Nancy Pelosi accused republicans in congress of allowing race to shape their immigration reform policy instead of substance.
In her weekly press conference on Thursday, the minority leader in congress said this “I think race has something to do with the fact that they’re not bringing up an immigration bill, I’ve heard them say to the
Irish, If it were just you, this would be easy”. Her comment is triggered by growing frustration about the
immigration reform bill which is stalled in the republican controlled house.
As the midterm elections looms, Pelosi and Democrats are hoping for some kind of compromise on immigration reform as an appeasement to bring their Latino base to the polls.
Many republicans dread a surge in Latino support for Democrats if they should pass any immigration reform bill, especially in an election year when they are confident of picking up some seats from democrats.
However, there are few republicans who are equally frustrated with their party’s treatment of the immigration reform issue. Recent comments by Rand Paul and Jeb Bush are just examples of numerous calls from within the Republican Party to be serious with the issue. Though, republicans may not agree with Nancy Pelosi’s assertion that the issue is much of race than policy, it plays right into the mantra that republicans care less about minorities.
