I'd like to take a moment to commend Gov. Perry on his immigration policies.

[klook]

Rick Perry's immigration record includes the following tidbits that neither his supporters nor detractors are aware of, for the most part:

• Children of illegal immigrants have been able to receive in-state tuition at Texas universities, thanks to a law supported by Perry. As the governor proudly said, "Educacion es el futuro, y si se puede."


• Perry called for new investment in infrastructure and an easing of restrictions on border traffic to further deepen ties with Mexico.


• While many conservatives would like to deprive American-born children of the benefits of their citizenship because of their parents' undocumented status, Perry told a New Hampshire newspaper just last month, "To punish these young Texans for their parents' actions is not what America has always been about."


• Perry has spoken out against mandating the use of E-Verify, a federal electronic system for checking prospective workers' immigration status.


• While he doesn't support a full path to U.S. citizenship for undocumented workers, Perry does support a guest worker program to legitimize "illegal aliens."

More: Talking Points Memo, 8/9/2011

So, poised on the brink of what's sure to be a contentious and hard-fought presidential campaign, I'd like to give Governor Rick Perry a big tip of the sombrero for his courageous stands in support of undocumented workers and their families. And I suggest we all do our damnedest to make sure every single Republican voter knows all about this illustrious record of his.

[Vattel]

1. Well, I guess he isn't all bad.

I wouldn't spread this around, though, unless you think Obama has a better chance against the other crazies.

[MADem]

2. That'll go over like a big ole jalapeno flavored chile fart in church! nt

[Booster]

4. Ooooh, good one.

[onpatrol98]

3. Too Funny...

Looks like his ship is sunk, even before he takes sail,

[bigdarryl]

5. that shit isn't going to go over well with these CRAZY TEA FUCKS

now if he wins the nomination it spells trouble for Obama in the general with Hispanic voters because he and the democrats took the calculated decision when they had the house and Senate not to do a damn thing about Immigration. This proves that Perry stands for and did something with regards to child immigration.Which is a huge issue with Hispanics.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

What about the Dream Act?

That was not "a damn thing"? :shrug:

[klook]

15. Perry has since turned his back on undocumented workers and their families.

Read that article I linked to in the OP.

[klook]

6. We also need to commend

Perry for having the gumption to befriend the Muslim community. I certainly hope the teabaggers don't object to that!

But back to my initial point - there is the little problem that Gov. Perry has now taken up right-wing hard-ass positions on immigration. So those mean Democratic strategists may choose to play up the flip-flopper angle. That would be so unfair!

[Honeycombe8]

7. Ah. So THIS will be why he doesn't win the nomination. I see. Thanks. nt

[klook]

14. Didn't say he wouldn't win the nomination.

In fact, I think Perry is the instant Republican front-runner now.

I'd just love to see his opportunistic, flip-flopping past highlighted to maybe make some Republican voters think twice about voting for him.

[Jim Lane]

8. Thanks! I've started adding this info to Perry's Wikipedia bio.

I hope that many Republican voters will read it there.

[klook]

13. Excellent! Thanks.

And if this info starts mysteriously disappearing from Wikipedia after you've added it, please be sure to notify major news outlets!
:fistbump:

[Jim Lane]

16. Notifying the media won't help.

Someone's already deleted it. He's evidently what Wikipedians call a POV-pusher -- someone who ignores Wikipedia's rule of neutrality, and instead removes well-sourced information and/or inserts unsourced statements, pursuing a particular point of view rather than the creation of a good encyclopedia.

I restored it after the deletion. We'll see what happens.

The media won't care unless there's proof that the editing was done by the Perry campaign, which it probably wasn't. We don't need media attention; we need more progressives editing Wikipedia. Anything about immigration that ends up sticking in Perry's Wikipedia bio will influence far more votes than will a post (or a bunch of posts) on DU.

[rms013]

9. The key is this is economic not humanitarian

With 37.6% of the population of Texas, the Hispanic community has voting power. With the large agribusiness interests it behooves the dear 'christian humanist' governor to support the low wage 'illegals' while promoting 'reduced'(or as they like to call it in-state) tuition for children of illegal immigrants. The average tuition cost for a resident Texan is around $5k. It can go as high as $12k for a non resident. So I believe there is no loss for the guv to promote in state tuition for children of 'illegal immigrants' as their income will not support sending their children to university anyway. Just political fluff. As far as E-Verify it is obvious it is not in support of the illegal immigrant but in support of businesses that employ them.

[Avalux]

10. Do you know WHY he's done all these wonderful things?

Because a huge part of his Texas Miracle job growth (which will be the lynchpin of his campaign) comes from illegal immigration. Why would he do anything to stop businesses from hiring them?

I'm sorry...I live in Texas and the man doesn't do anything unless it makes him look good. He has not sense of duty, no allegiance to the country and certainly doesn't give a shit about the residents of Texas.

Highest of all states in child poverty rate and uninsured children.

[klook]

12. Um, didn't think I needed the Sarcasm tag. (n/t)

[Avalux]

17. Sorry!

I'm a bit hypersensitive about Perry; he's been a living nightmare here in Texas....so much worse than Bush (if that's possible).

I am woried his car salesman/televangelist style will strike a chord with the American people who are looking for some sort of savior.

[klook]

18. You and I are in total agreement then.

Perry scares the living shit out of me. Of course, in Ga. we've had the living nightmare of Sonny Perdue and now Nathan Deal, but they don't seem to have presidential aspirations.

Perry will have huge money behind him, too. I think it's going take a lot of work to beat him. Let's keep looking for ways to do that. :toast:

[Avalux]

22. I am thinking of ways....

I will do everything I can to make sure the rest of the country knows what Perry's done to Texas. Certainly can't count on the media to do it. :hi:

[Hutzpa]

21. You should have used your sarcasm tag in

your OP as it is seen as a thread starter.

[awoke_in_2003]

11. he sees Mexico...

as a vast pool of cheap labor, nothing more.

[flamingdem]

19. Guvner is kissin up to the MESHKUNS! nt

[Proles]

20. Well even George W Bush had a pretty decent immigration

reform proposal.

It seems like one of the only things these people get right.

[Hutzpa]

23. So where does Secession goes on that list?

$29b deficit in Texas and not forgetting the fact that he flip flops constantly
just like Mitt Romney.

Going to be a fun ride this coming election.