OT: How Immigration Will Affect Your Vote

[Guest guest]

As I said .. some Republicans will vote Democratic because they don't

like the Republican stance on this subject .. some Democrats will vote

Republican for the same reasons. ;-)

 

How Immigration Will Affect Your Vote

 

POSTED: 1837 GMT (0237 HKT), September 19, 2006

 

(CNN) -- The battle over illegal immigration promises to rage on until

Election Day and beyond.

 

We asked CNN.com readers to send in their thoughts on illegal

immigration and how the issue will affect their vote this November.

(Share your comments.)

 

Here is a selection of responses, some of which have been edited:

 

I will support all those candidates who are open to fixing the problem

with a COMPREHENSIVE plan, not those who will aggravate the problem by

just shutting the border and building a wall. The U.S. needs politicians

who can see the bigger picture and the contributions of immigrants to

this country and stop those racist xenophobic politicians from taking

over and making slavery legal again by eliminating human rights to those

who just want an opportunity their country denied them, a job to feed

their families. If we need them and they aren't in their country, why

not hire them. It is just common sense.

Andrea Grossmann; Los Angeles, California

 

Although both my maternal grandparents came from Hungary, they came

legally through Ellis Island. At that time, there were no hand-outs, no

government systems in place to cover medical expenses, food stamps,

costly education programs, etc. The financial burden is more than I care

to imagine, and along with the fiasco in Iraq, I feel we can't let this

invasion continue. Unless we have better enforcement we are doomed to

develop into a society that doesn't value American standards.

Suzanne Shear; Springfield, Illinois

 

Immigration -- all immigration not just illegal immigration -- is the

No. 1 concern of mine. I intend to vote for anyone with a past record

against illegal immigration, and a pro-American worker record, not pro-visa.

Tori Stordahl; San Bernardino, California

 

The subject of immigration reform is a very minor matter facing this

country and Congress. The war in Iraq, the so-called " war on terror, "

the abridgement of individual rights, the crumbling public education

system, the bloated bureaucracy, juvenile crime ... on and on. These are

far more pressing.

Elizabeth McCleaster; Ambler, Pennsylvania

 

I will vote mostly Democratic, and against anyone who thinks amnesty is

a good idea. It may be a good idea for the farmers and construction

companies, but illegal immigrants have overwhelmed schools. I am an

educator and former administrator and say that way too much of our

resources including teachers go to educating children who do not speak

English, but who also must take standardized state tests. They continue

to bring down scores, which affect school standings in light of the

federal No Child Left Behind ratings.

Gloria Smith; Mesa, Arizona

 

Immigration is the central issue -- the failure of politicians from both

parties to defend the integrity of our country and our borders and

enforce our laws overshadows all else. The entire " reform " movement is a

red herring. We do not need reform -- we need enforcement.

Ron Miller; San Diego, California

 

Whether they be Mexican, Swiss or Martian, illegal by its very

definition means against the law. If the laws of our nation are not to

be upheld or enforced by law enforcement nor politicians nor society at

large, we then choose to be a nation without laws. I fear the

fundamentals of building a cohesive society are in jeopardy, and so I

endeavor to vote for a candidate who fosters an intelligent plan for

bringing us back from the brink of lawlessness. I believe this issue is

as germane or more to the quality of life of American citizens as any

individual rights currently granted by law, as illegal immigration

impacts many quality of life boundaries, i.e., education, taxation,

social services, and medical services, not to mention day to day

interrelation or assimilation (and/or the lack thereof).

R. Simpson; Lake Forest, California

 

Candidates' position on illegal immigration will be the primary reason

for voting for them. I will vote exclusively for only those candidates

who have a long-term record of being proactive in the reform movement.

It is my opinion that any candidate who does not or will not enforce our

immigration laws, including penalizing those who employ illegals,

is/will be blatantly guilty of dereliction of duty and in violation of

their oath of office.

Kathleen Appell; Warminster, Pennsylvania

 

If the present government can't stop illegal immigration, then we need

new people in there to get the job done...Republican or Democrat!

R. Monroe; Sidney, Iowa

 

Congress has refused to deal realistically with immigration this

session. We have an impoverished country of over 100 million immediately

to our south. Telling them that they must not come here is like telling

the tide to stay out. We need realistic immigration law. I will be

voting Democratic this November.

Will Fitzpatrick; Phoenix, Arizona

 

I'm a lifelong, card-carrying Democrat. But this year I have never felt

so far apart from my party then at this time. My leaders' stand on

immigration has torn me apart from the party I loved. I will not vote

for anyone who calls for " Comprehensive Reform " before our borders are

secure and the magnet for crossing the border is broken. That is fining

employers who hire illegal immigrants. ... Our country as a whole comes

first. Not a warped sense of values that goes no further than the next

election cycle. I will be voting Republican for the first time in my

life. Sad but true.

Tom Marten; Fort Lauderdale, Florida

 

Considering I have seen a diminution of my rights as a legal resident of

this country concurrent with a push to increase the rights of illegal

residents, this issue will be very important in the casting of my vote

in November - equivalent to the import of the economy, the war in Iraq

and ethics of our elected officials.

Mathis Forney; Burlington City, New Jersey

 

Both of the major political parties have been dropping the ball on the

illegal immigration issue. I am financially supporting only those

candidates who have taken strong stands to preserve our national

sovereignty, secure our borders, and deter illegal immigration. If a

senator voted for S.2611, they are on my personal " boot out of office

list. " Significant action is needed on this issue. The wall needs to be

built, employers of illegals need to be fined, and all benefits provided

to illegal aliens, except emergency medical care, need to be ended.

Anyone who wishes to immigrate must do so LEGALLY.

Phyllis Nemeth; Arcadia, California

 

I am so tired of this issue. The lawmakers need to gain a backbone and

settle this for once and for all. ILLEGAL is just that, ILLEGAL --

AGAINST THE LAW, so get the situation taken care of. I will not vote for

anyone who wants to give amnesty to the illegals.

Irene Noland; Silver Spring, Maryland

 

To be honest I support legal immigration and the development of better

processes and facilities to support legal immigration. We are a country

built on immigration and should continue to support immigration

practices. With that said, I strongly support and urge the removal of

illegal immigrants and the creation of an absolute restrictive border at

all entry points between the U.S. and other countries.

Brian Rainey; McHenry, Idaho

 

I believe that we should be securing our boarders. I am not opposed to

changing the immigration laws to allow more people to enter the country

legally, but we need to ensure that the people allowed in are not

criminals. In theory I would support the worker program, but I do not

want to give a free ride to the millions of illegals already in the country.

John Lohn; Sebastian, Florida

 

I believe this country was built upon immigration. A century ago, people

migrated from their homeland without any resistance. Today there are so

many obstacles. The majority of us are not NATIVE AMERICAN INDIANS;

therefore, it is sad to say we want to keep others out of the USA.

Nola McGeachy; Fort Lauderdale, Florida

 

Immigration is the most important issue facing our nation. I will vote

only for those who support the House bill, which calls for tough

enforcement only. I will not vote for anyone who supports any kind of

amnesty or " path to citizenship " for illegals, such as that proposed in

the Senate bill.

Joy Mauser; Hansville, Washington

 

Illegal immigration, border security are the top issues I'm concerned

about. First and foremost, as an American Hispanic whose family had the

decency to immigrate here legally, I expect everyone else to play by the

rules no matter their country of origin. Second, as a matter of national

security in a post-9/11 world, it is incomprehensible that our borders

both north and south were not immediately secured in between every legal

checkpoint. After all, if millions upon millions of unskilled,

uneducated from Mexico, Central America and South America can easily

steal through our borders, highly financed, well-organized, and educated

terrorists can and have most likely done so already. ... I'm looking to

vote for those incumbents who were not afraid to stand up for the

majority of Americans who oppose illegal immigration.

Mariann Davies; Doylestown, Pennsylvania

 

I am changing my vote...bye bye Republicans.

James; Woodridge, Illinois

 

Immigration is very high on my list. I will vote for anyone who has a

program to legalize those here already with fines, etc. It would cost us

more to hold these people in jail, jam up our courts and send them home

than it would to just legalize those that have not committed crimes.

Catherine Rossi; Babylon, New York

 

My wife and I have been retired for several years and during that time

have traveled the world widely. In almost every country we enter, they

treat illegal immigration as a crime punishable with jail time. I don't

understand how America can deter illegal immigration while we treat it

as a sort of cat and mouse game. Those who violate our laws must know

that there will be a price to pay.

Bruce Means; Tulsa, Oklahoma

 

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