Bush Warns GOP about appearing Anti-immigrant

The New York Times reports that during an interview with Brit Hume for Fox News Sunday, President Bush warned his fellow Republicans against appearing “anti-immigrant” while admitting his party got "whipped in 2008".

“Look, obviously we got whipped in 2008, and there will be a new wave of leadership arriving on the scene,” Mr. Bush said. “But it’s very important for our party not to narrow its focus, not to become so inward-looking that we drive people away from a philosophy that is compassionate and decent.”

“We should be open-minded about big issues like immigration reform, because if we’re viewed as anti-somebody — in other words, if the party is viewed as anti-immigrant — then another fellow may say, well, if they’re against the immigrant, they may be against me.”

President Bush along with allies from his party warned time and again that those within the Republican Party opposed to comprehensive immigration reform ran the risk of alienating immigrants. Exited polls from November's election shows that President Bush's fears were correct with a large majority of Latinos turning out to support Democrats.

For more on the story, link here.

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President Bush Offers Advice to the GOP on Immigration

During a speech to the American Enterprise Institute, President Bush gave advice to the Republican Party: “Tone down the "anti" rhetoric in the immigration debate, which soured many Hispanics toward the GOP”.

Even a month after Latinos handed sweeping defeat to the Republican Party, Conservative Talk Radio personalities continue their sharp and hateful tone against immigrants. This month General Colin Powell, a registered Republican said that members of the party should “stop listening to Rush Limbaugh”. And asked, “Is this really the kind of party that we want to be when these kinds of spokespersons seem to appeal to our lesser instincts rather than our better instincts?"

Powell said "if the party wants to have a future in this country, it has to face some realities. In another 20 years, the majority in this country will be the minority." Powell was no doubt responding to the many well publicized outrageous statements and actions made by Limbaugh. Back in May, Limbaugh called Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa a “Shoe Shine Boy” shocked that the Latino held such a high office.

It is not hard to see that conservative talk radio is very much viewed as the public face of the GOP. The party will certainly have to make some choices in the coming year on weather it will continue to assist in championing the same messages that brought it to it's knees last month.

Further reading:
Colin Powell: GOP Should Be More Inclusive And Stop Listening To Rush Limbaugh
GOP facing tough choices, including who'll lead the party
Limbaugh Calls Mayor Villaraigosa a "Shoe Shine Boy!"
Poof goes the GOP

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