Tenn. Republicans feud over immigration

[ccharles000]

The Republican primary for retiring Tennessee Democrat Bart Gordon’s House seat has taken a sharply negative turn over the issue of illegal immigration, as one of the top candidates seizes on a rival’s state legislative record to accuse her of “coddling illegal aliens.”

Every day over the last week, state Sen. Jim Tracy has issued statements attacking fellow state Sen. Diane Black under the heading “Diane Black Coddling Illegal Aliens Watch,” and calling attention to an amendment Black proposed in the state Legislature that would exempt the counties she represents from a proposed mandate that law enforcement check the immigration status of everyone they arrest.

Both Tracy and Black have co-sponsored the underlying bill, which would require law enforcement to report illegal immigrants they arrest to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. But Tracy’s campaign has pounced on Black’s proposed revision to the law in an attempt to outflank her in the Republican-leaning district.

Tracy spokesman Mike McGrady said immigration was a volatile subject in Tennessee, explaining: “We’re seeing the effects of illegal immigration in all areas – health care, criminal justice, educational system. Tennessee taxpayers are paying a lot of money. It’s a big issue here.”

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0510/37750.html

[bluestateguy]

1. It's really very simple (Re: TN GOP immigration split)

It's the redneck, lower income teabaggers who don't much like them brown people on the one hand, and the affluent suburbanite country club Republicans on the other side. In the latter category you have the folks who find Mexicans to be useful--for nannying their little snowflakes, gardening their lawns and being the kitchen help. So they want John McCain's amnesty law.

[KingFlorez]

2. That is exactly right

It's like that in other states too, the country club Republicans aren't going to give up their cheap labor. They'd rather break the law than hire citizens and pay them proper wages.