G.O.P. Risking Hispanic Votes on Immigration - New York Times

G.O.P. Risking Hispanic Votes on Immigration - New York Times:

WASHINGTON, March 29 — The battle among Republicans over immigration policy and border security is threatening to undercut a decade-long effort by President Bush and his party to court Hispanic voters, just as both parties are gearing up for the 2006 elections.

'I believe the Republican Party has hurt itself already,' said the Rev. Luis Cortes, a Philadelphia pastor close to President Bush and the leader of a national organization of Hispanic Protestant clergy members, saying he delivered that message to the president last week in a meeting at the White House.

To underscore the contested allegiance of Hispanic voters, Mr. Cortes said, he also took a delegation of Hispanic ministers to meet with the leaders of both parties last week, including what he called a productive discussion with Howard Dean, the Democratic chairman.

So, let them shoot themselves in the foot over this. If I were a Dem in Congress, I'd be shouting from the rooftops about cuts to education, healthcare, etc. The only way to solve some of the problems that exist, including illegal immigrants, is to eliminate poverty both here and abroad. We could do it, along with some of the other developed nations, if everybody pulled together and gave according to their means; as in: if the rich pitched in with some real money instead of hoovering it up faster than they can spend it! Let's face it, greed runs the world, and it's causing a lot of problems. Only a concerted effort by the majority classes in every nation will break this cycle. We need somebody like a Martin Luther King or Ghandi to inspire the masses and transcend the bullshit. Maybe a few of each, using the internet and, eventually, mass communication once the media is back on track.