Republican Presidential Hopefuls on Immigration

Callit an early, conservative rehearsal for the 2008 campaign for the Republicanpresidential nomination, three senators supporting a chance at citizenship formillions of illegal immigrants, one opposed and one waiting as long as possibleto say.

“Somecall it amnesty. I call it probation and parole,” says Kansas Sen. SamBrownback, willing to push back against conservatives – many of whom presumablywill vote in primaries and caucuses in 20 months’ time.

“Inpoll after poll after poll, Americans support earned citizenship and acomprehensive solution,” adds Sen. John McCain of Arizona, echoingBrownback’s view as well as the one espoused by President Bush.

ButSen. George Allen, seeking re-election in Virginia as well as maneuveringtoward a White House bid, begs to differ.

“There are a lot of practical, principledproblems with this and I am not voting for this,” he said recently as theSenate plodded toward a final vote on the bill. “It rewards illegalbehavior.” Click here.

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