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The Wall Street Journal
June 9, 2010, 7:00 AM ET.
Everyone’s for Immigration Reform, But Definition Is Elusive.

Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, is a former White House correspondent with two decades of experience covering Washington government and politics. Click here for Mr. Brown’s full bio.

Sometimes it’s difficult to avoid the conclusion that politicians can’t possibly be thinking before they speak. Otherwise, they must think the American public has no memory.

Consider the public discussion about illegal immigration: specifically the Arizona statute, which has become a political lightning rod, and what seems to be the safe response from all sides in the debate.

Everything would be just fine, they tell us, if Congress would go and pass a comprehensive immigration reform package.

But that’s much, much easier said than done.

If you think you have heard this about comprehensive immigration reform all before, you’re right.

That was the line in 2007 when illegal immigration became a highly flammable political issue. Congress, you will remember, wasn’t able to do anything other than talk – or should we say shout — for one very important reason: Lawmakers couldn’t agree on a solution.

What’s Changed?

At the time, Democrats had a majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, and President George W. Bush was closer to Democratic leaders on the issue than many of his fellow Republicans. But even then, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid didn’t have the votes in their own caucus for any one approach.

What makes them think that the vast divisions that exist in the country over the issue – reflected in the views of elected representatives – means anything has changed on Capitol Hill?

Yes, the Democrats have larger majorities, and Barack Obama is in the White House. But the simple fact is that there is no consensus in the Democratic caucus for a specific approach because there is no consensus in the country either. As we hear everyone from Mr. Obama on down talk about immigration reform as the Holy Grail for ending the public uproar, we hear echoes of the 2008 presidential campaign when there was consensus on the need for “health care reform.â€