'Bibles, Badges & Business' Coalition Press GOP for Immigration Reform

But will it do the party any good?

A coalition of religious and business leaders - and even more impressively, law enforcement officials - are teaming up to place pressure on the GOP to see the silver lining in a more copper-toned America.

The Hill reports that representatives from the bipartisan group National Immigration Forum is going partisan with an explicit appeal to Republicans to "change their ways" on the issue of immigration if they hope to be taken seriously in future national politics.

"I'm going to be stressing to them that they need to exercise responsible leadership and forge a coalition of the middle," said Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention, who is among 250 participants from 26 states meeting with lawmakers in DC today. "That's called enlightened self-interest - we'll take their votes whether it's for the right reason or the wrong reason."

But will they get those votes? History casts doubt. As National Review editor Rich Lowry has pointed out, Ronald Reagan's signing of a 1986 amnesty bill did nothing to boost the appeal of the Republican Party among Hispanic voters. Indeed, George H.W. Bush received an even smaller share of their votes in the 1988 presidential election than did Reagan in 1984.

Via The Hill and the La Crosse Tribune.

Will immigration reform actually help republicans with the Latino vote?

[kirbstomp1]

Highly doubtful

[Laradian]

I agree. So exactly what are they trying to do here? Are Conservatives trying to become more Progressive?

Republicans are going to have to do a whole lot more than that to get rid of that deplorable reputation of being the party of the good ol' boys.

[twinertia]

The idiot Land's statement says it all. You don't TAKE votes, you EARN them, by way of sincere interest in the causes and concerns of those involved. Failing that, they're failing that.

[Food4thoughts]

Why is the church involved in immigration reform?

[twinertia]

Maybe because the Catholic Church wants a world without sovereign boundaries, and Latinos are, by and large, of the Catholic faith.

[Food4thoughts]

@twinertia yea that makes sense after I actually read the article :-/

[dances-weebles]

@twinertia well, twin... i'm not a catholic and i fully support the breaking down of all national boundaries so that people can live and work where ever they please. it makes no difference.

[dances-weebles]

'why is the church involved in any political agenda?' would be a better question.

[twinertia]

@dances-weebles The church's motives, however, are of a more.....shall we say, fiscal nature than anything else.

[tomincali]

these traitors will stop at nothing. churches not going by the laws of that land says alot about them. there was even one church that was committing a federal felony right in the news and nothing was done.

[marine1]

This whole situation is the result of goverment incompetence. They sat on their do nothing ass for 40+ years letting the pot boil and now they make it appear through no fault of their own, they just have to change the rules and make the wrong thing right.

[tomincali]

@marine1 the only way to make this right would be no rewards no matter how long these folks have hid their crimes. romney has the right idea on this issue,yet bleeding hearts did not see it right to get tough and force them to leave on their owns they like to reward crime

[woodtick57]

@marine1

Its all about the nanny state....

in reality...this whole situtation is about US 'citizens' hiring illegal workers. Stop hiring them and they will stop coming here.

[tomincali]

i don't think it is just about jobs otherwise their anchors would be paid for from birth on by the parents and we would not see others making demands when they should be arrested and removed.

[woodtick57]

@tomincali

its all about jobs. ytou folks down tere stop irin tem, and te nanny state won't ave to come in and clean up the mess you created...

Get you act together and start acting like US citizens. obey the law.

[Keyjo]

So is immigration reform a sincere desire from this coalition towards justice, or is it simply an attempt to court the Latino vote?

[Thegrif]

I would say it is a strategic move more than anything.

[Keyjo]

@Thegrif
That's kind of my thinking.

[jessejaymes]

That's absolutely my thinking. If you can't beat them dazzle them with bullshirt.

[Thegrif]

@Keyjo as you probably know I lean Conservative/ Republican and I think this is a cheesy move.

[woodtick57]

@Thegrif

Lean?

[FollowTheMoney]

Congress needs to enforce the laws we already have on the books. Stop worrying about their precious political capital and put the countries interests first.

[tomincali]

mexico know the problems illegal aliens cause.

http://www.propublica.org/article/the-new-bor...

[DARSB]

Richard Land talking about a "coalition of the middle" - that suit of sheep's clothing fitting okay, there, Richard?

[jessejaymes]

I have a hard time believing that any organized religion is interested in anything except the collection plate. Follow the money, always follow the money.

[marine1]

That is what church & union and goverment is all about, passing the plate. We are like high bred sheep, we can be sheered several time a year.

[jessejaymes]

@marine1 LOL gotta give you that one.

[FFX_VA]

If you want Latinos to support the GOP, include Latinos in the GOP; embrace the culture & make our issues yours.

[DARSB]

Oh, you want them to actually mean it, don't you? Don't see that happening until the old white southern men in charge are out to pasture. As long as people like Tom Tancredo, Lou Dobbs, Joe Arpaio and those Minutemen fanatics are on the scene sincerity won't be in the mix.

[Jean]

gaining latinos votes is about finding out what is important to them. there is a study that was done that Rush Limbaugh quoted that said immigration is NOT why they are voting democratic. it is the freebies. they know where those freebies are coming from and now the Republican party wants to try and get their vote? why would they trust a change in the Republican party platform that is against what they have stood for when they literally have that bird in their hand now? why would they take a chance on that?

[LEC]

It is interesting to note that even though the Democrats are given most of the credit for social service programs and most everything to do with advances for the minorities in this country, it is actually the Republicans that hand out most of the goodies yet it does them no good. And given this last election, it seems you cannot buy the people's love with load of money.[EPA, Planned parenthood contributions, Medicare Part D and a Republican Congress passed the Civil Rights Act with President Johnson D.]

Now I know its popular among the hard core right that the Democrats bought the election, but Obama and the Democrats are really giving anything away except to the Republicans in negotiating the Budget and Health care and just about everything else.

So, I am going to make a prophecy, we will get single payer health care one of these days, but it will be by the Republicans in Congress, possibly with a Republican President should they manage to ease up on the TeaParty and ReligiousRight Credentials and choose a good candidate that actually has a chance to win.

[PoliticalSpice]

In politics people usually have short memories, but between Arizona law, self deportation, and similar racist statements and actions I think much damge has been done, some degree of which is irreversible. If they shut thd wackos up over the long terms the repubs might win back some votes, I voted it cannot hurt because it might arrest the further devline in voters, but over the next five years or so, I doubt it will help. But if the wakos keep sounding off, which I hope they fo, they could see the hispacic vote go from 70 percent dem to 80 or 90 petcent dem.

[jessejaymes]

And there is the bottom line. The GOP has so many racists lunatic fringe in them today that no matter what they claim in press conferences or as a platform, their idiots will find a way to alienate those they are courting. Obama has deported more illegals in 4 years than Bush did in 8 years. But he still got their vote because the left didn't show up with an idiot in tow and start babbling.

[PoliticalSpice]

@jessejaymes
And bring on so far left I've practically left the u.s.(peoples repub berkeley for a time), i can attest we do have plenty of babbling idiots, but smart enough to sometimes know it is not the time to babble. Btw thanks for following. I hope i can retain you intetest...

[jessejaymes]

@PoliticalSpice You're an interesting person. More liberal than I but still an interesting person.

[jessejaymes]

@PoliticalSpice You mean the people's republic of Berkley? Holy Cow that place is like a prison they have so many rules. It's the bible belt without the bible. I detest Berkley.

[PoliticalSpice]

@jessejaymes
far to left of liberal, but not liberal at all on others, wait till they post one. Will be fun to watch some scratch their heads in wonder. I was raised to think critically, i think you were raised the same way from your many comments i have read. I watch the sunday shows and try to catch george will, peggy noonan, conservatives who think and who sometimes force me to think. Grew up watching firing line (buckley). But most (not all) conserves on this site are hard to respect. The younger ones think all you need is a wiki page, fox news and an opinion, and a lot of thenolder ones have little to offer but snide comments, a bit of racism and comments about freeloaders living off their tax money, as they collect social security and benefit from medicare!

When you think for yourself it is very confusing to people who try to put one in a box. Most people here would assume I'd be for gun control, against the gold standard, for welfare, for income tax. I don't want to get into these, because it is a long discussion. Indeed sometimes because of the nature of the question or debate even i might defend some welfare program or taxation, but people would be surprized to learn the truth. I've confused the heck out of some right wincer i'm going back and forth with because almost every assumption he has made about me has been wrong! And when i tell what the real deal is he seems at a loss...

[Vance1]

Immigration Reform = Pure Amnesty for Criminals
Come here legally or just go home...... end of story

[cwi530]

Didn't the GOP learn anything?
If they want their votes give them cell phones. Pre-paid top of the line IPhones or the "news"media will accuse them of being racists.

But seriously...Who cares? I'm not trying to point out that most folks who partake in these online forums are left-of-center. No, not at all:)

The question, discussion, concern should be - What's best for the Country...The USA. Who cares how immigration reform would help the Republicans, or the Democrats, or any other political party.

Hold on...Ya know...First of all...Honestly, how did we determine that we need to reform our immigration laws? The Feds don't enforce them. And they won't let the states enforce them. Do we have any reason to think the Feds would enforce immigration if it was reformed? And if so isn't that a bigger problem, our federal government only enforcing laws that bring them more votes.

As citizens of the United States of America it is our duty to keep our government in check. The Right to keep and bear arms is not about hunting as some in the government would have us believe. The founding fathers... yes, the old white guys... yea I know they owned slaves...The founding fathers knew that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. And they foresaw a day when We the People would be compelled to once again rise against tyranny.

[Litdes]

One needs to support legislation that might actually help the constituency. People aren't stupid, and they won't vote for you if you won't represent their interests. Wake up or be gone GOP.

[sabbatical]

Where were Americans before immigration started?- Over in Europe.

[DerivePI]

Obama promised immigration reform in 2008. Congress was controlled by Democrats in the Senate and House. Now we want to talk about the GOP not passing immigration reform? Once the liberals get you hooked on phones and food stamps, you'll never get what you really want through them.

[Denizen_Kate]

Immigration reform will benefit immigrants but probably won't be much benefit to the GOP. However, reform would greatly benefit the Catholic church (more latinos=full collection plates), business leaders (more cheap labor), and law enforcement (less time wasted trying to find and deport illegals). Therefore it's no wonder these three groups are lobbying for immigration reform.

[1adam2]

well i voted probably not, because i am against it. cause it does not! help this country. and there is a sinester reason, behind the federal government not enforcing what is constitutional law. telling me that, we want to change it because were not enforcing it like it used to be. is not a good reason, for immigration reform. and making spanish, an accepted second language. only serves to divide, the country even further. and the strength of america in the past, has been it's unity not it's being divided to death.