Conservative will score points on immigration

BY TIMES &DEMOCRAT STAFF
Editorial Tuesday, May 16, 2006

THE ISSUE: Immigration reform

OUR OPINION: Conservative candidate’s views resonate with frustrated Americans

President Bush is taking on the immigration issue. Skeptics say it’s because a president with dismal popularity ratings is looking to score points on an issue that is hot with Americans. Supporters say the president is stepping up to the plate as a leader and a man who formerly led a state at the forefront of immigration issues.

The president and members of Congress from both parties are debating immigration against the backdrop of an election this fall. Democrats are enthralled by the possibilities of changing the guard in Washington. Republicans, particularly conservatives, are pressuring Bush and his administration to hold true to the agenda and push it forward in the months until November.

The president and those conservatives are not on the same page when it comes to proposals such as a guest-worker program. They do agree on securing the borders — as controversial as the concept of using the National Guard for that purpose is to become.

While Washington talks, there are those outside the capital loop making their own noise on the issue. One is John Cox. Not many may have heard of the man who is the first to announce his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008.

Conservative political activist Nathan Tabor of North Carolina has taken note of Cox — and it won’t take long for others to do so. His position on immigration will connect with an America increasingly frustrated by the issue.

In April, Cox, a successful businessman from Chicago, appeared and spoke at three district GOP conventions in Iowa. Delegates reportedly “leapt to their feet in a very vocal show of support” after hearing Cox outline what he would do about illegal aliens.

As reported by Tabor, here’s what Cox has to say:

His campaign Web site highlights the images of two other Illinois Republicans — Ronald Reagan, who was born in the state, and Abraham Lincoln, who lived in Illinois before becoming president.

While the politicians in Washington appear oblivious to the desires of the American people for control of U.S. borders and illegal immigration, Cox appears to be taking the lead in dealing with the flow of illegal immigrants from the south. The candidate says he’d go after the employers and thus eliminate the attraction for aliens to enter or remain illegally in the U.S.“

Cox says the problem is an economic one, blaming Mexico for nationalizing industry and hindering growth. “So Mexicans are happy to come up to America to work for $300 a week when American employees would need to make $500 a week.”

“Employers love this; they’re making money. What’s the answer? You’ve got to enforce the law against employers.”

Cox says if enough employers go to jail and companies subsequently stop hiring illegal aliens, the flood of Mexicans will stop flowing north and many unlawful immigrants will simply go home.

The GOP hopeful wants to expand legal immigration at all economic levels to fill unskilled jobs as well as high-tech positions.

“I want these people to put down roots here, to learn English and become Americans,” Cox said. “I’m against a guest-worker program; it just creates a ‘slave’ class.”

The businessman has vowed to speak in all of Iowa’s 99 counties ahead of the Iowa Republican State Convention. He wouldn’t be the first candidate that Iowans have elevated to national stature. And immigration just may be the issue that can make it happen.