[kabar]

The comprehensivists are right to say that the passionate opponents of amnesty are a “vocal minority“ of Americans; no side of any political debate enlists both the allegiance and the passion of a majority of Americans. But this minority is passionate, large, and a crucial component of any winning Republican coalition. It will interpret passage, not to mention the insults that have come its way in recent weeks, to mean that the party is throwing away its support, and it will not forget.

BS. Most Americans oppose amnesty and only 26% support this bill.

[TheLawyerFormerlyKnownAsAl]

The comprehensivists are right to say that the passionate opponents of amnesty are a “vocal minority“ of Americans; no side of any political debate enlists both the allegiance and the passion of a majority of Americans. But this minority is passionate, large, and a crucial component of any winning Republican coalition. It will interpret passage, not to mention the insults that have come its way in recent weeks, to mean that the party is throwing away its support, and it will not forget. BS. Most Americans oppose amnesty and only 26% support this bill.

You're exactly right. I agree with the thrust of the editorial but had to read that part several times because it just didn't seem to fit with the rest of the viewpoint. It doesn't as you have pointed out.

[dangus]

The writer didn’t say only a minority are opponents, but that only a minority are passionate opponents. 90% of Americans never bothered to contact any of their elected officials even once.