Open the Door and Let 'Em In

The Senate's immigration bill is unpopular, sure. But an Arizona poll suggests that the provisions that get the most kicks on cable news—the paths to citizenship for illegal workers—are popular in the state where the border debate rages the loudest.

Most Arizonans are willing to let those already in the country illegally stay, if they meet certain conditions, according to a new survey.

In a statewide poll of 386 voters, conducted earlier this month, 68 percent of respondents said they would support a provision in the federal immigration bill that provides a path to citizenship for the estimated 12 million people in the country who crossed the border illegally.

Another 26 percent were opposed, with the balance undecided.

Republican state Rep. Russell Pearce responded thusly:

He said the questions are designed to help "the traitors (Sens. John) McCain and (Jon) Kyl and the rest of them so they can push what they want on the American people." Pearce said he would phrase the question another way.

"Do you believe those who have broken into our country should be given legal status to remain here?" Pearce said is how the query should be phrased. "Do you believe that people should be granted amnesty for breaking our laws?"

But pollster Bruce Merrill said he has asked this type of question many times, with different wording. In fact, Merrill said, he even pretested the latest question using the word "amnesty" in half the queries and "path to citizenship" in the other.

In both cases, Merrill said, the results were virtually identical.

"It doesn't matter in general how I've asked it," he said.

"People know what you're talking about," Merrill continued.

But do people know it's illegal? *Cough, spit, snarl* Back in February I sang hosannah for the demise of our borders, language and culture.