Political Cortex: Brain Food for the Body Politic

NBC Nightly News reported the interviews indicated "a new strategy about dealing with the press and trying to speak directly to the American people. ... The White House recognizes that it needs a strategy to try to speak beyond its conservative critics and reach the country directly. We saw that with a primetime address to the country on immigration and now these series of interviews today. I suspect we'll see more of this coming down the line."  Also, Bush "refused to say how he'll bring Republican critics in line," saying, "Oh, I get criticized from the right and the left. Now there are some who say you should be for amnesty, which I think is a mistake. There are some who I guess they're for deportation, which I don't think will work. But you cannot secure the border in my judgment without a temporary worker plan, because we've got people coming here to work."

Bush was asked on CNN's The Situation Room if racism is creeping into thedebate on  immigration. Bush said, "I think it would be too harsh a judgment to say that somebody who doesn't support a comprehensive immigration plan is a racist. I don't believe that."

Much to Bush's chagrin, however, the Department of Homeland Security is skeptical of his plan:

"DHS officials fret about effectiveness of Guard troops on border. Despite fanfare over Bush's new initiative, some Homeland Security aides worry about lack of detention facilities for those caught trying to cross border illegally."