By Blocking Immigration Reform, House Republicans Secure GOP Death Spiral

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In reality, Republicans face two terrible choices on immigration: support reform that annoys your base and creates millions of new Democratic voters, or block reform and further identify yourselves as a whites-only party. In this case of deciding between a bad option and a terrible option, either way you choose, you lose. From that perspective, it's hardly surprising that House Republicans – when faced with such an unpalatable pair of possibilities – are choosing the path of least resistance – for them.

The irony of this situation for Republicans is that six years ago, when George W Bush was president, they had a chance to pass a comprehensive immigration reform measure, but conservative Republicans in the Senate blocked the bill (with a hand from Democrats). Had Bush signed that legislation, Republicans would have given themselves a fighting chance with Hispanic voters. Instead, they squandered the opportunity and very possibly have lost any chance of Latino support for a generation.

Whether they like it or not, Republicans have become a semi-permanently party of older, white people. Although that might help Republicans maintain control of the House for the foreseeable future, it is a path to long-term political decline for the GOP.