Fred Thompson angers state Hispanics (Florida)

[seafan]

Thompson angers state Hispanics

Jim Stratton | Sentinel Staff Writer
September 29, 2007

When Fred Thompson said it might be time to review the practice of granting citizenship to every child born on American soil, he didn't acknowledge the seismic shift such an idea represents.

Citizenship by birth has been prescribed by the Constitution since 1868 -- and upheld for 109 years by the Supreme Court -- but the Republican presidential candidate made it sound anachronistic.

"I think that law was created at another time and place for valid reasons," the former U.S. senator from Tennessee said earlier this month. "It probably needs to be revisited."

Thompson's comments have angered Hispanic leaders -- many of them Republicans -- who say they are a crass attempt to court the GOP base.

With conservative voters demanding an end to illegal immigration, Republican candidates have been talking tough on that issue for months. In July, an adviser to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney said the Romney campaign was researching the birthright-citizenship issue.

"It's not just ramping up the rhetoric," said Alex Villalobos, a Republican state senator from Miami. "It's pandering to extremists."

State Rep. David Rivera, R-Miami, while not criticizing any candidate directly, called the idea a "xenophobic" notion that could drive Hispanic voters from the GOP.

"At best, this would be seen as mean-spirited," he said. "At worst, it's seen as bigotry."

Thompson made the comments in Cape Coral as he barnstormed through Florida two weeks ago.

.....

[IndianaJones]

1. Thompsons an idiot. nt.

[kurth]

2. Freddy really fucked himself on this one

[Eric J in MN]

3. Making everyone born here a citizen is a great part of the Constitution. NT

NT

[iamjoy]

6. I See The Problem With It, Though

the problem is, you have people sneaking into this country or women getting pregnant and over-staying a visa just so that their children will be citizens. You then have a dilemma, allow some one here illegally to remain or break up a family.

I do think that the point of the Fourteenth Amendment was to prevent African-Americans being denied their rights as citizens.

So, I can see the appeal behind denying these children citizenship. However, I think rather than making the environment of the US inhospitable (as a deterent) to immigrants, we ought to look at how we can improve opportunity in their own country.

[iamjoy]

4. The Republicans Are Fools

The Republicans are ignoring "minority" voters - all while claiming they're a big tent party. The immigration issue does not have to doom them with Hispanics - they had an opportunity to go before a Hispanic audience and make their case that it was not about immigrants, it was about lawbreakers. Their failure to do so makes it seem like their problem really is with brown people. Either that, or they are chicken.

Of course, the Democrats are so disorganized and the whole primary flap may help Florida be Red next year :(

[Hepburn]

5. Wonder if his trophy wife suggested this stupid stance?

Unbelievable fuck up by Freddie Boy.

[amandabeech]

7. This will help him in the Republican primary.

I'm not sure how this will cut in the general election.

There are a lot of people upset by illegal immigration. This will bring out the base in the Republican party and may appeal to Independents in areas that have seen significant Spanish-speaking immigration recently.

I think that he's gambling that he'll gain more than he'll lose here, and I don't know that he's wrong.

[scarface2004]

8. good idea fred...only heterosexual white anglo saxon protestant

right wing neocon republican babies born to parents residing in gated communities will be citizens!

i like it alot!

[Vogon_Glory]

9. Will the Miami Cubans Love Affair with The GOP Continue?

Will the Miami Cuban exiles' love affair with the GOP continue, or will they see Fred Thompson's idea as being something that applies to folk of other Hispanic nationalities, not themselves?

----Stay tuned----

[jmp]

11. It will continue.

In fact if Hillary is the nominee, you will see the streets of Miami papered with pictures of Elian Gonzalez being snatched at the point of an assault rifle.

[Cha]

10. Shame on those Hispanics for

being repuke..what's your problem in this repuke Reign of Terror?