I continue to support legal immigration, believing that it keeps our nation strong and vibrant. I am completely opposed to illegal immigration, and have no problem with the government building a fence to help quash that problem.

……

In addition to losing seats, however, the GOP’s restrictionist strategy has reversed significant gains among Latino voters. Exit polls show that 70% of Hispanics voted Democratic in House races this year. Meanwhile, some 29% voted Republican — an eight-percentage-point drop from the 2002 midterm, and down 15 points from the 44% won by President Bush in 2004 (which had improved from 31% in 2000).

Legal Hispanic immigrants and the generations that follow them are and will be the fastest growing electorate in the US. The hard line approach to immigration reform does not appeal to them. This bloc of voters identifies with the plights of some illegals who come here under the same circumstances that they did. The Catholic principle of deference to the poor is weighted higher to them than emigrating illegally; something that they may consider an “efficient crime.” If conservatives want to solve the illegal immigration problem, they need to focus on making the immigration process more efficient and streamlined.

I cannot understand the blind spot that the economic conservatives have over this. It is absolutely maddening, because it is the one thing that could peel off the Reagan Democrats. Michelle noted that his opponent was mimicking the Haworth anti-illegals stand almost to the point of plagiairism (Haworth also noted that on Hannity on Monday), so what does his loss really prove?

And Haworth still has a chance — a much better one than Wulsin, that is for sure.