Popular, after all

Remember all the outrage over Arizona's illegal immigration law? One week, protesters were howling "Nazi" and "boycott" in the same breath, but the next week the controversy can't crack the 5 o'clock news.

That's because something has become clear: The law enjoys broad support across America.

Arizona's new law allows police to question people about their immigration status during traffic stops and other law enforcement contacts if an officer has reasonable suspicion that the person is in the United States illegally. Local police can arrest suspects who fail to provide a visa or proof of citizenship.

The law was a measured response to the federal government's refusal to secure Arizona's border with Mexico. Hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants have imposed huge costs on Arizona taxpayers by overburdening schools, hospitals, courts and jails.

A Quinnipiac University poll released last week shows protesters are in the minority. Among the polls findings: 51 percent of Americans approve of Arizona's law; 48 percent of Americans want their state to adopt a law like Arizona's, and a whopping 76 percent of Americans say boycotts of Arizona in response to its illegal immigration law are a bad idea.

A poll conducted last week for the Review-Journal and reviewjournal.com by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research found 57 percent of registered Nevada voters support having the state enact a law similar to Arizona's, with only 32 percent opposed. A petition to do just that has been filed with the secretary of state's office.

If "comprehensive immigration reform" -- better known as amnesty for illegals -- is a winning election issue for Democrats, then why aren't they rushing to enact it?