Washington is all abuzz today about former Florida Gov.
Jeb Bush’s flip-flop on immigration reform and whether his change of heart
signals that he’s preparing for a presidential run in 2016.
Jeb Bush’s flip-flop on immigration reform and whether his change of heart
signals that he’s preparing for a presidential run in 2016.
In his new book, Bush wrote that he does not support a
pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants living in the U.S., a
central tenet of reform proposals being crafted in Congress. Bush has long
chided the Republican Party to adopt immigration reform and improve its
outreach to minority and immigrant voters. During the 2012 campaign, he said
that Mitt Romney’s immigration policies were out of touch.
pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants living in the U.S., a
central tenet of reform proposals being crafted in Congress. Bush has long
chided the Republican Party to adopt immigration reform and improve its
outreach to minority and immigrant voters. During the 2012 campaign, he said
that Mitt Romney’s immigration policies were out of touch.
Many political observers admired his stance as bold and
pragmatic. And an effective way for Republicans to reach out to Hispanic
voters. But now, he is in opposition to his brother, George W., and he is
firmly in the camp he called “the mainstream of conservatism” – the anti-amnesty
camp — that he had shunned in the past.
pragmatic. And an effective way for Republicans to reach out to Hispanic
voters. But now, he is in opposition to his brother, George W., and he is
firmly in the camp he called “the mainstream of conservatism” – the anti-amnesty
camp — that he had shunned in the past.
So, supporters of immigration reform on Capitol Hill and
in the GOP were stunned by Bush’s turnabout, indicating that it gives fence-sitting
Republican lawmakers, those who were starting to accept reform as the new norm,
the political cover to stick to their conservative position.
in the GOP were stunned by Bush’s turnabout, indicating that it gives fence-sitting
Republican lawmakers, those who were starting to accept reform as the new norm,
the political cover to stick to their conservative position.
Bush now says that providing a means for the nation’s 11
million illegal immigrants to gain citizenship would violate the rule of law.
Instead, undocumented workers must first return to their homeland – for as long
as 10 years — if they desire U.S. citizenship, or they can pursue legal
permanent residency, he said in his book and in TV interviews he granted on
Monday.
million illegal immigrants to gain citizenship would violate the rule of law.
Instead, undocumented workers must first return to their homeland – for as long
as 10 years — if they desire U.S. citizenship, or they can pursue legal
permanent residency, he said in his book and in TV interviews he granted on
Monday.
In particular, the former governor’s reversal could
damage the so-called Senate “Gang of Eight’s” progress on this issue. Leading
the charge in that effort is a fellow Florida Republican, Sen. Marco Rubio.
damage the so-called Senate “Gang of Eight’s” progress on this issue. Leading
the charge in that effort is a fellow Florida Republican, Sen. Marco Rubio.
“It’s hard to see how Bush’s reentry into the immigration
debate is going to help a bill forward,” writes ABC’s Rick Klein. “Conservatives
in the both the Senate and especially the House now have all the pretext they
need to oppose a deal that includes a pathway to citizenship. Strip that from a
bill, and Democrats will be under tremendous pressure to scuttle the whole
effort – something many Republicans believe President Obama secretly wants to
happen anyway, for political gain.”
debate is going to help a bill forward,” writes ABC’s Rick Klein. “Conservatives
in the both the Senate and especially the House now have all the pretext they
need to oppose a deal that includes a pathway to citizenship. Strip that from a
bill, and Democrats will be under tremendous pressure to scuttle the whole
effort – something many Republicans believe President Obama secretly wants to
happen anyway, for political gain.”
Which brings us to the really big swirl of speculation
out there in political circles: Is Bush trying to get to the right of his
former protégé, Marco Rubio, in advance of the next presidential election cycle?
out there in political circles: Is Bush trying to get to the right of his
former protégé, Marco Rubio, in advance of the next presidential election cycle?
Here’s Univision’s Jordan Fabian: “Allies of immigration
reform, who once championed the ex-Florida governor as a model Republican, are
left wondering what exactly happened to their old flame. … Just last summer,
Rubio was the one holding out on a path to citizenship, while Bush was speaking
in favor of it. That’s a remarkable shift. Speculation has abounded as to what
sparked Bush’s reversal, whether it’s boosting book sales or jockeying to run
for president in 2016. But the more important question is: What impact will
Bush’s switch have on the immigration reform effort in Congress?
reform, who once championed the ex-Florida governor as a model Republican, are
left wondering what exactly happened to their old flame. … Just last summer,
Rubio was the one holding out on a path to citizenship, while Bush was speaking
in favor of it. That’s a remarkable shift. Speculation has abounded as to what
sparked Bush’s reversal, whether it’s boosting book sales or jockeying to run
for president in 2016. But the more important question is: What impact will
Bush’s switch have on the immigration reform effort in Congress?
“… One senior Democratic aide, who requested anonymity to
speak freely, said: ‘The process here is going to keep moving. He is not a
member of Congress.’ Even if Bush’s comments don’t derail the process, that
won’t reduce the shock generated by his shift. ‘Jeb was always pointed out as
someone who really got it. I assume he still does,’ the Democratic aide said. ‘It
is unfortunate and disappointing.’”
speak freely, said: ‘The process here is going to keep moving. He is not a
member of Congress.’ Even if Bush’s comments don’t derail the process, that
won’t reduce the shock generated by his shift. ‘Jeb was always pointed out as
someone who really got it. I assume he still does,’ the Democratic aide said. ‘It
is unfortunate and disappointing.’”
