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Conservatives re-examining position on illegal immigration

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    Reaction to Sean Hannity's 'evolved' stance and future of GOP policy

  • Duration 6:00
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My back -- -- on the aftermath of the election some conservatives are reconsidering.

Their position on illegal immigration following governor Romney's election defeat.

On his radio show yesterday Fox News Sean Hannity say that he now supports.

A path to citizenship.

For some people living in the United States illegally.

We've got to get rid of the immigration issue altogether I think you control the border first.

You create a pathway for those people that -- here you don't say you got to go home.

And that is -- in a in a position that I've evolved on and.

I'm really shocked his political analyst Mary Katharine Ham editor at large of hot -- dot com and a Fox News contributor Juan what do you think about which onset.

I think that's quite significant Martha because it.

You're -- call when president George W.

Bush tried to pass immigration reform after his reelection.

-- -- It was talk radio show host on the right including John who -- grassroots opposition instead no.

So if you get -- Sean Hannity leading their conservative talk radio host to say you know let's reconsider look at the results coming out of this election especially in terms of the Hispanic vote it's time to move on I think it could have impact August quickly add that.

I was on the O -- show last night with Laura Ingram.

And she seems to feel -- that's not the solution she's a prominent right.

Wing radio talk show host herself she thinks Democrats will just one upped the ante and Republicans will never catch up.

So there's some still some way to go but that was a significant move by -- -- so interesting as was pointed out George W.

Bush was open to a path to citizenship.

And work arrangements that would allow people to stay John McCain was criticized when he ran for president or his you know sort of more open.

Perspective on how to approach this problem.

In -- get anywhere with that he -- election as well Mary -- what what are the lessons here.

Well I mean first lessen the president's not the only one who can evolve on an issue.

Yeah I think I am -- that's no mistake and that word evolved wages data right we have a -- on the said he was evolving on the issue of gay marriage so they're both sides -- -- need to be open to allowing others to turn all right.

Yeah I think.

I think it is a signal -- this is a signal that that it may be to the conservative base that hey we should be open this kind of thing I I do think.

This is gonna come up in the next congress regardless and I think certainly it.

At least tone has to be moderated if not policy and I I think.

That is an important part of reaching out to an electorate that is growing there are many people -- Republican Party such as George W.

Bush and John McCain who frankly.

Have put more politically on the line for the issue of comprehensive immigration reform then certainly Obama.

-- more than many Democrats -- not.

Most of them.

So I think.

There are folks in the party who can listen to things like that I think there are Ted -- and and Texas for instance is not for amnesty but he knows the issue of immigration -- border concerns and got Ted -- Scares me.

Jeff flake and Arizona who's now senator understands border issues in the past has been on board -- conference you know reform but I do think this border issue.

Promises promises promises folks are gonna be -- including -- white working class democratic voters if there is not something solid in an agreement and that's just the bottom line.

-- they often think back to sort of the moments along the way in these elections and when the turning points -- and and my mind goes back to.

Marco Rubio who you know was about to put forth some legislation that was very similar.

Two every policy that would that was.

Literally came out of the lips of President Obama -- days later.

And right before President Obama put out his feeling that you know people who came under the age of sixteen at all of those sort of ramifications that he that he put out there.

Right before he did that Marco Rubio had this plan of his own and governor Ronnie had been campaigning in Florida with Marco Rubio and was asked do you agree with what.

What senator rubio is saying -- immigration.

And he kind of hesitated he he didn't you know jump onboard as they got to think about and and why I just have to wonder you know if that was in a moment that might have changed the course of a lot of things.

It could be Amare you know I think one of the realities here and now I'm Mary Katherine was touching on this -- I think you're gonna see core constituencies inside.

The GOP.

Now rush I think to people like Marco Rubio and say.

Tell us again how you would do this I think it raises rubio stature within the party even as a contender in 26 feet.

But I think you also have to look at the chamber of commerce the business community particularly people in the high tech sector people on Wall Street.

Who want some kind of immigration reform to get the very best brains into the country and -- willing to make concessions if you tell them you know what he can get up and ask people here.

-- -- And and the system is amassing just horribly complex and incentivizing all the wrong things just as most things in the federal government -- but I do want to say for Republicans this is not some sort of quick fix.

Where you come out and say -- your for this and it solves problems of the Spanish voters if policy were the only issue than Barack Obama would have paid some press for bragging about how -- deported.

-- I think it ever an illegal immigrants than anyone else so I think.

It's a deeper issues and out of the cultural issue the way you talk about it is very important this race coming up.

This discussion coming up is going to be a testing ground for whether they can do that in a way that sensitive.

And that addresses the concerns of Hispanics -- Who are you know interest and entrepreneurship and aspirations society justice conservatives are yes let me -- let me say -- Add quickly that Marco Rubio said to me.

It's -- interview I did -- box there's -- with him he said you know if you're saying that people.

Deep port yourself or we want to deport your grandmother they're not gonna hear anything you say after that about values entrepreneur or ship about how we -- values -- turns -- the strong Catholic beliefs in the Hispanic community.

Great points this discussion is far from over thanks so much -- behind good to see -- both.

Take care --

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