It WOULD have been win-win for the Dems if this bill had passed. As to who supported vs. opposed, R vs. D, far more D’s supported it, as you know. Bush and McCain were bucking their party on this one. The GOP can turn this to their good if they change their platform to reflect rule of law, border security, real ID requirements, and review of immigration law with any changes to benefit LEGAL immigrants. And no ‘temporary’ slave-workers: Equal protection means if we have employment laws, they must be followed by everyone.
The poor, illiterate Hispanics brought in for employers to enjoy paying sub-legal wages are going to respond to the Democrats’ siren call of something for nothing. Rove and WSJ are wrong on this one. This bill’s approach would have ensured a Democrat majority for the foreseeable future.
The only reason I can think of for Republicans voting for this bill was to support businesses who want cheap labor. But once the illegals are made de-facto legal, businesses will have to start paying them legal wages. Where is the benefit then?
If Republicans would take a unified stand against amnesty, and for enforcing existing law (including the border fence), it would be a huge boost to their popularity among the American public - 80% of which is against the amnesty approach.
There’s no question this would have been a win for Reid and the Democrats. Therefore, it’s intellectually dishonest to contend (as Jeff has) that its failure to pass is not a loss for them.
Arguably, there is more cheap labor under the current unenforced laws than under the proposed law, no?