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| Immigration Bill Failure Proves RasmussenÂ’s First Law of Politics |
| 2007-06-29 |
| Scott Rasmussen’s first law of politics is that America’s politicians aren’t nearly as important as they think they are. That law was clearly demonstrated earlier today when the United States Senate finally surrendered to the American people on immigration. Politicians may make things messy for a while, but over the long haul it is the American people who determine the nation’s fundamental policies. The final Rasmussen Reports national telephone poll before the vote found that just 22% of Americans supported the legislation. No amount of Presidential persuasion, Senate logrolling, and procedural tricks was able to overcome that solid bi-partisan lack of public support (although it’s breathtaking to consider how close a determined leadership could come to passing such an unpopular bill). The real mystery in all of this is why the Senators and their cheerleaders didn’t anticipate the public response. Perhaps they fell in love with their own rhetoric and forgot how it might sound to others. Near the end of the debate, supporters of the doomed legislation often stated that the status quo is unacceptable. Most Americans would agree on that point. In fact, they might even hold that feeling more strongly than the Grand Bargainers of the Senate--72% of American voters believe it’s Very Important to reduce illegal immigration and enforce the borders. But controlling the border was never a focal point of the Senate debate. Instead, the Senators spent most of the time debating the fine points of various approaches to legalizing those who are here illegally. For voters, those topics were definitely a second-or-third tier aspect of the issue. Because the Senators and the White House never showed much enthusiasm for reducing illegal immigration, only 16% believed the Senate bill would accomplish that goal. Forty-one percent (41%) thought passage of the legislation would actually lead to more illegal immigration. In other words, even though voters consider the status quo unacceptable, they had every confidence that Congress could make a bad situation worse. It is impossible to overstate the significance of this basic fact. Outside of 46 Senators, hardly anybody thought the legislation would work. That’s why it was defeated. It wasn’t amnesty or guest-worker programs or paths to citizenship that doomed the bill. Each of those provisions made it more difficult for some segments of the population to accept. However, a majority would have accepted them as part of a true compromise that actually gained control of the border. In that environment, the only way for political leaders to prove they are serious about enforcing the border and reducing illegal immigration will be to do it. That’s the next logical step in the immigration debate. There are plenty of steps that could be taken quickly with solid voter support. Some may require new laws while others may simply require enforcement of the existing laws. But, voters aren’t concerned about the specifics—they’ll support serious efforts to reduce illegal immigration. This could include imposing employer sanctions, building a barrier, adding more border patrol agents, supporting local law enforcement efforts, and more. Once the government actually enforces the border, then the debate can begin on all other aspects of immigration reform. Then, the same politicians who were stunned by their misreading of the public on this bill will probably be stunned to learn something else—most Americans actually do favor a welcoming and open immigration policy. The United States is a nation of immigrants. It is also a nation of laws. Voters want to honor both aspects of the national heritage. And, like good parents trying to instill values in their children, voters want their elected representatives to do the same. |
| Posted by:tu3031 |
| #7 This is so basic and Rasmussen hits it on the head (as do the other posters here). No one trusts the gov to enforce the laws. They don't enforce the existing ones so why should anyone believe they are going to enforce the new ones. It is just so much horseshit. It was incredibly obvious that this was a sop to the big money contributors from the ag, building, food processing, hotel and restaurant lobbies (among others). The pols heard an earful from both sides of the political spectrum. Close the border first...enforce first...build trust...then make reforms as needed. |
| Posted by: remoteman 2007-06-29 19:48 |
| #6 Sock Puppet of Doom, I salute you for doing the right thing even though it cost you real $$$ up front to do so. Thank You from another Proud American Citizen. |
| Posted by: RD 2007-06-29 19:25 |
| #5 It was also a nation of slavery. And given the inaction and complicity of the ruling class in the beltway, they have permitted its de facto return. This was just an effort to cover up that massive political failure. Procopius2k, hey God Bless you for recognizing the special interest "indentured servitude" angle. It's simple, American Citizens are in direct competition with bogus-documented Illegals immigrants here in America. Sad to say some short sighted greedy small businesses and Corporations are willing to go to great lengths and expense to have a perpetual pool of Illegals to exploit for cheap labor. In fact they bank on in, and plot to keep it that way. The strategy of the Tyson Chicken[et al], the Corporate Farm Growers, National and Local Chambers of Commerce etc. etc. is to have the numbers on their side. The numbers alone do the trick for them. Millions of illegals here simply by it'self drive down labor costs, it works the 'slave labor' $$$ machine for them. ** Arriba Muchachos.. el prisa ahora despierta, It's our Citizen Status at stake! The elegant and sublime Citizenship of an American must not and shall not be diluted or discounted on our watch. For our Citizenship and our children's Citizen Status we must be vigilant... "From time to time, the tree of liberty must be watered with the blood of tyrants and patriots." - Thomas Jefferson |
| Posted by: RD 2007-06-29 19:19 |
| #4 Instapundit's got the right analysis (but will the politicians listen?): "My advice for next time: (1) Make the process open, transparent, and timely, with hearings, drafts on the Internet, and no last-minute bills that no one has read; (2) Earn people's trust, don't demand it, and treat enforcement like it matters; (3) Respect people who follow the law, and make legal immigration easier, cheaper, and simpler, rather than the Kafkaesque nightmare it is now; (4) Don't feel you have to be "comprehensive" -- address the problems you can deal with first. The trust needed to deal with other problems will come later, after you've shown some success and some good faith." |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2007-06-29 16:32 |
| #3 This whole "immigration" issue just show how out of touch the elected representatives are with the people. Enforcing the border with existing laws is not rocket science. The first step we can take is to stop buying "Mexican" labor unless it's in Mexico. I figure the roof I just put on my house cost me an extra few grand but the crew doing it is all US citizens. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom 2007-06-29 12:14 |
| #2 Someplace here on the 'Burg there is a link to the debate between Tony Snow and Laura Ingraham. Snow flatly comes out and admits that the enforcement law we got with Simpson-Mazzoli in 1986 was toothless and not even a slap on the wrist. Laura's statement to Snow, which he could never refute, was that the American people weren't buying the WH/Senate BS that "this time it will be different." It was sad to see Snow trying so hard to defend the indefensible. Nothing but strict enforcement of the existing laws will be acceptable to most Americans for a long, long time. I can't think of another issue where trust in government is so abysmally low. Maybe the elite inside the Beltway might start waking up to that fact after this groin-stomping they just got. |
| Posted by: Mac 2007-06-29 12:05 |
| #1 The United States is a nation of immigrants. It was also a nation of slavery. And given the inaction and complicity of the ruling class in the beltway, they have permitted its de facto return. This was just an effort to cover up that massive political failure. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2007-06-29 11:16 |