Illegal Immigrants Support Politicians That Americans Won't

When dealing with the world of government and politics I take certain assumptions. The first is there will always be a percentage of elected officials who will never have a clue. I can't complain about that because even moon bats need representation. The second is the longer a person holds elective office, the more clueless he becomes. A situation obtains in the Senate that has combined these two assumptions into a critical mass. Most of the Senate has become ossified to the point of complete cluelessness on the issue of illegal immigration. Add to that the length of time most of them have been there and it's safe to assume they are clueless on most other issues also. Take the differences between Virginia's Senators. The senior Senator, John Warner has been there since 1978. His positions are so convoluted or squishy that he could be the Republican's answer to John Kerry. Then there is Sen. George Allen in his first Senate term. He is clear on opposing amnesty for illegal immigrants.

Tony Blankley of the Washington Times has assembled various polls that demonstrate the disconnect between the Senate and the voter. It can explain the huge difference between the House and Senate versions of immigration bills, House members being somewhat more in tune with voters because of their shorter terms.

National polling data could not be more emphatic — and has been so for decades. Gallup Poll (March 27) finds 80 percent of the public wants the federal government to get tougher on illegal immigration. A Quinnipiac University Poll (March 3) finds 62 percent oppose making it easier for illegals to become citizens (72 percent in that poll don't even want illegals to be permitted to have driver's licenses). Time Magazine's recent poll (Jan. 24-26) found 75 percent favor "major penalties" on employers of illegals, 70 percent believe illegals increase the likelihood of terrorism and 57 percent would use military force at the Mexican-American border.

An NBC/Wall Street Journal poll (March 10-13) found 59 percent opposing a guest-worker proposal, and 71 percent would more likely vote for a congressional candidate who would tighten immigration controls.

An IQ Research poll (March 10) found 92 percent saying that securing the U.S. border should be a top priority of the White House and Congress.

Yet, according to a National Journal survey of Congress, 73 percent of Republican and 77 percent of Democratic congressmen and senators say they would support guest-worker legislation.

The Politicians who support amnesty and guest workers programs must know they are out of touch with the electorate and are hoping they can secure a following of grateful illegals to keep them in their cushy jobs.