Article 3 - Election fever

Immigrants and their influence on campaigns.

Article/Link: Hello, It’s a Message From Mitt Romney About Rick Perry

Date Published : November 4, 2011 

Date Accessed : November 5, 2011

The presidential elections for the presidency of The United States of America is approaching fast and the candidates are aware of this. Mitt Romney has alleged, his fellow opposition, Rick Perry of fostering illegal immigrants to the United States. This shows that Romney still considers Perry as a competition for the votes in the state of Iowa. Perry’s campaign strategy focuses on the need to provide in-state tuition for illegal immigrants at a discounted rate. However this is quite opposite to the campaigns of other candidates who feel that a border fence is necessary. A border fence prevents illegal immigrants from entering a country. A lot of people believe that this is just one of Perry’s strategy to get votes from these immigrants who have acquired U.S. citizenship. A lot of people are opposing this strategy of Perry. Both he sides are not ready to show any sign of benevolence. The big question however is that will this strategy pay off.

This is not the first time that the issue of immigrants has been used presidential candidates. Back in the 1800’s when the issue of illegal immigrants was a big problem in the United States due to the increase surge of Irish, German and other immigrants, some parties used the support for immigrants to gain votes. The political conflict between the Republicans and the Democratic Republicans led to this support for the immigrants or vice versa. The Republicans who were dominant in the North used support for the immigrants to gain votes in the North. The Democrats in the South favored anti-immigrant policy. The votes of the immigrants did play an important role in determining the outcome of the elections at that time. Rick Perry’s strategy to use the support of the immigrants is also quite similar to what the parties followed at that time. It maybe so that he is trying to use this strategy again hoping that history will repeat itself. The outcome is still undecided, but the strategy sure seems to be gathering pro and anti Rick Perry feelings.

VOCABULARY

Allege

To accuse someone of an action that he or she has been suspected of doing or has done

Middle English alleggen to submit in evidence or as justification, adduce, from Anglo-French aleger, allegger,probably in part modification of Medieval Latin allegare,from Latin, to send as a representative, adduce in support of a plea (from ad- + legare to depute), in part from Anglo-French aleger to lighten, free, exculpate, from Late Latin alleviare to relieve — more at legate, alleviate

First Known Use: 14th century

The teacher alleged the student of cheating in the exam and sent him to the Honor Council.

Fostering

to promote the growth or development of 

origin: 12th century

The intermediary played a vey important role in fostering friendly relationships between both the sides.

Benevolence

an act of kindness

origin: 14th century

Benevolence is one character that humans today, lack.