When Democrats won control of Congress many of the immigrant rights groups were certain they would get a better deal than they did under Republican control. For that matter, President Bush also thought he would get a better deal from Democrats.
They all turned out to be wrong — the Senate's bill failed, the victim of 15 Democrats and one liberal independent joining Republicans in opposition, and House Democratic leaders have refused to even try — and now the groups are starting to air their displeasure with Democrats.
In a new commentary "Under the bus," Immigration Daily, an online publication of immigration law publisher ILW.com, says it senses Democrats are actually turning into Republicans on the issue:
"Further, rumor on the Hill has it that the Democratic leadership is getting ready to support a Sensenbrenner-lite enforcement-only bill, thus proving that immigration is far from dead in DC, and that we may even have an immigration statute in an election year. A punitive act by Congress on immigration would, so the reasoning goes, defuse the immigration issue for the GOP, and thus help the Democratic Party strengthen in the House and the Senate and capture the Presidency next November. Those who expected better from a Democratic Congress have been disappointed. The Democratic leadership apparently does not want immigrants on the Democratic bus, but under it."
— Stephen Dinan, national political reporter, The Washington Times
Comments (5)
"Those who expected better from a Democratic Congress have been disappointed"
Here is the understatement of the century...financed and elected by the working people of this nation and they pander at every chance to export labor and the American Dream to everyone except the citizens of this nation. The only ones that are worse are the labor unions themselves. I wonder how low the opinion polls have to go before the citizens exercise the 2nd amendment of the constitution and form a well organized militia to rid the government of these obsequious whores to special interests, foreign nations and hubris elites restoring a government of the people, by the people and for the people!
Posted by sgtmajorbrad | November 21, 2007 6:12 PM
Why would the Democrats be turning to the Republicans on immigration. All they need to do is shut up, sit down and LISTEN to the American people. If the Republicans are doing that, then maybe we have found the middle ground for bipartisanship.
Posted by Larry Stone | November 22, 2007 6:38 AM
Two of the Democrats most important constituencies are working class American and African Americans. These are the groups that are hurn most by illegal immigration because they are in direct competition. As a result of illegal immigration, they get less job opportunity, lower wage when they manage to find a job and worse schools because they live in the same neighborhoods and their children have to attend schools overwhelmed by ESL learners.
It seems natural to me that Democrats would need to do what is best for their most important constituencies. They can only pander so much to the illegal hispanics without risking rebellion in the ranks of their base.
Posted by jackbenimble | November 22, 2007 4:01 PM
I was a democrat, until their pro illegal alien, anti american views were made public. Many of them were exposed as total liars, like senator Feinstein. She was anti illegal immigration, until, she felt better suited to take the views of her elite millionaire friends, and illegal alien criminals. Now I'm voting strictly on how tough the candidate is on illegal immigration. It has become obvious to me that elites, like Bush, Feinstein, Boxer, etc., just want a ruling class, with everybody else being slaves!
Posted by Bensbca | November 22, 2007 9:05 PM
Only an idiot would believe the Democrats care more about America than holding power. They are without a moral compass, and are only interested in keeping power.
Pelosi and Reed are pathetic.
Posted by Cleveland Steamer | November 29, 2007 6:09 AM