"This is not the first time I've heard this sentiment. Before the 2006 midterms,
a leader of a prominent national conservative organization told me flatly that
conservatives were willing to choke down their disgust with Bush till the votes
were counted, but afterward, win or lose, they would be silent no more. Sure
enough, post-election, Limbaugh and others gave vent to some of their more
unkind feelings about the president and his party. And now, thanks to
immigration reform, the volume of complaints has risen to a roar. As soon as the
details of the painstakingly negotiated bipartisan proposal began to trickle out
last week, talk radio and the right half of the blogosphere went ballistic,
saying the bill meant de facto amnesty for illegal aliens. Furious members of
the Republican rank and file began talking about last straws and using
'impeachment' and 'Bush' in the same sentence. "
The problem is that if the leadership of the Party is moving to the left on immigration in order to win support from Hispanics, how does it create trust. How does it create trust from its historical base, when much of that base is against the move to left the party is taking. Further how do you create trust among the Hispanics that see the actions you are taking, but at the same time see the hatred that comes from the base on these issues. The base in the end doesn't feel like they are being respected, and that their ideas are not being represented and move on to supporting other leaders. The Hispanics hear the words of the leaders, but I find it hard to believe it doesn't look like a trap when the base is speaking so loudly against these moves. How are they to believe that once they have voted the leaders will follow through with their actions and not follow the wishes of the base.
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