If Bush Insists on Amnesty, Conservatives Likely to Abandon GOP

There was a great comment thread over at Stop the ACLU a few days ago. The post was titled Putting Things In Perspective and the topic was conservatives jumping ship in the upcoming elections. It's worth a few minutes.

I don't know how many will stay away, but if the behavior and attitudes don't change...and if there isn't a clear conservative leader who steps forward, I'm done. No more voting for the lesser of two evils. I hate the idea that Pelosi could be Speaker and I damn near vomit at the idea of Hillary as President, but I don't know any other way to send the message.

I've never heard of Richard Viguerie before, but I have to say that I agree with this press release:

MANASSAS, Va., May 15 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is a statement from Richard A. Viguerie, Chairman of ConservativeHQ.com, regarding President Bush's immigration proposal:

"If President Bush continues to insist on amnesty, the voters will take it out on Republican candidates in the November elections.

"The voters keep sending the message to Bush and the GOP that they don't want to talk about guest workers or amnesty until our borders are secure. But the White House is notorious for not having any receivers -- only transmitters.

"Until we can put a stop to the unrestricted flow of illegal immigrants into our country, amnesty is a non-starter. Let the President enforce the laws we have right now.

"The Bush Administration's liberal immigration policies are part of an even greater problem with conservatives.

"The President has also betrayed conservative voters with a massive expansion of the federal government, huge increases in spending, failure to veto even a single bill, the Harriet Miers fiasco, and a lack of action on social issues.

"When President Bush says to his supporters, 'Trust me on immigration,' he has exhausted his reservoir of good faith with conservatives. Americans, especially conservatives, are beginning to tune the President out."

Then, this morning I get this e-mail: (I don't imagine my reply was what Ken Mehlman was looking for)

Dear Friend,

Our immigration system is broken. And we need your help to fix it.

In his address to the nation last night, President Bush showed the way to getting real results on this difficult issue. We need your help today to stand up in support of the President's bold plan. Sign the petition and call your Senators and Representatives to demand immediate action on comprehensive immigration reform.

Our nation faces a long-term problem that requires a long-term solution. As the President outlined, America needs real reform that includes:

- Dramatic increases in manpower and technology at the border.
- A system of controlled, temporary, and legal entry into the United States that meets our economic needs and relieves the pressure of illegal immigration at the border. No amnesty.
- Holding employers who hire illegal immigrants accountable, with beefed-up ID requirements - no excuses.

Harry Reid and Senate Democrats have played partisan politics and resisted these basic reform principles and have attempted to block border security legislation at every turn. Every day of Reid's obstruction is one more day with a broken system that isn't working.

Sign our petition to demand solutions, not politics. And call your Senators and Representatives to tell them that you support the President's plan for real border security.

America is a nation of laws. We are also a welcoming nation, one that moves forward confidently in the tradition of Ronald Reagan, who called America a "shining city on the hill" with the doors "open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here." There is no contradiction between these American values. Together, we will secure the border and welcome those who wish to come here legally and build a better life.

This is a decisive moment. The time for action on immigration reform is now.

Sincerely,

Ken Mehlman (my link, please reply to Ken if you feel so inclined)
Chairman, Republican National Committee

You're losing it Ken!!! Actually, I think he knows.

Others who are on a similar wavelength:
Chrisy over at Common Sense America - here,
Michelle Malkin - here,
FrauBudgie over at Red State - here,
Debbie at Right Truth - here,
Jeff at The Autonomist - here,
The Institute For Immigration Policy Review - here,
Polipundit - here,
Independent Conservative - here.

-Home-