Conservative Democrat

Today's Washington Post cites a report by the centrist Democratic think tank Third Way concerning illegal immigration. A newly released Third Way clearly demonstrates that the Bush Administration has no intention of actively enforcing our immigration laws, but rather is more interested in assuring that big business interests continue to have a flow of cheap labor. See full Post article at: http://tinyurl.com/j6ero

"The report shows that the administration, despite their tough talk, is failing at border security and enforcing the employer sanctions provision," New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson said. "It makes them vulnerable in what is their biggest and strongest argument -- that they are enforcing the law against illegal workers and are effective on border security."

"According to the report, federal data show that the number of agents more than doubled between 1995 and 2005, but that border apprehensions have fallen about 31 percent. From fiscal 1996 to fiscal 2000, apprehensions averaged 1.52 million a year. The number fell to an average of 1.05 million from fiscal 2001 to fiscal 2004."

"Away from the border, a similar pattern has occurred, with apprehensions falling an estimated 36 percent. 'This decline trend and low overall total suggests that illegal immigrants who escape beyond the border are more or less here to stay if they choose,' according to the report.

A third count in the Third Way indictment charges that the administration has been lax in punishing employers who hire illegal immigrants. 'Either the administration has no interest in enforcing the law, or there's a wink' at employers who hire illegal immigrants, Richardson said.

* HOWARD DEAN SAYS DEMOCRATS FAVOR "ONE MAN, ONE WOMAN" MARRIAGE

The Kansas City Star today reported that Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean has been responding to attacks from gay activists and left-leaning bloggers for statements last week on the Christian Broadcasting Network about gay marriage. http://tinyurl.com/z3h3h According to the Star, Dean told CBN that the Democratic Party platform affirms marriage as between "a man and a woman."

"Dean acknowledged he was wrong about the party’s platform about gay marriage. Trying to reach out to evangelicals, he said the Democratic platform specifically said that 'marriage is between a man and a woman' But the platform does not define marriage this way."

"Dean: 'I misstated the Democratic Party’s platform, which does not say that marriage should be limited to a man and a woman, but says the party is committed to full inclusion of gay and lesbian families in the life of our nation and leaves the issue to the states to decide."

Well, most of us in the Democratic Party and I think a majority of Americans favor equal protection for gays and lesbians in employment and housing. We condemn violence against gays and lesbians and might favor local domestic partnership registrations which already exist in a number of major cities and urban counties.

The reality is though that the vast majority of Americans and I suspect a majority of rank and file Democrats believe that marriage should be reserved for a man and a woman. Even Howard Dean just stated last week that "one man and one woman" marriage is the position of the Democratic Party.

Gay marriage is a divisive issue and perceptions that Democrats favor it threaten our ability to appeal to mainstream America. Our party should give a fair hearing to gay and lesbian concerns, but we also need to be inclusive of socially traditionalist and religious voters as well. If Howard Dean says that the Democratic Party affirms traditional marriage in our platform, why not make it so ?

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