Republican "rift" over immigration reopening?

By: Lowell
Published On: 7/6/2008 6:40:09 AM

For years, I've scratched my head in wonder as the Republicans have managed to hold together their wildly disparate coalition of social/religious conservatives, anti-"big government" (and anti-tax) libertarians, "pro-business" types, etc.  It's really not a coalition that makes much sense, except perhaps in a shared opposition to taxes. Besides that, members of this coalition often disagree vehemently and even look with disdain up on the others, as in the case of the largely secular pro-business wing and the social/religious conservatives.  At some point, I keep thinking that an issue will come along that will cause this coalition to fly apart at the seams.  So far, it hasn't happened, but how about this one?

Under pressure from the toughest crackdown on illegal immigration in two decades, employers across the country are fighting back in state legislatures, the federal courts and city halls.

Business groups have resisted measures that would revoke the licenses of employers of illegal immigrants. They are proposing alternatives that would revise federal rules for verifying the identity documents of new hires and would expand programs to bring legal immigrant laborers.

Though the pushback is coming from both Democrats and Republicans, in many places it is reopening the rift over immigration that troubled the Republican Party last year. Businesses, generally Republican stalwarts, are standing up to others within the party who accuse them of undercutting border enforcement and jeopardizing American jobs by hiring illegal immigrants as cheap labor.

Leaving aside the merits of the issue for now, the political question is, will immigration flare up into an intra-Republican Party war? Probably not, as far as I can tell, but it's definitely going to continue as a source of tension, particularly as pro-Republican business groups fight back against anti-"illegal immigration" forces. Here in Virginia, the pro-cheap-labor, pro-Republican business groups have had some success, and now they want more:

In Virginia, an employers' coalition headed off bills that would have closed businesses that hire illegal immigrants and would have required all employers to participate in the federal system to check the working papers of new hires, which is known as E-Verify...

Virginia employers said they learned a lesson last year after the broad immigration bill they supported failed in Congress.

"The silent masses of businesses out there should have been on the phone with their Congressional representatives calling for rational reform," said Hobey Bauhan, president of the Virginia Poultry Federation, whose members include some of the biggest low-wage employers in the state. Virginia lawmakers ultimately adopted verification rules aimed at employers who systematically hire illegal immigrants.

Meanwhile, the Republican Party nationally has nominated John McCain, arguably the most pro-immigrant of all the GOP candidates running this year, for president. The question is, will this lead to an intra-GOP "rift" in which anti-"illegal immigration" activists stay home this November or even cast protest votes for Bob Barr?  Right now, I don't see it. However, with  34% of Americans ranking "illegal immigration" as "extremely important" in their vote for president, it certainly has the potential.  It will be interesting to see how this one plays out.

Comments



Speaking of immigration... (Lowell - 7/6/2008 7:42:40 AM)
...this should be interesting.

"9500 Liberty" presents a special screening to mark the 1st anniversary of Prince William County's Immigration Resolution

Thursday July 10th, 7:00 PM
Casablanca Restaurant
7911 Centreville, Rd
Manassas, VA

9500 Liberty is cutting together an hour-long presentation featuring recent events, many of which are too politically sensitive to share on YouTube. The screening will challenge some of the misleading rhetoric that has been circulating in recent days and weeks, and will include some surprising footage that could shift Prince William County's political landscape for the better.

We hope to see you there! Make sure to invite your friends!



Small business versus BIG big business (Teddy - 7/7/2008 12:18:35 AM)
There is a divide between the interests of small (and often of medium-sized businesses) and mega- or global-business, and it puzzles me why "business" sees itself as a monolithic bloc whose best interests are served by the Republican Party which promotes an image of being pro-business. In fact, as time goes on, it is increasingly obvious that the Republicans are only supportive of global or mega-business, and that small business is in fact usually voting against its own best interests when it supports Republicans. The Republican pose of being in favor of business and "free" trade is a crock (they really mean only if the playing field is tilted to game the system for their bigtime contributors).

Just as big business originally created the conditions for big labor unions, and these two created the conditions for big government, there will be a re-alignment in how we deal with mega/global business, and the new coalitions will possibly put small business and local employees often in the same coalitions--- if both workers and small businessmen wake up, that is.