Quote:
Originally Posted by PiKA2001
I don't think its fair to say his views on what to do with illegal immigrants runs counter to conservative beliefs since Reagan, GWB, and McCain all felt the same way. In fact, Reagan did more to help illegal immigrants than any other president in my lifetime.
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I think what Gingrich said runs counter to today's Republican party, which seems to be more about social conservatism (and in some cases, straight-up xenophobia) than fiscal conservatism, which was one of the hallmark of the 1980s/early 1990s GOP, along with supporting defense. Abortion, which is a hallmark of the GOP now, wasn't even an issue until the mid-80s.
The illegal immigration law in Alabama would not have been passed in 1981; this is in part because illegal immigration wasn't as widespread as it is today, but it's also because the xenophobes who are in power in some places have made it a major issue. They understand that people--specifically working class whites with little more than a HS education--don't have the privileges they once had and they need a scapegoat. Blacks aren't such a good scapegoat these days, so Central and South Americans (not necessarily illegal immigrants either) are the new scapegoat.
There's been a lot of talk about the GOP becoming "more accepting" or "diverse." Nonsense like Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachmann, and Herman Cain are all examples of this failed attempt to become more pluralistic. Many of my family members were Republicans until the late 80s in part because of the GOP's stance on fiscal conservatism and a strong defense. In the past 20 years or so, it became clear to them that the GOP had no place for them. If the Republican Party focused more on those things, and less on policing those who are different, then they might get some of those people back.
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