Just now I called up an AP story at thestate.com about an immigration demonstration in Washington yesterday, and saw the above picture with this cutline:
Demonstrator Adrian Corona of Columbia, S.C. shouts slogans during a rally for immigration reform on the National Mall in Washington, on Sunday, March 21, 2010.
- Jose Luis Magana /AP Photo
There’s nothing about South Carolina in the story, though, except for the fact that our own Lindsey Graham is leading the charge to try once again to achieve comprehensive immigration reform:
Sens. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., released an outline of a bill last week that calls for illegal immigrants who want to get on the path to legal status to admit they broke the law by entering the U.S., pay fines and back taxes, and perform community service. They also would be required to pass background checks and be proficient in English before working toward legal residency, required before becoming a citizen.
The fact that Lindsey is courageously trying to take this on again compensates somewhat for his hyperbolic yowling against the health care reform bill, such as in this release from last night:
“The Democrats may have won today in the House of Representatives, but the American
people lost. Higher taxes, more government control of health care, and Enron-style
accounting define this bill. The upcoming elections will be a referendum on the
substance and process used to pass it. I believe it will be a clear choice.
Republicans will pick up a lot of votes from people who think this is bad for their
business, their family, and the process used to pass it was sleazy.“I am committed to repealing this multi-trillion dollar health care nightmare and
replacing it with bipartisan reform that will lower costs and improve access.”
Nightmare? Come, now, Lindsey — really. It may not be the greatest thing since sliced bread the way Jim Clyburn lets on. Seems like pretty thin gruel to me. But nightmare? Come on…
And I say that while sharing Lindsey’s concern that this use of reconciliation may poison the well on other important legislation — such as his immigration bill. But that’s no reason to make the legislation itself out to be worse than it is.
If you think the healthcare debate was tough, wait til the illegal immigrant debate starts.
We may be approaching the tipping point last seen some time in the early 1860’s. The pendulum has swung too far in the other direction.
I pray that John Spratt will be re-elected. Other than Spratt, what Democrats will lose their seats in SC? Don’t you actually have to have Democratic incumbents for Republicans to replace them?