The American Spectator

, the President’s Domestic Policy Advisor, according to the report. “This working group, under the aegis of the Domestic Policy Council (DPC), coordinated the Clinton Administration’s immigration policy and was the venue for most of the contacts between the White House and INS during the Clinton Administration’s first term.”

According to the report, “Director of Special Projects Rahm Emanuel often attended these meetings. According to witnesses at INS and the Department of Justice, Emanuel was increasingly responsible at the White House for issues involving the Department of Justice.” The report added that Emanuel’s interest in DOJ was “enforcement” issues.

“This report lays out in stark details exactly what Emanuel and the rest of the Democrats are trying to do with immigration reform, and President Bush and Sen. John McCain are playing right into their hands,” says a Republican House member, who does not support the President’s position. “People should read this report and understand exactly what this fight is all about.”

p> MITT AND PAT br> If former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney suddenly sounds tougher and pithier on immigration issues, thank pundit and former presidential candidate Pat Buchanan for it. According to Romney insiders, the man who has flip-flopped on immigration sat down privately with Buchanan late last week to discuss the issue. The meeting came at the same time that Romney also sat down with at least one high-profile conservative syndicated columnist for an off the record discussion. /p>

Other Romney campaign staff would not confirm that the Buchanan meeting took place. Several denied that Romney would ever meet with Buchanan. “Given his relationship with the Republican Party, he’s not necessarily the kind of influencer we’d be looking for,” sniffed a Romney aide in Massachusetts.

Another said, “If the governor met with Pat, it would have been informal, and about a lot of things, not just immigration, though Pat has a very good handle on how to talk about it, especially with conservatives and libertarians.”

A longtime Buchanan friend added, “If anyone can make a person feel certain about where you stand on an issue, it’s Pat.”

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