Freedom Folks: RNC Votes Today on Resolution Against Guest Worker Program

A deep split within the Republican Party over immigration policy is now reaching into the highest levels of the GOP machinery, as members of the Republican National Committee, which typically operates in lock step with the White House, are poised to vote today on a resolution repudiating President Bush's call for a guest-worker program.

A member of the committee, which acts as a national steering panel for the party, gathered enough signatures to force the vote, setting up a highly unusual public debate over an issue on which Bush has set a clear direction.

Good. We've made it pretty clear around here what we think of the whole illegal immigration/border security issue, and that includes being 100% against amnesty-by-any-name. I told the president so myself here.

The disagreement illustrates Bush's challenge in trying to bridge GOP divisions about how to resolve the growing border crisis without alienating Latino voters by appearing to be anti-immigrant.

A jolly good start would be for Bush, the RNC, whoever, to just come out and say that supporting and working for immigration reform doesn't make you anti-immigrant. Of course, it doesn't help when the chairman himself reinforces the negative and fallacious perception by blasting "rising anti-immigrant sentiments."

The Republican National Committee showdown arose after Arizona anti-immigration activist Randy Pullen, one of that state's national committee members, secured the 10 signatures necessary to force the vote.

---SNIP---

Pullen's resolution calls on Congress and the president to enact laws restricting illegal immigration and to withhold federal funds from any state or local government that acts as a "sanctuary" for illegal immigrants by failing to fully cooperate with immigration authorities. Pullen said the resolution "pretty much reflects where the American public is, which is they want the border secured and they want illegal immigration ended. And they don't want amnesty provided to those in the country now."

What's this? Talk of politicians elected to represent the people actually voting in a way that's, well, representative of the people? Egads, man -- what a revolutionary concept! Where's the problem?

White House strategist Karl Rove is also scheduled to address the gathering today...Rove is an architect of a GOP party-building strategy that relies in part on courting Latino voters.

There's the problem. Courting a block of voters is a valid political strategy, but what happens when, in doing so, you alienate (pun intended) the citizens who put you in office?

I'll tell you what happens. You get some very smart people within your own party asking the question that needs to be asked:

What about the citizens who put you in office?

Our thanks to you, Mr. Pullen. Go get 'em.

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