To the Editor:

Creating a pejorative like “Dobbsianism,” with its implication of rabble-rousing, and saying that “elite opinion” does not support Lou Dobbs’s campaign to end illegal immigration is insulting, not only to Mr. Dobbs but also to people like me. I am neither rabble nor a nincompoop, but a highly educated, real liberal—a fervent lifelong union member and a believer that America should take care of its own citizens first.

The people of this country have demonstrated again and again that they are overwhelmingly against illegal immigration and want something done about it. Lou Dobbs, for a long time, was the only public person who recognized this and supported it. He didn’t create it; the selfish corporate interests and bought politicians who acted against the will of American citizens managed to do that very nicely all by themselves.

Gail Chapman
Forest Hills, Queens, Nov. 29, 2007

Note from KBJ: As this letter shows, attitudes toward illegal immigration cut across party lines. Libertarian Republicans are allied with open-borders Democrats in supporting the immigration bill, while conservative Republicans are allied with working-class Democrats in opposing it. Politics makes strange bedfellows. As for which alliance is strongest, I have to believe it’s the latter. The 2008 presidential election is going to hinge on illegal immigration. Mark my words.