us for over thirty years. There have been 6 additional hidden small Amnesties and the clandestine importation of millions of semi-skilled workers that have arrive here every year, in competition from US workers high paying jobs. Other websites that will deliver the facts about the criminal element, with wide ranging access to the E-media is American Patrol.

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Anonymous (not verified) on September 22, 2011 11:17 PM

Ron Paul is awesome on economic and domestic issues. Ron Paul's response to the illegal immigration question was awesome: he exposed how government is primarily responsible for outsourcing, he explained why any sort of database of those who are eligible to work would be a threat to liberty and how it is unconstitutional and then gave an excellent solution for keeping illegal aliens out (and stopping them from feeding off our hard-earned money): simply cutting all the government incentives for illegal immigrants to come here. For the record, Ron Paul is also a major supporter of national sovereignty and secure borders. Also, notice that Ron Paul would end the 14th amendment loophole, which automatically grants citizenship to anyone born in this country - that was never the intention of the 14th amendment.

Now, I don't fully agree with his foreign policy, though, but ultimately, it's become clear that he's the best candidate in that area too. All the other candidates talk about how they will defend America and support Israel, but really, it's nothing but rhetoric. None of the candidates understand Islam and will do anything about it. None of the candidates will do anything about the Russian or Chinese threats, either. Furthermore, all candidates except Ron Paul will continue to force the two state solution upon Israel and tell it what to do. Ron Paul will at least leave Israel (and other nations) alone, stop telling them what to do, stop sending foreign aid to everyone (this would benefit Israel since America currently gives more aid to Israel's enemies) and stop subsidizing the defense of other nations (like Germany, South Korea and Japan - let them defend themselves). Israel shouldn't need a green light to attack Iran, either, btw. Ron Paul would allow Israel to defend itself.

Obviously, if Ron Paul was perfect, he would understand the Islamic threat and send Iran, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan to the stone age, but no candidate is willing to do that. But as I've said above, his foreign policy is the best of any candidate's.

Finally, let's also not forget that Ron Paul would dismantle the unconstitutional and ineffective DHS, TSA and Patriot Act. Instead, he would give us back our second amendment rights - which is key to our security. The big government policy of trading liberty for security (which Benjamin Franklin warned against and which goes against the Constitution) only results in less security. It simply disarms the American people and allows the government to assume that one is guilty until proven innocent. Furthermore, both under Bush and Obama, the government has supported the peaceful Islamization going on in this country. Yet under a Paul presidency, his constitutional policies would seriously undermine this peaceful Islamization, as political correctness would not be tolerated.

For the record, I am an individualist American Jew and I'm vehemently against giving an inch to the Palis. I'll be voting for Ron Paul - the best candidate for America and the best candidate for Israel!

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Matt C. (not verified) on September 22, 2011 11:33 PM

I'm not a Ron Paul supporter (I agree with some of his ideas though). He's said a lot of crazy things about Iran and the Mid East - and a lot of sharp things about domestic policies. However he may just be the most interesting person in the bunch. I would choose Paul over Obama any day.

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