Yesterday, U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Tom Donohue delivered a speech on the state of American business. One of the subjects that Donahue touched upon was the issue of immigration. In his speech Donohue lamented that Americans think that immigration “threaten[s] our national sovereignty.” During the question and answer session, Donahue laid out exactly where the Chamber stands on immigration reform:

We think the most important parts of a comprehensive immigration reform would be a way for the 12 million people who are here to legitimacy so they can easily participate in society, pay their taxes, drive cars, that sort of thing.

Secondly, we need a guest worker program so that people can easily come back and forth for work. And some of that would probably be seasonally for crops and for recreation, organizations, and so on.

And third, we definitely need a way to deal with the high-end talented folks that are needed in this economy. It’s amazing that we take twelve years to train a Ph.D. in chemical engineering — we used to always keep them — now it’s hard for them to stay.

Watch it:

Throughout 2010, the Chamber of Commerce didn’t have much to contribute to the immigration debate. Most notably, the powerful business group was absent from the coalition of Latino, labor, faith, and advocacy groups that fought an uphill battle last year under the umbrella of the Reform Immigration for America campaign to get comprehensive immigration reform on the table in 2010.

However, the Chamber of Commerce did have a lot of money to contribute to Republican candidates despite the fact that the GOP collectively pulled every stunt to block immigration reform. Roll Call reported that the Chamber spent $32 million on the 2010 midterm elections, 93 percent of it on GOP candidates. In Senate races, the Chamber allegedly spent millions of dollars on candidates who explicitly expressed their opposition to comprehensive immigration reform including Carly Fiorina, Rand Paul, Roy Blunt, and Mark Kirk.

Similarly, in the House, the Chamber dumped millions of dollars into trying to oust pro-immigration reform lawmakers like current and former Reps. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Alan Grayson (D-FL), and Tom Perriello (D-VA). The fact that most of the candidates the Chamber supported won means the chances of a bill similar to the one outlined by Donohue getting through Congress over the next two years are slim to none.

Though Donohue indicated today on MSNBC that the Chamber will “support” Obama on immigration, where was that “support” in 2010 when the chance for getting a humane, pro-business immigration bill through Congress was high? It’s no secret that the Chamber dedicated millions to lobbying against the healthcare bill, the Disclose Act, the Employee Free Choice Act and financial reform. Meanwhile, it rejected the moderate immigration framework presented by Democrats even though Democratic leadership specifically introduced a framework rather than a bill so that Republicans and other conservative groups would provide productive feedback that would ultimately lead to bipartisan legislation.

Donohue insisted that “the Chamber will continue to work with others on a comprehensive immigration reform program.” Yet, ultimately, the Chamber needs to put its money where its mouth is if it truly wants to see results.

Just hours after 22-year-old gunman Jared Loughner launched a shooting spree at a Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) constituent event in Tucson on Saturday that left six dead and 14 wounded, Legislative District chairman Anthony Miller, a Republican, announced that he would resign his position. In an email to the state’s GOP chair, Miller cited “constant verbal attacks” after his election last year “and Internet blog posts by some local members with Tea Party ties made him worry about his family’s safety.” Many of his Republican colleagues followed him out the door:

In an e-mail sent a few hours after Saturday’s massacre in Tucson that killed six and injured 13, including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, Miller told state Republican Party Chairman Randy Pullen he was quitting: “Today my wife of 20 yrs ask (sic) me do I think that my PCs (Precinct Committee members) will shoot at our home? So with this being said I am stepping down from LD20GOP Chairman…I will make a full statement on Monday.” [...]

The newly-elected Dist. 20 Republican secretary, Sophia Johnson of Ahwatukee, first vice chairman Roger Dickinson of Tempe and Jeff Kolb, the former district spokesman from Ahwatukee, also quit. “This singular focus on ‘getting’ Anthony (Miller) was one of the main reasons I chose to resign,” Kolb said in an e-mail to another party activist. Kolb confirmed the contents of the e-mail to the Republic.

Miller had been on the receiving end of attacks from the GOP’s right-wing activists, particularly because he had worked for Sen. John McCain’s Senate reelection campaign last year against Tea Party favorite J.D. Hayworth:

[A] series of accusatory e-mails was exchanged among party members. Some blasted Miller’s support of McCain, called him a “McCainiac with a penchant for violating the rules” and a “McCain hack.” [...]

Miller said when he was a member of McCain’s campaign staff last year has been criticized by the more conservative party members who supported Republican opponent J.D. Hayworth. The first and only African-American to hold the party’s precinct chairmanship, Miller said he has been called “McCain’s boy,” and during the campaign saw a critic form his hand in the shape of a gun and point it at him.

“I wasn’t going to resign but decided to quit after what happened Saturday,” Miller said. “I love the Republican Party but I don’t want to take a bullet for anyone.” Meanwhile, AZ GOP state senator Lori Klein brought a gun with her to the state Capitol this week. “I pack,” she said. “Our safety is our personal responsibility.” (HT: Balloon Juice)