The Obvious Secret in the Immigration Debate

I have a couple stories in the works on immigration. In the meantime, check this post out from Matt Singer...

The new L.A. Times poll sums it all up: “Large majority supports path to citizenship.” Because of an extremely vocal far-right group of folks (and the prominence they’re given by people like Lou Dobbs), it’s become an accepted “fact” that Americans are up in arms about immigrants in this country.

The reality is pretty clear: Americans are pretty damn level-headed on this issue. Now — no doubt someone will freak out to emphasize that Americans oppose amnesty. That’s true. No one is calling for a “Get Out of Jail Free” card, mostly because of the free. But if immigrants pay taxes, learn English, and jump through a few other hoops — most Americans are willing to welcome them into our country. This isn’t shocking — it’s exactly the same kind of attitude that allowed most of our ancestors to settle here.

In Montana, I’ve been frustrated by the positions of my two Senators on this issue, as they release press statements decrying “amnesty” for “illegal aliens.” The truth is that the immigration bill doesn’t have an amnesty clause. It has outlined a path to citizenship for immigrants who want to play by the rules.

It doesn’t get any more American than that. That’s why most Americans support it.