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Out of the speeches and discussions came two pressing questions: should the party get on board with attempts by a few Republicans, led by Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, to work with Obama and Democrats to pass comprehensive immigration reform—including some form of legalization, if not full citizenship, for the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants? And should the party take a new approach to gay rights to stop alienating young voters who see it as the civil rights issue of their time?
*snip*
The debate over immigration and gay rights at times pitted the new generation of upcoming presidential hopefuls, such as Rubio and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, against other big names in the conservative movement, such as Sarah Palin, Donald Trump, and social conservatives such as Rick Santorum.
“If we allow the President to drone citizens, what have our brave men and women been fighting for?” said Paul, to applause. “The GOP of old has grown stale and moss-covered. The new GOP will have to embrace liberty in both the economic and personal sphere.”
Real estate mogul Donald Trump criticized the emphasis on legalizing undocumented immigrants. “If given the right to vote, every one of those 11 million people will be voting Democratic,” he told Republicans. “You are on a suicide mission. You’re just not going to get those votes.”
Rand won the gathering’s presidential straw poll; Rubio came a close second.
It's almost as if Bachmann is a Democratic mole embedded in the Republican Party with the purpose of chasing away a wide range of voters.
He noted that George W. Bush, who used more inclusive language, had won 44 per cent of the Hispanic vote, while Romney got only 26 per cent. “The notion that we can use harsh tones against undocumented immigrants and not offend Hispanics is delusional,” said Ayres. “We’ve got to get it right on immigration before they’ll listen to us on taxes or the economy or anything else.”
Originally posted by TriForce
reply to post by intrepid
Speaking as a life long republican, I have to say that our days are numbered.
Texas *my state* has been red for many many years but with the influx of immigrants
from Mexico, Im afraid that Obama is right (for once) and Texas will soon be a battleground sate.
Calling Hispanics “entrepreneurial, family-oriented, and church-going,” Ayres said they are a natural constituency for Republicans—but are turned off by rhetoric such as Romney’s advocacy of “self-deportation” of undocumented immigrants.
Originally posted by intrepid
reply to post by Hopechest
That's exactly what isn't working. This isn't the 30's, 40's or 50's anymore. Society is much more complex. You can't kick back and wait for the incumbent to tire the electorate. Nor to just wait for them to screw up so that it can be pointed out. New strategies and policies have to be adopted.
Originally posted by Hopechest
Incorrect. Today's society is no more complex than it ever has been.
Originally posted by intrepid
Originally posted by Hopechest
Incorrect. Today's society is no more complex than it ever has been.
Sorry, I have to disagree. Back then society was pretty much white and black, in that order. Yes there were some Chinese and Latinos but not to the degree that it is now. Secondly you have social media where EVERYTHING that one says today is dissected and spun. AND anyone can see what you've said. MUCH more complex today.
Originally posted by RedShirt73
It's not about illegal immigration, deficit, debt, etc. Just look at the candidates being put forth by the GOP. When you have these people saying things like the female body has ways of shutting down rape, you know you have a problem.