Thread: Immigration Bill Failure Proves Rasmussen’s First Law

Immigration Bill Failure Proves Rasmussen’s First Law of Politics
Thursday, June 28, 2007
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Scott Rasmussen’s first law of politics is that America’s politicians aren’t nearly as important as they think they are. That law was clearly demonstrated earlier today when the United States Senate finally surrendered to the American people on immigration. Politicians may make things messy for a while, but over the long haul it is the American people who determine the nation’s fundamental policies.

The final Rasmussen Reports national telephone poll before the vote found that just 22% of Americans supported the legislation. No amount of Presidential persuasion, Senate logrolling, and procedural tricks was able to overcome that solid bi-partisan lack of public support (although it’s breathtaking to consider how close a determined leadership could come to passing such an unpopular bill).

The real mystery in all of this is why the Senators and their cheerleaders didn’t anticipate the public response. Perhaps they fell in love with their own rhetoric and forgot how it might sound to others.

Near the end of the debate, supporters of the doomed legislation often stated that the status quo is unacceptable. Most Americans would agree on that point. In fact, they might even hold that feeling more strongly than the Grand Bargainers of the Senate--72% of American voters believe it’s Very Important to reduce illegal immigration and enforce the borders. But controlling the border was never a focal point of the Senate debate. Instead, the Senators spent most of the time debating the fine points of various approaches to legalizing those who are here illegally. For voters, those topics were definitely a second-or-third tier aspect of the issue.

Because the Senators and the White House never showed much enthusiasm for reducing illegal immigration, only 16% believed the Senate bill would accomplish that goal. Forty-one percent (41%) thought passage of the legislation would actually lead to more illegal immigration. In other words, even though voters consider the status quo unacceptable, they had every confidence that Congress could make a bad situation worse.

It is impossible to overstate the significance of this basic fact. Outside of 46 Senators, hardly anybody thought the legislation would work. That’s why it was defeated. It wasn’t amnesty or guest-worker programs or paths to citizenship that doomed the bill. Each of those provisions made it more difficult for some segments of the population to accept. However, a majority would have accepted them as part of a true compromise that actually gained control of the border.

In that environment, the only way for political leaders to prove they are serious about enforcing the border and reducing illegal immigration will be to do it. That’s the next logical step in the immigration debate.

There are plenty of steps that could be taken quickly with solid voter support. Some may require new laws while others may simply require enforcement of the existing laws. But, voters aren’t concerned about the specifics—they’ll support serious efforts to reduce illegal immigration. This could include imposing employer sanctions, building a barrier, adding more border patrol agents, supporting local law enforcement efforts, and more.

Once the government actually enforces the border, then the debate can begin on all other aspects of immigration reform. Then, the same politicians who were stunned by their misreading of the public on this bill will probably be stunned to learn something else—most Americans actually do favor a welcoming and open immigration policy.

The United States is a nation of immigrants. It is also a nation of laws. Voters want to honor both aspects of the national heritage. And, like good parents trying to instill values in their children, voters want their elected representatives to do the same.

Link
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_ ... f_politics

Houston...we've got a problem....



Clearly this line of thinking doesn't align with Chuck Schumer's. He says the opponents are 'narrow minded ideologists'.

Read this: http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?nam...wtopic&t=71577

I'm so confused'ed....



NOT!

It is impossible to overstate the significance of this basic fact. Outside of 46 Senators, hardly anybody thought the legislation would work. That’s why it was defeated. It wasn’t amnesty or guest-worker programs or paths to citizenship that doomed the bill. Each of those provisions made it more difficult for some segments of the population to accept. However, a majority would have accepted them as part of a true compromise that actually gained control of the border.

I am in extreme disagreement with this statement. I have been and remain angry with our governments refusal to secure our borders but what incensed me into flames was AMNESTY. I do not believe in the writers contention that "most people would have accepted" amnesty in trading that for securing our borders.

Originally Posted by zeezil

It is impossible to overstate the significance of this basic fact. Outside of 46 Senators, hardly anybody thought the legislation would work. That’s why it was defeated. It wasn’t amnesty or guest-worker programs or paths to citizenship that doomed the bill. Each of those provisions made it more difficult for some segments of the population to accept. However, a majority would have accepted them as part of a true compromise that actually gained control of the border.

I am in extreme disagreement with this statement. I have been and remain angry with our governments refusal to secure our borders but what incensed me into flames was AMNESTY. I do not believe in the writers contention that "most people would have accepted" amnesty in trading that for securing our borders.

I agree, this is the propaganda machine at work.

I also agree - why did we need all the other things just to secure the border. We have everything we need in the way of laws to do just that.

Some people I talked with, however, actually fell for it. They said, well nothing will happen with the illegals until the border is secure. I told them once that bill was signed, nothing else had to be done about the illegals - they were here to stay, and that we needed no new law to secure the border.

We need a President to get out of the way and allow Law Enforcement to do it's job.

Originally Posted by nntrixie

We need a President to get out of the way and allow Law Enforcement to do it's job.

WELL SAID. And we have one chance left a year from November. This may be the ultimate fight of our lives...