POLITICAL IMPACT ON IMMIGRATION REFORM

Internal divisions within the Republican Party will have major impact on the coming Congressional debate over comprehensive immigration reform.  The New York Times has recently published two articles describing this shifting ground.

On November 3rd, in the article entitled, Conservative Loses Upstate House Race in Blow to Right, New York’s northernmost district is featured.   The 23rd District had been a Republican stronghold and has been represented by a Republican candidate since the 19th century.  When President Obama appointed long serving Republican Congressman, John M. McHugh, as Secretary of the Army, the seat became vacant and a special election was called.  Eleven leaders of the county committees that encompass the vast congressional district nominated Dede Scozzafava to be the Republican candidate.  This drew the ire of “conservative” members of the party such as Sarah Palin, Minn. Gov. Tim Pawlenty, Rush Limbaugh, and Glenn Beck.  A Conservative Party candidate, Douglas L. Hoffman, was supported by most of Washington’s “conservative establishment” and the result was a Democrat winning the seat after over a century of Republican control.

On November 11th, the New York Times also reported S.C. Senator Gets Slammed Back Home. Senator Lindsey Graham was rebuked by a unanimous Charleston County Republican vote “for many of the positions he has taken that do not represent the wishes of the people of South Carolina, such as:  passing a ‘cap and trade’ energy bill, bailing out banks and granting amnesty for illegal aliens.”  A spokesman for Sen. Graham responded, “Like former President Reagan, he strongly believes elected officials need to find common ground and work together to solve difficult problems…Working to solve problems and being conservative are not mutually exclusive.”

Voters in the moderate middle of hotly contested congressional races will hold the key to what, if anything, happens with comprehensive immigration reform in 2010.  We have our work cut out for us!