Perry’s Position On Illegal Immigration Is Worrisome

Perry’s Position On Illegal Immigration Is Worrisome

A Commentary by J. D. Longstreet

I am far more concerned over Rick Perry’s position on instate tuition for Illegal immigrants than I am over the all too obvious fact that he is no debater. 

That he cannot debate does not concern me in the least. That he is not as polished a public speaker as a certain orator in the Oval Office doesn’t trouble me – at all.  In fact, I am more than a little tired of the oily-tongued politicians from the halls of elitist academia.  A heck of a lot of Americans are ready for a straight-shooter who will “tell it like it is” and is capable of doing so using less that “sixteen cylinder words.”

I am tired of Washington’s snake oil salesman telling me why all that is wrong with America is my fault – and -- that I am too soft.  That is a crock!

As I was saying – Perry has some problems with many conservatives over his in-state college tuition for illegal aliens. I’m one of them.

I have no doubt that Mr. Perry has done many good things along the US/Mexico border to try to secure it.  But the American electorate, especially that portion from the southern states, and more especially the southwestern border states, want a President who will stop feeding us the line of bull about the border being more secure today than in the past.  I, for one, want the border secured by the US military -- even if that means changing federal law to place US Armed Forces on the border.

Rick Perry is on record as opposing the building of a fence along the Texas/Mexico border.  WHY? I cannot fathom his thinking on a fence.  Everyone knows the old saw:  “Good fences make good neighbors.”  Its old… but it is TRUE. A fence/wall would not only reduce illegal immigration but it would be a huge boon to national security, as well.

Illegal immigration is one of the most important problems facing America today.  It is right up there in importance with the financial chaos of our economy and unemployment of Americans who actually want to work.

  

The following is a clip from an article in the Brownsville (Texas) Herald dated August 28^th, 2007.  It is datelined Mexico City and is titled “U.S. Congress lacks 'maturity' to solve immigration, Perry says.” The article states the following:

“Texas Gov. Rick Perry criticized the U.S. Congress on Tuesday for failing to make progress on immigration reform, suggesting its members lack "maturity" and calling the proposed construction of a fence along the U.S.-Mexico border "idiocy."


Perry was in Mexico City on a trade mission intended to strengthen Texas and Mexico's economic ties through trade, investment and energy initiatives, especially renewable energy.


"I don't think this is that difficult of an issue if Congress would have the maturity to sit down and really discuss it and cut out all of the mean rhetoric and really talk about what is a solution to this issue," Perry told a news conference.


Regarding immigration reform, Perry highlighted the importance of developing a foolproof biometric identification system to track individuals and to ensure that they pay taxes and "live within our laws."


He suggested offering renewable, 24-month visas for those who follow such requirements and "incarceration and/or deportation" for those who do not.


He added that, under such a system, he would support a "free flow of individuals between these two countries who want to work and want to be an asset to our country and to Mexico."  (You may read the entire article HERE.)


Does that sound like a conservative candidate for President of the United States?  More importantly, does that sound like a man who would actually DO something to secure the US/Mexico border, stop the flow of illegal aliens into the US across that border, and enhance the security of the United States?  No, it doesn’t to me, either.


As a conservative voter I am still looking for a candidate I can vote for and expect that that candidate will have a fair chance of besting Obama in 2012. I am as frustrated today as I was at this same time in 2007.


I am not a fan of Romney but I am beginning to believe that he will, in fact, be the republican nominee for President.  However, I still do not believe he can win against Obama.
 
There are two camps among the candidates, in my opinion, who want Romney to be the GOP candidate.  They are: the Romney camp and the Obama camp.


I am convinced that the Romney camp believes conservatives will, in the end, vote for Romney as a vote against an Obama second term.  At the same time, I believe the Obama camp believes it can overcome Romney in the election because history teaches that voters will vote for the real thing every time over an imitation.


Perry is in trouble with conservative voters.  His decline in the polls will become even more pronounced in the coming days.  Romney AND Obama are counting in it.


J. D. Longstreet