What Would Reagan Do?

Peter Robinson was a speechwriter for the Gipper. He is the speechwriter who penned Reagan’s famous “tear down this wall” speech. In this article from the Wall Street Journal, he tackles the question: What would Reagan do about immigration today? To be sure, Reagan would be disappointed to see how the federal government has failed to enforce the 1986 immigration act.

However, Robinson is certain that Reagan would also avoid embracing “anti immigrant” rhetoric and attitudes in addressing our immigration dilemma. It will come as no surprise to you, I agree with Robinson.

No doubt, today’s mass deportation proponents would label Reagan an “amnesty supporter” because of his inclination to calm rather than inflame rhetoric against illegal immigrants. Of course, Reagan is the original amnesty-supporter, something that the majority of Americans oppose today.

But, he would not allow the GOP to cast itself as the “opponent” of immigration (legal or otherwise). He would work to welcome Latinos into the conservative coalition by avoiding the “us against them” refrain.

I will continue to pray that the Texas GOP will embrace that same approach. Texas can, and Texas should lead on this issue!

May God bring us together!