The McCain-Obama Immigration Wars (Pander Wars)

[Gaby&Talbert 1]

I dunno - I find it hard to believe that people would vote for a candidate who doesn't represent their self-interest. If curbing illegal immigration is such a priority to so many people you'd think that politicians would be flocking to court their votes and make it a frontline issue.

I rather suspect that its because people have other priorities.

The people that want all illegals deported did vote but their candidate lost. There is a large minority that hates illegals and this is why the bill didn't make it through. I do think the majority of Americans feel that amesty without having a system in place to prevent it from happening again is not the right thing to do. Illegal immigration is a problem in all properous countries. The only countries it may not be a problem is where they need workers and are willing to give visas to all types of workers. There are ways of solving the immigration problem in the US but right now I think the majority doesn't want a solution until we see that the current laws can be enforced. We can never enforce them 100% but if America sees improvement then maybe some better solutions can make it through to become laws.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

If the majority of Americans don't want amnesty, why are the two major party candidates perpetually supporting the opposite?

Doh! ...but, but, those who scream loudest...

[Ban Hammer 14,754]

If the majority of Americans don't want amnesty, why are the two major party candidates perpetually supporting the opposite?

Doh! ...but, but, those who scream loudest...

are illegals.........

[SteveLaura 0]

They look docile enough, with their sweet, furry black eyes, but you've still gotta be careful.

[SMOKE 1,426]

They look docile enough, with their sweet, furry black eyes, but you've still gotta be careful.

i admire your dedication sir.

[Heracles 417]

No one reasonable has a problem with Mexicans or Latino immigrants, regardless of what the pro-amnesty clowns suggest. What I do have a problem with is them jumping the line and coming in at their leisure. Hispanic organizations like La Raza (literally means "race") are racist yet think everyone else will be fooled into believing the 'you are against brown people' #######. First of all dumb asses if you traveled outside Mexico and the US, a new concept for many Mexicans, you would realize that there are lots of people who are brown. So to even suggest that is downright stupid.

These clowns the American people have representing them and making up the government are a joke. They are more interested in winning votes than doing what is right for the majority of Americans. The freakin military is deployed in Iraq because 2,500 people died on Sept 11 yet you guys are scared to send 5 soldiers to Columbia or any other crappy South American nation to deal with the people who are responsible for thousands of deaths in the United States of America. People down there who are actually profiting from the deaths and lives destroyed in America. That is when you sit back and think what the heck is going on here.

[zqt3344 21]

Sixer - Pandering pure and simple. Wanting that small percentage of votes to pull them over the hump in a split nation.

If the majority of Americans don't want amnesty, why are the two major party candidates perpetually supporting the opposite?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Sixer - Pandering pure and simple. Wanting that small percentage of votes to pull them over the hump in a split nation.

If the majority of Americans don't want amnesty, why are the two major party candidates perpetually supporting the opposite?

It would make more sense to pander to the majority then. Surely...

[almaty 19]

i agree..why alienate the majority

[Heracles 417]

Sixer - Pandering pure and simple. Wanting that small percentage of votes to pull them over the hump in a split nation.

If the majority of Americans don't want amnesty, why are the two major party candidates perpetually supporting the opposite?

It would make more sense to pander to the majority then. Surely...

Politicians are like the managers. Usually the #### talkers get the position; rather than the people who are the best workers.

America is the only country I have been to where you are told 24/7 to forget about race yet you are ironically bombarded with race 24/7. Latino vote, minority vote, black vote, African American vote etc etc

It is also the only country where the majority are basically told to shut up and take it. But I do have hope that one day "we the people", the reason the country was founded, will stand up and say enough is enough. And demand the politicians start not only respecting but actually listening to the majority.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Sixer - Pandering pure and simple. Wanting that small percentage of votes to pull them over the hump in a split nation.

If the majority of Americans don't want amnesty, why are the two major party candidates perpetually supporting the opposite?

It would make more sense to pander to the majority then. Surely...

Politicians are like the managers. Usually the #### talkers get the position; rather than the people who are the best workers.

America is the only country I have been to where you are told 24/7 to forget about race yet you are ironically bombarded with race 24/7. Latino vote, minority vote, black vote, African American vote etc etc

It is also the only country where the majority are basically told to shut up and take it. But I do have hope that one day "we the people", the reason the country was founded, will stand up and say enough is enough. And demand the politicians start not only respecting but actually listening to the majority.

But that doesn't answer the question - if it is indeed the case that a majority of people in this country do feel the exact same way about illegal immigration, it doesn't make any political (or logical) sense to sideline those people by not standing up for them on that issue. Surely if illegal immigration were a such a predominantly important frontline issue the candidate pushing for zero-tolerance would win by a landslide.

For one reason or another - this is not happening.

[Dan J 277]

For most voting blocs, immigration/amnesty is a low priority issue. On the scale of economic costs, we have much bigger problems than worrying about illegal immigrants.

The only voting bloc that at this time, this issue will have any significant traction is Hispanics. Both candidates can support amnesty in trying to get the Latino vote, without really loosing support for any other voting blocs.

On the other side, because of our economic troubles, fewer people are trying to enter the country illegally. Arrests at the border have actually gone down recently.

[Heracles 417]

But that doesn't answer the question - if it is indeed the case that a majority of people in this country do feel the exact same way about illegal immigration, it doesn't make any political (or logical) sense to sideline those people by not standing up for them on that issue. Surely if illegal immigration were a such a predominantly important frontline issue the candidate pushing for zero-tolerance would win by a landslide.

For one reason or another - this is not happening.

Which goes to show that politicians are only interested in bandwagon issues which will make them look good. No one cares about the ridiculous and embarrassing crime rate, poverty, number of ghettos in America so no politician wants to touch this.

I think this issue should be presented to the American people to vote on. Whether the government should give them amnesty, again, or whether they need to start actually enforcing the laws and send them back. As well as heavily punish anyone who hires them.

Edited July 16, 2008 by Boo-Yah!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

But that doesn't answer the question - if it is indeed the case that a majority of people in this country do feel the exact same way about illegal immigration, it doesn't make any political (or logical) sense to sideline those people by not standing up for them on that issue. Surely if illegal immigration were a such a predominantly important frontline issue the candidate pushing for zero-tolerance would win by a landslide.

For one reason or another - this is not happening.

Which goes to show that politicians are only interested in bandwagon issues which will make them look good. No one cares about the ridiculous and embarrassing crime rate, poverty, number of ghettos in America so no politician wants to touch this.

I think this issue should be presented to the American people to vote on. Whether the government should give them amnesty, again, or whether they need to start actually enforcing the laws and send them back. As well as heavily punish anyone who hires them.

If there was a big public pushback to the politicians on this - this would happen. It hasn't so presumably its not as big of a national issue as people here want it to be.

[Heracles 417]

For most voting blocs, immigration/amnesty is a low priority issue. On the scale of economic costs, we have much bigger problems than worrying about illegal immigrants.

The only voting bloc that at this time, this issue will have any significant traction is Hispanics. Both candidates can support amnesty in trying to get the Latino vote, without really loosing support for any other voting blocs.

On the other side, because of our economic troubles, fewer people are trying to enter the country illegally. Arrests at the border have actually gone down recently.

Actually illegal immigration is tied to the economy. The unemployment rate has increased to 5.5%. For every illegal immigrant employed that is one less job for Americans. There 11,000,000 less jobs for Americans.

It is also a fact that illegal immigrants are sending billions back to Mexico. This is money which could otherwise be spent in America to generate both jobs and growth in America. There was study I saw which said that for every billion of dollars spent in a nation, that generates tens of thousands of jobs in the country. So for anyone to say that illegal immigration is not an issue as is the economy; they are wrong. Economically they are a big issue. Especially when combined with the reality that they are probably being paid under the table which means very little to no tax is being collected to pay for the services they are using.