Rand Paul dismisses Ann Coulter on immigration

[compromise]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/21/rand-paul-immigration_n_2924226.html

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) was dismissive on Thursday of conservative critics such as Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh, saying their arguments against immigration reform were misguided.

"I've got a news flash for those who want to call people names on amnesty: what we have now is de facto amnesty," he said in an appearance on Fox News. "We have 11 million people here. They've been here, some of them, for a decade or more. No one is telling them to go home, no one's sending them home."

Paul delivered a speech on Tuesday in support of immigration reform to legalize undocumented immigrants already in the United States and later allow them to become citizens. He disputed reports that it was an endorsement of a pathway to citizenship, but also said he would not support a policy that banned naturalization for undocumented immigrants.

For one, he argued, it would be good politically. Republicans have increasingly struggled with Latino voters, who support a path to citizenship by large margins. A majority of Americans -- 63 percent -- as a whole also support a pathway, according to a poll released on Thursday by the Public Religion Research Institute.

Paul said other Republicans are wrong when they say pushing for reform will hurt the GOP.

"Here's another news flash," he said. "We haven't been too competitive in the last two national elections."

The Republican National Committee announced its support on Monday for immigration reform -- although without going into specifics -- based in part on what it considered an electoral need.

According to Coulter and Limbaugh, though, such a move would doom the party.

Fox played a clip of Coulter saying Saturday at the Conservative Political Action Conference that a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants would create more Democratic voters.

"If amnesty goes through, America becomes California and no Republican will ever win another national election," Coulter insisted at the conference.

Fox News also referenced Limbaugh, a conservative radio host who has likewise argued that Latinos will never vote Republican in large numbers, regardless of immigration support.

That's not backed up in polling: A survey released Monday by Latino Decisions found that 32 percent of Latino voters said they would be more likely to vote Republican if the GOP helped to pass immigration reform.

Anyway, it would be worth a shot, Paul said in a Fox News appearance on Wednesday.

"The ideas I'm talking about could help Republicans grow in areas like California, New England, Illinois -- states who have given up on Republicans," he said. "So we do have to think about new ideas if we're going to be competitive as a national party."

 

[abacabb]

Bad move to be attacking the talking heads this early. He should be defending himself, not insulting their intelligence.*

*Yes, I know they lack intelligence, but we need to be making allies right now, not picking verbal battles.

 

[FSP-Rebel]

It's merely pro-active self defense.

 

[Matt Collins]

Well Coulter is highly ignorant of economics in this area. She made some statement in the last 48 hours which showed a complete lack of economic understanding as it applied to labor supply/demand.

 

[itshappening]

Coulter is awful... she supported Bush and his deficits dont forget. They really hate Rand.

 

[dskalkowski]

Bad move to be attacking the talking heads this early. He should be defending himself, not insulting their intelligence.*

*Yes, I know they lack intelligence, but we need to be making allies right now, not picking verbal battles.

I think don't its a bad move to dismiss Ann Coulter, who even most conservatives tend to be turned off by her vicious attacks.
There's plenty of allies to make, but I don't think even we want Ann Coulter as an ally. I'm not sure if you saw her on the Stossel Show, when Young Americans for Liberty were there..

 

[abacabb]

I think don't its a bad move to dismiss Ann Coulter, who even most conservatives tend to be turned off by her vicious attacks.
There's plenty of allies to make, but I don't think even we want Ann Coulter as an ally. I'm not sure if you saw her on the Stossel Show, when Young Americans for Liberty were there..

I'm thinking more of Limbaugh, who was just very good to Rand.

Tread lightly on the nominal stuff.

 

[compromise]

I think don't its a bad move to dismiss Ann Coulter, who even most conservatives tend to be turned off by her vicious attacks.
There's plenty of allies to make, but I don't think even we want Ann Coulter as an ally. I'm not sure if you saw her on the Stossel Show, when Young Americans for Liberty were there..

Coulter is just there to seek attention. Even Cruz pointed out how often she flip-flops in his CPAC speech.

 

[William R]

It's obvious Rand is not ready for prime time. Immigration reform is not a big issue with the American people. The only place where it is, in elite circles in Washington DC. Rand is supposed to be anti elitist.

On Laura Ingraham today a caller tried to defend Rand's position on immigration. Congress must vote every year to verify the border is secure. Laura fired back that if Nancy Pelosi becomes speaker the border will be voted secured and the Democrats will have 11 million new voters. She hung up on the caller and all but dismissed Rand as a lightweight.

 

[supermario21]

If deportation doesn't work, then what can we do? It's not like we're going to round them up and put them in prison camps or something. I always used to be against immigration reform, but I think something is going to have to be done. Ignoring it is just denial and making the problem worse. Any way to do immigration reform and still have an end to birthright citizenship?

 

[RonPaulFanInGA]

Remember, the Feds weren't always beholden to businesses that lobby them for cheap labor.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Wetback

 

[Brett85]

It's obvious Rand is not ready for prime time. Immigration reform is not a big issue with the American people. The only place where it is, in elite circles in Washington DC. Rand is supposed to be anti elitist.

It's a big issue with Hispanic voters. That's the point. The Republican Party is going to be a permanent minority party if they can't figure out a way to reach out to Hispanics.

 

[William R]

We do nothing. Nothing at all but enforce the law. When one gets picked up for DWI deport them. If they get green cards that means they can start bringing their families here. Importing poverty.

If he wanted to reform immigration he should have gone in the direction of merit based immigration. Skilled self sufficient people. We don't need anymore roofers, lettuce pickers, maids and workers in the hospitality sector. Instead of recruiting PhDs in engineering were just importing poverty.


Rand is getting horrible advice. He's not ready for prime time and I'm afraid he's blown it for 2016. It is a shame because he had the BIG MO after the filibuster.

 

[puppetmaster]

damn she looks like a meth head to me.......scary looking

 

[William R]

Just an unforced error on his part. It will hurt him with Republican primary voters if he runs.

 

[rockandrollsouls]

I don't think it's much of an error. How do Coulter and Limbaugh refute the notion of De Facto illegal immigration? He basically let them, and everyone else know, he's trying to take the most conservative approach. Not to mention, Ann's been wrong more than a few times and her star isn't as bright as it once was.

Just an unforced error on his part. It will hurt him with Republican primary voters if he runs.

 

[itshappening]

Coulter and Limbaugh were big cheerleaders for Bush and deficits and Iraq War that got us into this mess in the 1st place, politically speaking:

Iraq War made Obamacare possible
http://washingtonexaminer.com/philip-klein-iraq-war-made-obamacare-possible/article/2524926

If you listen to these guys for political advice then you're in trouble.

 

[Rudeman]

Just an unforced error on his part. It will hurt him with Republican primary voters if he runs.

How is it an error when most if not all of the front runners support some form of immigration reform?

 

[Brett85]

We do nothing. Nothing at all but enforce the law. When one gets picked up for DWI deport them. If they get green cards that means they can start bringing their families here. Importing poverty.

If he wanted to reform immigration he should have gone in the direction of merit based immigration. Skilled self sufficient people. We don't need anymore roofers, lettuce pickers, maids and workers in the hospitality sector. Instead of recruiting PhDs in engineering were just importing poverty.


Rand is getting horrible advice. He's not ready for prime time and I'm afraid he's blown it for 2016. It is a shame because he had the BIG MO after the filibuster.

It's not an "error." All of the possible Republican candidates running in 2016 support some form of legalization for illegal immigrants, once the border is secure. Rand's position is actually more conservative than the other candidates who may be running. I like that he's taking a strong stand in favor of securing the border.

 

[William R]

I don't think it's much of an error. How do Coulter and Limbaugh refute the notion of De Facto illegal immigration? He basically let them, and everyone else know, he's trying to take the most conservative approach. Not to mention, Ann's been wrong more than a few times and her star isn't as bright as it once was.

Why even get into the issue?? It's a poison pill!!! This might be dumber than when he went on the Rachel Madcow show and started talking about civil rights. To me it seems he's trying to out Rubio Rubio. Rand should have kept talking about Federalism and a restrained foreign policy, but he had wander into the immigration debate. He's politically tone death.