It's ironic that for an administration that has been defined by its divisiveness and willingness to play partisan politics, its watershed moment - at least domestically speaking - has come on an issue that hasn't been split along party lines. The immigration debate is like a maze: Navigating it requires a sharp mind and a high tolerance for political spin.
For an issue that has been quietly brewing on the outskirts of public consciousness, immigration has exploded suddenly and aggressively. But mining through the spin and mindless arguing on CNN and Fox News reveals one thing: Coverage of the issue has hardly been balanced.
As a faithful member of the Democratic Party and an old-fashioned liberal, it's easy to forget that Rubert Murdoch didn't create media bias. CNN's Lou Dobbs has taken the lead in the immigration debate, devoting massive airtime to the debate, and pushing the issue, rather than simply reporting it.
Debate the ethics of Dobbs' willingness to go gung-ho on illegal immigration if you will, but one thing that springs to my mind when viewing this debate unfold on my television screen is that maybe this issue isn't worthy of the time being given to it.
I'm not politically apathetic. I vote in midterm and primary elections, I am (sort of) active in University Democrats, and I pay careful attention to local and national politics. Still, I can't seem to muster more than a leisurely "meh" when addressing the immigration debate.
For one thing, I don't necessarily buy the concept that illegal immigration has reached pandemic levels in this country. While there are obvious national security issues involved, I don't buy the age-old argument that immigrants steal American jobs. Americans don't want these jobs.
It seems ironic that for a country powered by the principle of the American Dream, so many Americans feel negatively toward immigrants trying to get their own slice of personal wealth. Why is it that the most powerful proponents of capitalism are so fearful of the advancement of immigrants?
Perhaps the reason Republicans are pushing legislation and action on immigration is the failure of the Iraq War. But this doesn't explain the actions of Democrats, who have been some of the most vocal participants in the debate.
There are more serious issues facing the nation. President Bush and the Republican majority in Congress are far too weak to get anything substantial done on this issue, so why are they spending so much time trying to fix such an immense problem?
Various solutions have been tossed around by members of all parties, but the logistics of closing the border, deporting illegals, creating a national ID card and sending National Guard troops to the border are mind-boggling.
The President's plan is admirable in that it shows his willingness to challenge his conservative base, but he is far too weak to be proposing such broad solutions for such a complex issue.
Nothing is getting done, and nothing will. The media has played its part in this saga, with anchors like Dobbs preaching their personal ideals - even if to the choir - until they're blue in the face. It's time for them to stop.
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