The 2016 Republican presidential hopefuls are having to walk a tightrope as they respond to President Obama’s executive deportation amnesty, trying to push back against the White House while not offending the increasingly powerful Hispanic voting bloc.
Some of the major potential 2016 candidates have called for rescinding Mr. Obama’s order, even as they vow to lead Congress in a push to achieve the same ends of legal status for most illegal immigrants.
And Govs. Rick Perry of Texas and Scott Walker of Wisconsin, who won re-election earlier this month, went a step farther, floating the idea of pursuing legal action against the Obama administration.
“I would go to the courts, because I think there’s a pretty compelling argument,” Mr. Walker said. “I think you would be hard-pressed to find anybody — other than a partisan Democrat — who wouldn’t say this is illegal.”
But New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who usually doesn’t shy from tough talk, ducked questions last week about what he’d do.
“I am not going to articulate the basis of a yet-unknown candidacy,” Mr. Christie said on the eve of the announcement, according to CNN.
SEE ALSO: Obama’s amnesty gets 90 percent approval from Hispanics
Like much related to the immigration issue, Mr. Obama’s move granting amnesty has left Republicans struggling to accommodate their base voters, who are vehemently opposed to the move, even as they try not to anger Hispanic voters who view the president’s actions favorably.
“They are in a bit of a box,” said Jim Manley, a Democratic strategist. “Anyone considering a run has no other option than to take a hard line on immigration or they will get chewed up by conservative activists in Iowa and other primary states. But whoever wins the primary will need to play to a larger audience, and that spells trouble for the Republican base.”
Some political observers say that Republicans eyeing White House bids would benefit by declaring loudly that if elected they would immediately scrap the order.
“If you want to capture the imagination and the intensity of the Republican primary votes, you’d say, ’I think this is a lawless act, and my first act as president would be to void it,’” said Mike McKenna, a GOP strategist.
Spokesmen for Sen. Marco Rubio, former Sen. Rick Santorum and former Gov. Jeb Bush said their bosses want to see the order rescinded now.
“Of course,” said Alex Conant, Mr. Rubio’s spokesman, who added the senator wants to rescind the executive action and then push Congress to pass a bill with a permanent solution that included legal status for many illegal immigrants.
SEE ALSO: Obama amnesty leaves most illegal immigrants still in fear of deportation
Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky said Congress should sue the president. “I think the Supreme Court would strike it down,” Mr. Paul said.
And Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas said that Republicans — after they take control of the Senate next year — should block most of Mr. Obama’s nominees as a way of pressing the president to cancel his own policy. He also called for withholding funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which enforces immigration law.
Steven A. Camarota, research director of the Center for Immigration Studies, said Republicans should call for tougher measures to stop illegal immigration, such as E-Verify and vigorous enforcement policies, which would protect American workers and could prove popular with voters.
But he said history shows the odds of a future administration undoing Mr. Obama’s amnesty are slim.
“Experience suggests that there is nothing as much permanent as a temporary reprieve from deportation,” Mr. Camarota said. “It is harder politically and practically to take something away once it is given.”
Mr. McKenna said Mr. Obama’s executive order will shine a light on the ongoing schism between the GOP establishment and grass-roots conservatives over governance.
“This isn’t like a lot of other issues,” he said. “This kind of strikes right to the core of what people think about when they think of politics. ’What kind of country do we live in?’ I don’t think this current crop of candidates has any idea of how deep that runs.”
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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