Newt Gingrich has caused a stir in the Republican Party by saying what anyone with any common sense already knows on immigration. Gingrich stated that you are not about to deport 11 million people that are here illegally. Gingrich stated that a Party that claims to be big on family values should not be forcing the separation of families through deportation.

“I don’t see how the party that says it’s the party of family is going to adopt an immigration policy which destroys families which have been here a quarter century and I’m prepared to take the heat for saying let’s be humane in enforcing the law,” he said.

Newt seemed to structure certain parameters, (here for 25 years, no citizenship) that would allow him to deny that his comments represented “amnesty” for these folks. But the immigration hawks in the Republican Party are having none of it. So that heat Newt talked about is coming. Michelle Bachmann hit him even before the debate was over, accusing him of promoting “amnesty”. William Gheen, an anti immigration activist, hit him pretty hard as well.

Americans for Legal Immigration Political Action Committee Chairman William Gheen predicted that Gingrich’s campaign will “implode” as a result of his support for “DREAM Act Amnesty,” just as Perry’s campaign took a dive after the border-state governor described his support for in-state tuition for illegal immigrants. “Newt Gingrich’s campaign will now take the ‘Perry Plunge’ due to his support for DREAM Act Amnesty,” Gheen said in a written statement. “Newt Gingrich is finished!”
Gheen said any form of amnesty for illegals will “harm American workers and students” and lead to derailing future border and immigration enforcement efforts. “We are waiting to hear one of these GOP candidates give the correct answer to the immigration question,” Gheen said. “The correct answer is a pledge to adequately enforce America’s existing border and immigration laws — period!”

So Newt takes the humane approach, and has heavy incoming, just as Rick Perry did when he said that those opposed to in state tuition for illegals did not have a heart. The Republicans in Iowa are not favorably inclined to liberal positions on immigration. It is hard for me to see how this emphasis helps Gingrich at this point in time. Is my thought on that wrong? Does Gingrich see something that we cannot see? With the Iowa caucuses right around the corner we will find out soon enough.