Immigration Reform: Has the GOP Gotten Tired of Shooting Itself in the Foot?

     I'll believe it when I see it. Lindsay Graham sounds like a man who gets it. But hearing isn't believing.

     "In the wake of President Obama’s reelection, due in part to his winning Hispanic voters by 44 points, Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) have restarted bipartisan discussions over comprehensive immigration reform."

      "On the Sunday talk shows, both sounded bullish about reaching an agreement.
“Senator Graham and I have talked, and we are resuming the talks that were broken off two years ago,” Schumer said on NBC’s “Meet The Press.” “We had put together a comprehensive detailed blueprint on immigration reform. It had the real potential for bipartisan support.”

     “Graham and I are talking to our colleagues about this right now,” he said, “and I think we have a darn good chance using this blueprint to get something done this year.”

      "It’s a new-found optimism fueled by Republican concerns of looming demographic doom. Following Mitt Romney’s defeat, multiple influential conservatives — such as Charles Krauthammer and Sean Hannity — are eager to repair GOP fissures with Latinos and have endorsed immigration reform, including amnesty for those in the country illegally, as one way to do that."

      “It’s one thing to shoot yourself in the foot,” Graham said on CBS’ “Face The Nation,” referring to GOP support among Hispanics. “Just don’t reload the gun.”

       “So I intend not to reload this gun when it comes to Hispanics,” he said. “I intend to tear this wall down and pass an immigration reform bill that’s an American solution to an American problem. But we have nobody to blame but ourselves when it comes to losing Hispanics. And we can get them back with some effort on our part.”

        "The two senators began talks early in President Obama’s first term for an immigration deal, but Graham pulled out in the spring of 2010 as his party was strengthening its opposition to Obama’s agenda. The blueprint included improving border security, cracking down on employers who hire illegal immigrants, clearing the way for immigrants that the country needs, and providing a path to citizenship for undocumented people."

         “The Republican Party needs to get it together on its outreach to Latinos, and it’s good to hear that Lindsey Graham and Chuck Schumer are going to start advancing comprehensive immigration reform again,” said Steve Schmidt, who ran John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign, on the “Meet The Press” roundtable. “Because we have to get this off the table as a political issue for the party.”

          "Schumer was more blunt: “The Republican Party has learned that being anti-immigrant doesn’t work for them politically,” he said. “And they know it.”

           http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/11/schumer-graham-restart-talks-on-immigration-reform-optimistic-about-success.php?ref=fpa

            You would hope they get it. Yet, they are slow learners. Will they reload the gun? Jan Brewer almost spoke out for immigration reform herself-the woman who signed the most notorious anti Latino legislation in the country-Kris Kobach wrote it. She almost seemed to get it but then stopped herself:

            "Arizona Republican Gov. Jan Brewer said Republicans' push for immigration reform after the election is "fine and dandy" during an appearance on Arizona's weekend show "12 News Sunday Square Off" that was taped Friday, according to the local NBC station. Brewer's comments seem to contradict her previous stance that reform should come only after securing the border."

           "But after the interview, Brewer's spokesman Matt Benson clarified to the station that Brewer still believes securing the border should come before reform."

            "Brewer also said she was leaning toward accepting federal dollars to expand the Arizona's Medicaid, part of the Affordable Care Act. Benson walked back those comments too, saying she was probably referring to using federal money to end a Medicaid enrollment freeze at the moment, not expand the program."

             http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/brewer-says-immigration-reform-fine-dandy-office-walks

             Seems to be the GOP story these days: the spokespeople are always walking this or that statement back.

             If the GOP does walk back on immigration reform again it's their funeral.