If you are trying to get a sense of whether any sort of comprehensive immigration reform bill will pass this year, just read this article in the Washington Times
The Republican base is being rejuvenated, some conservative activists say, by a flurry of congressional action on “values” issues such as marriage safeguards, flag protection and abortion restrictions, as well as President Bush’s veto last week of stem-cell legislation.
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Jim Backlin, vice president of legislative affairs at the Christian Coalition, said the spate of “values” votes “really, really helps rejuvenate our base — especially Bush vetoing the stem-cell bill.”
In the past few months, Mr. Bush signed legislation against broadcast indecency, both chambers of Congress voted on a constitutional amendment to define marriage as between a man and woman, and the House voted to retain the words “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance.
But all that grandstanding on gay marriage, the Pledge of Allegiance, and stem-cell research could be for naught if the GOP helps pass any sort of immigration bill that doesn’t turn the millions of illegal immigrants in this country into felons.
They warn against counteracting that progress with a comprehensive immigration bill that conservatives consider amnesty.
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Still, Mr. Backlin warned that Republicans will “lose all that goodwill” from values voters if the Senate version of immigration reform is signed into law.
Mr. McClusky agreed that such a move would devastate the party and said “there is more work to be done” on values issues.
So don’t be surprised it that spells the end of comprehensive immigration reform – at least for this year.
