House Republicans are making fools of themselves on the immigration issue.
On Wednesday, they insisted that they were against comprehensive immigration reform, and they were against a path to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented immigrants in this country.
So what are they for?
Not much, except tightened security on our southern border.
They're miles apart from the Senate bill, which passed with the support of 14 Republicans late last month.
And they seem impervious to the fact that their party is bleeding Latino votes. In the last election, Romney's harsh position on this issue was partially responsible for his loss.
And with increasing numbers of Latino voters in America, the continued Republican hostility to immigrants will only hurt the party further.
Some Republicans get that.
Like former president George W. Bush.
On Wednesday, he all but begged his party to come to its senses on this issue, urging them to "keep a benevolent spirit in mind" and to "understand the contributions that immigrants make to our country."
But most House Republicans don't have anything resembling a benevolent spirit on this issue.
Take Rep. Steve King of Iowa. "You can't separate the Dream Act kids from those who came across the border with a pack of contraband on their back," he said.
Wow!
That's not benevolent. That's malevolent.
And it's not only an ugly sentiment. It's a losing sentiment.
If you liked this story by Matthew Rothschild, the editor of The Progressive magazine, check out his story Rick Perry Is Damaged Goods.
Follow Matthew Rothschild @mattrothschild on Twitter.