The 'Immigration Backlash'

Posted Thu, Mar 30, 2006 at 4:27 am
From this:
...The Los Angeles Times duly reported, "Some Republicans fear that pushing too hard against illegal immigrants could backfire nationally, as with Proposition 187 (the 1994 ballot measure that sought to deny benefits for illegal immigrants that) helped spur record numbers of California Latinos to become U.S. citizens and register to vote. Those voters subsequently helped Democrats regain political control in the state."

Call that the Backlash Myth. In fact, Prop. 187 passed with 59 percent of the vote, and GOP Gov. Pete Wilson, who championed the measure, was re-elected in 1994. In 2003, when Democratic Gov. Gray Davis signed a bill that would allow illegal immigrants to get driver's licenses, he so enraged voters that he sealed his political demise. After Davis was recalled from office, the heavily Democratic California Legislature repealed the bill.

That's your backlash...

Tags: 
los angeles times

Comments

DG (not verified)

Thu, 03/30/2006 - 21:41

Everyone should Google this article "Alien Nation: The Right 'Amnesty'" by Paul Gigot from Aug. 2001. He lays out the complete plan for Bush's Amnesty. What we hear now was stated back then in this article, see how similiar it sounds. Of course, he's not supposed to call it an amnesty, it's a "guest worker" plan. This is done for political purposes to capture the Hispanic vote for the Republican party. Well that is the concept anyway.

DG (not verified)

Thu, 03/30/2006 - 20:57

Dear D Flinchum, You have your info together. This is what I remember happened also. This could have been challenged in the courts by Grey Davis but he just let it drop. I have always wondered if Swartzenegger could still challenge this in the courts. This point is seldom brought up and am glad someone remembers this besides me.

D Flinchum (not verified)

Thu, 03/30/2006 - 12:32

"and was overturned by the courts"

But more importantly was NOT pursued in the courts after the initial decision. This never went through the courts - it was ended at the first stage. Had it gone on, it might well have been upheld.

Rhythmwize (not verified)

Thu, 03/30/2006 - 11:29

Yeah, I read that in the LA Times this morning and at the time, wondered the same thing about that Prop 187 backlash. It was clearly the will of the people in an already heavily Democratic state and was overturned by the courts. I doubt whether any facts support the conclusion that newly registered Latino voters significantly impacted state politics as a result of Prop 187.

Pat (not verified)

Thu, 03/30/2006 - 10:09

Meanwhile, a sane candidate here. Let's hope her party does not forsake her.

http://www.ocblog.net/ocblog/2006/03/lupe_moreno_sec.html