OK, not every Democrat is for amnesty for illegal aliens, but, darn near!
House Democratic leaders are being whipsawed on immigration policy by two groups within their caucus — Hispanic lawmakers who want an end to Democratic support of enforcement-only immigration bills and vulnerable Democrats from swing districts who say a “get tough†approach is necessary to keep their seats in 2008.
Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairman Joe Baca (D-Calif.) plans to address the Democratic Caucus at next week’s meeting to reassure colleagues that they can be tough while creating a path to citizenship for undocumented and illegal immigrants.
Worried about appearing soft on the issue in an election year, yet knowing they cannot afford to alienate Hispanic voters, Democratic leaders have let conservative members join legislative forces with Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.) and allowed passage of a non-binding motion prohibiting the government from suing groups that require employees to speak English at work.
As a result, Baca and a group of Hispanic Democrats threatened revolt on two procedural votes last month to protest leadership handling of immigration. Now Baca is trying conciliation, reaching out to House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel (Ill.) and centrist Democrats.
What most elected Democrats and Democrat leaders want is blanket amnesty, in order to create more voters. However, a good chunk of the actual Democrat voter base wants no amnesty, and were very upset with the Senate immigration bills when that kerfuffle was going on. The middle ground voters, who are the ones who really elect people to office, are not happy with giving amnesty, too. But, listening to them is anthematic for Democrats, who feel that they are the smart people, so everyone else should just get in line and follow along.
Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), who spoke at an NDN forum on immigration on Wednesday, said that unlike Republicans, Democrats avoid references in debate to “those people.†He added, “It shocked me to hear that on the Senate floor … If we show our understanding on those issues, we’ll have a unique chance at a record Latino vote and a Democratic president [in 2008].â€
Democrats believe that pandering to Latino’s, including those who cannot legally vote, and should not even be in the United States, is a good plan. Of course, ultra-pandering is inherent in the Democrat platform, as they have been doing with Blacks for decades.
As Iraq calms down and good things keep happening there, this election may very well come down to two issues: healthcare and illegal immigration. And, with the illegal issue, Americans overwhelmingly do not want to issue amnesty to people who broke our laws.
And, via Hot Air
Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean yesterday said Republicans are targeting immigrants and told the Republican presidential candidates that the tone of their debates on the issue has become “outrageous.â€
“Stop scapegoating immigrants and stop using immigration as a wedge issue,†Mr. Dean, a 2004 presidential hopeful, said in a conference call with reporters meant to set the stage for this weekend’s Republican presidential debate on Spanish-language network Univision.
Wedge issue? Perhaps your party should stop using Operation Iraqi Freedom as a wedge issue, especially as you want us to completely lose, Mr. Quisling.
