Not the Swiftest Ship in the Harbor, or Never Ask a Democrat a "yes-or-no" Question

"Dear Senator Merkley:

What is your reaction to Mexico's President Felipe Calderon's speech to the United States' Congress criticizing Arizona's recent law allowing police to adhere to Federal Immigration Laws?"
NeonLeon

Dear NeonLeon,
"Thank you for contacting me to share your views about Arizona's recently passed immigration law, S.B. 1070. While we may disagree on this legislation, I value knowing your opinion and appreciate the opportunity to share my perspective.

"Like you, I believe that our current immigration system is broken, and we must take steps to restore the rule of law. However, I believe that Arizona's immigration law compromises the Constitutional principles of civil liberty and equality that shape our country. As you may know, S.B. 1070 grants Arizona state and local law enforcement officials the authority to investigate, detain, and arrest individuals who appear to be violating immigration regulations and do not have sufficient documentation to prove otherwise. I have serious concerns that this law will invite racial profiling, undermining our fundamental civil liberties. I believe it would be unworthy of our proud tradition as a free country to detain our citizens and legal residents simply because they cannot produce their papers when asked by a law enforcement officer who thinks they may look like an illegal immigrant."

All my best,
Jeff Merkley
United States Senator

Did you notice that Senator Merkley did not answer the only question asked of him, or is it just me?  I do thank him for the form-letter, party-platform response, however  obfuscatory it may be.  Perhaps it is Congress which remains broken, not our immigration system.