GOP Silence Update: Goode’s Deed Goes UnpunishedCapitol Hill is all but empty, and I have to admit defeat in my effort to find one Republican lawmaker to substantively address Rep. Virgil Goode’s (R-VA) argument to reduce legal immigration and end visa policies which have “allow[ed] many persons from the Middle East to come to this country.”
Our final long-shots — calls to Reps. Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Ray LaHood (R-IL), both grandchildren of Lebanese immigrants — garnered nothing.
Of course, it’s the Friday before Christmas, so many offices were empty, press aides were unreachable, or members were traveling. And who knows — a couple flacks said they’d respond by 5 p.m., so they’ve got a few minutes. But I think it’s pretty safe to say that no GOPer wants to touch this issue. Calls to the RNC, the NRCC, all GOP presidential candidates, the House GOP leadership, and a number of rank-and-file Republicans garnered not a single response. Were it not for a snoring dog here at the D.C. bureau, I would say I could hear crickets.