Illegal Immigration: So Tell Me Again, What Do "The American People" Really Want?
To hear Laura Ingraham, Sean Hannity and others talk, you'd think that rascal, George W. Bush, along with those who support his comprehensive approach to immigration reform, were simply running roughshod over The American People, who adamantly oppose any path to citizenship for illegals already here.
Well, think again. Here's an interesting report from today's Houston Chronicle:
Despite vocal conservative opposition to any kind of amnesty for illegal immigrants, a large majority of likely Republican voters support a two-tier approach that strengthens enforcement while providing a path to citizenship, according to anew poll released Thursday.Oops.
I just don't understand it. Those pundits seemed so sure!
You can read all about the poll, which was done for the Manhattan Institute, here. There are lots of goodies for polling wonks.
A few more of the interesting paragraphs from the Chronicle story:
The Tarrance Group, a GOP polling firm, conducted the national survey of 800 registered, likely voters June 12-15 for the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, a conservative think tank.
Three-quarters of the voters favored a policy that reflects Senate legislation.
It would create a system that allows illegal immigrants to come forward, pay a fine and receive a temporary worker permit; and provide these temporary workers with a multi-year path to citizenship if they are put behind others who have applied before them, don't commit crimes, learn English and pay taxes. The proposal also calls for increasing border security and imposing tougher penalties on employers who hire illegal workers.
Forty-nine percent said they did not view this policy as amnesty, while 39 percent said it is amnesty.
Once again, we should call this what it is: A case in which the House GOP is catering to the arch-conservative GOP base. I understand the reasons for that approach, but let's not call it noble, and let's not paint people like Tom Tancredo and his new followers as courageous leaders who are especially attuned to the views of the public.
Look at the polling charts and graphs. If you are an open-minded person at all, you will see that the hard-line approach now carrying sway in the House is not what the American people want.
posted by Lowell Brown at 5:01 PM
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6 Comments:
Looking at one poll is a bit like purchasing a Ferrari because you just know that lottery ticket in your pocket is a winner.
Two things...
This poll flies in the face of every other conservative based poll I've seen. Does that make it wrong? No, but I would have serious questions about it.
Also, note which plan is considered amnesty and which isn't. Considering the circumulocutions the President, John McCain et al have employing to never, ever allow anything their doing to be called amnesty, that's what is, will, and will continue to kill the Senate bill.
If amnesty were a winner all those I mentioned above would be willing to call it something other than a "banana."
One final thought, perhaps if the Senate bill acyually resembled what they were talking about in the poll as opposed to the ghastly country erasing nightmare they actually delivered people actually would go for it.
My .02
Posted by Jake Jacobsen
Jake: Thanks for the thoughtful comment. I hear what you're saying, but I honestly have not seen a poll by a credible independent polling organization that has any different result. Take a look at this one , for example.
I think my real point (perhaps lost in my sarcasm) is that anyone who says Americans' views on this issue are crystal clear (like Ingraham and Hannity and others do) is ignoring the complexity of those views.
Lowell
Posted by The Hedgehog
The devil, as always is in the details. The Senate plan does not put the current illegals at the back of the line for citizenship. Describing a plan that does that in a poll question does not tell you what the people think about the Senate plan. The reason that the President and so many Senators are investing so much energy in trying to portray their plan as something other than amnesty--they know people won't back that. If they would pass a plan like the one described in the article, it probably would have majority support...that just isn't what the Senate plan does.
Posted by Watchman
I find it amazing that when several polls (Dowd's analysis for the RNC, the USA Today poll, and now this poll for the Manhattan Institute) contradict what the hardliners are saying, some of these hard-liners now claim they are rigged.
It seems that the ends of defeating a bill they oppose justify the means used to defeat it, even if they are dishonest.
Posted by Harold C. Hutchison
Saw the link to this article at Daily Pundit:
http://www.washtimes.com/national/inbeltway.htm
Pollster Frank Luntz says the Senate amnesty bill is pure electoral poison.
Posted by nash
The only question I would ask about how many Americans support what position is "Does anybody remember being asked? The president and the Senate have jumped all over this and I believe one said"they'll have to get used to it."
Like a date to the prom doesn't require loss of virginity,(they are two separate issues that ought to stand on their own.) Securing our borders is one issue -amnesty (however you define it)is another.
The tricky word is "Comprehensive reform" Just calling it that tells me it can't be argued on its own merits and must be deviously married to securing our borders to survive. The proponents have now shifted to considering one first then the other -which sounds like admission of defeat and plan "B"
One first and then the other is still the prom=virginity loss question. How about taking up each on their own worth?
Posted by DL
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