Skip navigation
MOST POPULAR RELATED TAGS
  • TOPICS
  • SECTORS
  • COMPANIES


Current DateTime: 05:21:37 10 Nov 2009
LinksList Documentid: 23279696
Expiration DateTime: 11/10/2009 5:24:56 AM

Current DateTime: 05:21:37 10 Nov 2009
LinksList Documentid: 24355697
powered by digg
See all Political Capital PostsPolitical Capital with John Harwood
Text Size
Jun.29
1:39 PM ET
Friday, 29 Jun 2007
Immigration Reform Collapse: The Biggest Losers

George W. Bush, speaks about immigration reform during an address at the National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast, Washington, DC.
AP
George W. Bush, speaks about immigration reform during an address at the National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast, Washington, DC.

This week's collapse of comprehensive immigration reform made all of Washington look inept. But here's a glance at the biggest losers:

1) Arizona Sen. John McCain. Once the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, Mr. McCain has seen his poll numbers dwindle as conservative activists cried “amnesty” over the bipartisan legislation he co-sponsored. His campaign blames fallout over the issue for contributing to his lagging fund-raising.

2) President Bush. Virtually every major domestic priority of his second term has now come to naught: no new immigration policy, no Social Security solution, no tax system overhaul. Continued trade expansion remains highly vulnerable.

3) Democratic Congressional leaders. Democrats won both houses of Congress in the 2006 elections in part by arguing that Republicans were incompetent to govern. On immigration, they enjoyed a comparatively united party and cooperation from a Republican White House. More than any other factor, heat from the right killed the bill. But voters elect Congressional majorities to solve problems, and Democratic incumbents can expect to pay some price every time they fail.

4) American business. Industries like agriculture, construction and tourism, are left with rising heat over immigrant labor, but no path toward legalization for workers the American economy plainly cannot do without.

5) The Republican Party, which is the biggest loser by far. Hispanics represent the fastest-growing chunk of the American electorate. Their choices help drive the rising swing states of presidential politics: Colorado, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico.

President Bush and adviser Karl Rove had built their long-term political strategy around honoring Hispanics’ aspirations and courting their support, with notable success in 2004. Those voters have now heard loud expressions of alarm from the Republican right about their presence in the U.S. That’s an echo of what they heard from California Gov. Pete Wilson in 1994, which benefited Mr. Wilson in the short-term but has damaged the party in the Golden State ever since. In addition, the immigration debate also exacerbates the split between Republican social and economic conservatives.

Click for related content

Questions?  Comments?  Write to .

© 2009 CNBC, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Tools:
PrintEmailAdd This share icon
  • digg share

CNBC HIGHLIGHTS

  • Do free market libertarians really believe what they say about ethics and shareholder value? The Big Money takes a look.
  • Jim Cramer
  • Cramer did the research and found eight stocks that lead the pack. Read on to get his top picks.
  • On the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, many in the former Eastern Bloc recall communism fondly.
  • With prices well below peak, gems could add some sparkle to you investments.
  • From politicians to CEOs to companies, here's your chance to vote for the winners and losers of 2009.
  • The health care reform bill that passed the House on Saturday will have a much harder time in the Senate.
ADD COMMENTS
Remaining characters


Current DateTime: 01:38:20 10 Nov 2009
LinksList Documentid: 29778428

Current DateTime: 01:04:27 10 Nov 2009
LinksList Documentid: 29779196

Current DateTime: 01:17:18 10 Nov 2009
LinksList Documentid: 29779199

Current DateTime: 01:06:24 10 Nov 2009
LinksList Documentid: 29779198
  Data is a real-time snapshot  *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes
Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis

© 2009 CNBC, Inc.  All Rights Reserved.
A Division of NBC Universal
Thomson ReutersThomson Reuters