It’s immigration, stupid
To borrow from James Carville, “it’s immigration, stupid!” is the mantra that Republican candidates should be talking about tonight as they try their damndest to convince folks watching tonight’s CPC (Competitive Press Conference) that they deserve the GOP faithful’s support for president. Forget about the war, forget about abortion, forget about gay marriage - none of these issues have more relevance right now than the legislation being pushed by the White House and Democratic congressional leaders (and John McCain) to allow amnesty for those who have come to our country illegally.
Yes the war is always an issue (perhaps the issue), but since everyone on the stage tonight (with the exception of Ron “the weenie” Paul) agrees that an immediate withdrawal from Iraq is a bad idea, it’s a waste of time to debate a non-divisive issue. Abortion and gay marriage - please… the only people that care about these issues are still waiting for FRED Thompson to get into the race and since he won’t be there, why bother.
The issue of the moment is what to do about the 12 million plus people who are in our country without documentation. I’ve been told by some sympathetic immigration attorneys that these people are not ‘illegal aliens’, but ‘undocumented immigrants’. I don’t care what you call them, but I know I’d be a lot happier if we had to call them long distance (back in the countries from which they came), and I know that the majority of Americans agree with 
me.
Ever since the 2008 presidential race started, Republican candidates have been searching for a way to distance themselves from the failing Bush administration. All of the campaigns recognize that such a separation must be done delicately - the only people that still like the president are the GOP base, so as a candidate for the party’s nomination you have to show your support for the administration - but now the president has given the campaigns a golden opportunity - a bad immigration proposal.
The candidates need to take this opportunity and run with it. Run as far from the President as possible (and keep on running). Americans do not want amnesty for people here illegally - it’s that simple.
Following the Carville format for the victorious 1992 Clinton campaign:
- Change vs. more of the same
- Immigration, stupid
- Don’t forget health care
If the candidates would follow this simple philosophy they would likely emerge from the pack.
Memo to the Republican candidates - take Carville’s advice: It’s immigration, stupid.
