Immigration tests GOP unity before convention

YAKIMA – Following in the footsteps of Mexican President Vicente Fox, albeit unintentionally, Washington Republicans seem poised to again focus attention on the nation’s immigration debate here in this Hispanic stronghold.

If the state GOP convention being held today at the Yakima Convention Center has a point of contention, “I suspect it will be on immigration,” state Chairwoman Diane Tebelius said Friday.

That could be a good bet, because the immigration debate was behind the one threat to the theme of “One team, one mission” on the eve of the convention.

The party’s executive board on Friday rescinded permission for the Reagan Wing, a conservative GOP group, to set up a table in the walkways that delegates will travel for the convention.

That means the Reagan Wingers can’t give out literature to the passing delegates like other vendors, who are touting everything from a flat tax to a ban on same-sex marriage, or hawking ties, buttons and jewelry festooned with all manner of elephants.

The reason for the exclusion: The group’s Web site shows photos of two high-ranking party officials superimposed on a picture of the Mexican president.

Even though Fox has left Yakima since Wednesday’s brief visit, the group says, “one trusts that the interests of Mexico will be well-represented by the state GOP’s stridently Mexican Vice Chair Freddi Simpson and King County’s Platform Committee representative Lori Sotelo.”

The Web site also argues against Simpson’s selection to the Republican National Committee, saying that “would increase Mexican representation” on that board.

That’s racist, said the state party’s executive committee in yanking the group’s vendor privileges.

No it’s not, said Reagan Wing leader Doug Parris, who describes himself as being “anti-racist” since the 1960s and a longtime advocate of equal housing laws.

“That’s not a race … that’s a nationality,” he said of the description of Simpson and Sotelo, who are Hispanic.

Replied Tebelius: “He can call it what he likes. Everybody agrees that he stepped over the line.”

Tebelius describes the Reagan Wing as one person – Parris.

But Parris said the group has delegates from around the state, and the organization planned to spend Friday night strategizing ways to get its issues discussed and included in the state platform, a statement of party beliefs. On immigration, the group opposes any amnesty for illegal immigrants currently in the country, including the guest worker proposal of President Bush.

It also wants the state’s Growth Management Act repealed, sexual predators given life sentences after one conviction and a statement on marriage that specifically excludes civil unions of same-sex couples.

Tebelius expects some debate on immigration and other issues, because delegates come from every part of the spectrum – including Parris, who will still attend as a delegate, she said. But she believes the party is “fairly well unified” and will approve a conservative platform not too different from its current document.

Delegates also will hear from state Attorney General Rob McKenna and candidates for Congress and the state Supreme Court.