Thursday, November 01, 2007

IMMIGRATION “REFORM”

Democratic Strategists Concede 'Many' Illegal Immigration Opponents Not Racist, While Many Are

Periodically I'll note that one of the factors that makes immigration such a hot-button issue is the fact that a large swath of the pro-amnesty, pro-in-state-tuition, pro-driver’s licenses, pro-open-borders advocates refuse to grant any legitimacy to their opponents. Time and again, they insist that the motivation of the pro-border security crowd must be xenophobia and racism.

Here's a gem in that memo from Democratic pollsters/strategists Stan Greenberg, Al Quinlan, and James Carville:

The centrality of illegal immigration to the current discontent about the direction of the country may be taking us back again to a welfare moment. Just as many workers with moderate incomes, uncertain employment and health insurance could not understand why they were being taxed to subsidize the long-term idleness of those on welfare, many Americans are just perplexed that this country has lost control of the borders and winks at illegal employment, taxing the resources of local schools and hospitals and much more. Many of the voter responses to welfare were racist to be sure, as now with the response to illegal immigration, but many are not.

How big and generous of them! Many of our opponents are racist, but many aren't!

Anyway, this section is fascinating:

When we tested a comprehensive proposal in a bi-partisan poll for NPR, we got (44) percent support for a plan to increase enforcement on the borders and work place and deny most government benefits but recognizing we cannot expel 12 million, creates a path for citizenship for the law abiding – a big change in status with opportunities for fuller integration into America. That is likely a presidential issue that could gain further support with public debate. When we tested a plan earlier without the reassurance on benefits, the plan got only 39 percent, suggesting how challenging this issue will be for ordinary candidates without the full platform available at a presidential level.11 Even with the reassurance on control and benefits, 40 percent of Democrats and a majority of African Americans favored the tougher Republican alternative that provided no path to legalization. This is a real wedge issue that Democrats need to get right.

Attention, Republican candidates. This is opportunity knocking.

11/01 04:06 PMShare