The Republican Party doesn't just have an image problem, it has an issue problem. Take the new CNN/ORC poll on the latest major legislative push beginning today, which the GOP opposes: cap-and-trade energy legislation aimed at curbing climate change and boosting efficiency. Continue »
Michael Steele, chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC), was interviewed Sunday on Univision's news show "Al Punto," hosted by Jorge Ramos. During the interview, Steele declared he was "sick and tired of people playing the hot politics of immigration." Steele said: I am hoping the (Obama) administration, as we get... Continue »
They call themselves Somos Republicans. But they don't want anything to do with the state Republican Party. Nor do they want to associate with some of the party's biggest names, such as Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio or Sen. Russell Pearce. Continue »
Anti-immigrant groups like FAIR, aided and abetted by pundits like CNN's on-air immigrant-basher Lou Dobbs, and validated by rabble-rousing Congressmen like Joe Wilson, were trying to kill health care reform with their typical line that new benefits were going to be provided to undocumented immigrants. It wasn't true—but, as... Continue »
Earlier this week, Senator Grassley (R-IA) pulled a Wilson. He claimed that the Baucus health insurance reform bill did not include sufficient provisions to keep undocumented immigrants from accessing care under the proposed health insurance reforms, as if we hadn't had enough GOP immigration wedge politics in one... Continue »
Over the weekend, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) appeared for the first time on Univision's Al Punto – the Spanish language equivalent of Meet the Press. His interview followed President Obama. So what did Boehner have to say? When asked whether he would "consider" supporting legalization of the undocumented workforce,... Continue »
Faiz Shakir of Think Progress is reporting today in "Rhode Island GOP assemblyman quits party following embarrassment of Wilson's 'you lie' screed:" Ivan Marte, the ex-chairman of the Rhode Island Republican Hispanic Assembly, has announced that he's quitting the Republican Party because he was embarrassed by Rep. Joe... Continue »
Rep. Joe Wilson's outburst during the President's joint Congressional address on Wednesday has exposed—for the entire nation—one of the Republican Party's favorite political plays: the illegal immigration wedge strategy. What's more astounding, however, is that key Democrats, Senators Baucus (D-MO) and Conrad (D-ND) in this case, seem to be... Continue »
Today, the Washington Independent cites our analysis in a piece called "Immigration Advocates Eye New GOP Senator," and echoes our concern: "Immigration advocates are wondering what the newly chosen Florida senator-to-be, George LeMieux (R), is going to mean for their campaign for immigration reform — as well as how... Continue »
The Center for American Progress (CAP) is holding a special presentation today entitled, "A Case Study in the Coming End of the Culture Wars: Immigration as a Failed Wedge Issue," with America's Voice's Executive Director, Frank Sharry, as a featured panelist. Continue »