I don’t know where to begin. Let’s start with where McCain says:
As far as young women are concerned, absolutely, I don’t think anybody like me — I can state my position on abortion but, other than that, leave the issue alone, when we are in the kind of economic situation and, frankly, national-security situation that we’re in.
So can you imagine what a Republican presidential campaign that follows McCain’s abortion politics advice would look like? That’s right! It would look just like the Romney campaign. How is that working out for everybody? What is worse is that this virtual admission that Republican pro-life policy pronouncements should be strictly pro-forma (and very quiet), is coupled with a proposed amnesty. I can think of no better way for the Republican Party to lose votes from its own base without actually winning any votes from persuadables of any ethnicity. Don’t get me wrong. I think the Republicans need a coherent immigration policy and message. What they do not need is a rushed “comprehensive” immigration reform coupled with a public betrayal of social conservatives. For immigration, Republicans should follow Yuval Levin’s advice in the short-term. They should support discrete legal changes that deal with particular subgroups of illegal aliens. In the longer-term, Republicans should make a case of the kinds of Canadian-style immigration reforms described by Reihan Salam. So in conclusion:
1. Now we know how Obama got through two presidential campaigns with most Americans not knowing about his record on partial birth abortion.
2. We should comprehensively ignore John McCain on domestic policy.
