GOP Can Win on Illegal Immigration

Illegal Immigration is the only issue all Republican candidates can agree on. Even John McCain has backed away from his support for the failed "comprehensive immigration reform" package. At this moment the Republicans in the Senate are more willing than their Democratic counterparts to listen to the majority of Americans whom prefer enforcement first, even at the risk of offending portions of the Hispanic community. Look at the numbers on this CNN poll from 10/12-14 and even an idiot like me can see that this issue is a political goldmine.

• "Would you like to see the number of illegal immigrants currently in this country increased, decreased, or remain the same?" Increased= 7% _____Decreased=69%_____Same=22%
• "Do you think state governments should or should not issue driver's licenses to illegal immigrants?"
  .Should=23% ___Should Not =76% ____Unsure = 1%
  

Never has the Democratic murky position on illegal immigration or giving licenses to illegals been more clear than in Hillary Clinton's muddled flip-flopping' answer to Tim Russert's question of whether or not she agreed with Gov. Spitzer's plan to give licenses to illegals. Those questions aren't going away and all candidates will have to state their position clearly. Don't expect other Democrats to lay off Hillary's non response. Contrast these two polls;

1. One asked voters to pick two from a list of seven problems that explained "why the country is going in the wrong direction." The survey found that among independent voters, 40 percent -- by far the largest group -- picked this option: "Our borders have been left unprotected and illegal immigration is growing."
2. A major USA Today/Gallup poll review of where things stand a year before the election included a basic question which asked Americans “Looking ahead to next year’s presidential election, what will be the most important issues that you will take into account when deciding whom to vote for?” Only 2% of Democrats say that immigration issues are among the most important issues they will take into account when deciding on whom to vote.

I will be quite content with Democrat's ignoring this issue. Michael Barone wrote in a recent column stating that October 2007 may be the month that immigration becomes a key issue and a permanent fixture in presidential politics.

"The last several Democratic nominees could have said that they're just taking the same position as their Republican opponent. The 2008 nominee won't be able to say the same of hers or his (unless McCain gets the nod)."

"Which leaves Democratic politicians and political candidates out on a pretty flimsy limb. Most of them reflexively back a comprehensive bill, and some of them (like Bush and a number of Republicans backing such a bill) have dismissed opponents as racists. Most Democrats have also been backing bills extending various benefits to illegal immigrants, like the Dream Act for college education for illegals brought over as children. There are appealing arguments for such bills. But most voters reject them. And most voters certainly reject driver's licenses for illegal immigrants. That was one of the issues that led to the recall of Gov. Gray Davis in California in 2003.

E.J. Dione touched on the issue in a column entitled "Dems Face Immigration Dilemna":

In the short run, Clinton's exquisite calibration of her positions was the issue. But her debate jitters reflect a deeper worry among Democrats that Republicans are ready to use impatience with illegal immigration to win back voters dissatisfied with the status quo.
The issue is especially problematic because efforts to appease voters upset about immigration -- including a share of the African-American community -- threaten to undercut the Democrats' large and growing advantage among Latino voters. For Republicans, the issue is both a way of changing the political subject from Iraq, the economy and the failures of the Bush presidency, and a means for sowing discord in the Democratic coalition.