November 23, 2007
Posted: 11:12 AM ET

Former Bush speech writer Michael Gerson is concerned about immigration and poverty.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Former Bush speech writer and book author Michael Gerson visited the Situation Room this week. Gerson spoke with Suzanne Malveaux about what he thinks in wrong with his party.

“Republicans can’t just talk about budgets. They have to talk about people,” Gerson told Malveaux. “Eventually, you need that message,” he added.

Gerson believes the Republican Party ought to do more to address poverty and “populist economic issues.” He also tells Malveaux that the GOP is making a mistake in blocking comprehensive immigration reform. The “Republican leadership of the Congress is actively alienating the fastest growing group of voters in America,” explained Gerson, referring to the country’s growing Latino population.

Watch Gerson discuss the GOP, poverty, immigration, and what he thinks of some of the 2008 presidential candidates.

– CNN Associate Producer Martina Stewart

Filed under: GOP • Immigration • John Edwards • John McCain • Mike Huckabee • The Situation Room


Michael Sheridan, Grand Rapids, MI   November 24th, 2007 11:51 pm ET

After years (decades?) of idiotic "concern trolls" like Joe Klein telling Democrats that they need to be more like Republicans in order to get elected, it's almost hilarious to see a GOP concern troll telling the Republicans they have to be more like Democrats.

And Alice Newman comes close to hitting the nail on the head. Republicans don't do anything productive with power because if they did, they'd be disproving what has become the central tenet of their political faith (as passed down from The Holy Gipper): "Government is the problem rather than the solution." The GOP has a vested interest in screwing things up, so they can run against "the government" every two years - as they did even when they happened to be responsible because of the majorities they enjoyed for 12 years.

Ron Nebraska   November 24th, 2007 8:02 pm ET

Absolutely amazing! The GOP should TALK about peoples needs?! Holy crap is this party of the wealthy and ignorant getting desperate or what!

T. TIm, Lodi, WI   November 24th, 2007 1:55 pm ET

Talk (about people) is cheap. How about doing something for ALL people instead of their wealthy Repub cronies?

J. Burns, Cleveland, OH   November 24th, 2007 1:50 pm ET

Not quite. Talking about people is one thing; doing something meaninful for ALL people is another. Usually the Repubs do something for the elite and
wealthy. That's all.

LANI   November 24th, 2007 9:43 am ET

ANOTHER COWARD APPEARS, YEAH, WE ARE GOING TO LISTEN TO A DOUBLE CROSSER!

Bryan, CA   November 24th, 2007 5:16 am ET

Basically, what he is saying is to become a Democrat.

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