RNC Debates Immigration: Sort Of

Members of the Republican National Committee waded publicly into the immigration policy debate today, a rare acknowledgement that a consequential glob of the Republican base has revolted against President Bush's influence on the party's immigration platform.

But the author of a resolution that rejected Bush's preference for a legal framework to deal with the millions of undocumented workers living in the U.S. withdrew the measure right before a vote.

Randy Pullen, a RNC member from Arizona, said it was clear that his resolution would fail and he did not want to "put people on the record" against the wishes of the majority of the party.

Still, he said, "it shows we could have a discussion like this."

A different immigration measure, pulled together with the support of the White House, passed overwhelmingly. It included strong language endorsing tougher border security and rejected -- though it did not define -- amnesty for undocumented workers.

"The majority of the Republican national committee recognizes that we have to meet our economic needs without creating a magnet for illegal immigrants," said RNC chairman Ken Mehlman.

Members of the party's national committee tend to trip over themselves to show fealty to the White House, and public dissent from a presidential priority is extremely rare. The party had no choice but to consider Pullen's resolution formally. And the rules also make it tough to close the debate to the press.

Republican officials did not want a public spat about immigration policy. But Pullen insisted he was not pressured by the White House or the RNC to withdraw his resolution. And he blasted the media, specifically the Los Angeles Times, for interpreting his dissent as evidence of a deep rift within the party.

But even Mehlman acknowledged the debate, calling it "healthy" for a majority party.