It's a Trap!

The Republicans screamed, "Its a trap!" when President Obama invited them to the Blair House a few months ago for the so-called Bipartisan Health Care Summit.  Turns out they didn't get what they wanted but it wasn't a trap.  In response to that stunning defeat, however, I think the Republicans have set their own trap in the hopes of adding some electoral insurance come November.

The public was significantly outraged by the passage of the health care bill, but the Republicans know that the American Public has a short attention span.  Relying on just that one issue would be dangerous.  So...the trap.  Financial reform wasn't going to do it.  The issue is too complex and passions too high for the average American to really grasp what the Obama Administration wants to do and why its bad.  No other issue was truly ripe for the picking.  Then the Republican Governor of Arizona signed into law this new immigration legislation aimed at apprehending illegal immigrants in the state.  BINGO!

Immigration had ceased to be the hot-button issue it was just a few years ago.  The majority of people want something done about it, but with everything else going on--particularly with the economy--the priority of the issue slipped significantly.  Democrats wanted something done because this was yet another abandoned campaign promise from President Obama and Latino voters turned out in record numbers to support him in 2008.  Republicans have come to accept that their position on immigration will not gain them the support of the majority of Latinos, and are okay with that.  Because the Republicans know that their position on immigration falls in line with the majority of Americans, particularly the middle-of-the road moderates and independents.  

Arizona passing this law was sure to set off a firestorm, even if it wasn't an election year.  Add in the resentment of a large number of Democratic voters that was lingering under the surfact at Obama's to-date refusal to address the issue and the clear opposition to the law that was bound to come from the Left and you've got yourself a TRAP!  Polling in Arizona shows that 70% of their residents support the bill, and national polling shows 60% support nationwide!  Currently 87% of Arizona voters say this legislation will have a major impact on how they vote in November, with 67% of those saying it will be in important influence on their vote FAVORING the law.

By setting off this debate almost overnight the Republicans have forced Obama to stop waffling and delaying action on immigration policy.  This law, to be clear, does NOT enact any new immigration policies.  It only authorizes state law enforcement to enforce the federal laws already on the books.  It does not create a new "offense" or punishment.  And anyone who thinks it will lead to more Hispanics being pulled over have obviously not lived in a major city and seen the races of the people commonly on the side of the road during traffic stops.  This law may be struck down by the federal courts.  It may not go anywhere.  But what is has done is forced Obama to come forward, very publicly and loudly, on immigration--going on the record with views that are in stark opposition to the majority of Americans.

Expect to see more of this to come.  The Republicans are not done.  They will continue to incite political battles that force Obama and the Democrats to come forward with their very Liberal policies in the months ahead, drawing sharp relief between their views and those of "mainstream Americans" and most importantly, the moderates and independents that were so crucial to his 2008 victory.