Will Immigration Really Hurt Republicans?

Every time Washington DC is consumed by a controversial national issue, there seems to be an assumption that Republicans are the most vulnerable.

In the present immigration flap, everyone assumes that Republicans are in danger of splitting. Dick Morris writes that at least there is a chance that Republicans can get out alive. In the Washington Post David Ignatius writes that the Democrats are a party ready to pounce. Meanwhile the Gallup Poll announces that more voters identify as Democrats than as Republicans.

But Tony Blankley looks at the numbers.

A Gallup poll (March 27, 2006) finds 80 percent of the public wants federal government to get tougher on illegal immigration. A Quinnipiac University Poll (March 3, 2006) finds 62 percent oppose making it easier for illegals to become citizens (72 percent in that poll don’t even want illegals to be permitted to have driver’s licenses).



Time magazine’s recent poll (Jan. 24-26, 2006) found 74 percent favor "major penalties" on employers of illegals, and 70 percent believe illegals increase the likelihood of terrorism. Fifty-seven percent would use military force at the Mexican-American border.



NBC/Wall St. Journal’s poll (March 10-13, 2006) found 59 percent opposing a guest worker proposal. Seventy-one percent would more likely vote for a congressional candidate who would tighten immigration controls.

Just where in these numbers would the Democratic Party come out ahead of the Republican Party.

This looks like one of those issues that cuts another slice of reluctant Democrats away from the party of their parents. The media will drone on about helpless immigrants and incompetent Bush and mean-spirited Republicans. But on election day there will be another group of Democrats that went missing.