A photo uploaded to Sarah Palin's Facebook page on Friday attacked Republican lawmakers who helped a comprehensive immigration reform bill pass the Senate and proceed to the House.
"Great job, GOP establishment," reads the caption to the photo, "You've just abandoned the Reagan Democrats with this amnesty bill. It was the loss of working class voters in swing states that cost us the 2012 election, not the Hispanic vote."
On Saturday, appearing on FOX News to discuss immigration reform, Palin called the proposed path to citizenship "a matter of a lack of principle and respect for the rule of law." Her remarks and recent others like it from the former governor of Alaska stand in contrast to statements made during a 2008 interview on Univision.
News anchor Jorge Ramos asked her in October 2008 how, as governor, she dealt with the undocumented immigrants living in her state. "Do you think they all should be deported?" Ramos asked.
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"There is no way that in the U.S. we would roundup every illegal immigrant - there are about 12 million of the illegal immigrants- not only economically is that just an impossibility but that's not a humane way anyway to deal with the issue that we face with illegal immigration," responded Palin.
"Do you then favor an amnesty for the 12 or 13 million undocumented immigrants?" asked Ramos.
"No, I do not. I do not. Not total amnesty," said Palin. "You know, people have got to follow the rules. They've got to follow the bar, and we have got to make sure that there is equal opportunity and those who are here legally should be first in line for services being provided and those opportunities that this great country provides."
"To clarify," said Ramos, "so you support a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants?"
"I do because I understand why people would want to be in America. To seek the safety and prosperity, the opportunities, the health that is here. It is so important that yes, people follow the rules so that people can be treated equally and fairly in this country."
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Yet in the photo posted on Facebook, Palin appears to oppose the path to citizenship which the bill would offer to millions of the nation's estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants. "You disrespect Hispanics with your assumption that they desire ignoring the rule of law," reads the caption.
The Washington Post noted that contrary to what Palin implies, a large majority of Hispanics support a path to citizenship. An NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll earlier in 2013 indicated that 82 percent of Hispanics favored it, compared to 64 percent of all Americans.
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