Naziism in Arizona?

The lead article in today’s New York Times, “Arizona Enacts Stringent Law on Immigration,” describes a new law signed by the Governor of Arizona, Jan Brewer, yesterday requiring all non-citizens to carry their immigration papers with them and empowering the police to stop anyone they suspect of being an illegal immigrant to demand production of those papers.

The law created an immediate furor among Hispanic activist groups and even drew a negative comment from President Obama, unusual since the President does not normally take a stand on state laws. Reading between the lines, the Governor may have felt forced to sign the legislation because she is up for reelection this year. As an indication of her sentiments, she refused to take a stand on the law until she actually signed it.

Republicans, as a Party, seem very short-sighted about this issue. Their attempt to court the growing Hispanic vote is bound to fail if they continue to cater to the nativistic elements of their base. And the refusal to compromise regarding the illegal immigrant situation is unrealistic given the number of them present in our society. Even John McCain, who previously supported immigration reform, has been forced to renounce that effort and support the Arizona law due to a primary challenge from the right.

Where are the Republican leaders who are supposed to show responsibility and leadership based on both compassion and justice? Does compassionate conservatism even exist anymore?