It hasn’t generated much attention, but many American faith communities have been deeply involved in the fight over immigration reform this year, with most religious traditions coming out in strong support for comprehensive, bipartisan legislation.
With this in mind, it’s worth noting that this extends outside the pews. Rep. Spencer Bachus (R) of Alabama talked to his constituents this week about how his faith helps shape his perspective on the pending legislation.
“Y’all may think I’m copping out, but with my Christian faith, it’s hard for me to say that I’m gonna divide these families up…. Bring ’em into our system. Give them legal status. They will pay Social Security. They’ll work hard. […]
“I’ll tell you this, as your Congressman, I am not gonna separate families or send them back.”
The larger context is worth keeping in mind. Just last year, Bachus not only faced a primary opponent, he was challenged by
And Bachus doesn’t just represent a red district in a red state, he represents Alabama’s 6th — which has a partisan-voting index rating
Steve Benen is a producer for "The Rachel Maddow Show," the editor of MaddowBlog and an MS NOW political contributor. He's also the bestselling author of "Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past." Recommended
