Newt Gingrich may face backlash in Iowa over immigration comments
DES MOINES — Having just taken his place at the front of the Republican
presidential pack, Newt Gingrich now faces a potential backlash from
conservative activists here in Iowa over an immigration
proposal that he called ghumaneh but that his opponents quickly decried as
providing gamnesty.h
The former House speaker appears to have alienated some of the conservatives
who had warmed to his candidacy by saying Tuesday in a candidates debate that he
would allow millions of illegal immigrants who have settled in the United States
to become legal residents.
Republican leaders across Iowa — including grass-roots activists, county
party chairmen and a congressman — said on Wednesday that Gingrich could see an
erosion in his support here, just as Texas Gov. Rick Perry did when his moderate
immigration positions became clear.
Tim Albrecht, a top aide to Gov. Terry Branstad (R), said Gingrichfs comments
will prove gtoxic.h He predicted that other candidates would gtear him up on
this issue.h
gThe climate changed for Newt Gingrich [Tuesday] night,h added Albrecht, who
worked for Mitt Romneyfs 2008 campaign and is neutral now because hefs working
for Branstad.
In Iowa in particular, immigration politics inspires passion among
conservatives. gThey believe, as I do, that any form of amnesty is not
supported,h said Ann Trimble-Ray, chairman of the Sac County Republican Party.
gIf you have broken the law, then you need to pay the consequences of having
done so. If that means deportation, so be it.h
She added: gWe still respect Speaker Gingrich for all he is, which is a very
intelligent man who understands how the process works in the United States
government and is bringing a valuable perspective in many, many ways in this
race, but I think this probably is a deal breaker for some folks.h
Brian Rosener, chairman of the Woodbury County Republican Party, said: gThe
only conversation that needs to happen on the immigration issue is how to secure
the border. Any other discussion is, at some point, dangerous and
irresponsible.h
Gingrichfs campaign moved to quell any possible uprising among supporters
here. Dan Seufferlein, who is coordinating Gingrichfs efforts in eastern Iowa,
said he called a dozen conservative activists on Tuesday night and Wednesday
morning to explain the candidatefs position. He said that only one activist
mentioned Gingrichfs debate answer.
gI could be wrong, but my judgment is that this is manufactured outrage by
some of the other campaigns that are looking to stall his numbers and increase
theirs,h Seufferlein said.
In the debate, Gingrich said: gIf youfve come here recently, you have no ties
to this country, you ought to go home. Period. If youfve been here 25 years and
you got three kids and two grandkids, youfve been paying taxes and obeying the
law, you belong to a local church, I donft think wefre going to separate you
from your family, uproot you forcefully and kick you out.h
During a visit here Wednesday, Mitt Romney seized
on Gingrichfs remarks and accused his rival of offering ga new doorway to
amnesty.h
gI just think we make a mistake as a Republican Party to try to describe
which people whofve come here illegally should be given amnesty to be able to
jump ahead of the line of the people who have been waiting in line,h he said at
a news conference after a town hall meeting at a Des Moines insurance
company.
gMy view is that those people who have waited in line patiently to come to
this country legally should be ahead in line,h Romney continued, gand those
whofve come here illegally should not be given a special deal or a special
accelerated right to become a permanent resident or citizen.h
Gingrich's campaign accused Romney and other opponents, including Rep.
Michele Bachmann (Minn.), of distorting Gingrichfs position. gGovernor Romney
can certainly shovel it, but that doesnft mean Iowa will believe it,h Gingrich
spokesman R.C. Hammond said.
Gingrich used Twitter on Wednesday to take a swipe at Romney, sending a tweet
to the former Massachusetts governor: gHerefs a trip down memory lane.h
Gingrichfs tweet included a link to a 2007 gMeet the Pressh interview in which
Romney seemed to be open to permanent residency or citizenship for some illegal
immigrants. But Gingrich edited out the latter half of Romneyfs quote, in which
he said immigrants should not have ga special pathway . . . merely
by virtue of having come here illegally.h
Just two months ago, Perryfs standing fell in Iowa after he called
gheartlessh those who opposed a Texas law that grants in-state tuition to some
undocumented immigrants. It was an open question whether Gingrich could suffer
the same fate.
gObviously the issue got ahead of Governor Perry before he could fully
articulate what it was all about, and thatfs the challenge for Newt Gingrich,h
said Matt Whitaker, Perryfs Iowa campaign co-chairman. But, he added, gsince we
donft have any perfect candidates, each one has got their unique issues that
voters are going to have to reconcile with their own beliefs.h
Gingrich faces other hurdles, some of them organizational, including missing
the filing deadline in Missouri to have his name on the ballot.
Steve Deace, a conservative talk-radio host here, said Gingrich will not face
gRick Perry-type fallout over his immigration remarks. Hefs smarter than Rick
Perry. Newt Gingrich didnft look into an audience of tea party supporters and
say, eIf you donft want to pay the college tuition of illegal aliens, youfre
heartless.f Thatfs just stupid.h
The question, Deace said, is whether voters will decide they can trust
Gingrich.
gFor Newt Gingrich, therefs two narratives: The good one is hefs ready to
lead, hefs got chutzpah, hefs got brains and hefs your huckleberry,h Deace said.
gThe bad narrative is he does commercials with [former Democratic House speaker]
Nancy Pelosi, he endorses [moderate GOP congressional candidate] Dede
Scozzafava, he supported the TARP and then he opposed it, hefs been in
Washington too long. Therefs dueling narratives and itfs his actions that will
determine which narrative Iowa voters see.h
Rep. Steve King, a tea-party-aligned Republican who represents northwest Iowa
and whose endorsement has been coveted by many in the race, said Gingrichfs
immigration views ran counter to gthe rule of law — one of the essential pillars
of American exceptionalism.h
gI think if Speaker Gingrich had that to do over again, he might couch his
language differently, at a minimum,h King
told Iowa Public Television.
Yet, this was Gingrichfs do-over. He made virtually the same comments about
immigration at a September debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library,
where he said the United States must gfind a way to deal with folks who are
already here, some of whom, frankly, have been here 25 years, are married with
kids, live in our local neighborhood, go to our church. Itfs got to be done in a
much more humane way.h
The difference is that, back then, Gingrich was a single-digit candidate. But
on Tuesday night, he was a front-runner, and Iowans were paying attention.
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