Gingrich’s immigration crucible

Gingrich’s immigration crucible
The Washington Post, Editorial, Published: November 24, 2011
[If, like me, you've forgotten the meaning of crucible, the definition is "a severe, searching test or trial."]

WHAT A DIFFERENCE 11 weeks make. In September, the first time the Republican presidential pack got into a scrape over immigration, no one paid much attention when Newt Gingrich urged a “much more humane” alternative to dealing with illegal immigrants than mass deportation. And no wonder: At the time, he was stuck at about 5 percent in the polls. Now that Mr. Gingrich is leading — for the time being — he is under fierce attack within the GOP for reprising the same common-sense message.

In the candidates’ debate on foreign policy Tuesday night, Mr. Gingrich, former House speaker, repeated what he has said frequently: that undocumented immigrants who have spent years in the United States, paid taxes and formed ties should be granted some sort of legal status. Mr. Gingrich insisted his policy would not amount to amnesty — a word that unhinges Republicans — since it would not apply to recent arrivals and would stop short of granting citizenship.

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