Will GOP fissure on immigration hurt in 2012?

For decades, the Republican Party has had a schizophrenic attitude towards illegal immigration.

The "Wall Street Journal Republicans" are those that don't demonize undocumented immigrants, because they find that using such workers enables certain businesses to function and thrive. That appellation derives from the fact that the Wall Street Journal editorial page itself is in this camp.

Another pro-business legislator that speaks that language is Polk County Republican state Senator J.D. Alexander, who late in this year's legislative session was assigned by Senate President Mike Haridopolos to shepherd home a bill on illegal immigration.

Instead, because of his objections to E-Verify, he helped blow it up.

This article appears in Sep 22-28, 2011.