Tampa, FL- The Republican Party has descended on Tampa, ready to coronate Mitt Romney as their presidential candidate and present their party platform taking some tough stances on immigration. Party favorite Jeb Bush had some advice for the GOP leaders on their future.
On NBC’s “Meet the Press” this Sunday, Bush had some advice for his party in regards to immigration saying, “We‘ve got to have a better tone going forward over the long haul, for sure.”
But his warning came after the party included in its 2012 platform the concept of “self-deportation,” one of Romney’s solutions to the problem of illegal immigration. In addition to the “Self-deportation” concept, the party platform also includes allowing more states to enact Arizona-style immigration laws which have been challenged in federal courts, and heavily criticized by immigrant advocates. A plank in their platform also calls for expanding the fence along the U.S. / Mexico border.
“You can’t ask people to join your cause and then send a signal that you’re not really wanted. It just doesn’t work,” Bush said.
Romney trails far behind President Obama in favorability among Latino voters who could help sway the election in November.
The President’s deferred action for young immigrants helped increase his favorability among Latinos and is perceived as humane solution for young immigrants who lined up for hours on August 15th to submit their visa applications. Immigration attorneys across the country also volunteered their services to help with the visa process.
Bush also warned the party about their favorability ratings among African-Americans, women and gays. “We have to change our message. This is going to be a close election, but long-term conservative principles; if they’re to be successful and implemented, there has to be a concerted effort to reach out to a much broader audience than we do today.”
