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Why Do Candidates Avoid Immigration Discussion?

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Despite the fact that Obama and McCain basically agree on immigration, it is a topic they are both hesistant to discuss. An article in the Dallas Morning News states that immigration is simply too politically risky for the candidates to feel comfortable spending a lot of time debating.

Demetrios Papademetriou, president of the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute, argues, "There is no benefit. They’ve said as much as they can safely say about it.  There’s no reason to agitate any part of their constituencies."

The article highlights the speaking engagements the candidates have had with some Latino organizations including LULAC and NALEO. It also provides a general summary of the candidates positions on immigration.

"Adrian Rodriguez of Plano, LULAC’s vice president for Texas and nearby states, called it understandable for candidates to be cautious. ’If they take one side, they alienate the other side. People know right now they have to kind of tiptoe through the middle,’ he said. ’But at some point they’re going to have to come out and say, ’This is what I believe.’"

 

How do you think the candidates should be handeling the immigration issue?

Why do you think is immigration a topic that is politically risky to discuss? Does that make it excusable for the candidates to avoid talking about immigration?

What do you think Americans look for in a new president when it comes to this issue?

 

Posted on  Wednesday, July 9, 2008 By Amanda
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Source: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121548110158934579.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
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