Immigrants coming to America do so because the United States is still the city on a shining hill for the poor and persecuted. I just returned from Mexico, where I discussed these matters with some of Mexico's leading business and political figures. I discussed the current situation at some length with Francisco Gil Diaz, Mexico's minister of finance, and with former Minister of Finance Dr. Pedro Aspe, now a very successful entrepreneur. I can tell you, Mexicans do not leave their families and homes - risking life and limb to come to America - out of animus to America or Americans.
I also had discussions with the highly respected businessman and business leader Carlos Slim and with Dr. Roberto Salinas de Leon, executive director of policy analysis for TV Azteca, and we agreed that people don't come to America looking for a handout or welfare. They come here out of necessity, looking for work and opportunities that do not presently exist in Mexico. In the long run, the best way to stop mass migration from Mexico to the United States is not to militarize the border but to ensure that Mexico has a growing economy. That way Mexico can be a beacon for its own citizens and maybe even for people in neighboring countries.
Until recently, there was real concern that the anti-immigration/anti-trade virus would spread over into North Carolina, where Vernon Robinson is running against Ed Broyhill for the U.S. House of Representatives. I originally endorsed Robinson, but I had to withdraw my endorsement and support Broyhill because Robinson was running a very negative and aggressive anti-immigration campaign, which I believe is contrary to the core values of the party of Lincoln.
The votes in recent primaries, however, should be a shot across the bow not only of these reactionary Republicans but also of John Kerry and other Democrats buying into the notion that CEOs of companies with overseas operations are somehow unpatriotic. These votes clarify that the voters realize the blame for jobs going overseas should not be directed at foreign people or countries but at bad policies and the elected officials who enact them, burdening American businesses and making American operations uncompetitive in a global economy.
The results of the DeMint and Cannon elections highlight how wrong conventional wisdom usually is. These elections should also remind those running for office this fall that voters will often reward politicians who have the courage of their convictions so long as their convictions appeal to voters' best hopes and confidence rather than their worst fears and doubts.
Looking to the fall campaign season, I am hopeful that other Republicans will stand against anti-immigrant policies, stand up for free trade and stand behind wealth creation for the little guy as well as the rich by allowing workers to put a significant part of their Social Security taxes into personal retirement accounts.
From immigrant nation to investor nation, trading freely with the rest of the world, America must continue to be that city on a shining hill - not only for its own citizens but by example for everyone else in the world.