SB1070 Update: Why haven’t Dems turned this into a slogan?

by David Safier

A CNN poll says 81% of Americans support a path to citizenship for immigrants who are willing to work and pay taxes. Here's the wording of the item:

Creating a program that would allow illegal immigrants already living in the United States for a number of years to stay here and apply to legally remain in this country permanently if they had a job and paid back taxes.

The number has hovered around 80% since 2006.

So why haven't Democrats come up with a simple phrasing to use every time the immigration issue comes up?

Something like, "Republicans want to put 12 million men, women and children in jail, then kick them out of the country. I say, if illegal immigrants are working and willing to pay any back taxes they owe, they should be allowed to stay in the country." I'm sure some good PR people could come up with a slicker wording.

Instead, Dems cede the issue, apologize, say we have to get tough on immigration, and on and on.

The result is, Ds reinforce R talking points, which makes everything the crazies say sound more credible.

Why should swing and reluctant voters support Dems who are nothing more than Republican-lite? Democrats have to offer a strong alternative, even when they agree with a portion of the Republican message.

There's a difference between being smart politically and being cowards. Unfortunately, too often, Democrats are political cowards