Paging Pat Toomey.
A group of organizations that advocate immigration reform Thursday unveiled the results of a poll that shows nearly two-thirds of PA voters support a bill currently before the U.S. Senate.
Their audience is Toomey, a Republican Senator whose support could help earn the proposal bipartisan backing.
But the poll’s questions are far from neutral.
The survey by GOP pollster Harper Polling found that 65% of Pennsylvania voters support the Senate’s bipartisan “Gang of Eight” immigration reform proposal. That support, however, is a bit soft, as only 33% of respondents strongly support the bill and the other 32% only somewhat support the bill.
58% of PA voters agreed that it’s very important to fix the immigration system this year, with an additional 28% saying it was somewhat important.
The poll was sponsored by three pro-reform groups, the Alliance for Citizenship, Partnership for a New American Economy, and Republicans for Immigration Reform.
Just like any poll commissioned by a candidate or advocacy group, take the results with a grain of salt. Or in this case, a whole tablespoon. Groups that pay for a poll have the final say over wording choices, and in this case the poll questions were slanted strongly in favor of the bill.
Case in point, this section from one of the questions:
“My Senator should support this legislation because everyone agrees our immigration system is broken and this bill is tough, but fair. It would tighten border security, crack down on employers who hire undocumented immigrants and solve this problem once and for all.”
Unsurprisingly, the question found 83% support from respondents, despite the fact that opponents of the bill have offered valid critiques to several of its premises.
The poll was part of a coordinated push across 29 states including deep red states like Utah and Idaho, solid blue states such as Maine and Illinois, and perennial toss-up states like Ohio, Florida, and Virginia.
The survey found that 57% of PA voters would be more likely to vote for an elected official who voted for the legislation as the pollster described it.
While Toomey has remained non-committal, he did vote twice earlier this week, along with most Republicans, to proceed with debate on the bill.
The survey of 548 Pa. voters was conducted June 3 and 4 via interactive voice response calls to landlines and cell phones. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.19%.
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17 Responses
We don’t want any more third-world legal or illegal immigrants, aliens, whatever, to come here.
Deport all of those here illegally, regardless of where they are from, including those overstaying their visas.
No more foreigners crowding our colleges denying Americans admission.
No more foreign workers whatever the status, taking jobs from Americans.
No more Muslims permitted whatsoever, even as guests or tourists.
NO AMNESTY!
The United States is closed to third-worlders.
No amnesty.
We don’t want any more third-world legal or illegal immigrants, aliens, whatever, to come here.
Deport all of those here illegally, regardless of where they are from, including those overstaying their visas.
No more foreigners crowding our colleges denying Americans admission.
No more foreign workers whatever the status, taking jobs from Americans.
No more Muslims permitted whatsoever, even as guests or tourists.
NO AMNESTY!
The United States is closed to third-worlders.
PA is overrun with immigrants…legal and illegal. It is beginning to look like a 3rd world nation in many places, and already does in several (e.g., Reading). Contrary to the comments by the liberals in the major news media outlets, most white Americans do not want any more 3rd world immigration (legal or illegal) into the United States. Ted Kennedy lied to the American people, and Congress, when he promised that the changes to the immigration policies in place up until 1964, would not change the face of the Nation. It is terrible. We cannot trust the idiots in Congress anymore, as they do NOT have the interests of WHITE Americans at heart any longer.
Secure the borders. Establish a rigorous and VERIFIABLE enforcement program for at least five years – Then we can talk about “a path to citizenship” . . .
Bob Casey was “Missing In Action” and did NOTHING for almost 6 years until he realized he was going to lose his seat 6 weeks before election day; and Pat Toomey has apparently adopted Arlen Spector’s example of representing Philadelphia and Pittsburg at the expense of the remaining Pennsylvania voters – Both of them need to be “retired” so they won’t have any need for Union support and a huge influx of “new” Hispanic voters.
As has been mentioned by many here, this is a bogus poll trying to advance a bogus immigration reform bill. That the “comprehensive” immigration reform crowd has to rely on manipulated polls and constant double-speak to advance their agenda speaks loudly as to the sham that their real agenda is all about. From the left, this is about changing the demographics of this country and moving it towards even greater socialism. From the right, this about lowering wages thru an overcrowded labor market. It’s an odd and incoherant alliance, but one that needs to be defeated during this immigration debate.
Never mind this so-called “Gang of Eight!”
Never mind these rigged polls, pollsters get what they pay for. This is a matter before the American people, whether we will allow our borders to be the most porous of all civilized nations, whether we’ll just leave it open for anyone to walk in and read a sign posted that says “This is the United States…Kick me!”
Let’s get busy, folks! Senators Toomey and Casey need to hear from ALL of us. Your House Representative has to hear from you, too. Their office phone numbers are easily available. Leave messages if it’s the only way to communicate, but please…communicate! Don’t let a bunch of Washington politicians foul up our country anymore! Tell them it’s time to stop and to listen to the citizens who pay the bills.
The poll the Gang of Eight as well as Senators Toomey and Casey don’t want you to know about:
According to a Pulse Opinion Research survey, only 27 percent of likely Pennsylvania voters said they support giving work permits to illegal immigrants before enforcement measures are implemented in the workplace and on the border.
Sixty percent of likely Pennsylvania voters said they want “full enforcement” before even “considering” giving work permits to people in the U.S. illegally.
The poll the Gang of Eight and Senators Toomey and Casey don’t want you to know about:
According to a Pulse Opinion Research survey, only 27 percent of likely Pennsylvania voters said they support giving work permits to illegal immigrants before enforcement measures are implemented in the workplace and on the border.
Sixty percent of likely Pennsylvania voters said they want “full enforcement” before even “considering” giving work permits to people in the U.S. illegally.
First of all the description of the legislation which was the basis for the poll questions was blatantly false. A complete pack of lies. S. 744 would grant immediate legal status to illegal immigrants, flood the labor market with 33 million new workers during the first decade and cost taxpayers $6.3 trillions, and this doesn’t include the costs for the chain migration wave that will follow in the next 5 to 10 years.
When asked if they would support the above (amnesty, millions of new workers and trillions in taxpayer funding), PA overwhelmingly vote no!
Truth is that this is simply another propaganda push poll intended to lie and give cover for the politicians who have an agenda different from the citizens of PA. The “Cheap Labor Lobby” and th eLa Raza folks don’t give a rat’s ass about the American worker. They want amnesty and cheap wages. At this point there are only a few congresscritters representing the interests of the people. Unfortunately, PA’s senators are not on that list. Casey is a whore for the left, Toomey is a whore for the “Cheap labor Lobby”. Both of these corrupt, immoral
pin heads need to be ousted and then castrated with blunt stones. The citizens of PA need to take back the Commonwealth from the establishment political machines of both parties which look out only for their own interests and not those of the citizens.
The Mexican people have always considered the USA to still be their country. We took it and they want it back. They are doing it without a war and our elected officials are too blind to see that. Our families fought in the Revolution, the civil war,WWI,WWII,Vietnam and now in Iraq and Afghanistan…..and for what???? it certainly can’t be “rule of law” or respect for the Constitution and our ever fading freedoms! Washington D.C is nothing but a hugh dysfunctional family and they are telling us we have to make room for millions of illegals who KNOWINGLY broke our laws …..and we also have to be careful what we say around a group of people who are responsible for the deaths of 3,000 of our fellow citizens. It’s way past time for tough love but our congress is too whimpy to take a stand for us! All the wars fought for rule of law…Wow..the arrogance out of Washington is unbelievable!
In my humble opinion this poll, paid for by a group of illegal alien amnesty supporters, was biased and unfair.
Pennsylvanians like most of the county are appalled at the estimated $6 Trillion cost of an illegal alien amnesty over the next 50 years. Equally disturbing are the American jobs that will be taken by many in the group of 11 million illegals and their children. They will be willing to work for less money, therefore taking the jobs and pulling down salaries.
The American Citizens, Tax Payers, and Workers need to let our legislators know that the poll is nonsense and we are opposed to the “Comprehensive Illegal Alien Amnesty/Legalization/Jobs/Welfare” bill
Find the 100,000 “undocumented workers” who left 50 foot high residue of Korans, Arab language paperbacks and head scarves over the last 20 years since the flood began. Prosecute them, Guantanamize others and deport the rest. Then go door-to-door in this country and arrest and deport all illegal thugs and welfare bums. That total shopuld be about 40,000 illegals, not the “11 million” they’ve been pushong down our throats since about 1990. If there are any left, force them to pay for three years of English language and U.S. founding fathers history, then find a job and wait fifteen years to apply for a “path tp citizenship”. Remove all illegals from health, education and welfare benefits and ban all progeny of illegals from citizenship at birth. That should eliminate the alien problem. J.Waters, Pennsylvanians for Freedom
A complete pack of lies. S. 744 would grant immediate legal status to illegal immigrants, flood the labor market with 33 million new workers during the first decade and cost taxpayers $6.3 trillions.
When asked if they would support the above (amnesty, millions of new workers and trillions in taxpayer funding), PA overwhelmingly vote no!
Truth is that this is simply another propaganda push poll intended to lie. The “Cheap Labor Lobby” and th eLa Raza folks don’t give a rat’s ass about the American worker. They want amnesty and cheap wages. At this point there are only a few congresscritters representing the interests of the people. Unfortunately, PA’s senators are not on that list. Casey is a whore for the left, Toomey is a whore for the “Cheap labor Lobby”. We’re screwed!
THE VAST MAJORITY OF PA. AND THOSE NATIONALLY OPPOSE PROPOSED IMMIGRATION BILL. WE WANT THE BORDER SECURED AND CUT OFF ALL FUNDS TO ILLEGALS AND THEY’LL GO HOME. WE CAN NOT AFFORD ANOTHER 11 MILLION ON THE GOVERNMENT DOLE. THIS IS A POLITICAL ISSUE AND FEW IN D.C. OR HARRISBURG LOOKING OUT FOR INTEREST OF VOTERS. VOTE NO OR PAY THE PRICE IN 2014.
I don’t believe that’s true. That this is a poll sponsored by “reform advocates”, says it all.
I have yet to meet a politician, or anyone else for that matter, who can justify the need for more immigration reform with more than platitudes about it can solve all our economic woes.
The fact is, if you look at immigration reform offered in the last 40 years, ALL of it was passed in times of economic downtown, and done to capitalize on a common, though misplaced, fear that immigrants take jobs away from Americans, and therefore, are the reason the economy is so bad.
Further, economic recovery post immigration reform, in almost every case during that same time period, is widely attributed to factors other than the immigration reform; the relationship is one of correlation not causality.
The fact that politicians spend so much time on these immigration reform bills at the cost of other more important and far reaching legislation underlies the disconnect we have between the public and those who serve it.