Yesterday, the NRCC sent out an email to supporters that lays out their strategy for retaining the House this year: making illegal immigration
the issue in the upcoming House races. The email, combined with legislation passed in December in the House, makes it very clear to me that the Republicans plan to manipulate this issue and use it in the same way they used the gay marriage issue in 2004: creating lots of public outrage and sponsoring legislation at the federal, state and local levels that will not only turn out their base, but convince independent voters that the Rethugs the best people to handle this. I can see their strategy not only working in suburban New York, where I live, but in dozens of other states, including Arizona, California, New Jersey, and Florida.
Here's an excerpt from the letter the NRCC sent out yesterday:
We must restore the integrity of our borders and ensure that all
citizens respect our laws. Your support of Republican candidates
across the United States will help to further advance the Republican
agenda throughout our country. We need strong, conservative leaders
that will protect our great country and reward our honest citizens. Remember
to stay involved with your local Republican Party and support your
Congressman or Congresswoman as all of our Representatives prepare for
the 2006 elections.
In my district, NY-19, which is in NYC's northern burbs, an illegal immigrant was arrested at a school playground this past October for being drunk. That's the minor news event that started the ball rolling. Since then, there's been a public hearing with screaming residents raising concerns about their children, several stories and editorials in the local newspaper talking about the issue, another round of arrests that rounded up men playing soccer (creating more headlines), angry letters to the editor from business owners and parents of school-aged children, and just recently, another public hearing hosted by Rep. Sue Kelly's chief of staff. The transcript of that hearing even ran in the paper the other day.
Though I'm no expert on this subject, I just completed three days at Camp Wellstone and can easily see how the Republicans will try and take this issue and twist it, just as they did with gay marriage in 2004. Except this time around, they're picking on a group of people who can't even vote. While most of the illegals in my area are Hispanic (primarily from Ecuador and Guatemala), I don't believe that the legal Hispanic population is large enough in this area that Kelly has to worry about alienating them.
I'm hoping that by posting this others in the progressive community can come up with suggestions on how to counteract the Republicans' strategy. Clearly, we can't say we're in favor of illegal immigration. But how can we take this issue, which touches on suburban safety, law enforcement and, even small business, since many contractors in my area hire day laborers, and make it work for us? Or at least not make it work for them?