Immigration Politics: Immigration Policy Bedevils GOP with Hispanics

NationalJournal.com - Immigration Policy Bedevils GOP with Hispanics - Saturday, January 15, 2011: "Republican party leaders eyeing the 2012 election got a running start with Hispanic voters by hosting two high-profile conferences in as many months to court the fast-growing community. But the gatherings, backed by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich in Washington in December and co-chaired by former Gov. Jeb Bush in Miami earlier this week, laid bare the issue that could continue to bedevil the party’s success with Hispanic voters: immigration. ...

Whether the Republican party succeeds in connecting with Hispanic voters, concentrated in battleground states like Nevada, Colorado and Florida, will help determine whether President Obama wins a second term in 2012 and the balance of power in Congress.

"If you send the signals of 'them v. us' you're not going to be able to get the desired result," said Bush, whose brother, President George W. Bush, unsuccessfully pursued immigration reform. "Leaders have to lead and that means they have the responsibility of civility as well as having a tone that draws people toward our cause and not against it." " Jan. 15, 2011