You know the old saying -- he who walks in middle of the road is in danger of getting hit by cars going in both directions. Indiana Rep. Mike Pence is trying to walk that very fine line on immigration and, surprise, surprise, is getting frustrated at having to dodge all the traffic:
Under the Pence plan, the first priority would be securing the border. Then comes a guest- worker program that would require illegal immigrants in the United States to return to their home countries to register at privately run centers. The immigrants would get work visas that could be renewed every two years for up to 12 years, provided they were learning English. For the next five years, they'd be given a more permanent visa. After 17 years, participants could apply for U.S. citizenship.
Pence's attempt to broker a deal on this issue is as puzzling as anything I've ever seen come out of Washington. One of the things that makes Pence so admirable is his absolute devotion to basic principles. Unlike some other conservatives -- such as Mark Souder, who has decided he likes the earmark concept -- Pence sticks to his guns; pork is pork, and let's get rid of it.
The immigration issue is one of the clearest examples of the bright dividing line between conservatives and liberals -- it's hard to conceive of a middle ground both sides would accept. In trying to define one, Pence will naturally get the most grief from his own side. The guy who wrote the column, who is clearly on the other side, makes this obvious by praising Pence for daring to break away from those reactionary jerks on the dark side and join the force in all its purity.
