Fri, May 18, 2007 at 2:37 PM

Henry Payne

GOP political suicide




This week's report that America's minority population just hit 100 million - with Hispanics the fastest growing subset - and George Bush's embrace of an immigration amnesty bill with Ted Kennedy are no coincidence.

Bush understands that the Republican Party is committing political suicide by playing hardball on (largely Hispanic) southern border immigration. The Hispanics (and other immigrants) coming to the country today to realize the American dream will remember that it was GOPers who tried to stand in the door.

I say "tried" because southern border immigration cannot be stopped. There is a market demand in this country for low-wage labor and it will be met. That is a law of economics that "conservative" Republicans should understand - but don't. They're too busy mouthing "law-enforcement" rhetoric.

It is no different really than the issue of illegal drugs coming into this country - despite billions spent to stop it. The difference is that immigration hurts no one. Is it not ironic that GOPers are howling about the illegal immigrant "problem" at a time when the U.S. - particularly its southwest - is experiencing record levels of employment and growth?

The Kennedy/Bush compromise is riddled with bad provisions (do "pro-family" GOPers really want to deny extended family from legal immigrants from getting green cards?!), but its overall goal is commendable: A guest worker program that recognizes market labor needs.

If hard-headed GOPers don't get that they'll have plenty of time to ponder it when they're voted out of office by future immigrant voters.

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