Bad Public Relations
After waiting years for welfare reform, then finally getting it (and seeing it succeed), it seems the Kauster has a new issue--illegal immigration. As a Democrat (mostly), he feels unsure of what to do, but he's pretty sure the Republican should take up the anti side if they want to prosper.
Is he right? Maybe. (There's an answer for you.) The issue is tricky because it splits party lines. Most Americans are enraged at the millions who have crossed over and continue to cross over our border on the south. Politicians, however, feel differently. Most Dems love Latino immigration, legal or otherwise, because it means (probably) lots more votes for Democrats. It's their best hope for retaking all three branches.
Meanwhile, Republicans are wary of the issue for two reasons. First, they're the business party, and many recognize cheap labor is a great thing, and don't want to give it up just because it makes a lot of people mad. Second, they fear if they alienate Latinos (even more), they'll never get their vote and the Dems will take over.
So you've got this issue that can fire up a lot of voters, but most politicians are afraid to touch. The question is will some politician be either smart of dumb enough to brave the tremendous hassles of the issue and try to be a populist hero? It'll probably take a Repub to lead on the issue, but it could be a Dem, or perhaps even a third party.
One thing for sure--all the recent protests (especially the giant one here in Los Angeles) didn't help. I'm generally sympathetic to immigrants, even illegal ones, who mostly want to come here to work, but to see them protesting (rather than showing gratitude) is sickening. If they're so unhappy, they should recall no one forced them to be here. And if they truly think the Southwest belongs to Mexico (because they stole it from the Indians first) then I lose all sympathy.
posted by LAGuy @ 12:12 AM
3 Comments:
Its even more complicated than that as a traditional Dem-backing big labor has mixed opinions itself on immigration(they don't want a flood of non-union workers taking jobs but on the other hand what a great new base to organize as the old guard fades from view. If any issue ever called out for a big carrot (citizenship for exisitng illegals and some benefits)and big stick (real enforcement on employers who continue to use illegal labor and others who aid the process) to be delivered simultaneously, this seems like it. (of course citizenship is forever and enforcement is dependent and the political winds that blow from time to time).
In my northeastern state, we had a huge issue on "in-state tuition rates" for illegal alien residents at state colleges. At first I was outraged but then looked at the demographics- these folks are here for good (unless you think the government will engage in massive deportation sometime soon) and its in an aging taxpayer's interest that they be trained and educated rather than become permanent unskilled labor.
As I noted in my post, this is turning out to be an elite versus populist issue, except the politicians are almost all in the elite--they understand that the great anger against illegal immigrants, that makes mass deportation and building a huge wall popular solutions--won't work in the real world, and will punish millions who don't really deserve it. As long as this tension exists, immigration will be a tricky issue, filled with landmines.
Also, beyond labor's trouble with immigration, if there's anyone that's being hurt by the flood of illegal cheap labor, it's the lowest-paid Americans, since there's an economic argument this drags down the pay for the least-skilled jobs in general. If this is true, then many are being hurt but, as anything that hurts the poor disporportionately, it hurts blacks disproportionately. So where is the brave Democrat who will bring this up? Questions of racial solidarity aside, where is the Congressional Black Caucus on this issue?
Another (less useful) thought. One thing Bush is doing, beyond seeing that we have a problem that requires a tricky solution, is trying to get Latino votes for his party in the future. While they may seem the natural constituents of the Dems, since that party sets them aside and gives them free stuff, it may be possible, considerng their social conservativism (especially when it comes to religion) that the Repubs scheming might work. If the Dems notice this is true, how would they react?
They don't all claim to be Latinos. They claim to be indigenous peoples whose land was stolen.
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