National Republican Congressional Committee chair Rep. Greg Walden told reporters at the House Republican retreat that immigration votes are “probably months out” and will be after the congressional primaries are mostly over.

Great. Grassroots activists around the country are now going to make sure there’s an anti-amnesty independent candidate on the general election ballot, in case GOP incumbents sell out after the primaries. And if GOP leadership proceeds with this unique combination of cynicism and recklessness, who could blame some voters for supporting such an independent candidate in November?