Dems take the lead in Illegal Immigration (or so it seems)

Bill Garner , Washington Times

John Fund at the Opinion Journal observes that the border politics are a changin' and the dems may have taken the popular stand. At least that's the way they are playing it:

The politics of immigration are changing. On Friday Bill Richardson, the nation's only Hispanic governor, declared a "state of emergency" in four New Mexico border counties due to "a chaotic situation involving illegal alien smuggling and illegal drug shipments." His office has pledged $1.5 million for stepped-up law enforcement and also asked Chris Simcox, the president of the volunteer border patrol group Minutemen, for a meeting. Mr. Richardson, a man who wears his ambition for national office on his sleeve, has apparently decided he has to reposition himself on border issues.

He's not the only Democrat to do so. Sen. Hillary Clinton made headlines when she embraced high-tech measures to control the border with Mexico and fines for employers who hire illegal aliens. "Democrats clearly sense frustration on immigration among Bush's base voters and are trying to outflank him rhetorically on the right," says Martha Montelongo, a talk-show hostess in California.

Pardon my skepticism, but I can't help thinking the dems are disingenuous on this issue. If anyone stands to gain from illegal immigration, it's the dems. My BS detector is going off.