that the anti-immigrant bandwagon is used to rev up the worst in people, to scapegoat and to distract from other primary issues - but is ultimately a loser for politicians who have nothing else to discuss.

About a year ago The New Yorker had an excellent article analyzing the Republicans' obsession with the anti-immigrant frenzy and how poorly, ultimately, they have fared in riding this one-trick pony. With a few miserable exceptions, a one-note politico has generally not been able to win on the national scene but party central still insists on making it a hot-button issue.

It's wonderful that despite Lou Dobbs equally rabid irrational rants (anyone see his virulent take on Obama's aunt?) the anti-immigrant message refused to take hold in the presidential campaign as well.

Bye Bye Barletta.

A year ago, at meetings of progressive political groups in the state, we all expected that immigration would be the wedge issue of the year, that is the issue Republicans use to encourage working class (and especially white working class) Americans to vote against the economic interest.

That is, we expected the anti-immigration movement to be in 2008 what the anti-gay movement was in 2004, wille horton was in 1988, etc.

In fact, some of us feared it would be worse because not just whites but African Americans are inclined to blamed immigrants for economic difficulties.

It didn't happen. Partly I think this was because it was not a good issue for McCain given that had worked for bi-partisan immigration reform. Whether because it would lead to accusations of flip-flopping or because was not willing to give up every shred of decency to be elected President, McCain didn't go in that direction.

Perhaps it also didn't work because large parts of the business community support immigration. It is a wedge issue that divides Republicans as well as Democrats.

And perhaps it also didn't work because our economic problems were so severe and so clearly caused by a housing and financial bust that had nothing to do with immigration.

But I'm not sure we have seen the last of this issue.

The one thing we can do to help bury it is for President Obama and the Democratic majority to create good jobs and give working people a greater sense of security by, among other things, reforming health care as I argued here.

But I'm still concerned about the potential of this issue to divide our side, and that was a reason so many progressives, including progressive unions, were so strongly anti-Morganelli for AG.

I was just referring to the New Yorker analysis that it's generally proven a loser for parties to back candidates that have this and little else.

Anti-immigrant frenzy has become a backbone issue for a core group of politicos at local, state and national levels; it's become ingrained in our federal system from detention to federal prosecution to local policing; it's torn apart and often times terrorized immigrant communities; it's resulted in increased hate crimes across the country, including the murder and attack of at least two victims this past summer just outside Hazelton.

I made one thankful remark that in this presidential election both Obama and McCain refused to make anti-immigration a centerpiece of their campaign. But plenty of others are ensuring that anti-immigrant sentiment is alive and well in PA and across the nation.