GOP 2012 Field on Immigration – The Self-Defeating Strategy Continues

Washington, DC – Just as they have in past election cycles, Republican presidential candidates are struggling with the issue of immigration.

Juddging from early lessons from the burgeoning 2012 race, the Republicans’ strategy appears to be: stick to their border security sound bites and avoid the other immigration issues at all costs. Yet such a balancing act remains increasingly tenuous for any of the 2012 candidates.  Unless leading Republicans change their anti-immigrant ways, they will have a hard time winning a national election.  At last Thursday’s FOX News debate, the GOP presidential candidates ducked and dodged a key question on immigration: “as President, what would they do about the 11 million undocumented immigrants in our country today?”  Andres Oppenheimer points out in his column in yesterday’s Miami Herald, …believes the Republicans’ immigration strategy could cost them the election, as the debate cements the GOP’s anti-Latino image among Latino voters.  Full Article From the TucsonSun.com

COMMENTARY

Does the GOP have any plans to win the next presidential election?  If so, Republicans need to confront the issue of immigration head-on.  This is a golden opportunity for Republicans to gain grounds on Obama.  If the GOP continues to ignore this and spout the same ‘secure our borders’ sound bite, it might as well throw in the towel for the next Presidential Elections.  

FRUSTRATION WITH OBAMA

Deportations have been on a record pace under the Obama Administration.  This year promises similar numbers: ICE records through May 23 show that 243,821 people have been deported since last Oct. 1, the start of the 2011 fiscal year.  From an agency chart, the ICE removal numbers from recent years:

FY 2010 = 392,862

FY 2009 = 389,834

FY 2008 = 369,221

SOURCE:

Here is an editorial in the New York Times verifying this frustration with the Obama Administration:  EDITORIAL. 

Mitt Romney seems to be the main front runner for the GOP.  If I were he, I would try to devise a realistic plan for immigration reform to reach out to disgruntled Latino Voters.  This could be what wins the election for him.