Illegal immigration -- truly a partisan concern

The new Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll of voters in three states crucial to picking the next president underscores what has been evident by listening to the candidates -- the importance of the illegal immigration issue depends very much on one's partisan inclinations.

In a nutshell, the survey found that few Democratic-leaning voters in Iowa, New Hampshire or South Carolina rate the matter -- which consumed much of official Washington earlier this year -- as the top priority for White House contenders. By contrast, a healthy slice of Republican-leaning voters in those states give it that ranking.

The findings help explain why illegal immigration rarely gets a mention among the Democratic presidential candidates, either in their speeches or during their debates. Conversely, the results make clear why it's a hot topic in the GOP race. Indeed, it recently sparked what CNN termed "the first real clash" between Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney, both of whom have mixed records on the issue.

The new poll found that in Iowa, 9% of those identifying themselves as Democratic voters chose illegal immigration as the numero uno subject the candidates should address. Among their GOP counterparts, the figure was 30% (putting it basically tied with the war in Iraq and protecting the U.S. from terrorists).

The gap was comparable in New Hampshire (5% of the Democratic electorate tabbed illegal immigration as the big issue, 25% of the Republicans did) and South Carolina (7% versus 23%).

A similar divergence was found on healthcare, but with the roles reversed -- especially in Iowa and New Hampshire.  Many more Democratic voters than Republican ranked that as the main priority for candidates.

Also in those two states, Democratic voters -- by large margins -- singled out the war in Iraq, rather than guarding against terrorist attacks on the homefront, as the issue they wanted the candidates to focus on. But the GOP voters in Iowa and New Hampshire gave each subject roughly equal weight in their rankings.

For all the numbers on how those polled rate the issues, see question 37 here.

The survey was conducted Thursday through Monday. In most cases, the margin of sampling error was plus or minus 5 percentage points; among Iowa Democrats, it was 4 percentage points.

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[John Smith]

No matter dem or repub, the verdicts the SAME! - bye bye ILLEGALS!

[musuem of zero tolerance]

Illegals have no rights; and, they are not being treated like second-class citizens; that is an insult to second-class citizens. At best, they are thieves;
at worst??????? Two wrongs give them no rights!

[rob]

Interesting study! Pretty consistent with what I hear among people.

Frankly, because of the economic benefits, the US has always been negligent in enforcing the law, to such an extent that those who are here, who have been working, MUST be allowed to stay. We can't accuse them of being lawbreakers if we never bothered to enforce the law.

I think the only people who have real authority to be angry on this issue are American Indians.

It's totally true that the Mexican government and elites have a lot to answer for, after all they have basically let their country lapse into anarchy and anyone with the means and brains gets out of there. But all the illegal immigrants I encounter work their butts off, they create strong family units, their kids work hard in school, they regenerate decayed communities, so they're a net asset. And I'm ashamed of the terrible nativist rhetoric on this issue, all of it spewed by the descendants of immigrants.

[Jeronimo Banuelos]

I am almost sure that the reason why the poll came up with these numbers is because most Republicans see immigration important, not because they feel immigrants should be given an opportunity to become legal, but because they want to GET RID OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. Let us not confuse their intent. In general, Republicans do not care about the human suffering immigrants endure in this country. They are egotist, but also racists because they only hate, and are against, immigrants from Mexico and Latin American Countries.

[buz algood]

The PEOPLE from both parties have spoken loud and clear and have expressed a STONG desire to have our immigration laws enforced and OUR borders protected. Remember what happened this June when Bush tried his end around amnesty plan? Thats right it got STUFFED. 4th and 1, NO GAIN! Turn the ball over a GET OFF THE FIELD!!! I would be more interested in a pole ranking the importance of issues relative to illegal immigration in the border states where the burden is felt the most. New Hampshire? Who cares.

[Sergio Espinosa]

It is this issue that is killing the GOP in the eyes of Latinos throughout the United States. This seems to be Prop 187 Redux, on a national level. Remember how 187 killed the Republican Party among Latinos in California.

I do not understand why the GOP keeps coming back to this issue. They need to follow the advice of Arnold Schwarzenegger and look to other issues - issues like health care reform and environmental protection. This isn't Democrats 'lite' either. This would be a strategic move to the center a la the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom or the DLC moving away from traditional liberalism 15 years ago.

Ultimately the national Republican Party is going to go the way of the California Republican Party unless it makes some strategic decisions.

Even Bush sees this.

[Archer City, TX (winds from The Last Picture Show)]

If (and I say "if") these illegals are so valuable; send them home; and let them be "valuable" to their countries. There is no honor among thieves.

[Okie from Pawhuska]

Dear Rob, "spewed by descendants of immigrants"
if my paternal Osage grandmother and my maternal Kiowa grandfather
were alive, they would show you how the cow ate the cabbage.
I would like for you to take your overgeneralization to Native America;
and sell those bumper stickers there.

[Kathryn]

Is it an issue of Democrats not caring about illegal immigration, or their party not making an issue out of it? People aren't idiots, they know what issues their candidates are pushing, and for the Democrats, it's not immigration.

I do think the Democrats have to walk a fine line, not making too big of an issue of illegal immigration, because the party's pro-amnesty position isn't going to endear them to the more populist and conservative voters in their party. It's easier for them to whip up support by talking against the war and against the current administration, than go out on a limb for illegals. If you look at polls done during the debate over the amnesty bill last summer, especially the polls done by Rasmussen, Americans are evenly split for and against illegal immigration. Democrats have been successful running against open border Republicans and winning, especially in the House. I think it's very telling that the Democrats, in control of both the House and the Senate, and with a very pro-amnesty president, didn't stick their necks out to pass the amnesty bill. If they're supporters are so pro-legalization and there was no risk of political fall out, why not go for amnesty? It was certainly within their reach.

I'm certain that there's a huge fear amongst all the pro-globalization and open border politicians, both Democrat and Republican, that immigration will become an issue like abortion, where voters decide their vote on that issue alone, cutting across party lines.

[keith]

Well, let's break it down.

1. As far as a net asset, very debateable, many studies agree, many say are a net drain and a big one. I'll call that a tie.

2. "Illegal" is the key word here. Yes most of us are descended from immigrants and legal ones at that. Laws exist for a purpose and our gov't does a disservice to everyone in our country, legally or not, by selective enforcement.

3. The people have spoken, yes, loud and clear. The reason the issue was tabled was that politicians realized they were pushing something hugely unpopular with the amnesty bill.

4. Do we need them? Yes I think so, but if so, let them come in here in an orderly fashion to work and earn, don't force them to risk their lives in unlawful passages. The extended family doesn't need to come, and a humane process would allow for no unreasonable separations from their families. Expatriate workers exist all over the world and get along just fine, while sending the money home to the family.

5. Mass unlawful immigration doesn't work and is not justified, this situation could be fixed, political parties should lay down their arms and do the right thing, it shouldn't be about votes, but about people's lives at risk.

[Jack]

Look at Iraq and you see the consequence of massive cultural upheaval when an educated middle class is replaced by fanatically hostile high fertility uneducated masses of another religion,culture, or race. Mexico is Iran and we are Iraq. No country can absorb another's underclass on a wildly overpopulated Earth. We'll have bloody civil war here with 300 million, not little Iraq's 40. There are a billion Chinese and a billion Indians who want to live here and are being shipped here by centuries old crime organizations, corporate pirates, and traitor government. The Times considers it uncharitable not to give all of them "rights" we don't have in Mexico, China, and India!

[OneifbyLand]

The Democrats will not touch their third rail Illegal Immigration because
that is the constituancy they are appealing to.But if the 20+million illegal
aliens can't vote what are they counting on. Amnesty if a Democrat wins?
When will illegal alien advocates learn that the law and the facts are
against them and accusations of racism are untrue and pointless as well
as insulting to Latinos who did it the legal way.

[John Sovietsky]

Let's make it clear for all the ignorant comments here. "IN OTHER WORDS, WHO CARES ABOUT IRAQ...WHEN YOU MIGHT GET RAPED BY A MEXICAN BUSBOY?. Once again the Republican Party is using the immigration issue as a tactic VICIOUS TACTICS that ALL of you are falling for. Don't let the Bush administration fool you any longer. In the face of the awesome political catastrophe that has befallen the Republican Party in the form of George W. Bush...the response of its new leaders has not been to re-examine their perverted values. The Republican Party WANTS you to concentrate on the Immigration Issue...so you can forget IRAQ. Blame the darkies ...is all mean spirited...and you are all falling for it. ANYONE WITH AN IQ ABOVE 10 can see that our economy is doing just fine. Wake up people! If you call yourself a religious person....stop being mean spirited to innocent people.

[Anne Leisering]

Bye Bye Republicans! First they screwed up sending thousands of AMERICANS to their deaths. Then they refused to apologize. Now they are going afte innocent working people. IT IS TIME TO SEND A CLEAR AND LOUD MESSAGE. BYE BYE REPUBLICANS....HAVE A NICE LIFE!

[Joshua]

The GOP candidates running fo office should realize that
they can win on the illegal immigration issue alone. Once elected,
they can begin impeachment proceedings for those justices
who continue to violate federal statutory law.

[thiefthisthiefthat]

I'm, sick of the intolerance. If they are "thieves" do you call ICE every time you see a leaf blower on a sidewalk? Because not would you stay passive if you saw a thief right in front of you, would you. I bet in real life you don't show how much you hate them, because they probably serve your food at your favorite restaurant. But behind their backs, you don't hesitate to savagely condemn them. How about choosing side. If you hate "thieves" so much, Do something about it! Call ICE whenever you spot an illegal worker (or "thief"). Otherwise you're a hypocrite. If you see a thief, you ought to report them if it is really that bad.

[Okie from Pawhuska]

Illegals are America's cancer.

[ivan]

A comprehensive immigration reform is a question of when, not if. Rove told the Republicans that demonizing Latinos will be a huge mistake. Noone listened. Republicans are fighting a losing battle: it is called demographics. They have said it loud and clear: if you are not a white-anglo-saxon-protestant, we don't like you! However, one in three LEGAL Americans is a minority today, and the numbers are getting higher by the day. You do the math!

[Incredulous]

To MR. SOVIETSKY: Isn't it clear to you that lawless societies produce many ill-effects? One of them is a rise in "mean-spiritedness" simply because the common good is being ignored in favor of lawlessness and corruption. Look at Mexico. That's where America is headed. That's why Mexicans are leaving en mass for America to take advantage of our generosity. In their country "taking advantage" is the order of the day because any notion of the common good is nonexistent. ILLEGAL is ILLEGAL. Deport the ILLEGALS, welcome the LEGALS or America will become a balkanized sink of corruption, of poverty, and disease. You know, like Mexico is now. I mean, haven't we enough problems?

[Dr Coles]

80% of the American people want an end to anarchy!

Illegal workers are criminals, those who hire them are criminals and those who aid-and-abet them are criminals.

Illegal aliens in America have NO rights. We are required to arrest and prosecute, deport them.

No, matter your political party affiliation, and setting aside your thoughts on issues. We all need to remember what it is to be an American Citizen. We need to make sure our elected representatives obey their Oath of Office and keep their Oath of Allegiance.

[NoMoreBlatherDotCom]

Of course, another explanation is that the Dem debates have been conducted by partisan hacks who realize that asking real questions about immigration matters would end a few campaigns.

For instance, pointing out Bill Richardson's misleading statements (youtube.com/watch?v=mN2o208PFhg) or his appointment as a shill for the OAS (youtube.com/watch?v=i0YRHXoygRM) might hurt his campaign.

Pointing out that Hillary wants to take discounts from U.S. citizens in order to give them to illegal aliens might not help her either: youtube.com/watch?v=Q_l4Lawj14A

That also explains why the MSM refuses to ask such questions at their campaign stops: doing so would not only hurt the Democratic cause, it would interfere with their associates' attempts to make money from illegal activity.

(Ans: FYI, Clinton is notorious for restricting access by the media and doesn't take reporters' questions and rarely crowd questions.)

[Archer City, TX (winds from The Last Picture Show)]

The worst American is an hyphenated-American.

[DinTN]

Illegals are leaving an over crowded third world disease ridden cess pool of their own making called Mexico. Their only goal is to turn our country into the same, only with more room to roam free, until they overpopulate our country as well.
STOP ANCHORBABYING OUR COUNTRY TO DEATH!
ILLEGALS, WE DON'T WANT YOU HERE!
numbersusa.com

RON PAUL IN 08'!!!

[Left by Leftwest]

"Intolerance?" My position is my position. Tolerate it.

[Dan]

If you don't want illegal immigrants here anymore then go to www.numbersusa.com and send letters to Congress to stop the Dream Act which is an Amnesty Bill being talked about NOW in Congress. Second, support and spread the word of Tom Tancredo for President. He has the longest and strongest record of all Presidential Candidates in 2008 who is against illegal immigration. Check out Tom's Blog to see what people are saying. He has won my vote and I hope he wins yours. If you like him then PLEASE spread the word! The media doesn't give him enough time so we need as many people as possible to spread his name and get his message out. God Bless America!