At least, that’s the way I read this WaPo article about tonight’s main event among the eight Republicans allowed on the big stage.
A lengthy discussion of immigration stood out as a proxy for a debate over how Republicans can win back the White House after eight years in the wilderness: under the banner of pure and principled conservatism, or with a moderated platform designed to broaden the GOP’s appeal to Latinos and other minorities.
Trump: “I’ll build a wall that’ll work!”
Kasich: “Don’t be ridiculous. We can’t deport 11 million people.”
Jeb(!) “If we deport all those people we give the Latino vote to the Democrats! They’re doing high-fives in the Clinton campaign right now when they hear this,” Bush said. “That’s the problem with this. We have to win the presidency, and the way you win the presidency is to have practical plans.”
We actually are doing high-fives right now. #GOPDebate
— Brian Fallon (@brianefallon) November 11, 2015
Cruz: “No amnesty now! No amnesty ever!”
Do I need to tell you how glad I am that I missed this?