On immigration, it’s not just about the Latino vote
In the weeks ahead, the Republican Party is going to have itself a fine debate over immigration, with Florida Sen. Marco Rubio more or less betting his presidential ambitions on winning the argument. If he can’t convince enough Republicans to join him, his de facto support for amnesty will become a cannon ball chained to his leg in the race for the 2016 GOP nomination.
Personally, I hope Rubio is successful, because his success would mean that we actually accomplish something and put this problem behind us. But I have serious doubts.
His fellow Republican senator, David Vitter of Louisiana, this week called Rubio’s stance on immigration “nuts” and “amazingly naive,” all the while expressing his enormous admiration for his Florida colleague. House Republicans, a good indicator of the sentiment of the GOP base, don’t seem ready at all to embrace the Rubio solution. The editors at National Review dismissed it as well this week in a piece headlined “A Pointless Amnesty”:
“Call it ‘regularization,’ call it a ‘path to citizenship,’ it amounts to precisely the same thing: a decision to set aside the law and to ignore its violation.”
The folks at National Review also argue that “the idea that an amnesty is going to put Latinos squarely in the GOP tent is a fantasy.” Framed in those terms, they’re right. There are no conceivable circumstances in which the Latino vote is going to end up “squarely in the GOP tent.” However, a cessation of active hostility might, just might, allow the party to compete for some of those votes in the future.
The realization that the Latino vote might not be a natural GOP constituency after all has become a popular theme on the right, but it reflects a typically narrow way of thinking about the issue. Its implications for the overall GOP brand are much broader.
In a new CBS poll released this week, 71 percent of Americans say they support allowing illegal immigrants to remain here, with 51 percent saying they would support a path to citizenship. Only 24 percent of Americans take the GOP position that those immigrants must somehow be required to return home.
In other words, the GOP’s political problem on this issue is not by any means limited to Hispanic Americans. The GOP position toward the Latino minority mirrors its historic animosity to gay rights, affirmative action, minority voting protections, the Equal Rights Amendment for women and similar issues.
Each of those groups listens to GOP rhetoric on the Latino issue and it hears a powerful reminder of GOP indifference to its own struggles. If the GOP ends up scuttling comprehensive immigration reform, those non-Latino voters will view it as confirmation that the Grand Old Party isn’t changing, and that it has every intention of being more old than grand.
And unfortunately, they will be right to think that way.
– Jay Bookman
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1,067 comments Add your comment
Moonbat
February 1st, 2013
8:06 am
Lefty needs MOB RULE to survive, Thug
stands for decibels
February 1st, 2013
8:07 am
Twent six cents in three days, what gives?
Syria, Israel, their respective buddies, etc. Probably.
Mick
February 1st, 2013
8:08 am
P.S. john mccain and lindsey graham, two of the biggest a-holes in the senate, they need to be retired next go round…
stands for decibels
February 1st, 2013
8:08 am
…in Syria’s case, one might more prudently categorize such folk as “Frenemies” at this point.
stands for decibels
February 1st, 2013
8:12 am
john mccain and lindsey graham, two of the biggest a-holes in the senate, they need to be retired next go round…
Here’s a good place to go to judge who ought to join them:
http://killfil.com/
This project was born out of pure, unadulterated rage.
heh, heh, heh…
Granny Godzilla
February 1st, 2013
8:13 am
stands
applauding? No.
insensitive? Certainly. he is not exactly Mr. Warmth on the best of days.
I thought about archive diving myself, but it still hurts to read all that.
stands for decibels
February 1st, 2013
8:13 am
The bitter clinger John Lewis
Boy, nothing says “I am quite the studly, attractive, preening, snow-white Teaper a-hole” quite like such comments at Congressman Lewis’ expense, does it?
Tundra Dude
February 1st, 2013
8:15 am
Granny:
I’m on my second tour of duty in the south…
Not bad “duty” down South…
Moved to Atl in the 90’s….Nawth suburbs, then, most recently down in Candler Park.
Came back to Wisc to take care of some sickies….stuck here a while longer.
Granny Godzilla
February 1st, 2013
8:15 am
MOB RULE
I see that’s getting to be a popular phrase on the right.
i wish they’d be honest and admit they are the mob that wants to rule.
stands for decibels
February 1st, 2013
8:16 am
I thought about archive diving myself, but it still hurts to read all that.
Yeah.
On a related (gross/personal) note, the other night, I sat with mrs sfd on the couch, and we watched a video clip (I had already HEARD the clip on the radio) of Gabby Giffords’ testimony. I knew what was coming. I still couldn’t stop what came forth, though, from my eyes.
Super Bowl XLVII
February 1st, 2013
8:16 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37wSwAJ98Zk
Vet
February 1st, 2013
8:17 am
Stands for decibels….should be stands for hate! You and people like you are the rotten core of the Democratic party!
Granny Godzilla
February 1st, 2013
8:18 am
Tundra Dude
Was in WI over the July 4th weekend…..Door County….
Bar cheeseburgers and fresh caught walleye at the bowling alley.
mmmmmmmmmmmmmm
stands for decibels
February 1st, 2013
8:18 am
.should be stands for hate!
My work is done, here.
Granny Godzilla
February 1st, 2013
8:21 am
stands
there are a few people who never shed a tear over what happened….
i wish to god that they grow a heart
Granny Godzilla
February 1st, 2013
8:22 am
WE got an animal doctor preaching hate?
TaxPayer
February 1st, 2013
8:23 am
SfD posted something hateful! Where is this hateful post, Vet? Tell us all about what you read as a message of hate. Come on. Don’t be shy.
Tundra Dude
February 1st, 2013
8:24 am
Was in WI over the July 4th weekend…..Door County….
Bar cheeseburgers and fresh caught walleye at the bowling alley.
Oh, WOW!
At the same time, I was 2 hrs West of there.
(don’t recall ever catchin’ walleye at a bowling alley)
Morality?
February 1st, 2013
8:27 am
On “immigration reform” it’s all about politicians getting reelected.
Morality?
February 1st, 2013
8:30 am
Revised definition of HATERS – Anyone that doesn’t agree with you.
stands for decibels
February 1st, 2013
8:30 am
Taxpayer @ 8.23, I believe there are some who will never, ever, ever forgive John Lewis for reporting what he heard whilst walking to vote on the PPACA.
http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/breitbart-loses-bet-blames-black-caucus-rac
Never.
Granny Godzilla
February 1st, 2013
8:33 am
Tundra
(don’t recall ever catchin’ walleye at a bowling alley)
What DID you catch at the bowling alley?
Tundra Dude
February 1st, 2013
8:36 am
don’t recall ever catchin’ walleye at a bowling alley)
What DID you catch at the bowling alley?
can’t say in public…..
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
February 1st, 2013
8:37 am
Mick
February 1st, 2013
8:08 am
I agreed about McCain and Lindsey until I read capsule of his cross examination of Hagel yesterday..
STANDS,
What did you say to deserve the “hate” mongering label?
Granny Godzilla
February 1st, 2013
8:38 am
stands
Lyin’ Andy was a hateful man.
stands for decibels
February 1st, 2013
8:40 am
What did you say to deserve the “hate” mongering label?
I dunno… “mornin’,” maybe.
Jerome Horwitz
February 1st, 2013
8:40 am
Hey Tundra In what part of the Badger state do you reside? We used to call Oneida County home. Still miss the friday fish frys. And the various Old Fashioneds.
UNCLE SAMANTHA
February 1st, 2013
8:40 am
NOTHING LIKE THAT CREDIBLE AND COMPETENT NEWS SOURCE
CROOKSANDLIARS.COM
WATCH OUT NY TIMES AND WASH-POST
stands for decibels
February 1st, 2013
8:43 am
Sam, this may be hard for you to digest, but I really wasn’t trying to change *your* mind with that linkee.
Have you had any luck with the keyboard repair outfit you’d contacted, by the way?
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
February 1st, 2013
8:44 am
Economic growth flat….jobless claims up 10%. Both likely due to timing and other transitional issues….be interesting to see how these are adjusted retroactively…growth seems due to accelerated gains last year and jobless claims due to seasonal employment…
That seems to be the story…the more time passes, the more I’m convinced that government really can’t do much except borrow and spend (with suspect results)to materially influence economic trends.
Granny Godzilla
February 1st, 2013
8:45 am
old fashioneds……………………mmmmmmmmmmmmmm
TaxPayer
February 1st, 2013
8:45 am
Apparently there’s nothing but a bunch of hacks over at the NY Times and the WSJ.
stands for decibels
February 1st, 2013
8:46 am
WATCH OUT NY TIMES AND WASH-POST
aha! found it! dug out one of Uncle Samantha’s letters-to-the-editor to that latter media outfit, c. 2006:
http://www.eschatonblog.com/2006/03/merkin-patriot-writes-letter.html
UNCLE SAMANTHA
February 1st, 2013
8:46 am
WOULD YOU TRUST YOUR FRENCH MODEL BOYFRIEND WHEN HE SAYS HE HAD A VASECTOMY?
BON JOUR
Au revoir
Granny Godzilla
February 1st, 2013
8:48 am
oh my!
Keep Up the Good Fight!
February 1st, 2013
8:50 am
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=how+to+turn+off+the+all+caps+key
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
February 1st, 2013
8:51 am
STANDS
As I like to quote Einstein: “only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I’m not so sure about the universe…”
UNCLE SAMANTHA
February 1st, 2013
8:53 am
NO GUNS FOR LIBERALS
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberalism_Is_a_Mental_Disorder
stands for decibels
February 1st, 2013
8:53 am
GG, one of these days, I WILL get Jay on the record as to why he dropped Atrios from his blogroll.
Honestly, I doubt I ever woulda hung out here had Jay not done so.
(wait a minute… maybe the reason’s coming to me now. oh.)
Tundra Dude
February 1st, 2013
8:54 am
Jerome H:
Hey Tundra In what part of the Badger state do you reside? We used to call Oneida County home. Still miss the friday fish frys. And the various Old Fashioneds.
Down in Beertown, now. Raised up there, Lincoln Co. Was just up there in Rhinelander.
Don’t miss it, kinda depressing, had a troubled childhood (still a work in progress)
NObama
February 1st, 2013
8:55 am
Let’s just have open borders – that’s what the bleeding heart liberals really want. Bite me jayboy
Doggone/GA
February 1st, 2013
8:55 am
“As I like to quote Einstein”
My favorite one is: The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has it’s limits
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
February 1st, 2013
8:56 am
Unemployment back up to 7.9%…where will it go from here?
I’m I the only one finding the cliff is a good thing? We are talking about 100 billion a year or 2.6 percent of spending…on a family budget you can almost cover that with simply turning the thermostat down and remembering to shut off the lights…
OMG! 8% of military spending…I guess we just can’t cut anything less the sky fall..
Tundra Dude
February 1st, 2013
8:59 am
My favorite one is: The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has it’s limits
HE He……Good Wun!!
Doggone/GA
February 1st, 2013
9:00 am
“HE He……Good Wun!!”
Yep, I’ve always thought so. The best part of it is to see by their reactions those who miss the point completely!
indigo
February 1st, 2013
9:03 am
Uncle Samantha – 8:53
You’re lucky that Jay allows double digit IQ’s here, right sportie?
Class of '98
February 1st, 2013
9:05 am
Hey Jay, David Brooks wrote a column yesterday saying we need looser immigration restrictions on low-skilled, poorly-educated foreigners.
I wanted to give you a heads-up, because you apparently forgot to copy and paste the column in it’s entirety while simultaneously repeating ad naseum that Brooks is a died-in-the-wool, blue-blood raging conservative.
You’re welcome.
larry
February 1st, 2013
9:06 am
SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS!!!
Gale
February 1st, 2013
9:10 am
I actually would like to see many of the cuts proposed in “the cliff”. Our military could use some pruning. Do we really need to be 4x larger than our nearest competition? Student loans have only created a mass of educated young people with no jobs, and degree inflation for low skill jobs.
Granny Godzilla
February 1st, 2013
9:12 am
Daughters of the American Revolution!
barking frog
February 1st, 2013
9:14 am
Good, good, good, good revolutions…..
Jerome Horwitz
February 1st, 2013
9:15 am
You in the DAR Granny? A SAR Member here. And spouse is working on her DAR app. Makes me laugh at those who say libs can’t be patriots. It was our forefathers who fought for the country we love.
Granny Godzilla
February 1st, 2013
9:18 am
Jerome
My grandmother is said to have registered my sisters and I at birth.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
February 1st, 2013
9:18 am
Orangutans of the Planet of the Apes!
barking frog
February 1st, 2013
9:19 am
I am eligible for membership in SAR and SCV and
Arnold Schwarzenegger is not. That is about all that
is worth.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
February 1st, 2013
9:22 am
Class of ‘98
February 1st, 2013
9:05 am
The one thing I do support re immigration is that border security (for example multi-layer barriers south of San Diego) must be fully completed before the “amnesty” or similar provisions take effect. History shows that if done in reverse fashion, border security never gets done and we will be back to where we are in no time..
Progressive, Liberal, Lefty
February 1st, 2013
9:24 am
Rubio has as good a chance at the Whitehouse as does Sarah Palin. No matter what he does or says. He can lick up to McCain and Graham and Limbaugh and all the others from now until the cows come home and he’ll NEVER be president. He’s a radical, rigidly ideological, nut case who’s totally out of step with the values and politics of most American voters. He has no chance. I’m not convinced he’ll even get a second term in the Senate. He damn sure doesn’t deserve one.
Morality?
February 1st, 2013
9:25 am
Immigration is all about kickbacks, payoffs, feeding gub’ment coffers and MOST OF ALL – GETTING REELECTED.
Tundra Dude
February 1st, 2013
9:25 am
Daughters of the American Revolution!
All this “Royalty” around here……
Think I’m a product of some unemployed Crusaders, roaming around Nawth Europe, back in the Old days….
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
February 1st, 2013
9:26 am
Gale
February 1st, 2013
9:10 am
Agreed. The balance of the cuts I think are across the board type at roughly 5%…Follow the money to see why the defensive posture of all invovled…if we can’t even cut 2.6% of spending annually, we should just fold up tent…even if we do cut 2.6%, spending will without doubt, expand much more that 2.6%..
stands for decibels
February 1st, 2013
9:26 am
nobody know de ethical trubble Jay’s seen SHEETZ.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
February 1st, 2013
9:29 am
Progressive, Liberal, Lefty
February 1st, 2013
9:24
Careful with that axe Eugene….the same thing would have been said bout your hero at that particular time…
Liberals sure quickly get defensive when the likes of FOX or RUSH dopes are brought into the debate…is it the ratings?
Morality?
February 1st, 2013
9:42 am
9:03 – “double digit IQ’s – Rocket scientist > Brain surgeon > Stock Market Guru > Computer Genius > Research Scientist > CPA > Pharmacist > Electrical Engineer > Advertizing Executive > Auto Mechanic > Chef > Plumber > TV Talk Show Host > Gardener > Maid > Lawyer not in Politics > Reality Show “Star” >>>>>>>>> Congress >>>>>>>>>>>>> Brain Dead Zombies for Obama >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Tax Payer.
Morality?
February 1st, 2013
9:45 am
HAVE A NICE DAY! (smiley face patent applied for)
Morality?
February 1st, 2013
9:51 am
Abortion >>>>>>>> discrimination against the most vulnerable in society against their right to be born. Those that are not in position to defend themselves for their right to LIVE. Would you have any objections if your MAMA had decided to snuff you out?
Corbin Sharpe. I think, therefore I am...I think.
February 1st, 2013
10:14 am
“Abortion >>>>>>>> discrimination against the most vulnerable in society against their right to be born. Those that are not in position to defend themselves for their right to LIVE. Would you have any objections if your MAMA had decided to snuff you out?”
———————
That is the most one sided and stupid statement I have ever read.
Ellen
February 3rd, 2013
4:12 pm
Jay, I don’t even know why you try to offer reasoned, thoughtful opinion pieces. This IS Georgia, after all…