John Kasich re: illegals: “Let’s not pit one American against another”

Ingraham reminds Kasich, ‘But, they’re not Americans, Governor”

Just days ago on The Laura Ingraham Show, Presidential candidate John Kasich exposed his squishy views on immigration policy.  Earlier, in New Hampshire, Kasich raised the issue of “significant contributions” of illegals to the economy and his support for a pathway to legalization. 

During this interview with Ingraham, Kasich, Ohio’s Republican Governor, endorsed building a wall to secure the border, but showed little empathy for the American workers displaced by those who are already in the country illegally. Kasich actually described those illegals  as American citizens saying, “We don’t need to be picking one person over the other…let’s not be pitting one American against another,” referencing competition for jobs between illegals and American citizens. He refers to the illegal invasion as “this thing” that “we have to move beyond.” Laura Ingraham had to bring Kasich back to reality, reminding him they are not Americans.

Partial transcript:

Ingraham: What about employers who are hiring illegals now, Gov. Kasich? What about the Americans who can’t get jobs? What about those employers who are now violating U.S. law by hiring illegal immigrants? (10:26)

Kasich: Well, if they are violating the law, they should be held accountable for that. But, look, we’ve got to move beyond this thing. This is a very difficult problem. What do you want to say? Put them out? A lot of these people who are working, these people who came here illegally who are now here and are law-abiding are providing valuable services. I see them in the hotels, I see them… (10:37)

Ingraham: So you don’t think Americans would do those jobs? Because my mother was a waitress until she was 74, I mean, when I hear Americans don’t do these jobs it drives me crazy. (11:00)

Kasich: Our problem is that we don’t have a pro-growth economy. We don’t need to be picking one person over the other, we need to expand the pie. We’re only growing at 2%, this is the most anemic growth that we have seen post World War II and if we would grow the pie by balancing budgets and cutting taxes, look, I’m the guy that’s done it. We’re up 350,000 jobs in the state of Ohio since I’ve come in. When I was Chairman of the Budget Committee we balanced our budget and our economy was booming. So, let’s not pit one American against another, let’s grow the pie… (11:07)

Ingraham: But, they’re not American. Governor, but that is the problem, they’re not Americans. They violated our laws. And, you say that businesses should be penalized, but where are they being penalized for hiring illegal immigrants

Listen to the interview here.