Oops:

Growing numbers of immigrants — legal and illegal — are changing the composition of affluent suburban towns across the country, impacting independent and Democratic-leaning voters, who are concerned that schools are overcrowded, health care systems are strained and crime is on the rise.

Forty percent of respondents to a newly conducted, Democrat-sponsored Democracy Corps poll said the main reason the country is going in the wrong direction is that “our borders have been left unprotected and illegal immigration is growing.” Immigration was easily voters’ top priority, beating out concerns over the Iraq war, health care and the economy.

Can’t be good news for Democrats. This also explains why Bush’s numbers are so low given his weak stance on immigration. It’s not all about liberals’ opposition to the war in Iraq (which is suddenly not front page news anymore now that the news is good).

So why are Democrats feeling a pinch on the issue now?

And most Hispanic voters, one of the fastest-growing voting blocs, are strongly opposed to greater enforcement of illegal immigration.

But blue-collar workers, union members and African-Americans — all key parts of the Democratic coalition — have traditionally been more hostile to unfettered immigration, given that greater (and cheaper) job competition leads to depressed wages and a tighter job market.

This, in addition to trying to balance between pro-war and anti-war factions in their own camps. Hmm, Democrats in a quagmire on how to pander to competing groups of victims… That sounds familiar.

They can preach all they want about being the party of tolerance, but they still consider among their membership a KKK recruiter, they filibustered the Civil Rights Act and from time to time, they let their guard down and let the world see their racism in all of its glory:

Before the endorsement vote, Perry County Commissioner Albert Turner praised Obama’s qualifications, but urged the group to support Clinton.

“The question you have to put forth to yourself is that whether or not in this racist country a black man named Obama — when we are shooting at Osama — can win the presidency of the United States?” Turner said.

Turner said Clinton is the Democrat most likely to win in November “because of her husband and because of some other things, mainly because she’s white.”

When the Alabama Democratic Conference endorsed Clinton in October, leaders cited long-standing friendships with Clinton and her husband and voiced concerns about whether white voters would support a black Democrat.

Imagine the outrage if this were Republicans having such a conversation.

Which is more revealing? That Democrat officials are urging voters to cast ballots for a white candidate because she’s white, or their acknowledgement that Democrat voters probably wouldn’t vote for a black candidate because he’s black?