The stunning defeat of House Majority Leader Eric Cantor has many observers saying any chance of Congress acting on comprehensive immigration reform is dead for the foreseeable future. Our “Political Insiders” tend to agree, saying any movement on immigration reform will likely be piecemeal.
Selected anonymous comments:
“Our government suffers from paralysis. I have no hope that it will ever change.”“This is very discouraging–we need immigration reform NOW!”
“Swings one way and then the other. Major comprehensive measure passes in 2017 under new Democratic presidency.”“Majority Leader Cantor’s loss is not so much reflective of the immigration debate, but rather the lack of a relationship with his district and use of counterproductive campaign tactics.”
“They are all chicken…nothing will be done.”“The fact that we’re even talking about how Congress can’t muster the political will to address immigration reform because one member out of 535 lost an election is a telling indicator of just how broken our political system has become. We’re getting close to one of those ‘throw all the bums out’ moments in US history. Both parties are complicit.”
“This is the issue of the day. The GOP needs to get on board, no matter who is in charge.”“Immigration reform will be piecemeal at best. And that will be a bad thing for this country. It is bad policy, I think, to have or make laws that must by their flawed nature, be consistently broken. Civil society is dependent on people obeying laws for the most part. Ņot like sheep, but because they know things are just.”
“This could cause the Republicans to ignore immigration reform which may lead to a Democratic takeover of the house which would lead to the reform we are all hoping for.”“Legal immigration reforms that don’t include amnesty are the best approach. Securing borders should be a priority. Our federal government has really been fumbling the ball on this issue. Wasting time and efforts on foolish solutions instead of doing it correctly. How about lifting quotas, securing the border, allowing temporary visas and allowing for a more efficient legal process. It really is a no brainer. So Feds get a brain.”
“Immigration reform will happen during President Clinton’s (get used to the sound of that) first term.”“Obama will just sign an executive order.”
“When immigration reform finally occurs, it will be dramatic. The border will be opened wider than it ever has been, and we will see the creation of an even larger poverty population.”“Cantor’s defeat doesn’t have much to do with immigration. Politicians need to stay connected to their people and Cantor failed to do that.”
“Cantor’s defeat is just one guy, a complicated guy who gave plenty of people reasons to dislike him. It seems overblown to say it signals a problem for immigration reform. I think it’ll pass at some point in the next five years, but probably not till after the 2016 elections. It wont’ be piecemeal, because it’s too painful to have to address more than once.”“Unfortunately, this may herald a renewed ideological split in an already-divided Congress. If the moderate wing of the Republican Party can prevail elsewhere, Virginia may have just nominated a political dinosaur. Maybe the Republicans need to change their symbol from an elephant to an extinct plant-eater.”
“Just like Civil Rights, Women’s Lib, same sex marriage, it’s time will come. These social movements eventually gather enough steam that they are hard to ignore or stop. The generational shift will be the large factor.”“The GOP understands that it needs to do something prior to the next Presidential election — maybe even before the 2014 General Election — in order to attract more Hispanic vote.”
