As coverage of Jeb Bush’s immigration flip-flop continues into how he has flipped and flopped and flipped again, the takeaway on how important citizenship is to immigration reform remains. Critics are calling Bush politically “rusty” and outdated for not realizing that a path to citizenship now the consensus position in the debate. As White House Press Secretary Jay Carney should have said yesterday, citizenship is the only course for the future that makes sense, and advocates will not accept anything else. Even Steven Camarota of the anti-immigrant group NumbersUSA called immigration reform without citizenship “antithetical to our value system.”
A new Latino Decisions poll released yesterday helps explain how we’ve gotten to this moment in time. Immigration reform is now the top issue for Latino voters, up from the #2 slot during the last election. Sixty-three percent of Latino voters would support a pro-immigration reform Republican over an anti-immigration reform Democrat, a key number for Republicans who lost the last election by a 3-1 margin among Latino voters. The immigration reform drumbeat continues–because Americans want it, Democrats promised it, and Republicans need it.
MSNBC: Frank Sharry on the Ed Show: Jeb Bush Flips and Flops and Flips Again
BuzzFeed: Immigration Activists: Jeb Bush Will Support Citizenship “By The End Of The Week”
By Ruby Cramer
NBC Latino: Poll: Immigration reform now top issue for Latinos, path to citizenship vital to winning their support
By Sandra Lilley
Talking Points Memo: Poll: Latinos Want A Path To Citizenship, Are Following Debate Closely
By Benjy Sarlin
BuzzFeed: Immigration Reform Now Tops The Economy As First Priority For Latino Voters
By Ruby Cramer
Huffington Post: Harry Reid: Jeb Bush ‘Made A Fool Of Himself’ On Immigration
By Elise Foley
Washington Post: GOP senators reaffirm citizenship path plan, despite Jeb Bush comments
By Rosalind Helderman
Talking Points Memo: Rubio: Jeb Bush Can Be Brought Around On Citizenship
By Benjy Sarlin
Huffington Post: Jeb Bush: ‘I Don’t Have A Problem’ With A Pathway To Citizenship
By Elise Foley
ABC/Univision: Jeb Bush: I’m Open to a Path to Citizenship
By Jordan Fabian
MSNBC (The Last Word): Jeb Bush Botches Rollout
Fox News Latino: Immigration 101: House Offers its Members Classes on Complex Issue
By Elizabeth Llorente
Associated Press: Senators look to early April for immigration bill
By Erica Werner
Politico: Immigration talks gain momentum
By Jake Sherman and Kate Nocera
Fox News Latino: Immigration 101: House Offers its Members Classes on Complex Issue
By Elizabeth Llorente
Washington Post: U.S. Catholic bishops deepen investment in immigration reform
By Michelle Boorstein
Associated Press: Arizona Gov. Loses Appeal Over Day Labor Rules
By Jacques Billeaud
Washington Post (Blog): Jeb Bush tries to mop up his immigration mess
By Jennifer Rubin
Washington Post (Blog): Jeb Bush baffles immigration reform advocates
By Jennifer Rubin
The Hill (Pundits Blog): Suicide or sanity: Bush v. Rubio on immigration in a CPAC showdown
By Brent Budowsky
National Journal (Opinion): The Rising Influence of the Latino Electorate
By Patrick Oakford
The Columbian: Immigration reform backers kick off statewide bus tour
By Steve Mathieu
OC Register: Immigration activists roll into O.C.
By Fermin Leal, Douglas Morino, and Jordan England Nelson
Associated Press (Washington State): Wash. groups forge compact for immigration reform
By Shannon Dininny
Associated Press (Massachusetts): Fast planned to remember Mass. immigration sweep
Daily Kos: Jeb thinks America wants more Bush, can’t decide whether to punch brown people
Mediate: Touré On GOP’s Immigration Debate: ‘Just Lining Up For Who’s Going to Lose To Hillary’
