July 11, 2014

In yet another episode of "both sides" are being unreasonable by our corporate media, CNN's S.E. Cupp tries and fails to pretend that one, it's somehow a "reasonable" compromise to allow a group of people to become second-class citizens that are never going to have a chance for citizenship no matter how many years they've worked in the United States and contributed to our society -- and two, that Democrats have not already compromised with Republicans on immigration reform and have not already "met them halfway."

Thankfully, Rep. Karen Bass was there as a voice of reason on this Thursday's Crossfire to push back at Cupp's assertions. That said, I don't expect any of what Bass said to permeate that thick skull of hers any time soon, or for it to stop Cupp from repeating the exact same talking points on future segments of Crossfire:

CUPP: And let me -- let me just -- let me just ask both of you. I think Republicans, when it comes to immigration within this crisis, just in general, Republicans have unreasonable expectations.

I also think Democrats have unreasonable expectations. Are you willing, Congresswoman, to lower your expectations a little, maybe meet Republicans halfway to get something done on immigration, say legal status, instead of a pathway to citizenship?

BASS: Well, first of all, I am always willing to meet my Republican colleagues. Bill and I have great relationships. We've served on the budget committee together. So I believe that we can do that.

But I really do -- what I don't agree with is having a permanent second-class citizen -- or second-class person in our country. And so to say that it can't ultimately be a pathway to citizenship, I have a problem with that, but the legislation that's proposed, it would take a person 10, 15 years to get there.

CUPP: But for now, would you agree to just legal status, just to get some kind of deal on the table?

BASS: I think it has to be a comprehensive solution. I would not agree to a deal that stops at legal status. I think it has to go to citizenship, but not tomorrow. Everybody go back of the line, pay whatever fines, learn English, all of those requirements that were there. That was a bipartisan bill.

Democrats could probably get Republicans to agree to give immigrants citizenship as long as they also agreed that none of them can vote for at least two or three generations, if ever and as long as they've got no rights to any labor protections, the right to a minimum wage or unionize. Anything short of that and it's not likely GOP members of the House are going to compromise on the issue of immigration any time soon.

They want the cheap labor for their business interests and they don't want them voting, ever.

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