Is An Immigration Reform Fight All Roses For the Democrats

On no another immigration reform post. I posted my feelings on this earlier at Health Care Politics Shows Why There Will Be No Immigration Reform.

However let me address an article that is floating around in democrat pro immigration reform circles that was published first off at the nation. See Why Democrats Should Pick A Fight On Immigration

Now even though I am pro-immigration reform let me be up front and say I oppose the notion that all people that oppose immigration are racist. They exist and need to be called out but they are not the majority.

However I think this article shows a naive political inside the beltway view that is dangerous for immigration reform supporters to take.

I love exit polls because it gives us a view of the public's mind on a huge range of issues. In 2008 in the immigration questions was asked in almost every Republican Presidental primary exit poll.

On the flip side that question was not asked in the Democrat exit polls. Why? Is there a assumption that just Republicans are against immigration reform. If that is the case that is a dangerous assumption.

How many Mickey Kaus democrats are out there? I expect more than the Nation has any clue about. Too bad we decided not too poll. Perhaps there was no poll because the results would have been embarrassing.

Why does the Nation ( and others ) think they will only be able to highlight mean ole Republicans. There is horrible tension on this among unions members and especially in the black Caucus. In Alabama there is a black Democrat congressman that has an actual chance to be Governor. I have a feeling he might not follow the Nation's script on this which could be a high profile race. In New Orleans the tension is high between the black community and the Latino (both legal and illegal community). What if that race does not follow the script

Do they think in Louisiana that Vitter opponent Charlie Melancon is going to take a pro immigration reform stance? I find that highly doubtful. What about in all these blue dog districts where the issue is hot and in which their races will be closely watched.

I often point out to Republicans that the people in the party have a lot of people that want a practical immigration reform solution. On the flip side democrats need to be aware that not everyone on the DEM side thinks what some call "amnesty" is a good idea.

We got clues of this when we saw how Pelosi and Reid handled the immigration bill in 2007. Compare their efforts there to there efforts on health care reform. It is different as night and day. Maybe they have seen some internal polling?

There is another problem. I have noted several times how Republicans that supported immigration reform did not really get rewarded for that stand by immigration reform supporters or more to the point the huge talking heads. Is it possible some Dems in districts where this issue is controversial noticed that?

In fact the tone of the whole article shows that many people don't see the need to make immigration reform a bi partisan issue but to use it as a wedge tool for political advantage. How is that productive?

Immigration reform supporters need to get more like the National Rifle Association that supports people in both parties.

Where is the rally call to raise funds for McCain in his race in Arizona? Why is Rep Cao having a hard time raising funds? Should he not be on the top of the list of people that money should be raised for?

I have not seen a lot of calls to rally behind Senator Sam Brownback in his race for Governor and to send the dough.

Why is not the work of the very conservative very popular Rep Flake of Arizona not highlighted. Rep Flake, one of the most conservative members of congress, shows that a common sense approach to this is not the death bell for Republicans in the border states. Why focus on Tancredo alone and not Flake. Why was the messy fight in the 2006 Cannon Utah Republican Primary seem to be mostly a GOP affair with some major groups not really engaging?

Is it because they have a "r" by their name?

The pro-life community is sometimes accused of being too much in the GOP camp. I disagree with this some but there is a tad of merit. In the pro-life community in the 2010 election it is very likely that Pro-life people will reward the Stupak Democrats. The NRA membership often rewards very liberal Dems that take their position. The result in both communities has been gains.

It is time for the immigration reform community to do the same.

All this is going to be needed to pass meaningful immigration reform. I was pretty disgusted when major immigration reform leaders gave Senator Obama cover on his Senate vote. The immigration reform movement's leadership might need to be purged of people's loyalty whose main concern is the party and not the issue they advocate for.