As CPAC begins in Washington, DC, the Washington Post wonders if the conference is even relevant anymore:
Immigration is an issue that will be front and center at CPAC. Organizers, led byAmerican Conservative Union Chairman Al Cardenas , say they are determined to elevate the debate and rescue the right from the nativist voices that have dominated Republican politics on the question of who should be an American. They say it is a political imperative, given the nation’s growing Hispanic population, and a reflection of a truer conservative philosophy.
In 2007, then-Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.) told CPAC that “Miami is becoming a third-world country.” Now, CPAC leaders point to two Floridians — Sen. Marco Rubio and former governor Jeb Bush — who are scheduled to speak as symbols of a new direction on immigration, toward more liberal laws.
“The Tom Tancredo impact on that issue was always a mile wide and an inch deep,” Norquist said. “Now it’s not a mile wide anymore. This is the party of Rubio and Bush, not Tom Tancredo. This only happens if conservatives lead on it.”
Below are more clips on immigration reform, demonstrating how the salience of the issue grows every day:
ABC/Univision: An Immigration Hawk Strikes a New Tone in the House
By Ted Hesson
Associated Press: Groups backing immigration overhaul focus on South Carolina and Sen. Lindsey Graham
By Erica Werner
Washington Post: Ministers launch ad buy on immigration in key South Carolina
By Rosalind S. Helderman
The Hill: Lindsey Graham gets air cover on immigration
By Cameron Joseph
Associated Press: Obama says immigration bill would help House GOP
By Erica Werner
New York Times: U.S. Citizens Join Illegal Immigrants in Pressing Lawmakers for Change
By Julia Preston
Washington Post: Does Conservative Political Action Conference matter anymore?
By Karen Tumulty
Newsmax: Cardenas: Immigration Bill Needed to Ensure Positive Future
By Cyrus Afzil and Kathleen Walter
The Hill: US Chamber releases new website for immigration reform push
By Daniel Strauss
Politico: Gates: Government putting up immigration hurdles
By Jessica Meyers
The Hill: Nursing homes want guest worker program in immigration bill
By Sam Baker
Bloomberg: The Price Tag for Sealing the U.S. Border Isn’t Pretty
By Elizabeth Dwoskin
Los Angeles Times: Immigration rights groups accuse officials of racial profiling
By Brian Bennett
Washington Post (The Fix): 5 things to watch at CPAC
By Aaron Blake and Sean Sullivan
Salt Lake Tribune: Sandstrom says immigration law he pushed should be axed
By David Montero
Associated Press (Arizona): Feds to make arguments over Ariz. immigration law
March 14, 2013
Texas Tribune: Immigration-Related Bills Poised to Spark Debate
By Julián Aguilar
San Diego Union-Tribune: Broad interests unite on immigration
By Morgan Lee
Think Progress: Immigrant Families Occupy The Republican National Committee
By Rebecca Leber
Talking Points Memo: Why Immigration Reform Might Pass In Two YouTube Videos
By Benjy Sarlin
