The Nation: Clueless on Immigration

[primavera]

Clueless on Immigration
The Nation
Sat Mar 25, 8:19 PM ET

The largest mobilization in the history of--and in favor of--immigrants stretched for a mind-boggling twenty-six blocks through downtown Los Angeles Saturday, bringing somewhere between a half-million and a million people into the streets.

<snip>

A dozen years ago, when anti-immigrant forces pushed through Prop 187 in California, it provoked a Latino backlash that has created an ongoing disaster for the state GOP.

Are we on the verge of seeing the same thing now on a national scale? While Democrats and liberals have spent oodles of time this year debating everything from Downing Street to impeachment and censure, they have been mostly AWOL on the immigration issue--one that has now brought a million people into the streets in just the last week.

Looking at the eye-popping pictures in Saturday's LA Times you have to ask yourself if either of the two parties are going to fully "get" this issue. Here's someone who does.

What I find so amazing about this is that the op-ed piece to which this story links at the end as "someone who gets it," is a piece by Tamar Jacoby, a senior analyst for the conservative Manhattan Institute. The Nation speaking up in support of a conservative analyst's views? That has to be a first. I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to get to know Tamar somewhat through work and she's actually quite a nice lady, not at all the rabid conservative one might expect, but still, seeing her getting an endorsement from The Nation just cracks me up.

I think this demonstrates what a phenomenally complex issue immigration is, fully capable of creating the strangest of bed-fellows across party lines, as well as creating schisms within both parties.

[BlueManDude]

1. Democrats are not going to sweep back into power on the backs of Latinos

it's a pipe dream. If they take a pro illegal immigrant stance whatever gains they make among Latinos will be offset by losses among whites.

People who are are here illegally should be forced to leave. They weaken our eceonomy and our security.

[primavera]

2. The shrub did

An unusually high percentage of the Latino vote - traditionally a Democratic stronghold - went with the shrub in 2004, precisely because the Dems have stayed out of the immigration debate, which is their number one issue. Given the slim margin of victory, had their votes not gone to the shrub, John Kerry would be our president right now.

[BlueManDude]

6. supporting illegal immigration is neither good policy nor good politics

Because of his Tex "roots" and his love of allowing cheap labor to flow freely into our country, Bush has always had some support among hispanics that most GOPers would not have. That does not mean he is in the right either politically or policy wise. He (and Harry Reid and most Dems) are on the wrong side of the issue. His lastest policy is not politically popular and he is giving the Dems a great way to win on a silver platter.

Unfortunately most Dems seem to be too scared to call the flood of illegal immigration what it is - a force that drives down our standard of living and drains reources from our social safety net. It's not about hate or racism or xenophobia - it's about the quality of life for American citizens.

[melissinha]

3. its really a tough one

I have been listening to Thom Hartmann on the issue and I think he really biols it down....

The "ruling class" is using the immigrants' plight to decrease wages for the middle class, they have effectively pitted working class Americans against immigrants, whereas the true villain here is the ruling class which with Idiot Boy needs immigrant labor to keep their costs low .... forcing reguar americans to either decline jobs or to take lower wages.

If they would only address immigration in the context of minimum wage and the role of corporations in this debacle.

[primavera]

5. Wow, sounds like I need to listen to Thom Hartmann

I haven't heard his stuff, but the snippet you quote I think is right on the money. Scapegoating immigrants - legal or illegal - is waaaay too easy and conveniently diverts attention away from the real issues of income inequality and the suppression of labor unions.

[melissinha]

8. just stream instead of Franken

http://www.airamericaradio.com/thomhartmannpage

Its as easy as pie, Hartmann REALLY knows his stuff and he handles conservative guests with class.....

YEP, driving down the wage, its actually quite brilliant and people are too short-sighted and easily diverted with wedge issues.... HE also pointed out that the number of total unemployed citizens as also about equal to number of illegal immigrants who are working.....
I find it hard to chose between the two parties, BUT thats not the point, we are all pawns.

[BlueManDude]

7. A Tough on Immigration Democrat would win the next election

It's about raising our standard of living - it's not about hate.

[kurth]

4. Calling illegals just "immigrants" is an insult to legal immigrants

including most Americans whose ancestors came here legally.

But it is a technique being used by the pro-illegal crowd, including the Chimp, to confuse people.

[Indy_Dem_Defender]

9. Bush wants

illegal aliens here for cheap labor, he also has a personal interest invested as well since the bush family want to have another George Bush to be able to run for president someday. His nephew Jeb's kid, only problem is George P. Bush is half hispanic and alot of typical republican voters are racist so there is little chance they would vote for him because of this. So since the vast majority of illegals in this country are hispanic, by just letting them come in here freely and hopefully getting them to become citizens, that way in 15-20 years when George P. runs for president he can lay claim his uncle opened the borders to them have a wonderful life in the US and since he's half hispanic they believe that's guaranteed votes.

[Minnesota Libra]

10. Personally, I don't think either party has the right approach to..........

.....the illegal alien issue (any illegal aliens from anywhere).

Neither party is willing to say and do the obvious. For any laws or regulations to work they have to start with strict shut down and enforcement of both borders.

Without that, it's just talk with ever increasing disastrous results.