Harry Mitchell responds to Bush immigration address.

From Plugged In, Harry Mitchell responds to Bush's address:

Harry Mitchell, Hayworth's Democratic opponent in this year's 5th Congressional District race, said Bush's speech was a start and slammed Hayworth for demagoging on immigration:

“The president told the nation this evening what Arizonans already know: we need additional security resources at the border, and a realistic and comprehensive approach to immigration reform.

“Up to now, the federal government has failed in its responsibility to secure our border. As a result, illegal immigration has gotten worse.

“The solution begins with securing the border, but it doesn’t end there. We must secure the border with additional Border Patrol agents and technology, reform our immigration laws to include a temporary worker program, and sanction employers who knowingly and willingly violate the law.

“The bill passed by the House late last year may make for good sound bites, but it is not a realistic approach to comprehensive immigration reform. This is a serious problem and needs a serious solution. If the House ends up killing urgently needed, realistic, comprehensive immigration reform, I don’t think voters in Arizona will appreciate it.

“Furthermore, I applaud the president for tonight urging the nation and the Congress to debate this issue with the tone and respect it deserves. My opponent tried to use this issue to divide our nation, not unite it. His remarks about Arizona’s governor showed a lack of respect for our state, and a failure to grasp how important this issue is to all Arizonans.”

Four observations:

1. Bush has now embraced the essence of the McCain-Kennedy Bill and the fundamental points being championed by Napolitano and Pederson.

2. Unfortunately, after 8 years as Governor of a border state, 6 years as the President, and 5 years after 9/11, only now is he getting serious about a comprehensive solution. The timing is unmistakably politics: trying to salvage a 29% approval rate and midterm elections that appear to be going south on the Republicans rapidly.

3. This leaves the radical rightwing Republicans - like Kyl and Hayworth - out in the cold. They've been posturing and thumping their chests for a long time, thinking they could dictate the terms of this debate with their bombast and "tuff talk". But while they were demagoguing, the bus just left the station without them on board. Expect them to either soften their positions to woo the mainstream or become more and more strident to try to mobilize the Angry Right that is their base.

4. For the first time in the history of political parties in America, fully one-third of Republicans believe the best thing that could happen to their party is to lose control of Congress in November. That's amazing, but completely understandable. When your choices are the incompetent croney wing of the Republican Party or the corrupt radical wing, nothing looks good. Moral Republicans may decide that they need to either switch to become a Independent or Democrat or just sit out this election cycle, for the good of Arizona and the good of the country.