Immigration was supposed to help the Republican Party. The Bush administration was so sure of it that they had trouble speaking out against illegal immigration. The idea was that even if illegal immigrants felt welcomed they'd eventually vote Republican. To oppose immigration, even illegal immigration, was thought to be a hindrance to winning the Hispanic vote.

But a survey by the Center for Immigration Studies has proved them wrong. It turns out a majority of the immigrants are voting for democrats.

And, according to the CIS report, exit polls for the top two California republicans candidates in the recall election showed 39 percent of the Hispanic vote went to Arnold Schwarzenegger and Tom McClintock, both of whom stood against illegal immigration and drivers licenses for them.

So, standing against illegal immigration is a winning political issue.

It is also a good policy. More republicans, including the top republican, should try it.

Traveling in Houston, I'm Cal Thomas.