Cynical and Consistent

Charles Krauthammer has favored us with his miraculous two step Republican rehab program.  It is of a piece with the same old prescriptive cynicism we're accustomed to hearing from him and his ilk.  Krauthammer offers up a wondrously instantaneous and pain free way to remove what he apparently sees as the only obstacle to resurgent Republican electoral dominance, i.e., the pissed off Latino vote. 

Are you ready?  Grant amnesty to those already here illegally, thereby allowing them to remain as guest workers, and ending the ominous threat of economic desperation leading to self-deportation.  Combine that with a rock solid seal of the border, slowing any future illegal crossing to a trickle or drying it up altogether.  This is the cynical equivalent of saying, "Welcome aboard, enjoy the rest of your cruise through life, but pay no attention to those left drowning in the deep and putrid economic and civil swamps of your homelands." 

Notice there is no commitment to any sure and relatively short path to full citizenship, which would make them less susceptible to abuse by their employers and situate them to maturely and confidently choose the option to join or form unions.  Absent that guarantee, even those selfish enough to turn their backs on their brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, or generally desperate and suffering brethren, would themselves actually be punching their own ticket to continue on cruising for an ultimate bruising. 

This prescription is nothing short of a crass and unprincipled copy of the equally ugly and bogus bribe offered to seniors regarding Social Security and Medicare.  The Republican pitch to them is, "If you're already old, you can keep Medicare and Social Security, but only if you let us cut your kids out.  Don't worry, they're young and can make other plans, meanwhile you'll be protected."

If seniors in general are either scared or selfish enough to make such a deal with the devil, they too will utltimately wind up with a pitchfork run right through the heart and meat of the benefits they so desperately want to preserve.  And they forever will be remembered for having made a bad deal for themselves and a hell of a future for their kids.

I think American seniors and illegal immigrant workers alike are better than the cynical Republican strategists think.  But I worry about zerObama.