Gutierrez Mad at Fellow Illinois Democrat

Rep. Luis Gutierrez, an architect of Democratic immigration policy, is accusing Rep. Rahm Emanuel, the chairman of the House political operation, of cajoling Democrats facing tough re-election races in 2006 to vote for a controversial GOP-authored immigration bill.

Read the entire article here.

Friday, the House approved an immigration bill by Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) that most Democrats regarded as anti-immigrant and needlessly punitive. It is unlikely to survive in the Senate. The measure was approved 239-182, with 36 Democrats voting with the GOP majority.

"As painful as it is for me to come to this conclusion, after careful examination of all of the events last Friday I have come to the conclusion that indeed the chair of the DCCC either asked, encouraged or cajoled people to vote for the Sensenbrenner bill," Gutierrez told me.

"And that is the conclusion I have come to. And that is what I believed happened. And I think that as Democrats we have to stand courageously for what we believe in and not look for what is expedient," he said.

Not look for what is expedient? Might Luis be referring to something along the lines of, oh, I don't know, fishing for future votes from all the people who broke our laws to come here, who you want to reward with citizenship and voter's cards? Who broke the same laws that you are bound to protect, uphold and honor as my elected representative?

I got a call Tuesday from Josh Hoyt, head of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. Triggered by the Hill story, Hoyt said the group is holding a press conference this morning in Chicago to criticize House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) and Emanuel for "taking the lead into turning immigrants into a political football."

Turning immigrants into a political football? (You forgot the word ILLEGAL, Joshua -- AGAIN.) Immigrants being used as footballs? Maybe a little something like Rosa and Jorge?

Give me a break! Luis and Joshua are just pissed that some Democrats didn't vote along party lines. So they had minds of their own -- be it from conscience or pure political calculation -- you guys are like a couple of crying babies.

Pelosi released the Dems to vote as they would, rather than towing the party line on the Sensenbrenner bill. Try digging deep for a wee bit of grace, wouldya?

Luis Gutierrez
Illegal Immigration
Democrats
Liberal Whining