More ads

I saw Hatch's immigration ad today for the first time. I don't know when it started running, but probably within the past couple of days. It's pretty much as commenter Mark described it on another post: Hatch starts out in front of some trailers that house transient workers, saying they sleep twenty to a trailer without windows. Then he says that Pawlenty hasn't done enough to go after employers who hire illegal aliens.

So yes, this is an immigration ad, but unlike other Republican ads it really doesn't bash immigrants. It does go after the employers who hire illegal immigrants, which is in my opinion the right tack to take. As long as there are drug users, there will be drug dealers, and as long as employers are happy to look the other way and hire illegal immigrants, there will be people coming here looking for jobs. If it costs less to hire illegal immigrants, even with the occasional fine, then businesses will do it. That's the free market, folks.

Personally, I like Peter Hutchinson's take on the issue as described here, where he says he is proud to support in-state tuition for resident immigrants. So do I. But at least Hatch's ad isn't as anti-immigrant as some others.

For the record, I am pretty pro-immigration. I believe that we need to go after employers who are hiring illegal immigrants so that it becomes more expensive for them to hire illegal immigrants. But I also think we need to normalize the status of those immigrants who are already here. We also need to drastically overhaul our immigration system and generally let more people in here. I am opposed to guest-worker programs of any sort; let them stay and become citizens and members of the community if you need workers. While some people see immigrants and see only a drain, I think, "There's another person paying for housing, paying for food, paying for clothing, and generating economic activity." That's just me.

Another ad I saw tonight is an independent one from the DFL tying Pawlenty to Bush. A pretty common tactic among Democrats this year.

So when it comes to negative ads, Republicans have immigration. Democrats have Bush, the war in Iraq, veterans issues, corruption and ethics...a pretty long list. Not looking good for Republicans.