Tactically, would it be smart Politics to bring up Immigration Reform this year

[Perky]

Make it a real issue and drive a wedge in the GOP as Primary season looms.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

1. Yup

Nothing rankles Republicans more than talking about (illegal) immigration. However, on a more practical level, we really DO need to reform our immigration policies.

[T Wolf]

2. Are you REALLY looking for SMART political strategery from the bozos at Democratic

headquarters?

Seriously?

These fools make the pukes look brilliant. The GOP screwed up by being TOO greedy. If they had been satisfied with the 95% of the US that they controlled, they would not have pissed off enough people to allow Obama and the Dems to win. But they grabbed for that last 5% and it cost them.

Our politicians, on the other hand, will fail because they do not reach far enough. Actually, they do not reach at all, except to placate the reich-wingers in both parties. By snatching defeat out of the jaws of an incredible opportunity to make real, significant change in the objectives and workings of the country, the (current crop of) Democrats have shown themselves to be unworthy of support.

[xxqqqzme]

3. and kaine is worthless as DNC chair.

He is still chair isn't he? Never hear a peep from him. Wonder how his fund raising comares up to Dean's?

[Perky]

7. You seledom hear from party chair when you are the party in Power

That is the way it works.

When we were coping with Bush Dean was the most vocal person in the party and Steele is the voice of the GOP


I can't even think of who was Chair when Bill was in in the White House.

[tekisui]

4. That is next on the agenda. Once the Health Insurance Reform bill

goes through, it will be Immigration.

[IndianaGreen]

5. I am sure Congress is chomping at the bit to tackle immigration on an election year

We know how brave our elected officials are!

:eyes:

[Perky]

6. little downside for us

[depakid]

9. Other than the fact that is further cedes populist resentment and anxiety to Republicans

and associates Democrats with "illegal alien job takers" during a period of chronically high unemployment.

[Hello_Kitty]

14. Bingo. Dem elitists are UNBELIEVABLY tonedeaf to this. eom

[grantcart]

8. It is a brilliant move

While the downside is that it doesn't seem to be a hot policy to bring up during a recession, you have to look down stream.

Immigration reform in the Democratic Party is as close to a unanimous point as we can get.

After migrants get normalized most of them are going to become Democratic voters, Obama is currently 70+ with Hispanics and migrants that become legal will be higher.

But there is an even greater reason to do it this year.

It is a wedge issue for Republicans.

While the average Joe Republican isn't for it some are.

Republicans in agricultural areas are strongly for it. Currently they are running thier operations in an illegal manner and regardless of how they feel about the Republican Party they would cross the street and dance with a communist if it could get them legal with their workers.

Also other Republicans with small businesses, restaurants, landscapping, etc. would like to legalize the issue.

And then there are Republicans running for office in California, Arizona, Texas, Florida and some other states like Nevada that have substantial numbers of Hispanics, they will have to be for it.

So while it is not a hot issue it is an issue that will unite Democrats and cause civil unrest in the Republican Party, including bringing the Tea Party nuts right into their living rooms.

This is a big winner for the Democratic Party in the short term and the long term.

On edit Sen Martinez got so sick of the bashing he just resigned.

[depakid]

10. Actually, losing the majority in 2010 might be a good thing

longer term demographics aside- it allows Dems to more clearly place the blame of their failures on Republican shoulders for 2012.

[Perky]

11. idioucy

Give up control of congress to the Repukes is just stupid. THere is no upside to that.

[depakid]

17. Well, as it seems that's what the party "leadership" is intent on doing

best to find some silver lining in it.

[Hello_Kitty]

13. I agree on some points but not on others.

First of all, immigrants cannot vote until they become citizens. Most guest worker/H1B visa holders are not interested in becoming citizens.

Second, there is far from unanimity among Democrats about immigration. I have knocked on doors here in Phoenix and talked to African American and multi-generation Hispanic Democrats who hate the immigrants. They blame immigration for the decline in their neighborhoods and their standard of living. Their anger may be misguided but it's very real. Back in 2006 there were a host of harsh and draconian anti-immigrant ballot measures up for a vote in Arizona. Those measures passed by substantial margins overall. And nearly half of Hispanic voters in AZ supported them.

It is a wedge issue for Republicans.

While the average Joe Republican isn't for it some are.

Republicans in agricultural areas are strongly for it. Currently they are running thier operations in an illegal manner and regardless of how they feel about the Republican Party they would cross the street and dance with a communist if it could get them legal with their workers.

Also other Republicans with small businesses, restaurants, landscapping, etc. would like to legalize the issue.

And then there are Republicans running for office in California, Arizona, Texas, Florida and some other states like Nevada that have substantial numbers of Hispanics, they will have to be for it.

So while it is not a hot issue it is an issue that will unite Democrats and cause civil unrest in the Republican Party, including bringing the Tea Party nuts right into their living rooms.

I think your assessment is 100% correct as to the political situation for Republicans, but as someone who lives at immigration ground zero I take the opposite view of it being a winner for Democrats in these areas. Taking up immigration reform makes it look to the voters like we are getting in bed with the employers and are against American workers. And as I pointed out above, it doesn't help us as much with Hispanic voters as you think.

[Hello_Kitty]

12. If you think the insurance industry and Pharma hacked up HCR

Wait until you see what Big Bidness and the Chamber of Commerce do to immigration reform.

[ShortnFiery]

15. Sure, let's help the Democratic Party be out of power for "a generation" instead of one or

two election cycles? :crazy:

[dkf]

16. If our next priority isn't jobs we deserve to lose everything

Let's let people suffer so we can score political points? I doubt Obama is as cynical as this.