The Raw Politics of Immigration Reform Should Lead to Legislation

There are numerous reasons why it would be wise for Washington to address the nation&'s failed immigration policies sooner rather than later and finally fix a system that no one on either end of the political spectrum believes is either functioning properly or serving the best interests of the people . Even though studies show that reforming immigration would be a boost to the economy at a time when it could surely use one, and human rights issues make reforming the system a moral imperative, many still believe that it's an issue too politically hot to handle.

Since nothing yet has provided the requisite motivation to those in Washington to move forward and tackle reform, it&'s time to start to look at it through a prism they can understand: Pure Machiavellian political calculation.

As has been rightly pointed out, reform cannot be a one party affair, and to get it accomplished there will have to be some reaching across the aisle and bipartisan compromise. Yet, given the current polarization in Washington, accomplishing such a task might seem to be impossible ... until of course we look at the alternatives.

It's quite obvious at this point that the American electorate is furious, with discontent across the political spectrum from left to right ... and more importantly the middle.

Confidence in Washington is approaching record lows with few having faith in elected officials to fix the serious problems facing the nation. 60% believe that the country's heading in the wrong direction. The elation of 2008 that a new era of change was upon us, and that the gridlock and partisan politics of the past might finally give way to effective governance, has quickly given way to distrust and cynicism.

Those from both parties now face an angry public more intent than ever to throw the bums out of office.

On the right, all but the most hard-core reactionary conservatives face challenges from the far-right extremes of their party. In Florida, one-time party favorite, Charlie Crist, looks like toast with teabagger Marco Rubio crushing him in the polls. Former standard bearer, John McCain, daily tries to distance himself from every past position he's ever held in hopes of warding off primary defeat. In NY23 the pitchfork and torch crowd lunched a successful coup, driving out the party favorite, ultimately handing the election to the opposition.

Fueled by the vitriolic rants of Glenn Beck or Rush Limbaugh, and living in an information isolation-bubble created by the FOX News noise machine, the angry mob has become emboldened and threatens to tear their party apart in a frenzy of fratricide.

On the left, the inability of the administration and its Congressional allies to deliver on their promise to usher in a new era in Washington has had a different effect. While the right-wing base is energized, the historic coalition that Obama built of youth, ethnic voters, and independents is withering away due to ambivalence and disillusion.

As we saw in NJ, VA, and most recently in MA, the Obama coalition simply failed to show up at the polls. And those that did were the disenchanted independents still looking for change who thought they'd find it in a pick-up truck driving, faux-populist, "independent Republican."

But as much as both parties are having problems with their respective bases, it's the magic 40+% unaffiliated voters who now create the most problems for both.

They're sick and tired of the partisan bickering, political posturing, and gridlock that prevail in Washington.

They're scared. They see a faltering economy, endless wars, high unemployment and an uncertain future, and they want something done.

They watched the protracted political sausage making that mired down the health care debate, the convoluted economics of the stimulus bill, and the daily theater of the absurd as obstructionist Republicans did everything in their power to derail an Obama presidency ... and they're fed up.

They want to clean house, and few incumbents will be safe from their wrath.

Realizing this, both parties have telegraphed their electoral strategies.

Republicans will attempt to run as outsiders, trying to convince voters that somehow Washington careerists are in fact, fresh faces with new ideas, all along stalling and trying their damnedest to prevent anything from getting accomplished that might make Obama look good.

The Democrats, with Obama in the lead, will hammer away on those very same stall tactics and try to lay the blame for all the gridlock and partisan rancor in Washington at the Republican's feet.

But both these plans contain Achilles heels that could doom them to failure.

As a new poll just released by non-partisan independent pollster Research 2000 of over 2,000 self-identified Republicans shows, the base has moved so far to the extreme they could become toxic for incumbents in all but the reddest of red states. Particularly given Obama's still very high personal popularity.

• 63% think Obama is a socialist
• only 42% believe he was born in US
• 39% want Obama impeached.
• 53% think Sarah Palin is more qualified to be president than Obama
• 23% want to secede from US
• 24% believe Barack Obama wants the terrorists to win
• 31% believe Barack Obama is a racist who hates White people
• 73% think gay men and women shouldn't be allowed to teach in public schools
• 31% want contraceptives outlawed

In order to paint themselves as outsiders, Republicans, who make up only 22.5% the electorate, will be forced to embrace those in their party who have already firmly staked out that ground ... the teabaggers and birthers who flocked to last summers town halls to "take their country back."

Having to cater to this constituency not only to ward off primary challenges or raise funds, but to appear "mavericky" enough, Republicans run the risk of alienating the independents and moderates essential to winning general elections. In many ways, in order to remain viable in general elections dominated by centrist independents, Republicans will need to distance themselves from what now appears to be the public face of their party.

A recent Gallup poll shows just how risky catering to the base could be. It's still a very blue country:

Overall, 49% of Americans in 2009 identified as Democrats or said they were independent but leaned to the Democratic Party, while 41% identified as Republicans or were Republican-leaning independents In total, 23 states plus the District of Columbia can be classified as solidly Democratic, with a 10 percentage-point or greater advantage in party affiliation in favor of the Democrats. This includes most of the Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions, most of the Great Lakes region, and the Pacific Coast.

Another 10 states can be considered Democratic leaning, in which the state's Democratic supporters outnumber Republican supporters by at least 5 percentage points but less than 10 points. These are Missouri, Kentucky, North Carolina, Florida, New Hampshire, Virginia, Colorado, Nevada, Indiana, and Tennessee.

Four states are solidly Republican, with a better than 10-point advantage in Republican affiliation -- Wyoming, Utah, Alaska, and Idaho. Alabama qualifies as the lone Republican-leaning state, with a 6-point advantage in Republican affiliation.

That leaves 12 states that are competitive, with less than a 5-point advantage for either party. Among these 13 states, 6 tilt in a Republican direction: Montana, Nebraska, Mississippi, Texas, North Dakota, and Kansas. Six tilt toward the Democratic Party: Georgia, South Dakota, Louisiana, Arizona, Oklahoma, and South Carolina.

Gallup

Republicans would need to replicate their "Massachusetts Miracle" across the electoral map in order to succeed … something far easier to crow about, than do.

For Democrats, the "blame it all on the Republicans" strategy is risky also. Congressional Democrats' approval ratings are in the toilet, only slightly higher than the Republicans:

PARTY	APPROVE	DISAPPROVE
CONGRESSIONAL DEMS:	37	59
CONGRESSIONAL GOP:	21	63

This low standing in most part due to their perceived inability to get anything accomplished and getting mired down in the toxic partisan bickering that has marked this Congress.

Attempting now to point fingers at the opposition is a dicey proposition.

With all his substantial personal charms and political skills, even Obama would be walking the fine line between criticizing partisanship and engaging in it… A risky move even in a far less volatile political climate.

It's even riskier when attempted by far less well-liked and politically talented Democrats who run the risk of sounding like they're just making shrill excuses for their bad behavior.

But perhaps both parties would be better served if they actually just did the people's bidding and found a way to get something done. It would serve them well to roll up their sleeves and put partisan political gamesmanship aside long enough to get at least one piece of major legislation passed this session. It would be in both their political best interests.

Republican's would be able to defuse Democratic attacks about being obstructionists and have some claim to the middle at a time when the extreme base of the party appears to be anything but, and Democrats would prove they can get something done.

It's for this reason that the time to address immigration reform has come.

• It's the kind of "tough issue" that polls have constantly shown the American people want tackled.
• It has the support of a broad coalition that includes labor, business, and faith-based organizations.
• Good arguments have be made for the economic benefits of enacting reform
• The demographics work…neither party can survive long-term without the Latino and New American vote
• Polling shows the majority of Americans favor reform
• It's received bi-partisan support in the past
• Restrictionist campaigns have consistently failed at the polls

From a purely political point of view this seems to be a no-brainer.

 

 

 

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SOME USEFUL INFO ON REFORM

1. Fact Sheet: How Immigration Reform Would Help the Economy
by the Center for American Progress

A fact sheet summarizing recent research on the benefits of legalization.

2. “The Economic Benefits of Comprehensive Immigration Reform”
By Raul Hinojosa for the Center for American Progress and the Immigration Policy Center

This report finds that comprehensive immigration reform that includes a legalization program for unauthorized immigrants and enables a future flow of legal workers would result in a large economic benefit—a cumulative $1.5 trillion in added U.S. gross domestic product over 10 years. In stark contrast, a deportation-only policy would result in a loss of $2.6 trillion in GDP over 10 years.

3. Restriction or Legalization? Measuring the Economic Benefits of Immigration Reform
by Peter B. Dixon and Maureen T. Rimmer for the CATO Institute

A report which finds that legalization of low-skilled immigrant workers would yield significant income gains for American workers and households. It would also allow immigrants to have higher productivity and create more openings for Americans in higherskilled occupations. The positive impact for U.S. households of legalization under an optimal visa tax would be 1.27 percent of GDP or $180 billion. 

4. The Economics of Immigration Reform: Legalizing Undocumented Workers a Key to Economic Recovery
by the Immigration Policy Center

April 2009 analysis of how legalization would protect our workers, raise wages, and get our economy moving again.

5. Policy Brief: New Immigration Reform Bill Supports America’s Middle Class
Drum Major Institute for Public Policy

A Legislative Analysis of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America’s Security and Prosperity Act of 2009(H.R. 4321) sponsored by Representative Solomon Ortiz (D-TX), Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) and 92other co-sponsors

6. The Labor Movement’s Framework for Comprehensive Immigration Reform
AFL-CIO and Change to Win

Announced in April 2009, this is the labor movements unified framework for comprehensive immigration reform.  This framework is a critical sign of support for the Administration and Congress to address immigration reform -- and to ensure that it remains a priority on the legislative calendar. It is also an important sign that immigration reform is an important part of economic recovery.

7. Loving Thy Neighbor: Immigration Reform and Communities of Faith
by Sam Fulwood III for the Center for American Progress

This report documents how  a wide range of faith groups are showing a new, unexpected, and grassroots-led social activism that’s rooted in theological and moral ground. While loud and shrill anti-immigrant voices dominate much of the media attention regarding immigrants and especially the undocumented, faith community activists are caring and praying in the shadows of public attention.

8. The Role of Local Police: Striking a Balance Between Immigration Enforcement and Civil Liberties
By Anita Khashu for the Police Executive Research Foundation

While this report focuses on and provides critique of the role of local police and immigration enforcement, one of the major findings is the need for enactment of comprehensive immigration reform legislation.

 

 

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147

147 – just keep that number in the back of your mind for the time being – I'll get back to it's significance a little later on . … but for now, just file it away somewhere where we can find it when we need it.

For almost three years now, anti-immigrant forces have been ratcheting up their message of opposition to anything short of deportation and/or attrition for the approximately 12 mil unauthorized immigrants currently living and working in the US, coupled with increased militarization and "security" along the southern border as the only way to solve their self-defined "immigration crisis." Armed with talking points crafted by Republican right-wing spinmeisters like Frank Luntz and zero-population-growth advocacy groups like the Federation for American Immigration Reform and NumbersUSA, pundits, politicians and talking-heads have hit the airwaves with a constant barrage of misinformation and distortion.

By now we all know the drill.

They claim they don't oppose immigration …just "illegal" immigration. There's no need for sweeping comprehensive reforms …because we have perfectly good laws, it's just that the government refuses to enforce them. It's not about the immigrants themselves … but rather respect for the "rule of law." And those who wish to enter this country "legally" have a clear path to do, so it's only those wishing to skirt the law and "take advantage of our generosity" that are creating all the problems and need to be harshly dealt with … the mantras are repeated ad nauseam until ingrained into the collective American psyche.

But like all right-wing propaganda, this current fairy tale about immigration being the cause of all ills, and the need for a simple, quick fix, is based upon a foundation of lies and misdirection. It is only the newest in a long line of right-wing efforts to steer the American people in a direction that runs contrary to logic and their own best interests. From Colin Powell at the UN displaying cartoon pictures of mobile WMD labs, to Bush telling us why the "privatizing " Social Security is good for working Americans, or Reagan explaining how giving huge tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans would cause wealth to "trickle down" to those lower on the economic ladder, the history of right-wing lies, deception, and failure goes back more than twenty-five years. And the current hysteria over invading hordes of disease-ridden, uneducated criminals, streaming over the southern border to steal our jobs and destroy our American way of life is no more based in reality than Mr Powell's cartoons were.

But, I have neither the time nor inclination to attempt to debunk every ridiculous talking point, and to do so would require volumes that the average reader would soon tire of. But one talking point that can quickly and easily be put to rest is the one about the US having the most "generous Immigration policy in the world" providing a clear "legal" path for all "good immigrants" willing to take it. …this is simply a fallacy, a tall-tail like Washington and his cherry tree taught to impressionable children to instill pride and patriotism.

Essentially our current immigration is broken in two key aspects. The first being the laws themselves, the second being their enforcement and implementation.

A recent NYT article demonstrated the problems within the bureaucracy set up to administer immigration policy.

Immigration authorities are swamped in new bureaucratic backlogs resulting from an unanticipated flood last summer of applications for citizenship and for residence visas, officials said.

In July and August alone, the federal Citizenship and Immigration Services agency received 2.5 million applications, including petitions for naturalization as well as for the entire range of immigrant visas. That was more than double the total applications it received in the same two months in 2006, said a spokesman, Bill Wright.

In the 2007 fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30, the agency received 1.4 million petitions from legal immigrants to become United States citizens, about double the number of naturalization petitions in the 2006 fiscal year, Mr. Wright said.

…

Immigration officials said it could take more than a year to decide many of the recent applications.

The processing backlogs are different from the visa backlogs that have burdened the United States immigration system for years. Because of annual limits on all green cards, immigrants from some countries like Mexico and the Philippines often have to wait decades for visas to become available. Now the agency has fallen behind on the bureaucratic work of logging in applications and deciding whether to grant visas or allow immigrants to become United States citizens

NYT

But this inefficiency is not a new phenomenon and the problems go beyond the procedural to include infrastructure problems like computer systems unable to communicate with each other.

Aging, incompatible systems and outdated processes have contributed to a backlog of approximately 1 million people waiting for a decision from the department's Citizenship and Immigration Services bureau. Computer problems at its Immigration and Customs Enforcement bureau caused a snafu in which student visa holders were jailed overnight or barred from entering the United States.

-snip-

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service’s systems have come in for particular criticism from outside analysts and government auditors, who say these are simply not up to the task of serving the public, especially when coupled with a continuing reliance on paper forms. In some cases, for instance, information typed into one computer must be manually retyped into a second or third.

"All filings are paper-based, which means that everything you submit has to be keyed into the computer, which of course opens up the additional possibility of error, slows the process down and prevents some processes from being automated," said Crystal Williams, deputy director for programs at the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

-snip-

One problem is that applications for different types of immigration status are saved in separate records. These aren't interlinked, which means an application for a H1-B visa is not tied to the same person's application for a green card--causing more paperwork and delays, until the two records can be matched by hand.

Link

But even if Congress were willing to expend the necessary funds to upgrade systems and supply the manpower needed to expedite the millions of applications already in the queue and awaiting processing, the major flaws in immigration policy would still exists.

Flaws codified into law that almost ensure that for the vast majority of would-be immigrants there is simply no legal path to take.

Here is where that number - 147 - comes into play, and why I asked that it be kept in the back of the mind.

I few weeks ago the annual Yearbook of immigration statistics from the Department of Homeland security came out listing every green card, work visa, tourist visa etc. issued for the past year. It's about as dry and boring a report as one could managed to muddle through …but it supplies invaluable insight into what is really going on with the dysfunctional immigration system.

In 2006 the government issued a little over 1.2 million green cards to new immigrants to live in the US legally. Additionally, 1.7 million more non-immigrant visas were issued to temporary workers and their family members to work in the US (1/2 million more than the number of green cards issued to new permanent residents, a troubling statistic unto itself).

So at face value it appears that there is amble opportunity for those wishing to enter the country permanently to do so legally. But as Mark Twain said there are three kinds of lies "lies, damn lies, and statistics" ..and in this case one must delve into the numbers to see what story they really tell.

Of the 1.2 million green cards issued last year, 581,106 of those went to wives, children and parents of current US citizens. And additional 222,225 went to various other family members of citizens and legal residents, for a total of 2/3 of all green cards going to someone who already had a US citizen or resident relative.

Additionally, out of the 1.2 million green cards issued, only 447,016 were "new arrivals", the vast majority … 819,248 were already living in the US legally with a temporary status of one sort or another and simply readjusted their status last year to permanent status. And while these two categories obviously overlap, simple analysis shows that the true number of new immigrants without US citizen relatives is in fact quote low.

The next largest category of immigrants after the "family based" status were those who entered as "employment based immigrants". 159,081 immigrants were awarded green cards last year to legally work in the US. ( 12.6% of all immigrants). The vast majority of them being immigrants with high skills, "specialty skills" "extraordinary skills" or "advanced degrees".

This is codified into the system.

The yearly cap on unskilled workers is placed at a 5000 maximum. This despite the fact that according to the Dept. of Labor, the US economy produces between 400,000 and 500,000 new low-skilled jobs a year and the vast majority of the nearly ½ mil unauthorized workers who enter the country each year find work in these unskilled sectors.

But as unrealistic as the 5000 cap appears, the situation is actually far worse.

Last year the total number of unskilled workers allowed into the US legally was roughly half the official cap: 2513. Out of nearly 3 million people allowed to enter the country either as temporary workers or stay as legal residents, only 2513 were unskilled workers.

But here comes that number I asked you to keep in the back of your mind ….remember it 147?…

Of the 2513 unskilled workers allotted green cards last year, 2366 were already here living and working in the US. They simply "readjusted" their status to permanent residents (most likely from some temporary worker status) …that leaves 147

147 new un-skilled workers without US citizen or legal resident family already here were allowed to enter the US last year legally and receive green cards.

147 out of 1,266,264.

147 …so tell me again how there is a legal path for all who are willing to work and wait patiently.

How long is one expected to wait… because if the ½ a million who enter each year through improper channels were to go home and wait patiently for their turn, it would take over 3000 years before they would get that chance when only 147 are allowed in each a year.

But the rhetoric will most likely continue, despite all factual evidence to the contrary. Lou Dobbs will nightly inform his minion that only the shiftless and slovenly disregard the law. O'Rielly will bluster away how he "respects and supports" those who "do it the right way" and Rush will whine that reform isn't fair to all those "waiting in line"…But disingenuous blowhards and misleading experts cannot change the truth, or hide the facts. The current immigration laws, and the systems in place to enforce them, are woefully inadequate and all the wall building, workplace raids, deporting and incarcerating will not change that fact…and until they are addressed rationally and reasonably the "immigration crisis" will never end.

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Republican claims Satan behind "illegal immigration"

At the Utah County Republican Convention this coming Saturday, perhaps one of the most bizarre resolutions dealing with immigration to come down the pike in quite some time will be debated by delegates.

The resolution called, "Opposing Satan’s plan to destroy the U.S. by stealth invasion," written by District 65 Chairman Don Larsen, claims that the "quiet and unspectacular invasion of illegal immigrants" is part of Satan's great plan to "establish his 'New World Order' and destroy the freedom of all people as predicted in the Scriptures."

Larson's resolution calls for the "closing of our national borders to illegal immigration to prevent the destruction of the U.S. by stealth invasion" adding that "we must control our borders to illegal immigration, have a well regulated temporary worker program, as needed, or face extinction. The destruction of the U.S. by the forces of evil is a top priority of Satan."

So who's been tasked with doing Satan's work according to the District Chairman? … Atheistic, left-wing politicians and their "godless globalist elite" allies of course.

It is obvious that most promoters of massive immigration and open borders do not like the ideas of patriotism, national identity, sovereignty, our Christian culture and freedom. Many consider themselves cosmopolitans or world citizens. Their religion is atheistic humanism. They are found primarily among the elite of foundations, universities, big business, left-wing politicians, Hollywood, ACLU (Anti-Christian Lawyers Union [sic]), CFR (Council on Foreign Relations), the American power elite and the liberal media. They prefer a world without borders ruled by a one world tyrannical government.

I guess the US Conference of Catholic Bishops must have missed the memo Larsen received about Satan's involvement in the immigration reform movement when they were formulating their immigration policy and began advocating for comprehensive reform.

The same must be true for faith based groups like No More Deaths and Humane Borders who work tirelessly to save lives along the border and change the policies that force hundreds of migrants each year to loose their lives trying to make a better life for themselves and their families.

Larsen claims all those who support comprehensive reform are part of "Satan's axis of evil" and Americans have to make a clear choice between closing the borders or the destruction of the nation.

Resolution opposing Satan’s plan to destroy the U.S. by stealth invasion

Whereas, “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” (Revelation 12:9)

Whereas, in order for Satan to establish his “New World Order” and destroy the freedom of all people as predicted in the Scriptures, he must first destroy the U.S. There are ways to destroy a nation other than with bombs or bullets. The mostly quiet and unspectacular invasion of illegal immigrants does not focus the attention of the nation the way open warfare does, but is all the more insidious for its stealth and innocuousness.

Whereas, Americans will have to make a choice: either close our borders to illegal immigration, which is now vastly greater than any time in the past, or witness the passing country [sic]. The proof of this statement is the record of history. It is a history littered with the gravestones of great nations and civilizations which allowed invaders to overrun them. If we fail to learn from the lessons of history, we are doomed to repeat them.

Whereas, all polls show that the American people overwhelmingly want limited immigration, reform and control of our borders as mandated by the Constitution. But many do not realize the extent of the dangers ahead because of the lack of accurate media coverage and public debate. An important reason for the lack of understanding is that the powerful commercial, political, ethnic, and the godless globalist elites who control the major media do not want the issues of illegal immigration to come to national attention.

Whereas, it is obvious that most promoters of massive immigration and open borders do not like the ideas of patriotism, national identity, sovereignty, our Christian culture and freedom. Many consider themselves cosmopolitans or world citizens. Their religion is atheistic humanism. They are found primarily among the elite of foundations, universities, big business, left-wing politicians, Hollywood, ACLU (Anti-Christian Lawyers Union [sic]), CFR (Council on Foreign Relations), the American power elite and the liberal media. They prefer a world without borders ruled by a one world tyrannical government.

Whereas, we cannot benefit the world by eliminating our borders and sovereignty as advocated by Satan’s “axis of evil”, if we do, the world will pull us down to its lowest common level and we will have committed national suicide. In that case, the U.S. will no longer be a free and prosperous land or light of liberty for all nations. Once he has destroyed the U.S., Satan will be able to establish his “Satanic New World Order” and destroy the freedom of all people.

Whereas, the national security and the future of the nation and the American people depends upon how well we do our job and defend our borders. We must control our borders to illegal immigration, have a well regulated temporary worker program, as needed, or face extinction. The destruction of the U.S. by the forces of evil is a top priority of Satan.

Now therefore, we (delegates) are obligated to support the Utah State and Utah County Republicans Platforms regarding the mandates to support the “Rule of Law” and the Constitutional mandate to protect and secure our national borders.

Now therefore, because we support the “Rule of Law,” the Constitution and the principals that made America the greatest and freest nation in history, the Utah County Republican Party supports the closing of our national borders to illegal immigration to prevent the destruction of the U.S. by stealth invasion.

Submitted by: Don Larsen, District 65 Chairman

Link

Over the past few years we have heard numerous arguments calling for an end to immigration and the complete closing of the US borders. Many based upon misguided ideas or misinformation. Larson has now taken this argument to the ridiculous. Yet unfortunately, while many might reject the extreme nature of his twisted rhetoric, they essentially agree with his basic premise and indeed look for grand conspiracies and attribute evil intentions to those they disagree with regarding this issue. When listening to the rhetoric of Tancredo or Dobbs one often hears just how close "mainstream" anti-immigration adherents can sometimes come to the rants of the lunatic fringe like Larsen.


Related;

Satan behind illegal immigration, Utah County Republican claims, Salt Lake Tribune


tags: immigration, Utah , Satan, Don Larsen, wingnut

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The wedge worked, it tears Republicans to pieces.

In the wake of last weeks defeat, the feeding frenzy of Republicans eating their own has reached a feverous level. From the fiscal conservatives come calls that only a return to some sort of mythical economic orthodoxy can save the party. The religious right blames the party's defeat on their failure to enact enough restrictive social legislation. The xenophobe wing complains that Bush and his big business buddies sold them out on border security and the now disgraced neo-cons blame the failure of their vision for transforming the world on the administrations ineptitude in following their plan. But the neo-cons excuses have for the most part fallen on deaf ears. Iraq played a central role in the Republican defeat, and no matter how much spin they put on it, the fact remains that they led the nation into an unnecessary and unwinnable war that cost their party dearly.

Now the neo-cans have fired back and the Weekly Standard has taken the offensive. According to an article by Tamar Jacoby, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, the blame for the Republican defeat is squarely placed on the shoulders of those who forced immigration as a wedge issue.


tags: immigration, immigration reform , wedge issue , election 2006, Republicans, immigration legislation

The fact that those who brought us the nightmare in Iraq would be looking to shift blame comes as no surprise. But the bluntness and honesty with which they skewer the xenophobe wing of the party is still a vindication for those of us on the other side of the aisle who have long been saying that the immigration issue was no more than a carefully crafted "crisis" that had far more to do with political expediency than principle and was doomed to failure.

Jacoby's article, "A Wedge Too Far: The immigration issue didn't work.", not only goes into detail about how the issue was fabricated and fostered for more than a year in anticipation of the election, she lays out a convincing case for why the plan backfired and ended up tearing the Republican Party apart.

As the Democrats take control of Congress the story Jacoby lays out should be a lesson on how not to deal with this issue.

Immigration was the dog that didn't bark. It did not prove an effective wedge issue. And as far as could be determined, it decided few if any contests. No congressional or gubernatorial candidate otherwise poised to win was defeated primarily because of his or her views on immigration. No more than one or two, if that many, struggling to catch up managed to ride it to victory. And the most stridently restrictionist candidate in the country, Arizona congressional hopeful Randy Graf, who ran a campaign based almost entirely on immigrant-bashing, went down in flaming defeat.

This wasn't for lack of trying by immigration naysayers--activists, candidates, or the Republican party establishment. The GOP leadership, particularly in the House, started planning their wedge campaign over a year ago…

…Struggling candidates and activist PACs were only too happy to play into this scenario, generating some of the nastiest ads in recent campaign memory. The 600-plus page Senate bill was reduced to a single sound bite: More than two dozen spots misleadingly claimed that it would pay Social Security benefits to illegal aliens. Democratic candidates who had not been anywhere near the Senate vote or even endorsed the bill were pilloried for its contents. On one particularly unsavory website, Michigan Democrat Debbie Stabenow was pictured in a sombrero, bobbing back and forth to Mexican music, over a text that thanked her in Spanish for what it implied was an un-American vote for the package.

Still other ads aimed directly at immigrants, calling them, among other things, "sneaky" intruders, "stealing" American jobs and taxpayer dollars. More than one Republican flyer mixed photos of Latino workers and Middle Eastern terrorists; several spots dwelt ominously on mug shots of convicted felons. Perhaps the ugliest commercial, out of North Carolina, showed a Latino man clutching his crotch, followed by an image of the American flag in flames: "They take our jobs and our government handouts," the voice-over ran, "then spit in our face and burn our flag." Far-right restrictionist groups--the Federation for American Immigration Reform, the Minuteman PAC, Bay Buchanan's Team America PAC--were responsible for some of this demagoguery. But the national Republican Senatorial and Congressional committees were not ashamed to put their names on far too much of it.
link

Jacoby then goes on to dissect the extent of the issues failure.

Meanwhile, even as Republicans painted themselves into a xenophobic corner, they inadvertently cast the Democrats as the party of pragmatism and problem-solving. Few Democratic candidates sought this role. Few if any, given the climate, wanted to run on the Senate bill's guest worker or earned legalization provisions…

But once pinned with the label "pro-reform," most Democrats had little choice, and many rose to the occasion. Incumbent senator Maria Cantwell made a persuasive case in Washington state; Jim Webb took a similar line in Virginia. And if anything, the harder the job and higher the stakes, the better these sometimes reluctant reformers performed--nowhere more surprisingly or impressively than at the epicenter of the immigration debate, in Arizona.

It would be hard to imagine a tougher test. More illegal immigrants enter the United States by way of Arizona each year than come through California, Texas, and New Mexico combined. Human smugglers and their accomplices have driven state crime rates to the top of the national rankings. And unlike almost everywhere else in the nation, a majority--6 out of 10 Arizonans--told pollsters that immigration was one of the top issues determining how they would vote in the midterms. Still, or maybe because of this, Arizona became the place where candidates--all of them Democrats, unfortunately--showed Americans how to talk effectively about immigration reform.

Gov. Janet Napolitano set the tone. She didn't denounce the fence or other border enforcement--in fact, she led the way, over a year ago, in calling for deployment of the National Guard on the border. She talked tough about smugglers; she repudiated amnesty. But she also insisted relentlessly that border enforcement was only a first step toward the solution: comprehensive reform of the kind proposed by the Senate. The more firmly she held to this tough but pragmatic line, the more frenzied her opponent grew--and as he promised more and more draconian enforcement, her lead only widened….

As Election Day approached, the contrast between these Democrats and Republicans wasn't soft versus hard, as the House leadership had hoped. It was tough versus ugly--and polls showed voters, especially Hispanic voters, very clear about which approach they liked better.

…Will Republicans learn from this? Will the country? The results of the 2006 midterms are not a mandate for comprehensive reform--far from it. Still, they point the way toward change, opening the political space for better, more pragmatic policy by proving that it can be defended on Election Day. Randy Graf once boasted foolishly that if he couldn't win in Arizona, he couldn't win anywhere. And by the same token, if immigration pragmatists can triumph in Phoenix and Tucson, they should be able to win in any state.

It will still take a bipartisan majority to pass immigration reform. Democrats and Republicans will still have to compromise to get it done. And this may or may not happen in the 110th Congress. But one thing is clear and must be fixed: The Republican party has maneuvered itself onto the wrong side of the immigration issue.

The lesson here for Democrats as they take power in Washington is that the American people are by and large a pragmatic yet compassionate people. Despite what anti-immigration hardliners believe, the polling has been consistent since this issue came to the forefront, the American people favor an immigration policy that is firm but above all fair. How this will all shake out in the new Congress is yet to be seen. "Comprehensive Reform" has been to a catch-all term used by many to mean anything that's not the Tancredo/Dobbs/Buchanan brand of restrictionist immigration policy. It will be up to this upcoming Congress, immigration advocates, organized labor, and the American people to determine what the true face of comprehensive reform will look like. Let's hope we can finally get it right this time around.

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Time for Republicans to face the truth about race.

For the third time in a little over a month Sen. George Allen must face questions stemming from remarks and actions that demonstrate what could be politely termed racial intolerance, but in fact reek of old fashioned racism. According to a recently released article in Salon, Allen's former college teammates are now coming forward with tales of blatant racism that some, like Rush Limbaugh, will characterize as "college pranks," but clearly border on hate crimes to any right thinking person. In one incident Allen had his friends drive him to the local black neighborhood so he could take the severed head of a deer and randomly stuff it into a mailbox.

While Allen's case may be extreme, it says something about what has happened to Republican Party. For some, it’s been a game of "catch me if you can" with racism for years. Late night comics tell jokes about "how few Blacks Republicans there are," but they don't seem funny anymore given the current climate. The American people have known for years about the underlying truths behind those jokes. The Republican Party has increasingly become a home for racists of every stripe and the sooner that party starts to come to terms with that reality, the better.


tags: immigration, George Allen , racism , Tom Tancredo, Republicans, Southern Strategy


Frequently, when cases like Allen's come to light, the knee-jerk reaction of Republicans is to attack the messenger. The standard defense is to make an accusation of "playing a race car," or claim oversensitivity or "political correctness" in the extreme. In cases where no possible other explanation can be found except racism, a quick act of contrition, followed by immediate forgiveness of "youthful indiscretions" or a "lack of sensitivity" has been the modus operandi.

But no longer can Allen be viewed as an aberration. Increasingly, Republicans are having to deny accusations of racism. From Tom Tancredo standing behind a Confederate flag singing "Dixie" with the members of the League of the South, to candidates supported by the Minuteman having to explain pictures of skinheads carrying Nazi flags as they patrol the border, or endorsements from the KKK , from Vernon Robinson's racist campaign ads in North Carolina, or the RSNC ads run in the RI primary, racism is becoming a major topic of discussion.

But should this really surprise us.

In order to understand how an inordinate amount of racism can be concentrated in one political party, one must look back over the last half century or so and see how the modern Republican Party was born.

Throughout the New Deal years of Democratic dominance, racism was the national norm. Yet it's most extreme proponents were evenly dispersed between the two major parties. The Democrats had the racists of the Old South, tied to the ideals of the Confederacy and segregation. The Republican Party contained the blueblood racism of country clubs and private estates, of those who divided their world by class, race and religion.

In the 1950's this dynamic began to shift. A rift emerged in the Democratic Party over civil rights leading to Strom Thurman's Dixiecrat breakaway. But perhaps a more subtle shift was going on within the Republican Party. A new thread of racism began running through the party as those whom Nixon would later call the "silent majority" of white suburban voters who had fled the nation's urban centers to escape "urban decay" and quite frankly people of color, started joining the party. Yet the balance between the parties remained the same for the most part throughout the sixties.

In the late sixties and early seventies everything changed as the modern Republican majority was cobbled together through a coalition of diverse groups with differing agendas and goals. It began with Nixon's Southern Strategy to woo disaffected Dixiecrats from the Democratic majority. After the late sixties and the final absorption of newly franchised minorities into the Democratic Party a major transition began. Throughout the period, large blocks of lifelong Southern Democrats, opposing their party's support of civil rights, switched parties and joined the Republican ranks. With them came the seeds of racism in today's Republican Party.

Later in the 80's, Reagan went after another disaffected group, the "Reagan Democrats." Made up of white working and middleclass Americans, and union workers, Reagan took advantage of a backlash against school bussing, desegregation, affirmative action and many of the other programs and policies that grew out of the civil rights, women's rights, gay rights and youth movements to bring a new group into his party. But with this group also came some more seeds of racism.

With the absorption of these two groups the face of the party was transformed. Reagan could now appeal to his new base with tales of "Welfare Queens" in order to gain support of longtime conservative goals like disassembling the social welfare system. GHW Bush could use Willie Horton to get elected.

This situation has existed for about the last twenty-five years. Social and fiscal conservative need only wrap their ideas in a thin veil of racism and then with a wink and a nod present them to their new found friends. We see it with affirmative action, school vouchers, immigration, welfare reform, and even foreign policy. If a racial component can be found and somehow exploited, the policy can be sold.

But this situation has always been a deal with the devil. No political party can use race so flagrantly and continue to garner support from a growingly diverse American people. Ergo the new push by some to close the borders and stop the "browning of America."

Increasingly there is a Republican backlash against "multiculturalism" and an insistence on linguistic and cultural purity. That is because there is no more powerful weapon against racism than diversity. It is no wonder that some of the most racist elements of society now find themselves drawn to the anti-immigration movement.

The question now at hand in the light of the Allen revelations and everything else that's been going on over the last few years is: How long can reasonable Republicans hold their noses and ignore what's going on, and perhaps most importantly, keep their party viable without it going entirely off the deep end ?

If those in the party who do not attest to Allen's or Tancredo's brand of racism do not do something soon their party will not survive, and if it does, it will certainly not be anything they would ever want to be a part of.

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Republicans give up on Graf in AZ-08

The Nation Republican Congressional Committee has decided to call it quits as far as Minuteman Candidate Randy Graf is concerned in Arizona's 8th congressional district. With polls showing the controversial candidate trailing Democratic rival Gabrielle Giffords in the race to replace retiring Republican Rep. Jim Kolbe, the NRCC has cancelled all plans to run continuous TV advertising through November on behalf of Graf.

Having funneled hundreds of thousands of thousands of dollars to Graf's opponent, Steve Huffman, during the primary in an unprecedented attempt to keep the vigilante candidate from being on the ticket, the NRCC now sees Graf as a losing proposition and would rather use their resources on more promising races, conceding AZ-8 to the Democrats.

The NRCC will stop all advertising for Graf on Oct. 3rd rather than continuing through Election Day as originally planned.


tags: immigration, Randy Graf , Gabrielle Giffords , AZ-8, David Duke, NRCC

Carl Forti, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, declined to discuss the organization's advertising plans. "They haven't won anything until Nov. 7," he said.

R.T. Gregg, a spokesman for Graf, said he did not know about the developments. He noted that by law, the GOP advertising was undertaken independent of the candidate.

Bill Burton, a spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said, "There was a reason that Jim Kolbe wouldn't endorse Randy Graf, and that's why national Republicans are walking away."

Kolbe declined to endorse Graf after his primary victory this month, citing "profound and fundamental differences" on several issues.

WaPo

Graf has been surrounded by controversy from the start of his campaign. The darling of the anti-immigration movement and founding member of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corp, he has drawn criticism for his extremist views. Having been endorsed by Minuteman founders Chris Simcox, and Jim Gilchrist, his campaign website includes a page called "Send a Minuteman to Congress" that features testimonials praising Graf's minuteman connections.

Now is the time to take the Minuteman Project to the next level and it is time to send a Minuteman to Congress to represent American citizens who want something more done about illegal immigration and the lack of border security. The Minuteman Project can’t go on forever. We need to have the federal government take over and do the job that they are obligated to do. Randy Graf is ready and able, the target has been identified, and the goal is achievable. To do it, this Minuteman needs YOUR help and continuing support.

Link

Graf first came to national attention when as a state legislator he introduced a bill to revoke the states ban on carrying firearms in establishments that serve alcohol such as bars and restaurants. (view video)

The NRCC's decision to drop Graf comes just one day after reports came out that former Klu Klux Klan Grand Wizard and Louisiana State Rep. David Duke, had thrown his support behind vigilante candidate. Duke's official website had posted a link to Graf's VoteGraf.com campaign site along with a story about Graf's primary victory and it's ramifications on immigration issues reprinted from the US News and World Report.

Graf's campaign swiftly denounced Duke after the Arizona Democratic Party sent out a press release Wednesday afternoon suggesting Graf is associated with the controversial figure. The link on Duke's Web site is the only evidence offered to support the allegation.

"We have no ties nor have we ever had ties with David Duke or any of his racist crazies," said Graf campaign manager R.T. Gregg.

…

In their release, Democrats criticize Graf, who has taken a hard stance on border security, as having "extremist" beliefs that would attract Duke and other "racists."

But Gregg said that suggestion is false and offensive.

"Randy's position on illegal immigration has nothing to do with race, creed, color, national origin or religion," he said. "It has to do with whether or not we are a country that lives under the rule of law."

Duke, a self-described "white nationalist" who lives in New Orleans, has made several attempts at running for office, including president, as both a Democrat and a Republican.

Link

Obviously Graf has become such a liability to national Republicans that they are willing to now concede the seat rather than spend buckets of money just to get dragged through the mud by a loose cannon. They tried their hardest to prevent the Graf candidacy from coming to fruition in the first place, and now have no choice but to cut him loose.

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Republicans push for eleventh hour immigration legislation

If there was ever any doubt in your mind that desperate Republicans facing election defeat weren't going to go out fighting, this week's reemergence of "immigration issues" on the legislative calendar should put that thought to rest. Having spent a good part of the summer unsuccessfully trying to rile up the electorate into believing that immigration was the most important issue facing the nation, both House and Senate Republicans decided to once again force the issue to the front burner this week hoping to gain traction going into what is shaping up to be a dismal November for them.

Facing sagging poll numbers and an angry electorate, Republican prospects look bad. Having spend six years rubberstamping every proposal coming from the Whitehouse, the President's failures and unpopularity now hang around their necks like a an albatross. It would be impossible for most of them to distance themselves from a President they fear to even be seen with on the campaign trail. So what are they left to do?

The answer is simple … distract, distract, distract.



tags: immigration, George Bush , House Legislation , Border Wall, immigration legislation, voter ID


Their mission is simple. Shift the debate away from their records, the war in Iraq, corruption scandals, oil prices, a stagnating economy, record deficits, job loss, and a failed "war on terrorism." Their plan is to make this a single issue campaign. Make it all about immigration, the only issue they have had any success in misrepresenting to the American people.

They've spent an entire year preparing for just this contingency. Hammering away with talking points and skewed statistics they have tried to convince the average American that the borders are "broken", immigrants are stealing jobs, abusing social services and putting a huge burden on average American tax payers.

They've also continually obfuscated the line between terrorism and immigration in order to try to link a genuine fear and concern with an unfounded one.

In many ways they have been successful, but it has come with a price. Having convinced a segment of the population that immigration is a matter of life and death, they now want to see something done about it.

This week House and Senate Republicans are preparing to do just that … come up with a few mostly symbolic pieces of legislation to go home and campaign on. It doesn't really matter that like most legislation coming from this Congress, from the war in Iraq to tax cuts for the rich, they haven't really figured out how to pay for their proposals. The public has already proven that they rarely ask the tough questions like "how do you plan on paying for this?" when dealing with this Congress.

So far from the House we've gotten a 700 mile long wall, a bill requiring proof of citizenship for voting, a proposal to make digging tunnels under the 700 mile long wall illegal, indefinite detention of aliens suspected of being terrorists, a request for universal guidelines for handling alien smugglers, and a proposal to "reaffirm" local law enforcements authority to enforce Federal immigration laws.

The Senate thus far has agreed to debate the wall building bill.

As for the President … he's said he would sign the wall building legislation if it gets to his desk.

So what does this all amount to? … A big pile of nothing. The money for the wall will not be appropriated before the break to go home and campaign, and the rest of the House legislation won't be ready in time to go to the Senate, and would never pass through anyway. If the Republicans were truly concerned about immigration reform they would have done the hard work and hammered out a compromise between the two houses on the comprehensive plan. Instead they'll pass a passel of meaningless legislation to be finished in the lame duck session after the election...when they'll no longer need the issue if they win, and could care less if they lose. But the whole endeavor will make for good bumper stickers and 30 second sound bites about being tough on border security... and that's all that really matters.

It's all just smoke and mirrors. A cheap parlor trick to perform back home to prove that they are not a bunch of ineffectual Bush puppets.

But for Democrats this move creates a danger. The Republicans have proven time and time again that they can be quite effective at turning a non-issue into an important election weapon. They did it with the gay marriage, the phony terror alerts, and "family values."

If they can convince the American people that they have in fact done something to "secure the border" and make them safe not only from "invading Mexicans" but from the "terrorists" that have been hanging in out south of the border just waiting for drug smuggling coyotes to bring them across the desert to attack a mall near you, they might be able to just pull this one out of their behinds. It’s a big "if" … but it wouldn't be the first time Republicans have forced the Democrats to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

The Democrats must start to frame this election before the Republicans do it for them. This has been a do-nothing, rubberstamp, corrupt, spendthrift Congress for the past six years while under Republican control, and that needs to be hammered home consistently. This election is not about immigration, it's about allowing Bush to go unchecked for two more years. Democrats must remember that and not allow this issue to get in the way

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House Republicans last ditch effort to avert electoral defeat

Facing a tidal wave of voter discontent that could drive their majority out of power this fall, House Republicans announced Thursday that they would try to pass some sort of immigration legislation before November.

Having spent most the summer holding a series of mock hearings on immigration reform intended more to bolster waning support for candidates in tight races and bash the legislation passed by the Senate back in May, they are now faced with a dilemma. In order to insulate themselves from the President’s plummeting popularity, they have staked their hopes of retaining power on a “get tough” immigration policy.

In order to fire up the base, they have promised to close the borders and stem the flow of new immigration. Using terms like “invasion” and “attack on the middle class,” they have succeeded in riling up a segment of the electorate, but they now have a problem. Having worked relentlessly to convince voters that immigration is an urgent and pressing problem… they have been unable to supply anything but empty rhetoric and unfulfilled promises. No proposed legislation has been enacted.


tags: immigration, Dennis Hastert , House Legislation , Border Wall, immigration legislation, increased Border Patrol


Hoping to have something to go home and campaign on, House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) announced plans to cobble together some sort of package of crackdown legislation that would allow House Republicans some measure of cover as they face a disaffected electorate.

House Speaker Dennis Hastert said he would convene an unusual forum Wednesday in which Republican committee chairmen would report their findings from immigration hearings held around the country this summer and suggest proposals such as the creation of voter identification cards that the House would try to pass before Congress adjourns.

"It won't be the whole 95 tons of what we've tried to work between the House and Senate, but we will try to get some things done," Hastert, R-Ill., said, emphasizing that the measures would be passed quickly by his house -- although their fate in the Senate is uncertain.

Republicans have made illegal immigration a linchpin to preserving their threatened House majority in the November midterm elections, seeing it as one of the few issues that may work in their favor. Yet after insisting the issue is a crisis, House Republicans can't show voters they've addressed the issue because of an impasse with fellow Republicans in the Senate … Hastert said discussions continue with the Senate but "in the meantime ... there are things we can do right now."

Link

Ratcheting up the rhetoric, Hastert claimed, “We’re at war …Our borders are a sieve. We need to stop the bleeding.”… “Before you have a guest worker program or any other program, you need to heal the wound or stop the bleeding.” Affirming that, "The intention of the House is to secure the borders,"

Majority leader John Boehner (R-OH) laid out plans to pass some interim legislation to build walls along the border, increase Border Patrol Agents and give local law enforcement the authority to enforce federal immigration regulations. The legislation could be attached to appropriations bills to be pushed through the House before the scheduled Sept. 29 adjournment date.

"The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., said he will continue talking to his Senate counterparts. It's unclear whether the Senate would respond to an enforcement-only measure.”

But at least the House members know they can go home and continue to campaign that they are tough on immigration and will have the legislative record to prove it…. Even if these measures never pass Senate muster.

And that’s been the essence of this issue from the start …it's been a cheap election-year parlor trick to divert a discontented electorate's attention away from the true problems that have not been addressed by the Republican majority. From the failures in Iraq and New Orleans to an economy that favors the top 1% of the population while all others fall behind, it’s always been more about sound bites and inflammatory rhetoric than actual reform of our failing immigration system.

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Minutemen move to become legitimate political force

No longer content to patrol the borders from the comfort of their Winnebego’s, propped in lawn chairs with binoculars and two-way radios, the Minutemen Defense Corps, has decided to take their fight for closed borders directly to the American electorate through their political action committee Minutemen PAC.

According to its controversial leader, Chris Simcox, the PAC has already raised upwards of $350,000 to help anti-immigration candidates, and has successfully influenced primary contests with Minutemen sponsored TV and radio advertising on behalf of their chosen candidates.

tags: immigration, minutemen , MI-7 , AZ-8, CO-5, NV-2, IN-8, IA-5, CO-6


In Michigan’s 7th Congressional District the Minutemen spent nearly $50,000 on TV and radio ads for their candidate, Tim Walberg in his primary bid to unseat incumbent, Joe Schwarz. Walberg, a former pastor, won the Aug. 8th contest garnering a six-point lead over the first term Congressman.

Schwarz, who was targeted by numerous right-wing special interest groups including anti-government Club for Growth PAC, which sent over $1 million to the race, saw his defeat as a probable “victory for right to life, anti-abortion, anti-embryonic stem cell groups but it's a net loss for the Republican party because it just pushes the party farther to the right."

Simcox sees things a little differently, viewing Schwarz’s defeat as a clear endorsement of his anti-immigrant agenda.

“Michigan sent Washington D.C. a message tonight that voters are fed up with coddling illegal aliens with government benefits and amnesty,” Simcox said. “Tim Walberg is a solid individual who will stand up for South Central Michigan voters concerned about the threat illegal immigration presents.”

“It’s clear that Joe Schwarz’s support for Spanish Language ballots, government benefits for illegal aliens, allowing towns to be sanctuaries for illegal aliens and worst, President Bush’s Amnesty proposal was a major factor in his overwhelming defeat tonight,” Simcox said.

Minuteman PAC spent nearly $50,000 on radio and cable TV ads throughout the district, including on expensive Detroit and Lansing stations, Simcox said. “I am proud that we were able to play a role in this successful campaign,” Simcox added, noting that the Republican Primary winner is the overwhelming favorite going into the November election in the solidly GOP 7th District.
Link

After the Michigan win, Simcox and his group focused on the Nevada primary for the 2nd Congressional District. The Aug. 15th race boiled down to essentially to a three-way contest between Nevada's secretary of state, Dean Heller, state Assemblywoman Sharron Angle, and former Assemblywoman Dawn Gibbons.

Again joining forces with the Washington, D.C.-based Club for Growth, which accounted for more than 80 percent of Angle’s reported $720,202 in campaign contributions, the Minutemen PAC again paid for numerous TV and radio ads supporting Angle.

Despite their best efforts, Angle lost the election by 421 votes. But according to her website she will be seeking a new election on the grounds that there are “errors that occurred in the primary vote in Congressional District 2 of Nevada, that disenfranchised voters leaving the results of the election in doubt.” If her effort is successful it is yet to be seen if the minutemen will once again get behind her campaign.

There are other races that the Minutemen have taken a great interest in.

One of those is that of "Minuteman 2 Congress”, candidate Randy Graf in Arizona’s 8th district. The hand-picked Simcox candidate leads in the polls right now to run as the Republican candidate for the seat vacated by incumbent Jim Kolbe. Graf's ties to the minutemen go back to the groups inception over a year ago, when he was one of its initial members. Minutemen PAC has strongly supported Graf throughout his candidacy. From Graf’s website comes this:

Randy Graf is a Minuteman. He enthusiastically answered the call when the Minuteman project was formed in April 2005. He was there on the first day in Tombstone, Arizona where he lent a hand to the Project’s organizers in ensuring that registration and orientation went off successfully. He was a part of the month-long event on the border. And he was there as a featured speaker at the celebratory closing event of the Project.

Now is the time to take the Minuteman Project to the next level and it is time to send a Minuteman to Congress to represent American citizens who want something more done about illegal immigration and the lack of border security. The Minuteman Project can’t go on forever. We need to have the federal government take over and do the job that they are obligated to do.Randy Graf is ready and able, the target has been identified, and the goal is achievable. To do it, this Minuteman needs YOUR help and continuing support.
Link

Another candidate the Minutemen have contributed to is Colorado State Sen. Doug Lamborn who just tied up his parties nomination in the 5th district of that state after beating five other challengers to run against Democrat Jay Fawcett, for the seat vacated by incumbent Joel Hefley (R). Acccording to their website, “MMPAC infused key funds into the effort—the Federal Election Act limits of $5,000 for the primary and an additional $5,000 for the general election. We are delighted that Lamborn’s victory means his campaign will be putting Minuteman PAC’s general election donation to good use against his Democrat opponent!”

In addition to these challengers,, MMPAC has also donated to incumbents, Tom Tancredo (CO-6), Steve King (IA-5) and John Hostettler (IN-8) according to recent FEC filings.

But the Minutemen have much grander ambitions. They plan on taking their campaign nation, targeting twenty-five Senators and Representatives they have placed on their “list of shame” because of “their votes and actions AGAINST border security and FOR amnesty.” in support of comprehensive immigration reform. Not surprisingly the list is entirely made up of Democrats except for Rhode Island’s Lincoln Chaffee.

Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)
Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE)
Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-RI)
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY)
Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND)
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA)
Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI)
Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL)
Rep. John Barrow (D), GA-12
Rep. Shelley Berkley (D), NV 1
Rep. Marion Berry (D), AR 1
Rep. Lincoln Davis (D), TN 4
Rep. Bart Gordon (D), TN 6
Rep. Steve Israel (D), NY 2
Rep. John Murtha (D), PA 12
Rep. Jim McDermott (D), WA 7
Rep. Collin C. Peterson (D), MN 7
Rep. Steve Rothman (D), NJ 9
Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D), CA 47
Rep. Joe Schwartz (R), MI 7
Rep. Ike Skelton (D), MO 4
Rep. Vic Snyder (D), AR 2
Link

In spite of the fact that the Senate Bill that the Minutemen so strongly oppose was sponsored by Judiciary Chairmen Arlen Specter[R-PA], and co-sponsored by Sen Sam Brownback, [R-KS] , Sen Lindsey Graham, [R-SC], Sen Chuck Hagel, [R-NE], Sen Edward M Kennedy,. [D-MA], Sen Mel Martinez, [R-FL], and Sen , John McCain [R-AZ], only Sen. Kennedy’s name appears on the “list of shame.” The glaring omission of Republicans like Lugar, DeWine and Snowe who supported the bill only raises questions as to the Minutemen’s true motivations.

Is their intent to change the balance of power in Washington in their favor, or is it to insure Republican control even if those Republicans oppose their anti-immigration vision? It appears from the “list of shame” it is the later. Their political action would have little effect on changing the dynamic in Washington vis a vis immigration reform and the Senate Republicans who oppose them would still be in office.

Obviously Simcox’s minutemen have taken a large step forward in legitimizing their brand of xenophobic racism. They’ve come a long way from the rhetoric of the first patrols over a year ago:

The night of April 3, armed vigilantes camped along Border Road in a series of watch posts set-up for the Minuteman Project, a month-long action in which revolving casts of 150 to 200 anti-immigration militants wearing cheap plastic "Undocumented Border Patrol Agent" badges mobilized in southeastern Arizona. Their stated goal was to "do the job our government refuses to do" and "protect America" from the "tens of millions of invading illegal aliens who are devouring and plundering our nation."

At Station Two, Minuteman volunteers grilled bratwursts and fantasized about murder.

"It should be legal to kill illegals," said Carl, a 69-year old retired Special Forces veteran who fought in Vietnam and now lives out West. "Just shoot 'em on sight. That's my immigration policy recommendation. You break into my country, you die."

Carl was armed with a revolver chambered to fire shotgun shells. He wore this hand cannon in a holster below a shirt that howled "American bad asses" in red, white and blue. The other vigilantes assigned to Station Two included a pair of self-professed members of the National Alliance, a violent neo-Nazi organization. These men, who gave their names only as Johnny and Michael, were outfitted in full-body camouflage and strapped with semi-automatic pistols.

Earlier that day, Johnny and Michael had scouted sniper positions in the rolling, cactus-studded foothills north of Border Road, taking compass readings and drawing maps for future reference.

"I agree completely," Michael said. "You get up there with a rifle and start shooting four or five of them a week, the other four or five thousand behind them are going to think twice about crossing that line."

With a grilled sausage in one hand and a cheap night vision scope in the other, Johnny scanned the brush in Mexico, spitting distance away.

"The thing to do would be to drop the bodies just a few hundred feet into the U.S. and just leave them there, with lights on them at night," he said. "That sends the message 'No Trespassing,' in any language."
Link

But then again … maybe not.

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Oh look ma' the circus is comin' to town.

It appears as though House Republicans plan on spending the rest of the summer break touring the country with the road company of their newest production; "The Great Immigration Dog and Pony Show." Announcing 21 more hearings in thirteen states between now and the grand finale on September 1st in Dubuque, Iowa, House Republicans plan on taking this leg of the tour even further into the heartland than on previous tours. To make sure that those who might not regularly have much exposure to "illegal immigration," or have much to say about immigration reform get their chance, the Republican leadership plans on taking their show to such places as Evansville, Ind.; Concord, N.H.; Glens Falls, N.Y.; Hamilton, Mont.; Grand Rapids, MI; and Bellingham, WA.

This move has only further lent fuel to the fire of critics who see the hearings as nothing more than a political ploy ... and rightfully so.


tags: immigration, Republican hearings, immigration reform , immigration hearing, Reid-Kennedy, S.2611


Like the first round of hearings, this round will feature testimony from politicians, military leaders, border patrol officials, local law enforcement, and various "experts" such as Robert Rector of the right-wing think tank, the Heritage Foundation and Jack Riley of the RAND Corporation.

As the road show moves further from the border the topics appear to become even more political. Along the border topics have ranged from, “What are the criminal consequences of illegal immigration along the Southern Border?” to “What is the state of technical surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities for monitoring the efforts of terrorists and drug cartels to infiltrate American soil through the Southern Border?” When they move towards the heartland the emphasis of the hearings appears to bashing the Senate's comprehensive bill which has been childishly renamed the "Reid-Kenndey" bill by House Republicans.

August 10th in Nashville, TN
Energy & Commerce Committee
“What is the impact of the Reid-Kennedy bill's amnesty provisions on the healthcare delivery system and for individual American taxpayers?”

August 14 , 2006 in Gainesville, GA
Education and the Workforce Committee
"What is the impact on American workers and businesses of the Reid-Kennedy bill's provisions mandating Davis-Bacon wage rates for guest-workers?"

August 15 , 2006 in Dalton, GA
Energy and Commerce Committee
"What is the impact of the Reid-Kennedy bill's amnesty provisions on the health care delivery system and for individual American taxpayers?"

August 24 , 2006 in Concord, NH
Judiciary Committee
"How do illegal immigrants impact the costs of healthcare, local education, and other social services, and would these costs increase under Reid-Kennedy immigration bill? What is the societal impact of the Reid-Kennedy bill's grant of amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants?"

August 25 , 2006 in Upstate NY
Judiciary Committee
"What are the current risks of terrorists, narcotics smugglers, and human traffickers infiltrating the United States, and what role do secure identification documents play in limiting those risks? Does the Reid-Kennedy bill undermine efforts to limit those risks?"

August 28 , 2006 in Hamilton, MT
Resources Committee
"What efforts need to be undertaken to secure the federal lands along the Northern Border to prevent drug trafficking and other illegal activities? Could the Reid-Kennedy bill make these efforts more difficult? "

August 29 , 2006 in Evansville, IN
Judiciary Committee
"How are U. S. workers impacted, and potentially displaced by the Reid-Kennedy bill?"

September 1 , 2006 in Dubuque, IA
Judiciary Committee
"Do the Reid-Kennedy bill's amnesty provisions repeat the mistakes of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986?"

Link

How did the House leadership choose the sites to host their traveling road show?

Obviously it wasn't proximity to the border or experience with large numbers of undocumented immigrants, as many of these hearing sites are in the regions least effected by immigration issues. But they do have one thing in common – vulnerable Republican candidates in heated races.

Several immigration hearings are being held far from the border with Mexico, in districts where Republican lawmakers are engaged in competitive races for the House, including Evansville, Ind.; Concord, N.H.; and Glens Falls, N.Y. Hearings are also being held in Dubuque, Iowa, where Republicans are fighting to hold on to the seat being vacated by Representative Jim Nussle, and in Hamilton, Mont., where Senator Conrad Burns faces a tough challenge.

Jeff Lungren, a spokesman for the House Judiciary Committee, which set hearings in four battleground districts, said more than 60 members of the House had asked for immigration hearings in their hometowns.

Lawmakers and political analysts say the hearings may help vulnerable Republicans by rallying conservatives, who view Democrats as being weak on border security, and by drawing attention away from other issues like the war in Iraq and President Bush’s diminished approval ratings.
New York Times

Apparently for Republican House candidates struggling to retain power, getting to have an immigration hearing in your district is like getting box seats to the Superbowl or tickets to this season's hottest Broadway show.

One group that will be showing up at the hearings to make sure they can stir up their own special brand of immigration magic are the minutemen, whose leadership has put out a call for participation.

We need your help now!

Minutemen supporters and volunteers: please be sure to attend these Congressional hearings in your area and interact with the Members of Congress and their staffs. This is not a request to protest, but to attend the hearings, and talk with Congressmen to help inform them and make your voice heard.

Let them know that you are a Minuteman or support the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, and you want the borders secured NOW.

Inform them that because of broken faith we do not trust the government to secure our borders, that any guest-worker Amnesty must not be in any new legislation, that they must PROVE that the borders are secured before any deliberations will commence on what to do with the estimated 12-30 million people already here illegally.

Let them know clearly that terrorist groups like al Qaeda, Hezbollah, and Hamas and their facilitators in Iran and Syria know what we all know—that our borders are disgracefully and dangerously open to penetration by our enemies. Impress upon them that the American people will not tolerate this national security risk any longer. We will not stand idly by and let political pandering jeopardize our safety and sovereignty.

Secure the borders FIRST, NOW, and ONLY. Prove it.

Save The Dates! Be sure to attend!



minutemanhq.com

So gather up the kids, buy some cotton candy, peanuts and balloons and get ready for the big show, because the Great Immigration Dog and Pony Show will be coming to a town or city near you soon.

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Hastert and Boehner do Joseph Goebbels proud

In a quest to keep a tenuous grip on their ever decreasing hold on power in Washington, House Speaker Dennis Hastert and his new "enforcer," John Boehner have taken a page from a master of nefarious propaganda in hopes to further obfuscate the already confusing immigration debate.

Hoping to re-frame the debate more to their political liking, they have continued their effort to portray the bipartisan immigration reform bill that came out of the Senate as a Democratic effort despite the fact that the bill was sponsored by six Republicans and only one Democrat . With heads firmly planted in the sand, the House leadership, wishing to underplay the huge rift in their own party, upped the ante once again when announcing further hearings in their summer campaign to make immigration a key issue in the upcoming midterm elections.

The deception started only hours after the Senate passed its comprehensive plan back in May and has been stepped up in recent weeks. With the announcement by House Republicans of another round of hearings scheduled in August in their continuing immigration carnival road-show, they have apparently taken Joseph Goebbels advice that "“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it" to heart.


The bipartisan Senate immigration bill authored by Republican John McCain [R-AZ] has become, according to House leadership, "the Democrat Reid-Kennedy immigration bill" and will be a major target in the next round of hearings


tags: immigration, Congress hearings, HR4437 , Reid-Kennedy, Hastert


The bill, which first began it's life as the Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act", introduced by Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) on May 15, 2005, took over a year to pass through the Senate. During that time numerous changes and compromises were made, co-sponsors came and went, and its name was changed. On May 25, 2006 the "Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006" was passed in a bi-partisan vote of 62-36.

Up until that point the bill was commonly called the "McCain-Kennedy" bill, named after its two key authors.

Within days, House Republicans decided it needed a new name; the "Reid-Kennedy Immigration Bill," to make it sound like an effort of Senate Democrats despite the fact that Reid played no roll in authoring the bill and Kennedy was the only Democrat to co-sponsor its final version.

From House Majority Leader John Boehner comes this:

Unfortunately, the Democrat Reid-Kennedy immigration bill makes the problem even worse. Local law enforcement is currently able to assist the federal government in enforcing both civil and criminal violations of immigration laws. The Reid-Kennedy bill, however, would only allow local law enforcement to assist in enforcing criminal violations of immigration law -- not civil violations.

In other words, rather than empowering them to detain illegal aliens, the Reid-Kennedy bill would further restrict local law enforcement’s ability to act on immigration violations.

The September 11th hijackers had only committed civil immigration violations. Under the Democrat Reid-Kennedy bill, local police would have no power to arrest possible terrorists who commit similar offenses and hand them over to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In contrast, the House-passed bill includes provisions championed by Rep. Charlie Norwood (R-GA) aimed at empowering state and local law enforcement to investigate and apprehend illegal aliens on a voluntary basis.

Last week, Republicans announced a set of five principles that should be reflected in immigration reform legislation. Among them:

Republicans strongly support initiatives to secure our borders and provide additional resources to federal and state authorities to strengthen border patrol efforts.

Republicans want to enact a strong bill that secures our borders and puts a premium on strict enforcement of our immigration laws. The Reid-Kennedy immigration bill is the wrong direction for our country, and exemplifies the notorious weakness of Capitol Hill Democrats on defense and border security issues.
Link

Sponsored by Judiciary Chairmen Arlen Specter[R-PA], and co-sponsored by Sen Brownback, Sam [R-KS] , Sen Graham, Lindsey [R-SC], Sen Hagel, Chuck [R-NE], Sen Kennedy, Edward M. [D-MA], Sen Martinez, Mel [R-FL], and Sen McCain, John [R-AZ], the bill is clearly a Republican affair, but that doesn't make for good political theater.

The other factor in play is that as the House whips up their base with a mix of xenophobia, fear, and racism, they don't want to turn that rabid base against their own party. This is quite a precarious balancing act since the Senate bill mirrors the wishes President Bush and his allies on this issue. Additionally having the presumptive 2008 Presidential frontrunner John McCain's name attached to his own bill presents the House leaders with a problem.

Their solution – ignore the facts – create a false reality – and keep repeating the lie until it becomes the truth... or so they hope




“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.”
Josheph Goebbels

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