Analysis
Immigration: The Republicans' great divide
The fight for retiring U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe's seat probably hinges on where candidates stand on divisive U.S.-Mexico border matters
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The U.S. border is a line in the sand in more ways than one.
It divides a superpower from a poor nation searching for a place in the global economy. Politically, the border represents a great divide within the Republican Party, cutting straight through its ranks and ideologies.
A battle to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe will likely turn on how many southeastern Arizona Republicans are on what side of that line and if they vote accordingly.
The money is flowing to pro-business leniency on immigration. State Rep. Steve Huffman, who sounds the least hard-line, has raised $506,588, eclipsing his opponents.
Former state Rep. Randy Graf, who staked out this issue with a get-tough primary challenge to Kolbe in 2004, lags with $292,259.
But the money may be out of whack with the votes, say candidates of all stripes who are trying to play to the crowds.
Congressional candidate and former state GOP Chairman Mike Hellon figured this out recently when he visited a nursing home in the foothills. He wanted to talk about the new Medicare prescription drug plan and figured this was a good crowd to get a sense of that issue.
"I spent about two minutes on that," Hellon said. "Then we spent 45 minutes where they grilled me on immigration and what I'm going to do about it."
Hence, Hellon's first ad package has been a "border security" pitch stressing get-tough measures including more Border Patrol agents and better gadgetry.
At the end of the ad, these words flash on: "A REAL temporary worker program," which he supports.
In December, the House of Representatives passed a get-tough bill that sought to enforce immigration laws and increase the Border Patrol's presence along the U.S.-Mexico border.
The bill has a provision that would make illegal immigrants felons.
The Senate in the spring passed a bill including a temporary guest worker program that would provide a path to citizenship for those here illegally.
No compromise has been reached, so Republicans across the country are left to fight it out for the party's heart and soul.
Southern Arizona is the doorway to illegal immigration and the race in Kolbe's swing district has been deemed one of the most competitive in the country.
The Republican Party is a marriage between business interests and traditional law- and-order conservatives.
Immigration turns matrimonial bliss into a case of spousal abuse. The angry word is amnesty.
Graf says a guest worker program for those already here amounts to amnesty.
Republicans such as Hellon and Huffman define amnesty as giving illegal immigrants a shorter path to citizenship, as included in the McCain-Kennedy bill.
First-time candidate Frank Antenori, a former Special Forces operative and self-styled conservative, doesn't see a party divided.
"There's the Republicans on one side and the RINOs on the other," said Antenori, using the derisive acronym "Republicans in Name Only" which tags centrists.
Graf holds the most right-leaning position and he's done well with it.
In 2004, he rode the issue in a primary challenge to Kolbe and came away with 43 percent of the vote. He supports the House version.
"We should pass legislation to secure the border first," Graf said. "After that is implemented and it gets done, then we can talk about the other issues."
Hellon tries to combine tough talk with a holistic approach. Huffman has a line he won't cross.
"I'm not willing to run for office and say that all we need to do is secure the border and shouldn't worry about the impact on the economy," he said. "I'm not willing to cripple our economy just to play to people's fears."
Huffman then hits many of the points of the moderates: more enforcement, aided by a guest worker program to move would-be workers from deserts and into the process of legal immigration.
"If our Border Patrol can just focus their attention on the bad-news guys who can't come through legally, then their job will be much safer and easier," he says.
Huffman says he can provide leadership and get Graf-like conservatives to accept a broader plan. Graf said he isn't going to budge for any moderate.
Antenori and candidate Mike Jenkins, a service shop manager, take different approaches but agree Graf's take is too extreme.
Antenori would "make life as difficult as possible" on illegal immigrants here now but establish a streamlined and easier way for Mexicans to enter the country legally.
Jenkins supports a measure put forth by Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., that would provide a temporary guest worker program but force those illegally here now to go home within five years and enter the system legally.
The GOP's polling suggests the larger electorate is more amenable to a more forgiving policy.
Its poll found 25 percent of respondents were more likely to vote for an enforcement-only candidate and 71 percent favored a broader approach that included guest worker status.
Also, the poll showed that 70 percent of voters believe illegal immigrants who put down roots should be granted legal status if they go to the back of the line, pay a fine, pay back taxes, learn English and have a clean criminal record.
The 25 percent who call that amnesty may be the key to the Republican primary, Graf said.
This is why Republican leaders such as Kolbe worry that Graf may be in line with conservative Republicans and able to win the primary but out of step with swing voters and could lose the seat to a Democrat who supports a guest worker program and an avenue for illegal immigrants here now to gain citizenship.
Kolbe and others agree the rank-and-file Republicans want to hear more about enforcement and even mass deportations than guest worker programs they equate to amnesty.
First things first, Graf said.
Seal the border, eliminate jobs for illegal immigrants, watch them leave the country and then start the debate on how to get them here legally, he says. Republicans opposed to that, he says, are tools of corporate interests relying on cheap illegal labor for bigger profits.
"There are special interests who would like to see something other than the House version pass, but they are only good for one vote apiece," Graf said.
Frank Antenori
Encourage illegal immigrants to return to Mexico and take part in streamlined, "Ellis Island-style" immigration system.
Randy Graf
No guest worker program. Emphasis on sealing the border. Once that is accomplished, would tackle side issues.
Mike Hellon
Emphasize border security to gain credibility to discuss guest worker program.
Steve Huffman
Won't discuss any plan that doesn't include a guest worker program because losing that labor force would hurt the economy.
Mike Jenkins
Supports Sen. Jon Kyl's plan of first securing the border and then allowing a guest worker program for migrants who return to their home country.
- Read All Comments » 26 TOTAL COMMENTS
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RezDog k. (#4051)
Jul 18, 2006 @ 10:46amhaaha, the great divide....the only divide is the failing democrat liberalism VS Rising American Patriotism,;;;the " poor sad illegals, oh my god, why are the americans so evil" party is quickly self destructing before our very eyes. -
L C. (#5993)
Jul 17, 2006 @ 9:46pmGranted amigo, it's one thing to spend an extra 50 cents for a taco, and another thing entirely to spend an extra $25K for a house. It's hard to trust any of the politicians when that kind of money is happening.
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angelina s. (#2617)
Jul 17, 2006 @ 5:17pm#22 ..I don’t think Mexicans would agree with that idea at all. They can’t forget the way they were cheated…. read History “Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, the leading villain of Texas History, participated in the Mexican War and in 1853 bargained away territory to the United States including that area known as the Gadsden Purchase (California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas). He was later exiled from Mexico, but allowed to return a few years before his death in 1876”. Perhaps they face corruption, a lot!! But they don’t have to be fighting against terrorism or war problems, except for Lopez-Obrador recent rallies, perhaps they fear that Lopez de Santa Anna and Lopez Obrador belong to the same family…..So Kevin as you can see, every nation has their own issues...
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