Outrageous rhetoric continues on Arizona’s draconian anti-immigration law – “Why can’t I microchip an illegal?”

GOP Congressional candidate: “Why can’t I microchip an illegal?” Discussing immigration policy, GOP candidate for Iowa’s 3^rd congressional district, Pat Bertroche, actually suggested “microchipping” suspected illegal immigrants. Bertroche told a Republican forum in Tama County, “I think we should catch ’em, we should document ’em, make sure we know where they are and where they are going. I actually support microchipping them. I can microchip my dog so I can find it. Why can’t I microchip an illegal?”

iowaindependent.com/33017/gop-candidates-call-to-microchip-immigrants-draws-backlash

Rep. Bilbray: You Can Tell Who’s Illegal By the Clothes They Wear. Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-CA) argued last week that “trained professionals” can identify illegal immigrants based on their clothing. Said Bilbray to “Hardball” host Chris Matthews, “They will look at the kind of dress you wear, there is different type of attire, there is different type of — right down to the shoes, right down to the clothes.”

www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/22/brian-bilbray-gop-rep-cla_n_547710.html

Some Republicans are breaking ranks.

Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-SC): Arizona law is “unconstitutional.” “Good people are so afraid of an out-of-control border that they had to resort to a law that I think is unconstitutional — it doesn’t represent the best way forward,” Graham told the Washington Post.

www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/27/AR2010042705335.html

Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush: Law “places significant burden on local law enforcement” and has “civil liberties issues.” According to Politico, Bush blasted the law in a phone interview, stating, “I think it creates unintended consequences. It’s difficult for me to imagine how you’re going to enforce this law. It places a significant burden on local law enforcement and you have civil liberties issues that are significant as well.” www.politico.com/news/stories/0410/36427.html#ixzz0mPRkUyhO

Florida Senate candidate Marco Rubio: Law could “single out…American citizens.” According to Politico, Rubio, “whose parents were Cuban immigrants, said the legislation could ‘unreasonably single out people who are here legally, including many American citizens.’” www.politico.com/news/stories/0410/36427.html#ixzz0mPQa5GLE

Maybe they’re seeing the light? Or just reading the polls…

Brewer Backlash: Hispanics “Running Away From” AZ Gov. in New Poll that has Goddard Up 46 Points with Hispanics. Arizona Gov. Brewer’s actions have certainly spoken to one group of her constituents—Hispanics—and it’s saying all the wrong things. A new poll by Public Policy Polling, Brewer’s likely Democratic opponent, Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard, has increased his lead with Hispanic voters from 20 points to 46 points. “Hispanics” are “running away from” Brewer, opines Politico.

dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=414C3F27-18FE-70B2-A81D762B3FFCB55C

Politico: “Arizona Fallout Has Jammed Republicans” into Tough Spot

According to the Politico, the “Arizona fallout has jammed Republicans who need to please a base that is virulently anti-illegal immigrant yet still wants to expand their party’s appeal to Hispanics, the fastest growing demographic in the country.”

dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=414C3F27-18FE-70B2-A81D762B3FFCB55

We hate to say, “I told you so, but…”

ICYMI: SEIU: John McCain and Republicans Determined to Permanently Alienate Latino Voters

In a Huffington Post op-ed last week from SEIU’s Political Director Jon Youngdahl, we gave fair warning to Republicans who thought that demagoguing against immigrants was a sound political strategy. Wrote Youngdahl:

Latinos are the largest minority group in the country, and they typically use immigration reform and anti-immigrant demagoguery as a litmus test to judge candidates. If John McCain thinks Latinos will forget his pandering to the sentiments of certain fringe elements of the Republican Party come November, he should think again. Poll after poll shows that more than 87 percent of Latino voters nationwide will not support political candidates who are against comprehensive immigration reform. (And by the way, polls also show that mainstream Americans and independent voters similarly reject such radical, anti-immigrant views on the campaign trail.)

www.huffingtonpost.com/jon-youngdahl/john-mccain-and-republica_b_550091.html

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