Beware Mitt Romney and friends on immigration reform

By Richard K. Barry

As evidence of the extent to which Republicans will line up behind Mitt Romney despite their concerns about his conservative bona fides, key GOP leaders are choosing their words carefully about Romney's plan to "grant qualified illegal immigrants legal status and even U.S. citizenship," even offering words of support.

Still, their "support" for Romney's immigration plan is more of a holding pattern than actual support. And if communities most interested in immigration reform listen closely to what many GOP opinion leaders are saying, they shouldn't be overly optimistic about what a President Romney would do on the issue. In fact, they are likely to find it will be one more lie from the man who aspires to be America's Prevaricator-in-Chief.

According to the The Hill:

Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee who has long been critical of "amnesty" proposals like the DREAM act, praised Romney's plan this week, saying it was "right to recognize that immigration reform needs to be geared towards bolstering our economy and job creation."

And:

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), another DREAM act opponent, also praised Romney's plan without mentioning "amnesty" provisions. "I applaud Governor Romney's commitment to working to improve our broken immigration system," he said. "American has been, and remains, a welcoming country for legal immigratin. But the President's last-minute election year ploy can't erase the fact that he has failed to lead.

And this:

Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), among Congress’s most vocal opponents of illegal immigrant rights, was also notably uncritical of Romney’s plan, telling The Wall Street Journal that he’s happy to see Romney advocating for tougher enforcement policies at the border. While King said he has questions about some parts of the plan, according to the Journal, he also expressed confidence that Romney is “committed to the rule of law." 

The Hill notes that other GOP hardliners on immigration didn't return phone calls, which may suggest they are trying to decide how to support Romney's plan without supporting Romney's plan.

Yes, everyone is playing the game. Romney is saying what he thinks he needs to say on immigration. GOP opinion leaders are supporting him without necessarily supporting the key piece in the reform, i.e., amnesty, probably believing they can make it all go away after the election should their guy win. And since Mitt Romney clearly has no core beliefs other than whatever it take to win elections, they are probably right.

(Cross-posted at Lippmann's Ghost.)