While many Republicans are calling out presidential candidate Donald Trump’s remarks about illegal aliens, a new congressional candidate in Florida hails the businessman for “giving voices to the voiceless” on immigration.
Retired Army office John Morning, who says he has “strong libertarian leanings,” filed paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission last week to challenge U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., in next year's Republican primary. Mica has been in Congress for more than 20 years.
In the early stages of his new campaign, Morning has railed against “career politicians” and called for new leadership in Congress and in the GOP. Morning has also defended Trump’s controversial remarks on immigration.
“The Republican Party needs to stand for an idea,” Morning insisted on Twitter on Sunday. “Donald Trump is popular because he is giving voices to the voiceless.”
Morning offered some insights on his position on immigration earlier in the month. “I support border security and a guest worker program,” Morning noted. “To be a citizen, you need to apply and go through the whole process. No amnesty!”
Mica, now 72, has faced challenges from the right in recent years but has proven successful in driving them back. In 2014, Mica faced three challengers in the Republican primary but still managed to round up 72 percent of the vote. In a rare primary matchup of two congressional incumbents after redistricting in 2012, Mica routed then-U.S. Rep. Sandy Adams, R-Fla., in the primary, beating her 61 percent to 39 percent.
The longtime Florida congressman is also trying to claim the right on immigration and has received an A+ rating from Americans for Better Immigration. On his congressional homepage, Mica calls out President Barack Obama’s immigration efforts and calls for stronger enforcement of the current immigration laws.
“I cannot support immigration reform that attempts to reward an illegal act by establishing a preference for acquiring citizenship,” Mica noted. “Entering the United States illegally is a felony under federal statutes. To improve our immigration system, the administration must first enforce our immigration laws and secure our borders. These actions will be strong deterrents to illegal entry.
“Immigration reform does not mean granting legal status to those who have entered the U.S. illegally,” Mica added. “As a grandson of legal immigrants, I have been and remain a strong supporter of legal immigration. However, even with these latest calls for reform, I remain opposed to any plan that attempts to give legal status or grant blanket amnesty to those who have entered our country illegally. Granting amnesty in any manner would reward those who enter the country illegally and this is not an acceptable option in any reform measure. I remain supportive of expanding legal immigration, responsible guest worker programs and entry of noncompetitive professionals and investors who expand U.S. business and employment.”
Mica insisted the Obama administration has “encouraged" more illegal immigration through its “failed policies” including not securing the border.
“The current administration’s immigration policy centers on empty rhetoric and misguided actions,” Mica insisted. “The federal government has left the states with unstable borders, mounting violence and limited resources to fight illegal immigration, while at the same time it has handicapped their ability to enforce existing laws ... true immigration reform measures must focus on strengthening immigration enforcement and border protection, ensuring fair and equitable immigration and enforcing our laws.”
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
