Pretty bold considering what we usually hear from the right side of the aisle. Perry says he still doesn't support "amnesty". This is pretty shrewd because the antis have been effective in defining any measures that would deliver a legal status as unacceptable. By defining amnesty to basically be the granting of a green card or path to citizeneship, it opens up the possibilty to look at more centrist solutions that could potentially attract bipartisan support. Perry hasn't revealed specifics, but he is supporting guest worker visas for people currently out of status without a path to a green card. The hardcore advocates on both sides of the debate are likely to attack Perry's idea with some pro-immigration advocates rejecting any plan lacking a path to citizenship and some antis opposing anything short of lifetime banishment. I say Mr. Perry is on to something. Compromise and get past this issue so we can focus on developing an immigration system that meets the needs of the country and is enforced effectively and efficiently. A guest worker plan would deal with the bigger problem of how to normalize the status of those here without status. Some would eventually get green cards through the normal paths after waiting in the queues in a particularly category. For the rest, they'll have something far more preferable to the status quo.
