GOP Rank and File May Block Leaders’ Plans to Win Latinos With Reform

[DonViejo]

Nov 12, 2012 4:45 AM EST

After their election shellacking, conservative leaders are showing signs that they want to change the GOP’s hardline posture on immigration and reach out to Latinos, but it’s far from clear that they will have the votes to enact reform.

Just five days ago, if you asked Republicans whether comprehensive immigration reform was worth taking on, they most likely would have responded with a resounding no. But then Nov. 6 happened, and GOP strategists saw just how decisive the Latino vote was in propelling President Obama to a second term.

And so now the hand-wringing, second-guessing, and soul-searching begins. Already, several high-profile conservatives from John Boehner to Haley Barbour to Sean Hannity have “evolved” their positions and voiced support for a pathway to citizenship—or at least some sort of legal status. Sen. John McCain, who disavowed his earlier work on the topic to stave off a 2010 primary challenge, tweeted that he agrees with calls for comprehensive reform.

It’s easy to see why the Republicans have reversed course after years of pushing a birthright amendment to the Constitution and laws that give local police the authority to inquire about a person’s immigration status. Hispanics are one of the fastest-growing groups in the country, accounting for more than half the population growth since the 2000 census.

Nationally, Obama won the Latino vote by a 3–1 margin, but more important, Hispanics came out to support the president in key battleground states like Ohio, where 82 percent backed him over Mitt Romney. In Virginia, Obama held a 35-point edge. In Colorado, he decimated his Republican challenger 87 percent to 10 percent. Hispanics also helped the Democrats increase their seats in the Senate, propelling candidates in Florida, New Mexico, and even Massachusetts to victory.

-snip-

read more:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/11/12/gop-rank-and-file-may-block-leaders-plans-to-win-latinos-with-reform.html

[customerserviceguy]

1. It's a lose-lose situation for the hardliners

If they refuse to back any kind of immigration reform, they continue to alienate people, whereas if they do give in, they disappoint their base, without picking up enough Latino support to make up for it.

That's why I predict they will remain opposed, at least they can claim they were consistent.

[SoapBox]

2. Hilarious.

It's like a comedy show...featuring the Puke and Bagger Party!

I keep saying and saying and saying...Baggers, don't change a THING!

...means we will be taking back the House and all sorts of local/state positions.

[geek tragedy]

3. Heads we win, tails they lose and lose and lose and lose. nt

[ProudProgressiveNow]

4. K&R nt

[JustAnotherGen]

5. What's so funny about this?

They are assuming Latino Americans are ONE ISSUE voters. I don't believe that - not by a long shot.

And besides - too little too late Republicans. The Dream Act is done. So move on folks. Nothing to try to manipulate or suck up to over here. . .

[LonePirate]

6. Boehner, 20 GOP House reps and 5-6 Senators are all we need for an immigration bill

Will they be able to come up with those number?