Matt Lewis
How the politics of bad faith could sink immigration reform
It seems the conservatives who are most skeptical of immigration reform don’t oppose the merits of Rubio’s framework, so much as they simply refuse to believe it would ever be enacted or enforced.
In other words, they simply don’t trust that the law will be obeyed. They believe Democrats can do whatever they want, and the best conservatives can hope for is to slow them down and not give them any ideas.
This is very destructive for democracy. And the sad thing is that their cynicism and paranoia isn’t entirely unfounded.
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The understatement of the decade!
OldEnglish on January 30, 2013 at 10:06 PM
No, we believe the Democrats can do whatever they want, the Republicans will put up a coy fight and end up giving it up in the end, and the conservatives will be the roommate left out in the hallway waiting for someone to take the necktie off the doorknob.
cptacek on January 30, 2013 at 10:10 PM
This is the whole problem, isn’t it? What happened in 1986.
John the Libertarian on January 30, 2013 at 10:14 PM
Yes, the politics of bad faith comes mainly from Obama, and he will torpedo immigration “reform”, no matter what it looks like.
He wants the issue, not the solution. He wants the issue to use against the GOP for 2016. Simple as that.
Hispanic or otherwise foreign born? Obama says screw you. His agenda is more important.
petefrt on January 30, 2013 at 10:21 PM
you beat me to it, just more politely.
arnold ziffel on January 30, 2013 at 11:33 PM
Obama does not enforce the law on many issues. Most of the MSM is in his pocket and will not even address this. Anyone who questions even his credentials to be President is attacked. Does anyone need examples?
1. Blanket amnesty by declaration
2. Border and immigration law
3. Voting rights selectively enforced
4. State attempts to require voter ID
5. Religious rights – Obamacare
Even his dual cabinets, the one to pass the scrutiny of Congress, and his ‘Czars’ (how are they funded?)
6. The phoney good cop/bad cop game he plays with the Senate to avoid producing a budget
Bush was crooked on border and immigration and thwarted the law. It was a disgrace. Bush had the press on his side with immigration – because on this one the big shots of both parties wanted the law trampled. Obama just kept on going.
This is not cynicism, it is fact. Only the Senate can vote to impeach Obama and the Senate is in his pocket. They signal only pleasure over his illegalities
There is absolutely no indication the rule of law will be honored
IMHO the lack of trust in the system is a good sign. It shows some still understand the Constitution, and love the nation enough to know it is being savaged
entagor on January 30, 2013 at 11:38 PM
Ya think? The sad thing is it’s not just democrats. Rubio, the new amnesty golden boy has already lied about this issue to get elected once, and he hasn’t exactly been making an honest argument while pushing for amnesty the past few days either.
xblade on January 30, 2013 at 11:49 PM
Considering that the great mass of people today seem to have the attention span of a gnat, I find it heartening that someone even concedes that 1986 is within the memories of some who are alive today.
cthulhu on January 31, 2013 at 12:42 AM
Is there any field of human activity, other than immigration, wherein these scumbags propose that rewarding the criminals with their ill-gotten goods (residency or presence in our country) is a solution to rampant illegality?
A pox on these “GOP” elected officials, running like lemmings over the amnesty cliff, chasing the mythical monolithic Hispanic vote by proposing rewarding criminals with their stolen goods.
They will never out-pander the Democrats.
Too bad, as 40% of Hispanics reject amnesty. I would think that any GOP candidate would be ecstatic with 40% of “the (sic) Hispanic vote”.
fred5678 on January 31, 2013 at 5:05 AM