I was recently shown a nasty Facebook thread that began with the status update of "hey Arizona - notice how every WWII movie begins with 'Show Me Your Papers'" and it quickly devolved from there with one side arguing that it is great to arrest people who are breaking the law and the other side arguing against profiling.
Neither side came together which is unfortunate.
Points Republicans should concede:
1. their argument against gun laws is that the existing laws need to be enforced first. If illegal immigration is by definition illegal, then like gun laws, don't we just need to better enforce the existing laws?
2. this is a role for the federal government
3. Arizona has a history of poor race relations and so the law is viewed skeptically by outsiders
4. economic studies clearly indicate immigrants (illegal or legal) improve the economy
5. This law has the potential to escalate violence at the border and at routine traffic stops, etc
Points Democrats should concede:
1. Arizona passed this law due to frustration with the federal government's efforts to halt illegal immigration
2. Arizonans in favor of this law don't care about the Constitutionality aspect and probably passed it to bait the federal government into acting.
And we can all agree that the current situation is not tenable but Arizona SB 1070 is not a tolerable solution.
It seems that John McCain's original plan was fairly balanced as it worked to secure the border and offer temporary work programs to undocumented workers. But he was forced to change his position to appeal to the pre-Tea Baggers. Too bad.
