We now have a "wedge" issue, but is it being utilized?

[HardWorkingDem]

This is what gets me about the Democrats. Immigration has now turned into a huge wedge issue for conservatives, so I think the Democrats should write the most alarming immigration bill possible and use this issue to do to the Rethuglicans like they have done with abortion, gays and God.

Am I wrong?

[soothsayer]

1. yes.

[Phredicles]

2. I think Cheney could serve as an excellent wedge issue - just about everybody

loathes the man, evcept for the hard-core righties.

[Clark2008]

3. How would that work since he won't be on the ballot in 2008?

I can't think of anyone as evil as he to be on the ballot then.

[Double T]

4. YES. The illegal alien amnesty issue is a huge wedge issue ALSO.......

for Democrats. I would suggest another issue like Universal Health Care.

[ripple]

5. That's tricky business

A lot of democrats have pretty strong feelings about immigration, as well. I've noticed a number of republicans and democrats turning to Ron Paul, based on his anti-immigration stance alone.

[pampango]

6. As a wedge issue, it seems to cut both ways.

The Repubs get most of the bad publicity for their internal fighting on this, but that is because Bush is pushing the bill, so it is automatically big news when a president's own party turns on him. Many on the left have turned on Kennedy and other liberal politicians. While most national Democrats, other than Blue Dogs and many newly elected Democrats in competitive districts, support the immigration legislation, most national Repubs oppose it. The odd thing is that the political bases of both parties seem to be opposed to this bill.

I've seen posts here that the current immigration bill is a Bush/Rove to stick Democrats with a losing issue, while others post that it is a sign of Bush's weakness, or perhaps sympathy for Hispanics, and we should pass the bill to take advantage of this and win continued electoral support from Hispanics.

[LordJFT]

7. Definitely, I mean come on this issue got McCain to say F*ck you to Cornyn