Keeping in line with my earlier comments, that one of the factors that makes illegal immigration such a potent political issue is that one side refuses to concede any legitimate or decent motives could exist on the other side… here’s the latest example, from Illinois Senator Dick Durbin, explaining why the Senate couldn’t pass the DREAM Act:

“Switchboards light up, the hates starts spewing, and people get concerned, to say the least,” Durbin told reporters.

Democrat Jon Tester knuckled under to hate? Democrats like Baucus, Conrad, Landrieu, and Pryor succumbed to pressure from spewed hate? Democrat Robert Byrd endorsed a position of hate? (Er, wait, don’t answer that one.)

Great question for Obama: Do you agree with your supporter and fellow Illinois senator that opposition to this legislation was driven by spewed hate?