Nativism, Thy Name Is....
In the deeper tissues of the immigration debate, there are several trigger points that drive action but aren't above skin.
To make things easier, let's divide the two sides into "pro-comps" and "anti-comps" -- with comps being a stand in for supporters of a comprehensive measure that would provide some pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants.
# Pro-comp Republicans believe that anti-comp Republicans are catering to a nativist, even racist element among Republican base voters. Pro-comp Republicans can't say this out loud because they don't want to be seen as bashing their own party's base.
# Anti-comp Republicans believe that the Senate immigration bill is Karl Rove's gift to the Democrats, pure and simple, and would essentially award the Democratic Party millions of new votes in critical states like Ohio and Florida.
# Many anti-comp Republicans are faking their opposition to the issue and have told their corporate fundraisers and lobbyist patrons that they privately hope a bill will pass. These anti-comp Republicans have to pretend to be in the anti-amnesty camp because they'd suffer politically because of it.
# Another reason why pseudo-anti-comp Republicans are in the hardliners camp is that the threat of a breakaway immigration faction is real and worry that any populist third party with teeth would crush the party's tiny hopes of regaining the House majority in 2008.
# Pro-comp Republicans know that they won't gain House or Senate votes; the votes they have now are the votes they need to keep. They are worried about the recess.
Good Grief. There will be no break away party. Tis issue was a loser last year for the GOP.
Remember the Cannon/Jacobs Republican Primary race that was the huge showdown. Pro Comp Cannon won. Rememeber the Hardliner Randy Graff out in Arizona that ran agains thePro Comp Dem. HE lost. Hayworth lost too in Arizona. Remember Senator Santorum that embraced this to save himself? He lost. Oh and it worked so well in the Arizona Gov Race. Oh and lets remember that Arnold out in Cali took a moderate tone. HE won. JIm MCreary of Louisiana had a Hardliner run against him. the Guy got nada
JH
LOuisiana