Hillary Clinton’s campaign wasted no time taking aim at Donald Trump’s immigration plan — only her real target was Scott Walker.
The Wisconsin governor isn’t mentioned in the body of the statement by Hillary for America Latino outreach director Lorella Praeli, but its title emphasized “Walker endorsing Trump proposal to end birthright citizenship.” The campaign also said it was issued “[i]n response to the recent extreme proposals and comments on immigration by Republicans such as Donald Trump and Scott Walker.”
“It is disturbing that Republican presidential candidates continue to embrace extreme anti-immigrant positions as core pieces of their immigration platform,” Praeli said. “While more Republicans are promoting policies that tear families apart, Hillary Clinton remains consistent in her position to defend President Obama’s executive actions and push for a comprehensive solution that includes a pathway to full and equal citizenship at the heart of any immigration reform plan.”
The framing suggests that despite Trump’s strong position in the polls, Democrats regard Walker as the more likely nominee and greater general election threat.
After Trump released his immigration plan, which was clearly influenced by Alabama Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions, Walker stated that he had actually embraced many of the same policies first.
Walker was quoted as saying he would also end birthright citizenship. “Yeah, to me it’s about enforcing the laws in this country,” he said. “And I’ve been very clear, I think you enforce the laws, and I think it’s important to send a message that we’re going to enforce the laws, no matter how people come here we’re going to enforce the laws.”
Walker’s camp subsequently told the Washington Examiner that the GOP presidential candidate was actually arguing that tough immigration enforcement would negate the need to end birthright citizenship.
Either way, it’s obvious that Trump isn’t just a voice crying in the wilderness on immigration. He represents a real tendency within the Republican Party, one that Democrats are eager to showcase to turn out Latino voters for a Clinton-headed ticket.
