Quotes of the day

Arizona’s tourism industry has a target on its back, but the widespread boycotts over the state’s immigration law might not be hitting the mark.

Recent data compiled by a market research group show hotel bookings across the state — as well as in tourism hot spots Phoenix and Scottsdale — have been on the rise the past two months…

Advertisement

“Fundamentally, the boycotts have been unsuccessful,” said Barry Broome, president of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council.

***
Twenty-four percent of Hispanics questioned in the poll favor the new law, with 71 percent opposed. Support for the measure jumps to 61 percent among white respondents, with opposition dropping to 34 percent among whites.

The survey also suggests divisions among older and younger Hispanics.

“The biggest difference in the Hispanic community on this issue is the generation gap,” says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. “Forty-five percent of Hispanics who are 50 or older support Arizona’s law. Among Hispanics who are younger than 50, support for the new measure drops to 17 percent. Three-quarters of younger Hispanics oppose the law.”

***
In a bid to remake the enforcement of federal immigration laws, the Obama administration is deporting record numbers of illegal immigrants and auditing hundreds of businesses that blithely hire undocumented workers.

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency expects to deport about 400,000 people this fiscal year, nearly 10 percent above the Bush administration’s 2008 total and 25 percent more than were deported in 2007. The pace of company audits has roughly quadrupled since President George W. Bush’s final year in office…

Advertisement

Morton said the 400,000 people expected to be deported this year — either physically removed or allowed to leave on their own power — represent the maximum the overburdened processing, detention and immigration court system can handle.

***
One thing the AP gets right is that the Dems consider Hispanics a critical constituency, in both the shorter and longer term. But given the trend, and Obama’s even more anemic numbers on whether he is meeting the needs of Hispanic voters, Dems seeking to energize this constituency have their work cut out for them. The Obama administration’s demagogy over Arizona’s immigration law boosted their ratings on some issues, but the big picture is one of skidding support.

***
“You know, everything’s off the table, I believe, in Arizona until we get our borders secure.”

Join the conversation as a VIP Member

Trending on HotAir Videos

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement