From HuffPo: On Rep. Gutierrez' Immigration Reform Bill

[pampango]

Yes We Can End this Crisis: Real Immigration Reform, A.S.A.P

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/frank-sharry/yes-we-can-end-this-crisi_b_394654.html

"But won't the first round of this debate take place in the Senate in early 2010? Yes, it will. But by coming out early and strong, Rep. Gutierrez and his colleagues in the House achieve three important objectives: 1) they have created a template for good policy that will influence future bills; 2) they are putting pressure on the White House and leaders in both the House and the Senate to keep their promise of moving on immigration reform in this Congress; and 3) they are ensuring a place for themselves at the final negotiations over what a final bill will look like."

"Even if many in the D.C. chattering class haven't figured it out yet, the fear that this issue will be a wedge that benefits Republican hard liners over Democratic reformers has turned out to be as big a myth as death panels. In the last election, in 20 of the 22 congressional races where immigration reform was an issue, voters picked candidates who chose comprehensive reform over anti-immigration extremism. Republican candidates who tried to use immigration as a wedge issue to divide voters failed. In addition, we know that the American people as a whole expect Congress to solve problems like immigration."

"Look, we already know that the opposition will be fierce and noisy.

We've seen it all before - and this time we're much better prepared, and much better organized. Nevertheless, anti-immigrant extremists like Sheriff Joe Arpaio, the Minutemen, and the designated hate group FAIR are going to do everything they can to maintain the awful status quo. Broken borders, broken families, broken system - all in hopes of driving 12 million undocumented immigrants out of their jobs, out of their communities, and out of the country."

"We look forward to working with Rep. Gutierrez and others in the House, as well as with leaders in the Senate, including Sen. Menendez and the Senate sponsor, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), to ensure that 2010 is the year we see real, comprehensive immigration reform enacted. While adherents to the conventional wisdom are busy writing otherwise, I predict immigration reform will be the biggest legislative surprise of 2010."

[lapfog_1]

1. I said earlier today

that if Obama wants to finish pissing off his entire base (as opposed to only 80% of it), all he has to do is appoint Arpaio to be the head of the border patrol.