Will the immigration issue play a big role in who you'll vote for in 2008?

Question

Although I'm a young liberal, I'll be registering as a Republican in order to vote for Ron Paul in the primaries. His non-interventionist foreign policy echo my beliefs and he is adamantly against illegal immigration. Wants to eliminate the welfare state, ban in-state tuition for illegals, eradicate birth right citizenship, build a fence, and make all of them move out through attrition.

EDIT:

to regerugged: Slightly condescending, don't you think? The reason why I am voting Ron Paul is because he's against raising taxes, free trade deals, and world governmental organizations. He's also against special interest groups from violating property rights etc. I'm not naive and I am very much open-minded when it comes to politics. Why else would I be voting for an anti-war Republican misfit? As you see, illegal immigration is only one of the major issues I'm concerned with. Ron Paul is the only candidate that meets me on all of my points.

rhsaunders: No thanks for the unnecessary jibe.

The first sentence of the 14th Amendment says:

All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. [emphasis added]

To hold that the Citizenship Clause confers birthright citizenship on anyone born in the United States is to ignore the phrase “and subject to the jurisdiction thereof”: a selective misreading of plain English. No argument rooted in the Constitution can support automatic birthright citizenship. The only question is how broadly to read the jurisdiction phrase in the Citizenship Clause. Logic, assisted by the Senate floor debate, answers this.

The U.S. Supreme Court has since clouded the picture with its relatively few rulings on the Citizenship Clause, but despite what we are often encouraged to believe by some justices and law professors, the Constitution does not mean only what the Supreme Court says it does. Even so, the Court has never held that the Citizenship Clause automatically confers U.S. citizenship on all children born within the territory of the United States.

Because any baby born in America is deemed currently to have an absolute right to American citizenship, his parents, siblings, and ultimately his extended family obtain an enormously enhanced ability to be here. ‘Family Reunification,’ rather than skill sets, and sentimentalism rather than self-interest, being the themes of immigration policy, this “Anchor Baby” effect rips a huge chasm in effective immigration control.

If Ron Paul were "an idiot", he wouldn't be winning every Republican debate by landslides.

Answer 1

No. I'm voting for a DEMOCRAT, either, Obama or Clinton.
I won't focus on immigration too much when voting. It doesn't really affect me now. Everything else in the US will probably have an effect later on, so other issues facing the US are in my eye, like the war, etc.

Answer 2

Can you Paulies not ask a question without pushing your candidate on us? Although I am an old Democrat I will not be registering as a Republican to vote for Ron Paul. His " let the states take care of everything " policy is not reasonable and his stance on the legalization of pot is just idiotic. He does not echo my beliefs on much of nothing. To answer your question, if anyone comes up with a reasonable stance on immigration it might sway my vote. Amnesty to me is not reasonable.

Answer 3

Yes, the immigration issue will play a big role. Too many politicians seem to be more concerned with the "rights" of illegals than the welfare and protection of U.S. citizens. It also disturbs me that more and more clergy people are advocating for illegal aliens, arguing that it's the "Christian" thing to do.

As for Ron Paul, I could agree with most of his platform except for defense and foreign policy. Regardless if they're for or against our present policy in Iraq, a candidate for the U.S. presidency must take the issue of world terrorism seriously. They can't be so naive as to think that "if we leave them alone, they'll leave us alone"

Answer 4

Yes, the immigration issue will play a big role. I will vote for a leader who has a backbone, someone who doesn't let political correctness rule his decisions (probably not possible), someone who stands up for Americans and is consistent with his words and actions. Our leader needs to punish those who break the law, including employers who hire illegals and the illegals themselves.

Obviously, all of the Dem candidates have completely turned their backs on Americans by supporting groups like La Raza. I like Ron Paul, but I have to admit, I only know him through his website. Tancredo sounds good too. Both of them have very good websites which state their stances on various key issues. I would like to know their plan of action. How are they going to actually implement things? More research is needed for me to endorse anyone...but I will definitely vote for someone who will put an end to illegal immigration.

Answer 5

Ron Paul, Anti-illegals, Anti-NAU.
I know he has a poor chance of winning but he still has my vote.
If someone wins and starts allowing massive consesions to the Illegals, I don't believe I will acknowledge them as my President.
This country was founded by revolution against tyranny and a government how did not care for the people.
If our Government wishes to void the law, ignore the Constitution, and cave into enemy criminals to gain votes by making them legal, then they do not deserve to be in office.
Is it time yet to end this political farce?
Is it time for another?

Answer 6

I think immigration is an important issue. To quote President Reagan "A nation without borders is not a nation."

I agree! Say yes to Dr. No. Ron Paul.

Answer 7

Ron Paul is an idiot. Birth right citizenship is afforded by the Constitution; that isn't going to change. And no, my voting will have little or nothing to do with immigration -- defense is far more important.

Answer 8

It will be one of the major issues that I am looking at in order to decide who I will vote for. I am not in favor of amnesty for illegals. Right now I am narrowing my field of who I will not vote for as opposed to who I will vote for. Clinton is a no, Obama is a no, Guilliani is a no, McCain is a are you on drugs to even ask no. And so the list will grow.

Answer 9

Yes, We need to secure our borders first, we already have laws on the books to take care of the problems of immigration, In 1986 they were to solve the problem,but noone inforce the laws. Just Do It !!! If they would inforce the laws, then you could vote for Hillary Clinton

Answer 10

Personally, illegal immigration is the key issue for me. I'm voting for the candidate that takes the strongest stance against illegal immigrants.