There’s been a lot of back and forth in the blogosphere and in the media over how cutting a political issue immigration is. Mickey Kaus seems to have focused on almost nothing but immigration lately, and the question of how it’s impacting races. Jim Geraghty has looked at polling showing that for those who consider themselves “independent,” border security ranks as the number one political issue. Arguing the other side, Ezra Klein says that the immigration issue didn’t win any races for restrictionists this year — and arguably lost at least one. Whatever the significance of the issue, it seems highly unlikely that Congress will address it anytime soon. With comprehensive immigration reform apparently impossible this year, some moderate House Democrats have decided to work with Republicans on a border-security-only bill. While the group has a bill (which one anti-illegal immigration group summarizes here)and lots of support, it seems DOA with the House Hispanic Caucus:
How grave is Shuler’s offense? He’s committed one of the greatest sins in the liberal playbook: acting like a Republican.
This is just one item in a series that has heightened tension between Hispanic Democrats and others. Things are so bad that one Hispanic Democrat nearly got into a fight with Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, who thinks this could “destroy the party”:
Is there any sense in not considering some type of border security bill now? Right now the situation is optimal for proponents of comprehensive reform: they hold both Houses of Congress, and they have a Republican President who’s lobbied his party to vote with them. Any Republican elected next year is less likely to support comprehensive reform. And if a Democrat is elected, Congressional Republicans are likely to dig in their heels in opposition. Refusing to consider border security now however, guarantees that immigration will be a significant issue in 2008. And moderate Democrats in swing seats clearly don’t believe that works to their favor.
