Rubio Backs Away From Immigration Reform

A few weeks ago, it looked like there might be a chance for immigration reform. In the Senate, a bipartisan bill was worked out by a few senators from both parties -- and if it got passed with a substantial majority, then pressure would be put on the House to go along with it. But those hopes have really been dimmed recently, and now it looks like it could be a long shot to even get a bill through the Senate.

One of the primary Republicans in creating the Senate's immigration reform bill is Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida. But now he is backing away from his own bill. In a radio interview last Tuesday, Rubio said he would vote against his own bill unless the border security provisions are strengthened. Oddly enough, those provisions have not been weakened since the bill left committee (with Rubio's approval). In fact, it has been strengthened by expanding new security procedures from "high-risk areas" to the entire southern border.

So why is Rubio now bad-mouthing his own bill, and saying he will vote against it? Because the teabaggers in the Republican base have made it known they don't like the bill (or any other immigrant reform bill providing a path to citizenship). Rubio has presidential aspirations, and he knows that no one who makes the GOP's teabagger base mad has a chance of getting the Republican nomination -- so he's willing to toss his own bill under the bus to keep the GOP racists happy.

That may make him more popular with the Republican base, but it certainly won't serve him well in the general election (if he was able to get the nomination). A large majority of Americans have made it clear in poll after poll that they want real immigration reform with a path to citizenship. Once again, the teabaggers are forcing the Republican Party into a position opposed by most Americans.

I guess this isn't too bad a thing. The bill was already getting too onerous with its many hoops to jump through to get to citizenship. Maybe if the teabaggers keep forcing the GOP to the right-wing racist fringe, we can get a better Congress in 2014 and pass a better bill. And if the teabaggers persist, it just makes the path easier to the White House in 2016 for Hillary Clinton (or whichever Democrat is nominated).

I used to wish the teabaggers would just go away, but I'm starting to change my mind. They are actually the best allies the Democrats have.