Huckabee ties Pakistan, immigration

Posted: Friday, December 28, 2007 3:40 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC/NJ’s Adam Aigner-Treworgy and NBC’s Ben Weltman

PELLA, Iowa -- Huckabee was at it again today trying to bring home the immigration issue to Iowa caucus-goers. At a Pizza Ranch here this morning, he told an audience of more than 250 people, "In light of what happened in Pakistan yesterday it's interesting that there were more Pakistanis who illegally crossed the border than of any other nationality except for those immediately south of our border -- 660 last year."

Afterwards at a media avail, he was asked where he had gotten his numbers. Huckabee replied, "It’s come largely from CIA numbers, and I'll get you the exact source but those are numbers that I got today from a briefing and I believe they are CIA and/or immigration numbers."

What strikes us most is his attempt to connect Pakistani illegal immigration in the United States to Benazir Bhutto's assasination yesterday. "And so the way it affects that is that we need to understand that violence and terror is significant when it happens in Pakistan, it's more significant if it could happen in our own cities, and it happens if people can slip across our border and we have no control over them."

But his rhetoric on the stump this morning and last night was much more pointed then when he was faced with a barrage of questions from the traveling press on why he had singled out Pakistani immigrants in particular.

"My point once again is to highlight that the lack of security on our borders poses a potential threat to us," Huckabee said, seeming to retreat from the issue of ballooning Pakistani immigrants to the issue of border security in general. "I'm making the observation that we have more Pakistani illegals coming across our border than all other nationalities except those immediately south of the border. And in light of what's happening in Pakistan it ought to give us pause as to why are so many illegals coming across these borders."

Huckabee was sure to define exactly which immigrants he's fearful of saying, "the Immigration issue is not so much about people coming in to pick lettuce or make beds. It's about people who could come with a shoulder fired missile and could do serious damage and harm to us."

On the issue of Pakistani stability in general, Huckabee said that Musharraf stepping down -- as Bill Richardson has called for -- would be the "wrong decision," and that if January's elections go on as scheduled in spite of Bhutto's death and Nawaz Sharif's boycott they will be "virtually meaningless."

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Comments

This guy makes me sicker and sicker everytime he opens up his mouth. How the heck does illegal immigration here have anything to do with Bhutto's assasination? Nothing. But like a typical Rethuglican, this guy plays the race and fear card, stating that see, illegal Pakistanis here can cause violence like they do in their own country. Duh! So, it continues to beg the question, what does it have to do with us?

Pat Huntington NY (Sent Friday, December 28, 2007 3:47 PM)

This guy scares the hell out of me.

CitizenJ (Sent Friday, December 28, 2007 4:04 PM)

Obama should be relieved, there is a candidate that is less fluent on this stuff than he is.

Sean (Sent Friday, December 28, 2007 4:05 PM)

Pat -
Although his rhetoric here isn't as poignant as we have come to expect, Huckabee does make that point. When we talk about the issue of illegal immigration it does, in fact, include our enemies who have as much free access to our soft borders as our Spanish speaking friends. How the heck do you think terrorists get into this country? As it is harder for them to enter the conventional way, we must realize that there is a real threat of their entrance. What that has to do with Pakistan and Bhutto's tragic assasination is that the same network of terror that entered our borders during the Clinton administration (not at all saying it is Clinton's fault - just saying it was a time when we weren't staying on top of the threat of terrorists)and orchestrated 911 are thriving in Pakistan. As long as we allow them free access to our heartland by letting them walk across the border we are giving them the opportunity to continue their horrific acts against democracy and freedom.

That has EVERYTHING to do with immigration issues and the tragedy in Pakistan.

Kathryn in Bham (Sent Friday, December 28, 2007 4:09 PM)

He's anything but a typical GOPer. He's a pro-life liberal, who's in over his head, and grasping at straws. In fact, if it wasn't for his abortion stance, an argument could be made that he's more of a Demoncrat that Hillary.

Bruce, NV (Sent Friday, December 28, 2007 4:15 PM)

This goober will never become president. I just hope he does not get the GOP nomination. Something tells me he will win Iowa though !!!

Raj (Sent Friday, December 28, 2007 4:17 PM)

Most of the illegals coming from others countries besides the southern countries in our hemisphere are from asia, Huck gets it wrong again. He is really showing how light weight he really is on many issues.
It seems people see McCain and Clinton as the 'safe' candidates, the ones who are level headed and much more experienced in the nuance of international politics. HMMMMMMMM, no more children running the country, hooow refreshing! Huck will self distruct as he continues to speak, good, he is not worth our time looking at him as a candidate.
I wonder if Willard can step up to the platform of foreign policy or will continue to play it safe and be the Bush cheerleader. This is starting to get interesting.

John Alexander,Edinboro,PA (Sent Friday, December 28, 2007 4:29 PM)

huckabee has a valid point on the open border policy although it may not be politically correct the fact is our country is being invaded and nothing will be done until the illegal start scaling the walls of the wealthy, for a so called land of laws we have become all too selective on when and how those laws are enforced

MK,MO (Sent Friday, December 28, 2007 4:35 PM)

This may be his source
http://www.cis.org/articles/2005/back605transcript.html

So his quote appears to be out of context.

Mark (Sent Friday, December 28, 2007 4:39 PM)

John Alexander -
Please reference your facts...if you bash what he says (and I have not researched your facts or his) you should back up what you say. Lets find the true facts on where our illegals are coming from before we go bashing the man. Same goes for you - I will not discredit your facts if you back them up either.

Kathryn in Bham (Sent Friday, December 28, 2007 4:51 PM)

Immediately south of the border? Doesn't that refer to only Mexico, since it's only country on our border? Perhaps also Cuba, since it's only 90 miles away... But what about Brazilians and all the other Central/South American immigrants here illegally? I have a hard time believing that there are more illegal Pakistanis here than Brazilians.

Kathryn, I agree with you that stats need to be backed up, but notice that Huck wasn't able to back up his numbers either. His exact words were "I believe they are CIA and/or immigration numbers". Ok, vague.

Pat, I agree with you on this one- Huck is just using this tragedy to make himself look like he has even the remotest clue about foreign policy... which he has proven on several occasions that he doesn't. Scary thought.

Kira, Utah (Sent Friday, December 28, 2007 5:24 PM)

Kira -
That is why I was wanting a reference, to see if either is right/wrong.

I don't think Huck is trying to make himself look good. I think the major issue in the GOP has been immigration, so he is tying the headlines to something that hits home. Ultimately, whoever is president will do the same on all issues: assess their validity to domestic issues and make decisions from there. I think that Huck's experience is limited in regards to foreign policy (obviously), but I think that he is right on with taking a look at what this means for those of us sitting in our homes and offices thinking that the events are a tragedy and going on about our day. We need to realize that Bhutto's death is devastating and her enemies also threaten each of us.

Kathryn in Bham (Sent Friday, December 28, 2007 5:44 PM)

This is the more likely source of the number "660". A Denver post article from last year. The source was border agents, not the CIA, however.

http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:wsvnyOBbVlAJ:www.desertinvasion.us/articles/art2006mar26.html+pakistani+%22illegal+aliens%22+660&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=15&gl=us

Grassboots, Newton, Iowa (Sent Friday, December 28, 2007 6:00 PM)

Another thought- 660 pakistanis is not that many. Does he think they're all terrorists? Perhaps some of them are, but perhaps others, like many Mexicans, are seeking a better, safer life. I am 100% against illegal immigration, but I think it's a pretty big, and pretty unfair leap, for Huckabee to tie the death of a remarkable stateswoman to our national security. She was killed by an extremist. she had been the target of assassination attempts before. She was, in a way, expecting this, but felt that she must continue to fight for her people and be a role-model for middle eastern women- many of whom are extremely oppressed. The assassin was most likely a citizen of the same country where the attack occurred. Thus immigration had nothing to do with it.

Kira, Utah (Sent Friday, December 28, 2007 6:06 PM)

Nobody could stop Tim McVeigh from slipping across the border into Oklahoma, Huck. We've got our own nuts to worry about. The nuts from the other side of the world are for them to worry about.

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Friday, December 28, 2007 6:17 PM)

Bush is dumb but Huckabee is even dumber.

hhkeller (Sent Friday, December 28, 2007 6:27 PM)

Phew! For a minute there I was worried that Huckabee might get the GOP nomination. Now that it's blatantly obvious he's not presidential material we can move on and refocus on the viable candidates and the real issues.

Melissa, Springville, Utah (Sent Friday, December 28, 2007 6:38 PM)

Kathryn, I see your point and agree for the most part. If the comment were coming from someone else, I would probably agree with you completely. But coming from Huckabee, it just sounds like another attempt to sound viable. Everything he has said about foreign policy has been completely assenine, and I REALLY don't agree with most of what he says about illegal immigrants.

He just comes across as floundering to me. But I appreciate your input.

Happy New Year everyone...talk to you next week.

Kira, Utah (Sent Friday, December 28, 2007 6:54 PM)

Kathryn, sorry I didn't provide back up for my post, but todays news on where Huckabee got the info clears that up. Thanks for calling me on that, I will provide back-up from now on when we are talking facts thanks. I read the news before I go on first read and saw the story before I read this thread. Yesterday it said the main illegals are from the Phillipines and asian countries, today the story is Indians from India, but the final paragraph spoke of how hard it is to come up with these numbers, seems most of the numbers are derived from think tanks and statistical analysis. Huck read a three year old article and made a cake out of it.
Grasping at political straws may seem good in the short run but with the information out there it would seem that Huck needed to check facts more than me.

John Alexander,Edinboro,PA (Sent Saturday, December 29, 2007 10:23 AM)

Huskster's trying to distance himself from his other bonehead remarks regarding Pakistan.

Gene, Raleigh NC (Sent Saturday, December 29, 2007 7:07 PM)

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