Nov
23
By Paolo von Schirach
November 23, 2011
WASHINGTON – Only in this dysfunctional political environment common sense policy recommendations can be described as shocking or controversial. In the latest CNN produced debate among Republicans fighting to get their party nomination for the presidency, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich advocated a process whereby law abiding illegal immigrants would obtain legal status in the US. He said that this leniency should apply not to all illegals but to those who are law abiding and who have been in America for decades, many of them with families and children who are citizens by virtue of having been born in America. He indicated that it would be unrealistic and unjust to deport literally millions of people who are in general productive members of their communities.
A path to legalization for millions of illegal immigrants?
What Gingrich recommended is both humane and practical. We should find a way to legalize people who have been here for a long time and who are otherwise “good citizens”, (except that they are here illegally and so they do not qualify as “citizens”). Besides, how would one manage an unprecedented massive deportation program involving an estimated 12 million people? This is insane.
And it should be clear that Gingrich did not recommend an ongoing “open door” policy whereby new illegal immigrants would receive the same lenient treatment. He was referring to the unsolved issue of illegal immigrants who have been in America for a very long time as productive members of their communities.
Really controversial
How could this proposal to offer a path to legalization to good people be controversial? Well, judging by the reactions of his fellow debaters, Gingrich’s approach is totally wrong. Condoning illegal immigrants is an encouragement, they retorted. This policy would create “a magnet”, an incentive for more illegal entries, reacted former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, who is trying to polish his conservative, hard line credentials.
Then what? Deport everybody?
And so, what we do, Governor Romney? Round them all up and deport them? All 12 million plus? It is true that in the past America has been too lenient. Illegal immigration was tolerated because cheap immigrant labor served many economic interests. Be that as it may, all these people are here. As Gingrich indicated, millions have been in America for years and in some cases for decades. Is it sensible to say that they can never legalize their status and that in fact we plan to deport all of them?
Republican rank and file uncompromising on illegal immigrants
Well, apparently it is sensible, because this is the obtuse position held by most of the Republican rank and file who will vote in the upcoming Republican primaries. Given this, by espousing a humane and pragmatic policy on existing illegal immigrants, Gingrich may have antagonized many Republican primary voters; while Romney, otherwise known as the pragmatic problem solver, may have gotten a few more people in his camp by recommending something really stupid.
Just political calculations?
But wait, this “debate” is not for real. Astute cable TV analysts will tell us that all this is just a show. In fact nobody –neither Gingrich nor Romney– actually “believes” in their officially espoused posutions. It is all about political calculations. By proposing legalization for mostly Hispanic people, Gingrich in reality is thinking ahead, at the general election. He said nice things about legalizing illegal immigrants just as a way of courting the large and growing Latino voters block. As he is well liked among hard line conservatives, Gingrich figures that he can take a chance by stating something they strongly disagree with and still get to the Republican nomination. Once he is the candidate, he will be able to pander to the Latino voters by claiming that he supported one of their main issues even when it was politically risky to do so.
Romney needs to sound tough to prove he is a conservative
Romney instead would be making the opposite calculation. He needs to convince hard line Republican conservatives that he is one of them. A tough stance on illegal immigrants sounds like a good way to prove his faith. Of course, if he gets the Republican nomination, he will be in trouble with Latino voters in the general election. But may be his strategists told him that he can still win the White House even without Latino votes. (I doubt it. I just do not see how anybody can win a general elections with the Latino vote solidly in the opposite camp).
You see, there seems to be method both in madness and in “appearing” humane. If this is indeed so, not an inspiring picture of the would be leaders of this tired Republic.
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