I basically agree,of course, with Andrew’s objections to Nadler’s post on business contributions shifting away from the GOP. Nadler offers a disclaimer that “It is not my intention to present this chart as ‘proof’ of the impact of immigation on the eroding alliance between business and conservatives. . . . But this chart records a fact: Republican financial support has declined abruptly among those industry groups that support comprehensive immigration reform.” But there is no such “fact” unless we see the numbers for other industries, too. What were the figures for the banking industry, insurance, health care, real estate? Looking at www.opensecrets.org and comparing industry giving in Congressional races, 2000 vs. 2008, it appears that lawyers/law firms went from 30% GOP to 22%; real estate 57% to 40%; securities/investment 60% to 35%; insurance 66% to 49%; commercial banks 62% to 47%; pharmaceutical/health products 71% to 45%. and so on. Bad news for Republicans, surely, but it doesn’t seem to have much to do with immigration policy.