The media and "progressives" are sure that Arizona's new law on immigration will lead to a backlash among Hispanic voters. Perhaps. But almost everyone seems to agree that the problem's origins lie in the failure of the federal government to act. An editorial in the Arizona Republic blames Arizona officials of both parties, but lays primary blame on Washington, DC. It points out that Homeland Security's Janet Napolitano, former Arizona governor, was supposed to be setting up an immigration bill for this year.
Karlyn Bowman has covered demographics and public opinion surveys for many years, and with sage insight. She shows at Forbes.com that public opinion is not as hostile to immigrants in general or to Mexicans in particular as one might think. Public opinion is hostile to failure in Washington, DC to address the question of border security.
The decision of the Obama Administration to duck the issue now and to hope it works for Democrats politically in the fall, therefore, could be a mistake in every sense.
UPDATE: George Will justifiably chastises Cardinal Mahony of Los Angeles for his over-the-top rhetoric.
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