Continuing the GOP’s effort to remake itself as the “Whites Only” party, Fred Thompson suggested earlier this month that he’d abolish birthright citizenship, thus overturning one of the foundational principles of the American melting pot. Now the Orlando Sentinel reports that Thompson’s ill-conceived remarks have stirred up yet more anger among Hispanics in Florida:
Thompson’s comments have angered Hispanic leaders — many of them Republicans — who say they are a crass attempt to court the GOP base. [...]
“It’s not just ramping up the rhetoric,” said Alex Villalobos, a Republican state senator from Miami. “It’s pandering to extremists.”
State Rep. David Rivera, R-Miami, while not criticizing any candidate directly, called the idea a “xenophobic” notion that could drive Hispanic voters from the GOP.
“At best, this would be seen as mean-spirited,” he said. “At worst, it’s seen as bigotry.”
Republicans in recent years have shown a remarkable ability to divide themselves by their own extremism. In Kansas, the GOP surrendered its natural majority as fundamentalist radicals drove moderates into the ranks of the Democratic Party. Will the Republicans’ constant pandering to the nativist white base force a similar outmigration among Hispanic party members in Florida?
Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Enquirer takes a look at the potential consequences of the Republican snub of minority voters for the party’s chances in Ohio. Bush won the Buckeye state in 2004 thanks in large part to his ability to increase his share of the African-American vote there to 16%. The Republican candidate in 2008 looks unlikely to repeat such a performance, thanks to the GOP’s process of ethnic self-cleansing.
4 Responses to “Florida Backlash Over Thompson’s Citizenship Remarks”
It’s extreme because birthright citizenship has been part of the Constitution since the 14th Amendment in 1868. To overturn it would require a Constitutional Amendment, and overturn 140 years worth of precedent.
Thompson doesn’t have a clue on most things he says and cannot figure out why anyone is supporting him. I am sick and tired of the southern white guy like Thompson running for President. He does not represent my views as a Republican nor most others I know.
The days of someone like Thompson winning anything outside the south are over and not sure he will win anything outside of TN.
To overturn it would require a Constitutional Amendment
Birthright citizenship was itself added by a constitutional amendment, as you noted.. added in the context of securing citizenship rights for slaves after the civil war.
Your point is taken, but so many illegals are abusing the spirit of this law coming here in violation of our laws, that I think it’s time that the automatic birthright citizenship law changed. In fact, I’d bet most Americans feel the same way.
Something to say?
Why is the birthright citizenship idea so “extreme”? Most countries don’t give automatic citizenship for everyone born on their soil and I don’t think we should either. Can you imagine a pregnant Guatemalan woman illegally entering Mexico then demanding Mexican citizenship for her baby? They’d throw her in prison for entering Mexico illegally.
Left by curvedbrain
September 29, 2007 at 12:49pm