Immigration Furor Threatens Republican Party's Future

The highly contentious issue of immigration has ignited a fierce internal conflict within the Republican Party, with two powerful factions vying for control. The business lobby, which has long supported the party, is advocating for a new law that would allow 11 million undocumented immigrants to remain in the country and work. However, this approach risks alienating the party's conservative base, which is adamant that undocumented immigrants should be treated as lawbreakers and deported.

Kellyanne Conway, a prominent conservative Republican strategist, warned that a boycott of the party's candidates by grass-roots conservatives could have disastrous consequences for the party's prospects in the November congressional elections. "This year, more and more would-be Republican voters are glomming on to any excuse they can find to stay home and send a message," she said.

The issue has become a litmus test for the party's future, with President Bush's popularity and his efforts to expand the party's reach to Latino voters hanging in the balance. Bush's approach is being challenged by conservative activists, who are concerned that it is too permissive and will lead to further alienation of the party's base. Grover Norquist, a prominent conservative activist, warned that the party must be careful not to unleash a broad anti-Hispanic message that could alienate Latino voters.

Conversely, many Latino voters see the party's stance on immigration as an insult to all immigrants, and an increasing number of white voters are also becoming disenchanted with the party's perceived intolerance. Matthew Continetti, a conservative analyst, noted that the party's approach needs to be more inclusive and optimistic, rather than pessimistic and restrictive. "The optimistic message is pro-Latino and inclusive," he said. "The pessimistic message is, 'Build a wall.'"

Key Takeaways:

The Republican Party is locked in a bitter internal conflict over the controversial issue of immigration, with two powerful factions vying for control.
The business lobby is advocating for a new law that would allow 11 million undocumented immigrants to remain in the country and work, while many conservative activists are pushing for a stricter approach.
Kellyanne Conway, a prominent conservative Republican strategist, warns that a boycott of the party's candidates by grass-roots conservatives could have disastrous consequences for the party's prospects in the November congressional elections.
President Bush's approach to immigration is being challenged by conservative activists, who are concerned that it is too permissive and will lead to further alienation of the party's base.
Grover Norquist, a prominent conservative activist, warns that the party must be careful not to unleash a broad anti-Hispanic message that could alienate Latino voters.
Many Latino voters see the party's stance on immigration as an insult to all immigrants, and an increasing number of white voters are also becoming disenchanted with the party's perceived intolerance.
The party's approach needs to be more inclusive and optimistic, rather than pessimistic and restrictive, according to conservative analyst Matthew Continetti.
The likeliest scenario is that the Republicans will simply postpone a resolution until after Election Day, in part because they frankly aren't sure how to fuse the warring factions.

Statistics:

53% of Americans want undocumented immigrants to leave the country, according to a Pew Research Center poll.
75% of Americans think undocumented immigrants should be denied access to government services, according to a Time poll.
In 2004, President Bush garnered 44% of the Latino vote, more than double the percentage that GOP candidate Bob Dole drew eight years earlier.
Latinos constituted 3% of all voters in 1980 and roughly 8% in 2004.

Sources:

The Philadelphia Inquirer
Pew Research Center for the People and the Press
Time Magazine
George Mason University in Virginia
Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services