Did immigration kill Chris Cannon's career?
Just when you thought it was safe to go back over the border...
Was Tuesday's primary defeat of Rep. Chris Cannon (R-Utah) by challenger Jason Chaffetz a sign of something bigger? In what is said to be one of the Beehive State's most conservative districts, six-term incumbent Cannon lost by a 60-40 vote. Were voters fed up with incumbents, fed up with the economy, or was it ... ¿inmigración?
Mickey Kaus (He's not against immigrants! He's just aware of them!) says it was Cannon's insufficiently restrictive stances on immigration what done him in. "As if by eerie coincidence," Kaus writes, "John McCain has been having trouble generating the kind of popularity among Republicans typically enjoyed by Republican presidential candidates! And he's also been pushing 'comprehensive' reform of late, potentially winning Latino support but further jeopardizing his GOP support."
In Human Events, Marcus Epstein calls Cannon's defeat "without a doubt, the greatest electoral victory of the immigration control movement. The election was about one -- and only one -- issue: Chris Cannon’s long support of amnesty for illegal aliens."
The Salt Lake City Tribune calls Cannon the "congressman in the coalmine," and Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colorado) tells the paper, "[A]ny Republican who's running for office and believes the immigration issue is dead should take another look and see what happened to Mr. Cannon."
On the other hand, Deseret News political editor Bob Bernick Jr. writes at length about Cannon's defeat without mentioning immigration — but then that may just show that the MSM is in on the conspiracy.
The St. George Daily Spectrum also downplays immigration in the case, viewing the defeat as "a warning to incumbents as the 2008 campaign hits full stride."
Michael Barone somewhat reframes his 2006 assessment that Cannon proved immigration was not political death for Republicans, but he doesn't see the issue as fully scalable in the 2008 election: "What does this mean for immigration legislation in the next Congress? Not a lot. I thought that this would be the first presidential election in my memory in which the major party nominees would have sharply different positions on immigration. It would have been, had John McCain not won the Republican nomination."
A definite maybe? Proof that the elites aren't willing to speak the truth about immigration? And whose head will roll next?
Chris Cannon TODAY...and EVERY Republican/Democratic illegal alien supporter in the country TOMORROW!!!
The Revelution has begun! Take back our country, it is still not too late to show corporations that Americans still know how to demand change, to be heard and obeyed. Your VOTE is a powerful tool.
Posted by: VOTEoutillegals | August 05, 2008 at 10:09 PM
Overpopulation, congestion, urban sprawl, vanishing farm land and green space, crumbling infrastructure, overcrowded schools and emergency rooms, lack of affordable housing, diminishing resources, crime, pollution, depressed wages, increased tax burdens, the balkanization of our communities, the overall decline in quality of life, are all the result of unconstrained immigration! Indeed, there is no problem confronting America's Citizens that would not be measurably improved by securing our borders and enforcing our immigration laws.
Virtually every industrialized nation, even China, Mexico, and most recently, the European Union, has taken steps to end illegal immigration and to curtail legal immigration to only that which is prudent, demonstrably necessary, and above all other considerations, in the best interest of their native populations. It's dangerously misguided to suggest that the United States should not do likewise.
Too many people competing for the same resources cannot be considered sound economic, environmental, social or cultural policy!
Posted by: Ed Weirdness | July 01, 2008 at 08:29 AM
Chris Cannon's position on immigration did in fact, cost him his office! Indeed, his "willingness to work on other candidates campaign's" may not be as popular as the Congressman thinks. I can see other Republicans avoiding "public appearances" with Cannon like the plague.
Cannon was the "low hanging fruit" for Conservatives, but it should prove voters will take a stand even if it discomfits party unity. Arguably, an Obama Presidency is tolerable as so many from both parties will actively work to limit the damage he can cause. Conservatives and Independents will focus on House and Senate races and limiting the damage that either an Obama or a McCain Presidency can cause. Regardless of who's President, Congress must still pass the legislation and provide the funding necessary to implement the President's vision. After the near revolt over Comprehensive Immigration Reform, where we; the people, shouted down this egregious attempt at undermining the will of America's Citizens, Congress is chastized and will hopefully be more cognizant of the will of America's Citizens on this issue. If Senator McCain continues down the path of earned citizenship, or any variation of his misguided amnesty policies, he can stop campaigning right now. We the people are willing to take to the streets, revolt if necessary to see that our will, and not that of employers, corporations, the Chamber of Commerce, or foreign governments, serves as guidance for our elected representatives. Never, in all of recorded political history, has any candidate so misjudged the public sentiment on any issue as John McCain has on illegal immigration. Work to change the balance of power in Congress, and any short lived Presidency is endurable.
Posted by: Ed Weirdness | July 01, 2008 at 08:18 AM
Those ... comments, those are just...wow.
Does everyone think they are Herb Caen these days?
Posted by: Mitchell Young | June 30, 2008 at 11:37 AM
Denial is more than just a river in Egypt.
Deseret News political editor Bob Bernick Jr. writing about the race without mentioning immigration signifies only that Mr. Bernick is either tone-deaf and out of touch, or so steeped in MSM multi-culti hogwash that he dares not say its (illegal immigration) name. This isn't unusual here in Utah; we are daily bombarded with messages to "embrace our diversity" and to "celebrate our ethnic cultures." Indeed, newspapers downplaying immigration as an issue is universal in MSM publications. It is the norm, not worthy of mention. It also doesn't mean anything; why are newspapers losing audience faster than I lose money in a poker game? They preach to the choir, avoid obvious truths, and promote agendas and manifestos instead of reporting and commenting on the news. Guess what, dummies; we don't need you thinking for us, telling us how to think, or looking down your noses at us while you scribble away in your ivory towers.
Cannon got nutsmacked for betraying his oath of office, speaking out of both of his faces, and lying about his unsupportable positions. If you read his post-defeat comments, he STILL doesn't get it. Who needs someone this stupid in congress?
Posted by: Mike St James | June 29, 2008 at 11:31 AM
Of course, those who see immigration, or illegal immigration, as the reason behind all problems, will not be able to see any cause beyond it for why mr Cannon lost. And those who call McCain Mc "Shamnesty". It's mind-boggling. This is just... can't believe this is LA.
Posted by: sdfdsf | June 29, 2008 at 11:25 AM
Yes! Yes! Yes! Soon to be former US Congressman Chris Cannon's actions in Washington, DC earned the citizens of Utah's wrath and the voted him OUT! They were fed up with his open borders agenda and his plotting to get the H-1B visa increases passed in October 2000.
American scientists, engineers, and computer professionals are celebrating the power of the Utah voters to remove Congressman Cannon from his position in Washington DC at the voting box.
This, of course, is not the first historic voter event in Utah. Let us not forget that Utahans have a lower tolerance for elected politicans who do not stand up for Americans in Washington, DC. For example: former US Congresswoman Karen Shephard (Democrat) (ONE term US Congresswoman because she voted for things she promised not to support -- for NAFTA, for higher taxes) Congresswoman Enid Greene (ONE term US Congresswoman).
Now, if only Utahans would realize how Senator Orrin Hatch has sold them down the river and vote him out of office too.
Citizens in other states across the USA are also realizing the power and joy of voting out of office politicans who vote for illegal aliens, globalization, and are anti-American workers. For example: US Congresswoman Heather Wilson (Republican) of New Mexico wanted to be a US Senator and she was SOUNDLY defeated in the primaries. NOW she is unemployed like her voting for H-1B visas and off shoring made thousands of American professionals unemployed.
The American voter DOES count! And there is joy across the land at the defeat of Congressman Chris Cannon. Now, about Senator Harry Reid of Nevada .... VOTE people --- send a message to Washington, DC.
Posted by: Ann | June 29, 2008 at 05:56 AM
There is a difference between McCain and Obama on immigration. McCain is a zealot supporter of the guest worker concept while Obama tends to be neutral to somewhat against the guest worker concept. This makes McCain worse than Obama on immigration. McCain is even attacking Obama for votes in opposition to guest workers as poison pills. See --
http://tinyurl.com/5wz3mc
Posted by: Richard A. | June 28, 2008 at 10:10 PM
Illegal immigration must be eliminated. We are in a recession. Millions of Americans are losing their homes and jobs. Gas and food are sky high and families struggle to exist. Illegal immigration drives wages down and drains resources meant for citizens. Why do we have immigration laws? To protect the citizens of the host country and our economy. Every country has immigration laws they enforce, the US is no different. The US allows over 2 million legal immigrants annually, more than any other nation. Another million illegal immigrants also immigrate here annually. Besides the fiscal impact, look at the problem with supporting this massive population. Competition for schools, drinking water, utilities, housing, hospitals, and jobs. What is the upside, cheap labor for businesses? If you are in business and your competition uses cheap illegal labor, how do you compete? Either you hire illegals or go out of business. As for guest worker programs, we already have 10 guest worker programs in the US. Agriculture guest workers are unlimited, they can hire as many as needed. The guest worker program they want is amnesty. Pass another amnesty and you'll have another 40 million illegal aliens here for sure. If you are here illegally, go home and come back legally or not at all. There is no argument that can justify illegal immigration
Posted by: Stephen | June 28, 2008 at 06:38 PM
GOP talks tough on illegal immigration then supports expanding work visas by the millions. Throw all the bums out.
Posted by: althusius | June 28, 2008 at 02:57 PM
Go ahead Juan McShamnesty:
"Make my Day."
You can pander all you like to La Raza but you can't win without me the base Republican voter. 4% is the hard core open borders contingent. You may gain La Raza's corrupt racist support but...you will lose by double digits if you don't secure the border and increase work place raids on slave master employers and illegal drunken raping aliens.
I for one am getting the point where I will tolerate Obama's 1 term Carter-esque term as "El Presidente'" if it gets debased RINO's like you out of the party and secures the borders. Let's see how long the Old Money Crowd will put up with a Pelosi-Obama tax festival... not long I imagine. Long enough though to purge the party of the corrupt kneeling slaves of Mexico City like John "Juan McShamnesty" McCain.
There's still time John...turn away from your drug lord slave masters in Mexico City and we will vote for you. Fail us and you will fail.
Posted by: SPQR_US | June 28, 2008 at 02:07 PM
Immigration Anarchy is slowly coming to an end ,state by state,sanctuary city by sanctuary city!
Posted by: M A Andrews | June 28, 2008 at 01:44 PM
There has been widespread discontent with Rep. Chris Cannon's positions on immigration. Cannon crowed from his House of Representatives website on 18 October 2000 that he managed the passage of S. 2045 in the House(which boosted annual H-1B visa numbers from 115K to 195K.)
The problem was that news accounts of the activities for the passage of S.2045 documented deceiving House members with a false claim that no significant business would be conducted in the House on the afternoon of 3 October 2000, so the House recessed early. Late in the day, 40 or so mostly Republican members were called back to pass S.2045 on a voice vote. As Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) was quoted "that's a sorry way to run a railroad."
Then there's Cannon's involvement with members of "Team Abramoff" such as David Safavian, who served as Cannon's COS for a time.
For more details, see the recent news article, "The Greedy Gates Immigration Gambit." http://www.thesocialcontract.com/pdf/eighteen-one/tsc_18_1_nelson.pdf
Posted by: Dr. Gene Nelson | June 28, 2008 at 12:43 PM