For years, Bush has spoken about the need for immigration reform that included a path to citizenship and guest workers. Not anymore. Bush is once again putting GOP politics first. The White House is so desperate for a legislative "victory" that Bush is going to abandon that long standing position. I believe, in the parlance of Karl Rove, that is called a "flip-flop":
Republicans both inside and outside the White House say Mr. Bush, who has long insisted on comprehensive reform, is now open to a so-called enforcement-first approach that would put new border security programs in place before creating a guest worker program or path to citizenship for people living in the United States illegally.The immigrant bashers are winning over the White House.
"He thinks that this notion that you can have triggers is something we should take a close look at, and we are," said Candi Wolff, the White House director of legislative affairs, referring to the idea that guest worker and citizenship programs would be triggered when specific border security goals had been met, a process that could take two years.
The shift is significant because Mr. Bush has repeatedly said he favors legislation like the Senate's immigration bill, which establishes border security, guest worker and citizenship programs all at once. The enforcement-first approach puts Mr. Bush one step closer to the House, where Republicans are demanding an enforcement-only measure.
