From NY Post:

YOU CAN'T STRADDLE 'BORDER'

By DEBORAH ORIN

March 30, 2006 -- POL'S HOT-BUTTON ISSUE

IMMIGRATION is starting to look like a hot-button issue like abortion that's impossible to have both ways.

There's no way to avoid a fundamental choice between enforcing borders to stop illegal immigration or letting illegal workers already here work toward citizenship while accepting that more will come.

The conventional wisdom agrees that Republicans face the biggest problem.

"Republicans are trying to appeal to Latinos, but they're using Latinos as a whipping boy on immigration," says Democratic pollster Mark Mellman.

And yet, a stunning 71 percent of voters say they'd be more likely to vote for a politician who'd crack down on illegal immigration, while 59 percent oppose a guest-worker program, a Wall Street Journal/NBC poll found.

That poll reflects a dramatic change among Americans over the past three years because they are starting to link the issue to scarce resources, says Republican pollster Kellyanne Conway.

"In Iowa, in Colorado, in North Carolina, you find mothers who are hopping mad that they have to wait hours in the emergency room with their kids because of all the illegal aliens ahead of them coming for basic health care," she says.

The idea that illegal aliens have paid their dues to jump the line for U.S. jobs by paying a $1,000 fine is laughable to most Americans, she says.

If she's right, President Bush is to the left of his own Republican base when he pushes for a guest-worker program. He also risks facing a rebellion similar to the Dubai ports deal.

It's worth noting that House Homeland Security Chairman Pete King (R-L.I.), who has a good sense for how people feel at the grass-roots level, is going against Bush on immigration just as he did on the ports. He's demanding a get-tough approach.

Indeed, many Republicans privately say they believe Bush is blowing the immigration issue by failing to frame it as a border-protection national security issue, which would put Democrats on the defensive.

There may also be a subtle class issue. Many professional women rely on illegal aliens to clean their homes or watch their kids or do their nails. Moms who can't afford hired help may be less receptive to calls for amnesty.

The risk for Democrats is appearing soft on national security if they oppose tough enforcement of the borders.

But the most intriguing stance is that of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who has joined Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) in pushing for a path to citizenship for illegal workers.

It's the ultimate test of whether McCain, a possible presidential candidate, can finesse a hot issue.

For some, the massive protests last weekend with 500,000 marching in Los Angeles were a warning of Latino political clout.

For others, the huge protests - and defiant flying of Mexican flags - were a call to arms on the opposing side.