Lexington: Lessons from the desert | The Economist

Article;Like so many Republican Hispanic politicians, they must perform a balancing act, appeasing the party’s law-and-order base without offending their fellow Hispanics. Ms Martinez has mastered the art of sounding tough on illegal immigration rather than immigrants, says Matt Barreto of Latino Decisions, a polling firm. She urges more border security, for example, while celebrating the achievements of immigrants and lambasting Republican colleagues who think deportation is the answer to everything.

None of this, however, will help Republicans win the White House so long as they insist on keeping 11m Latinos in the shadows. As Senator John McCain puts it, passing immigration reform would not in itself win many Latino votes, but it would put Republicans “on the playing field where we can compete”.


Lexington: Lessons from the desert | The Economist