# Trump's Republican primary campaign **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 3, 2015, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828 "2015-09-03T18:00:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 137
**Author:** ![Hank\_Beecher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hank_beecher/32/7275_2.png) [@Hank\_Beecher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hank_Beecher)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2016, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/2725 "2016-03-20T03:38:53Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > That is nice, do you realize that you are making the point that what the courts say should be based on popular opinion? No, what I mean is current popular opinion has already taken what the courts say into account, and that Arpaio is still somewhat popular, especially among the large segment of the population who views him as a symbol of their illegal-immigrant sentiment. > [@](#): > > Not for this AFAIK. I am just basing this on the fact that I have heard about the profiling decision, and I am someone who makes zero effort to stay informed of Sheriff Joe drama. > [@](#): > > Again, I only expect that to be fair the media also takes Trump to task until Trump repudiates Arpaio. The media should report on the decision, for sure. But what you are asking for is too demanding, will not work, and will probably backfire. Trump will not repudiate Arpaio, and the power of the media’s fake puritanical incredulity is waning fast. With good questions, you might coerce Trump to take some position on racial profiling in the context of the Arpaio case, he might even come out against racial profiling, on his own. But he isn’t going to acknowledge the premises of those who demand he repudiate Arpaio, let alone do it. It would come across as too weak. > [@](#): > > And BTW, so should you and all others that do claim to believe in law and order. Unless you are defending the willful contempt of what the courts decided years ago. No, I shouldn’t. I am not making demands of you to repudiate anyone am I? This is just a discussion forum. If you want my opinions on something and ask, I will be glad to tell you, but don’t act like you are entitled to conformance disclaimers from everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Hank\_Beecher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hank_beecher/32/7275_2.png) [@Hank\_Beecher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hank_Beecher)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2016, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/2726 "2016-03-20T03:49:12Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: > > Before you continue posting really ignorant points you need to get this: you are not even wrong, the point here was that Arpaio’ original lawsuit included legal residents and citizens that happened to be Hispanic, **Arpaio with his racial profiling did run over their rights**. I’m not talking here about illegal migration really. But \*\*Racial Profiling. \*\* And the fact that Arapio is back in court, but this time for contempt as he has tried to get around what the courts recommended as remedy. > > And then He investigated the wife of the judge presiding in his contempt of court case. > > Are you telling us that you do agree with all that? No, I didn’t tell you any of those things, in fact. I am telling you that a large segment of the population doesn’t take enough offense to the findings and accusations, or are skeptical enough of them, for them to keep Sheriff Joe from being an acceptable symbol of their anti-illegal-immigrant sentiment. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2016, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/2727 "2016-03-20T03:50:16Z")
> [@Hank\_Beecher](#): > > No, what I mean is current popular opinion has already taken what the courts say into account, and that Arpaio is still somewhat popular, especially among the large segment of the population who views him as a symbol of their illegal-immigrant sentiment. Once again, what the courts are deciding have little do with illegal immigration, it was part of it, but the lawsuits involved people that had a reason to complain, legal residents and citizens. > **[Arpaio's Parasitic Biographer Back-Stabs Sheriff, a Sign of Joe's Impending...](https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/arpaios-parasitic-biographer-back-stabs-sheriff-a-sign-of-joes-impending-downfall-8122655)** > > When the big dog’s ticks, fat with blood, decide it’s time to detach themselves from their aging host, it’s safe to say that pooch is on his last hunt.  So it would seem with Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s parasitic biographer and longtime lackey, Len... > [@](#): > > But Arpaio being Arpaio, he thumbed his nose at the court, and Joe’s underlings followed their master’s lead right over the cliff. > > The MCSO ignored Snow’s earlier, preliminary order from 2012, enjoining the office from enforcing civil federal immigration law. All the while, Arpaio and his minions publicly sneered at Snow’s lawful commands. > > As if that wasn’t enough, Arpaio and MCSO Chief Deputy Jerry Sheridan initiated investigations of Snow and Snow’s wife, in a clear effort to conflict the conservative jurist off the case. > > The former investigation employed a Seattle computer guru as a paid confidential informant to gin up an absurd conspiracy theory involving Snow, the U.S Department of Justice, the CIA, and many others. > > These shenanigans backfired so badly that Arpaio and Sheridan eventually admitted their civil contempt of the federal court in a desperate bid to save themselves from criminal-contempt charges and the serious possibility of stiff fines and time in a federal hoosegow. > [@Hank\_Beecher](#): > > I am just basing this on the fact that I have heard about the profiling decision, and I am someone who makes zero effort to stay informed of Sheriff Joe drama. > > The media should report on the decision, for sure. But what you are asking for is too demanding, will not work, and will probably backfire. Trump will not repudiate Arpaio, and the power of the media’s fake puritanical incredulity is waning fast. With good questions, you might coerce Trump to take some position on racial profiling in the context of the Arpaio case, he might even come out against racial profiling, on his own. But he isn’t going to acknowledge the premises of those who demand he repudiate Arpaio, let alone do it. It would come across as too weak. Bullshit, Obama did repudiate Wright and I also thought that was needed. Trump is only showing all that he does not care about how authoritarian his supporters are, that in fact he loves what he sees and will ignore the law and the court also once he becomes president. > [@Hank\_Beecher](#): > > No, I shouldn’t. I am not making demands of you to repudiate anyone am I? This is just a discussion forum. If you want my opinions on something and ask, I will be glad to tell you, but don’t act like you are entitled to conformance disclaimers from everyone. As I pointed already I was OK with what Obama did, you should not have any problem repudiating the ones that only have contempt of the law and the courts when they go against what they want to do. And regarding torture and other issues Trump is on the record of telling us that in his view the laws are just pieces of paper. ---
**Author:** ![Hank\_Beecher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hank_beecher/32/7275_2.png) [@Hank\_Beecher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hank_Beecher)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2016, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/2728 "2016-03-20T04:19:08Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > Once again, what the courts are deciding have little do with illegal immigration, it was part of it, but the lawsuits involved people that had a reason to complain, legal residents and citizens. But even in those cases he was attempting to target illegal immigrants. So it doesn’t interrupt the narrative that makes Sheriff Joe a potent anti-illegal immigrant symbol. It just means he was all that more willing to be tough. That he both used racial profiling, and failed, in those cases, is a fine enough reason to criticize him, but it is something that is already well known. > [@](#): > > Bullshit, Obama did repudiate Wright and I also toughs that was needed. Trump is only showing all that he does not care about how authoritarian his supporters are, that in fact he loves what he sees and will ignore the law and the court also once he becomes president. Obama has to repudiate Wright because his views were so far out on the fringes. Sheriff Joe doesn’t come across as a traitor, and the statements he makes on the stump and what he has become a symbol for are consistent with Trump’s anti-illegal-immigrant position. > [@](#): > > As I pointed already I was OK with what Obama did, you should not have any problem repudiating the ones that only have contempt of the law and the courts when they go against what they want to do. No, your expectation that counterparts in message board discussions should comply with demands to make repudiations is unreasonable. > [@](#): > > And regarding torture and other issues Trump is on the record of telling us that in his view the laws are just pieces of paper. The latest thing I saw him say on the issue was about following the law, but changing it. Regardless, every time he is challenged on it it gives him a forum to use the gruesome brutality committed by Islamist terrorists to get votes, by calling out the political establishment for refusing to speak plainly to the American people about the contempt and hate that so many Muslims have for non-Muslims, especially Westerners. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2016, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/2729 "2016-03-20T04:23:12Z")
> [@Hank\_Beecher](#): > > But even in those cases he was attempting to target illegal immigrants. So it doesn’t interrupt the narrative that makes Sheriff Joe a potent anti-illegal immigrant symbol. It just means he was all that more willing to be tough. That he both used racial profiling, and failed, in those cases, is a fine enough reason to criticize him, but it is something that is already well known. So well known that you have to repeat what the point is not about. His contempt of court (and the contempt is not only about this case, what he was doing to inmates amounted to torture and the courts also put a stop to that, Trump still loves this guy) is so well known and Trump still did go to join Arpaio to the hip is what is appalling, and it is becoming clear that you do not care about that. > [@Hank\_Beecher](#): > > Obama has to repudiate Wright because his views were so far out on the fringes. Sheriff Joe doesn’t come across as a traitor, and the statements he makes on the stump and what he has become a symbol for are consistent with Trump’s anti-illegal-immigrant position. Avoidance of the contempt of court issue, and his attempts at intimidating the Judge noted again. > [@Hank\_Beecher](#): > > No, your expectation that counterparts in message board discussions should comply with demands to make repudiations is unreasonable. Bullshit again, I and many others have no problem condemning Wright. Ball is in your court and Trump’s. > [@Hank\_Beecher](#): > > The latest thing I saw him say on the issue was about following the law, but changing it. > > Regardless, every time he is challenged on it it gives him a forum to use the gruesome brutality committed by Islamist terrorists to get votes, by calling out the political establishment for refusing to speak plainly to the American people about the contempt and hate that so many Muslims have for non-Muslims, especially Westerners. And what Trump proposes is still wrong. Regardless of how popular something like that is. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2016, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/2730 "2016-03-20T04:29:40Z")
Isn’t Arpaio some form of a Mexican Indian name? Hmm… ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2016, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/2731 "2016-03-20T04:31:25Z")
> [@Johnny\_Ace](#): > > Isn’t Arpaio some form of a Mexican Indian name? Hmm… It’s Italian. His parents are immigrants from Italy. It doesn’t look like Joe did a very good job in his claim to be providing security at the Phoenix area rallies. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2016, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/2732 "2016-03-20T04:36:39Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > It’s Italian. His parents are immigrants from Italy. > > It doesn’t look like Joe did a very good job in his claim to be providing security at the Phoenix area rallies. He did keep Trump’s supporters three miles away. 😃 (Why didn’t he clear the cars blocking the road?) ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2016, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/2733 "2016-03-20T04:37:38Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > It’s Italian. His parents are immigrants from Italy. > > It doesn’t look like Joe did a very good job in his claim to be providing security at the Phoenix area rallies. Not very good at his job, but that is a feature. The Sheriff and his department is also under observation by the federal government for the abuses to the inmates in his jails. (incidentally, I’m on the record of approving the arrest of the protesters, because that is what any protester should expect, it is part of the deal; now, considering that we are talking about Arpaio’s jails and prisons here I have to say that I’m impressed at their bravery.) IMHO just like with Carson, Arpaio is also supporting Trump because he expects Trump to support him. In his case he wants to see Trump to make executive orders to ease the eyes of the federal government so he will have the freedom to abuse inmates and immigrants like in the good old days. > **[Graves v. Penzone | American Civil Liberties Union](https://www.aclu.org/cases/graves-v-penzone)** > > Despite a federal court order from 2008, the Maricopa County jails – overseen by Sheriff Joe Arpaio –continue to skirt their constitutional responsibility for detainees' mental health. On April 1, 2016, the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU... ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2016, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/2734 "2016-03-20T04:49:12Z")
I had to laugh at Joe when he was trying to refute Mrs. Sanders’s complaints about his tent jail, and he said, “She was apparently horrified to discover that all of these people are convicted of crimes.” Well, no, this is a county jail, not a prison, in a lot, if not most, of their cases, they are awaiting trial. ---
**Author:** ![Hank\_Beecher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hank_beecher/32/7275_2.png) [@Hank\_Beecher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hank_Beecher)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2016, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/2735 "2016-03-20T05:18:06Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > So well known that you have to repeat what the point is not about. His contempt of court (and the contempt is not only about this case, what he was doing to inmates amounted to torture and the courts also put a stop to that, Trump still loves this guy) is so well known and Trump still did go to join Arpaio to the hip is what is appalling, and it is becoming clear that you do not care about that. You seem to be under the illusion that others owe you certain types of responses or something. It doesn’t work that way. You aren’t conducting a deposition here. If you want to know my opinion on something specific then ask reasonably. I am saying that even factoring in everything you are pointing out about Arpaio, the thing that he is a symbol of, more than anything, is someone who is tough on illegal immigration. That is what he is known for. Trump’s campaign has been making the judgement that the anti-illegal-immigrant sentiment is strong enough that featuring him during the primary will get them votes, despite the racial profiling and investigations, and it’s been working. That’s what I am saying. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2016, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/2736 "2016-03-20T05:33:56Z")
> [@Hank\_Beecher](#): > > I am saying that even factoring in everything you are pointing out about Arpaio, the thing that he is a symbol of, more than anything, is someone who is tough on illegal immigration. What Arpaio is a symbol of depends a lot on who you ask. Just like to some, Trump is a brilliant thinker who would make a great president. To others, he’s a dangerous demagogue with no real strategy except self-promotion. And to many observers, Arapaio is a symbol of, more than anything else, the most vile kind of racist bigotry with little regard for the law or human rights. Precisely, in fact, the values of many of Trump’s followers. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2016, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/2737 "2016-03-20T05:51:08Z")
> [@Hank\_Beecher](#): > > You seem to be under the illusion that others owe you certain types of responses or something. It doesn’t work that way. You aren’t conducting a deposition here. If you want to know my opinion on something specific then ask reasonably. I already did on post 2720 "The point here was that Arpaio’ original lawsuit included legal residents and citizens that happened to be Hispanic, Arpaio with his racial profiling did run over their rights. I’m not talking here about illegal migration really. But Racial Profiling. And the fact that Arapio is back in court, but this time for contempt as he has tried to get around what the courts recommended as remedy. And then He investigated the wife of the judge presiding in his contempt of court case." You did avoid the question, so again but in other words: Do you do agree with what Arpaio is doing here? ---
**Author:** ![Hank\_Beecher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hank_beecher/32/7275_2.png) [@Hank\_Beecher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hank_Beecher)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2016, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/2738 "2016-03-20T06:09:08Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > I already did on post 2720 > > "The point here was that Arpaio’ original lawsuit included legal residents and citizens that happened to be Hispanic, Arpaio with his racial profiling did run over their rights. I’m not talking here about illegal migration really. But Racial Profiling. And the fact that Arapio is back in court, but this time for contempt as he has tried to get around what the courts recommended as remedy. > > And then He investigated the wife of the judge presiding in his contempt of court case." > > You did avoid the question, so again but in other words: > > Do you do agree with what Arpaio is doing here? No, \*I \*do not agree that racial profiling is just. The racial profiling is a part of Arpaio’s public image, but it is not the _dominant feature._ Simply put, more than anything else, he is known as someone who is strong on illegal immigration. That is what is dominating the narrative, and demanding that Trump disavow someone who is an icon of a very popular cause which he is running on isn’t going to do any good. He will just use it to beat the drum one more time to reinforce the narrative that his immigration policy is too real for the media and establishment to handle. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2016, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/2739 "2016-03-20T06:20:00Z")
> [@Hank\_Beecher](#): > > No, \*I \*do not agree that racial profiling is just. Good, but that was not the only issue. > [@Hank\_Beecher](#): > > The racial profiling is a part of Arpaio’s public image, but it is not the _dominant feature._ Simply put, more than anything else, he is known as someone who is strong on illegal immigration. That is what is dominating the narrative, and demanding that Trump disavow someone who is an icon of a very popular cause which he is running on isn’t going to do any good. He will just use it to beat the drum one more time to reinforce the narrative that his immigration policy is too real for the media and establishment to handle. And you are still thinking in just Republican primaries mode, I’m over that, what you are thinking what Trump will do will make the ads that will convince even more minorities to vote against Trump and so it will convince many Americans that do not think like just a good chunk of Republicans do. What it needs to be understood is that just like Obama with the reverend, the repudiation did neutralize that issue with many independents and even moderate republicans that did began then to wonder how extreme the Republicans were getting or/and by offering bullshit politics with Sarah Palin as Vice president. The point stands, not repudiating Arpaio only tells minorities, most Democrats and even a significant number of Republicans that Trump is just as his friends are. ---
**Author:** ![Hank\_Beecher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hank_beecher/32/7275_2.png) [@Hank\_Beecher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hank_Beecher)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2016, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/2740 "2016-03-20T06:31:11Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > Good, but that was not the only issue. > And you are still thinking in just Republican primaries mode, I’m over that, what you are thinking what Trump will do will make the ads that will convince even more minorities to vote against Trump and so it will convince many Americans that do not think like just a good chunk of Republicans do. > > What it needs to be understood is that just like Obama with the reverend, the repudiation did neutralize that issue with many independents and even moderate republicans that did began then to wonder how extreme the Republicans were getting or/and by offering bullshit politics with Sarah Palin as Vice president. The point stands, not repudiating Arpaio only tells minorities, most Democrats and even a significant number of Republicans that Trump is just as his friends are. I don’t know how it is going to play out into the general. I very much doubt that he will back down and disavow Arpaio, though. That would be reactive, and Trump likes to make others react instead. If it became a prominent issue he would probably clarify in his vague way that he was against racial profiling but still supported Arpaio’s tough stance on illegal immigration. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2016, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/2741 "2016-03-20T06:51:38Z")
> [@Hank\_Beecher](#): > > I don’t know how it is going to play out into the general. I very much doubt that he will back down and disavow Arpaio, though. That would be reactive, and Trump likes to make others react instead. If it became a prominent issue he would probably clarify in his vague way that he was against racial profiling but still supported Arpaio’s tough stance on illegal immigration. Read it again, my last paragraph deals with that stance, that is what I do expect Trump to do, to continue to talk about his tough stance on immigration, because as usual you are ignoring that Trump also wants to get rid of the 14th amendment among other issues, the reality though is that most Americans do not agree with that, and most also are refuting Trump and the Republicans regarding what to do with undocumented immigrants. > **[What Americans want to do about illegal immigration](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2015/08/24/what-americans-want-to-do-about-illegal-immigration/)** > > There is little support overall for an effort to deport all those in the U.S. illegally, but past surveys have found support for building a barrier along the Mexican border and for banning birthright citizenship. > [@](#): > > In a Pew Research Center survey conducted in May, a solid majority (72%) of Americans – including 80% of Democrats, 76% of independents and 56% of Republicans – say undocumented immigrants currently living in the U.S. should be allowed to stay in this country legally if they meet certain requirements. Last year, we asked a follow-up question of those who opposed granting legal status to undocumented immigrants: Should there be a “national law enforcement effort to deport” all immigrants here illegally? Just 17% of the public overall favored such an effort, including about a quarter (27%) of Republicans. > > Moreover, in a 2013 survey, 76% of Republicans said that deporting all immigrants in the U.S. illegally was “unrealistic.” > [@](#): > > Birthright citizenship: One of the proposals raised in the current Republican presidential campaign is whether to change the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment, which states, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” On that issue, a majority of Americans (57%) in February 2011 said that the Constitution should remain as it is, allowing any child born in the U.S. full citizenship; 39% favored changing the Constitution to bar birthright citizenship. > [@](#): > > In our May survey, about half of Americans (51%) say immigrants strengthen the country, while 41% view them as a burden. (These opinions have fluctuated over the years, but in the mid-1990s, majorities said immigrants to the U.S. were a burden.) However, Republicans (63%) are far more likely than Democrats (32%) to say immigrants are a burden. And the share of Republicans who regard immigrants as a burden jumped 15 percentage points, from 48% in March 2014. [http://www.longislandwins.com/columns/detail/poll\_americans\_oppose\_ending\_birthright\_citizenship/](http://www.longislandwins.com/columns/detail/poll_americans_oppose_ending_birthright_citizenship/) > [@](#): > > All racial groups, as well as all age groups, said that the Constitution should not be changed. Opposition was particularly strong among young people. Among 18 to 29 year olds, 71% opposed getting rid of birthright citizenship. > > The only demographic group that favored ending birthright citizenship was Republican voters. As I noted, you are still thinking that all Americans are like the Republicans, what you think it will be meaningless for the Trump followers would had been meaningful to most Americans, refuting people like Arpaio; but if Trump wants to go down in flames by getting close to people like Arpaio, I will tell him to go ahead, as I do expect him to not find as much support as he is doing among just Republicans. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2016, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/2742 "2016-03-20T08:33:25Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > What Arpaio is a symbol of depends a lot on who you ask. Just like to some, Trump is a brilliant thinker who would make a great president. To others, he’s a dangerous demagogue with no real strategy except self-promotion. And to many observers, Arapaio is a symbol of, more than anything else, the most vile kind of racist bigotry with little regard for the law or human rights. Precisely, in fact, the values of many of Trump’s followers. Well said. I’d go a bit farther. To most thoughtful Americans, Arpaio is simply the leading edge of a pure police state. One dedicated to power exercised by and for the benefit of whoever holds it. If in the next 20 years we develop an SA, SD, or NKVD-like agency, Arpaio will be its first leader. He and people who think like him are utterly unsuited to being allowed in a law enforcement role. The fundamental hazards of electing senior law enforcement officials is laid bare with this one. He respects the law exactly zero. He totally respects his own power and lust for same. And that’s about it. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2016, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/2743 "2016-03-20T10:12:13Z")
If the government even made an honest attempt to enforce our laws, there would be no Joe Arpaios. But when you uphold rule of men over rule of law, don’t be surprised when other men decide to rule their way. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2016, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/2744 "2016-03-20T10:21:23Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > If the government even made an honest attempt to enforce our laws, there would be no Joe Arpaios. But when you uphold rule of men over rule of law, don’t be surprised when other men decide to rule their way. :rolleyes: Sure, even to the level of denying what they are doing in contempt of the law, and also to the level of investigating the wife of the judge that is judging you for that contempt. Please learn about the trash you are defending before making posts like that one. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828.md?page=136) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828.md?page=138)