Voters say they want “comprehensive immigration reform” but oppose “amnesty.” That sounds promising,

[pampango]

but what it really means is that anything you propose that isn’t “round ‘em all up and deport ‘em” is automatically described as “amnesty” by the right. And then swing voters hear that it’s “amnesty” — whatever the proposal is — and assume they should be against it.

As long as right-wingers control the debate, you can’t propose anything that won’t fall victim to this sequence of events. You could write a bill that mandated fifty years at hard labor before the opportunity to apply for citizenship kicked in, and right-wingers would still call it “amnesty.” And the public, not knowing any better, would just nod in agreement. Someday this will change, I suppose. But not anytime soon.

The starting point, however, was not a blog post but a column by Michael Gerson in the Washington post in which he urged fellow Republicans to support the act:

Critics counter that the law would be a reward for illegal behavior and an incentive for future lawbreaking. But these immigrants, categorized as illegal, have done nothing illegal. They are condemned to a shadow existence entirely by the actions of their parents. And the Dream Act is not an open invitation for future illegal immigrants to bring their minors to America. Only applicants who have lived in America continuously for five years before enactment of the law would qualify.

Opponents of this law don’t want earned citizenship for any illegal immigrant – even those personally guilty of no crime, even those who demonstrate their skills and character. The Dream Act would be a potent incentive for assimilation. But for some, assimilation clearly is not the goal. They have no intention of sharing the honor of citizenship with anyone called illegal – even those who came as children, have grown up as neighbors and would be willing to give their lives in the nation’s cause.

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/10/the-possible-dream/?partner=rss&emc=rss

[dkf]

1. "comprehensive immigration reform" unless described could mean anything.

I would sure love to know exactly what people think they are supporting when they say the approve of it.

[applegrove]

2. The right wing just wants to get rid of as many future democratic voters as possible.

[Hello_Kitty]

3. But they want an underclass that works cheap, hence the drive to do away w/birthright citizenship.

[applegrove]

4. Yup, I bet they love the guest worker idea. That way when the baby boomers

start to retire en masse there won't be an employees market for jobs.

[Angry Dragon]

5. It comes down to the color of skin

Murdock had no trouble becoming a citizen
he even had help from giuliani