Buying Time on Immigration

Ianus · 05-04-2009, 12:48 AM

Probably one of the more balanced & truthful articles I've seen so far.This article gives a practical reasons & logical responses for why the Congress & President are still have a tough time despite the election outcome.

Quote:

WASHINGTON -- On many questions, President Obama's approach is full speed ahead. On immigration reform, he prefers to take one step at a time. There really is no alternative.

Immigration is politically vexed because it splits both parties and scrambles the usual ideological alignments. And on this issue, there is no clear majority.

Roughly a third of Americans strongly favor granting illegal immigrants a way to become citizens, while another third is strongly opposed. But there is an ambivalent middle that knows the status quo is unsustainable and wants a comprehensive solution, yet is also upset about the government's failure to stop illegal immigration.

The Obama administration has particular worries of its own. Obama won election with overwhelming support from Latino voters who helped him carry such swing states as New Mexico, Colorado and Nevada. Latino political leaders are appropriately insistent that the president keep his promise to fix immigration and end a system that, in Obama's words, "keeps those undocumented workers in the shadows."

But the president's lieutenants are well aware that Obama also won in swing states where there is less sympathy for a path to legalization (Indiana, North Carolina and Ohio), and do not want to throw immigration reform into an already combustible legislative mix.

So Obama has thus been sending two signals simultaneously: Yes we can, but not quite yet.

On April 9, a front-page headline in The New York Times read: "Obama to Push Immigration Bill as One Priority." The story spoke of Obama's plans "to begin addressing the country's immigration system this year." It was the sign Latino leaders badly wanted.

But note that word "begin." That's different from legislating anytime soon, as Obama made clear at his news conference last week. He said all the right things about the urgency of change. "We can't continue with a broken immigration system," he argued. "It's not good for anybody."

Yet his answer lacked the fierce urgency of now. "We want to move this process," he said, and spoke of the importance of "building confidence." And then he kicked responsibility over to Congress. "Ultimately," he said, "I don't have control of the legislative calendar."

There is much fascination with the role of White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel in crafting the administration's response. As a Democratic House leader, he was decidedly cautious on immigration reform (to the consternation of Latino organizations), but has emerged recently as a supporter of action -- eventually.

Emanuel is candid in saying that his angle of vision from the White House is different from the view he needed to take as an adviser to Democrats from highly competitive districts on the politics of the issue.

While noting that his own voting record was sympathetic to comprehensive immigration reform, Emanuel observed in an interview that many of his electorally vulnerable Democratic colleagues hailed from areas in which such a position would be unpopular.

"My job then was to give them the best political advice I could, given the districts they were representing," he said. "My job now is to see this issue from a national perspective and from the president's perspective." And Emanuel was mightily impressed with the Latino political mobilization in 2008.

Yet Emanuel and Obama know that most of those same Democrats still represent competitive seats and continue to worry about the costs of a vote for immigration reform. That's why the administration has settled on a strategy of slowly building consensus rather than moving fast.

Hispanic Democrats have sent a strong signal to the business lobbies. They are saying that until comprehensive reform passes, they will withhold their votes for temporary fixes to raise immigration ceilings for groups of workers sought by particular industries. They hope to pressure business to pressure Republicans to toss more votes immigration reform's way.

The success of immigration reformers will ultimately depend upon winning over those in the ambivalent middle and not treating them as either xenophobes or racists.

The core argument for reform must be that the presence of so many illegal migrants without any enforceable rights undermines the rights of everyone else. The real message that a path to citizenship will send is that all long-term residents of our country should be able to assume their responsibilities as Americans.

Moving us in that direction is not about doing favors for illegal immigrants. It's about strengthening the American community. Obama needs to use the time he is buying himself to make that case.

This is why I believe it is never a good idea to appeal any person who maybe against Dream act.It is because if any logical person actually took the time to read the act that person would know what potential the beneficiaries can give to the American community & the country as a whole !

Pygmalion · 05-04-2009, 01:29 AM

That's being said, althought some 30% of Americans in the poll neither strongly against nor favor the DA, they would demand to solve the economy crisis first.

I read the title - "Time" - this is what we need.
We need to prepare ourselves, ready for our dreams. Do well in school and work hard.
Time, maybe by next year Jan we have a reasonable recovery. Those 30% may begin to ease the tension.

Again, dreamer is not to destroy people, take people's benefits. We understand the meaning of DA is to provide a brighter future to the younger generation by legalize us at once.

So this "time" is meaningful.
It is never too late. In less than a year or so, we should see more and more support and more news on this.

deftbeta · 05-04-2009, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pygmalion

That's being said, althought some 30% of Americans in the poll neither strongly against nor favor the DA, they would demand to solve the economy crisis first.

I read the title - "Time" - this is what we need.
We need to prepare ourselves, ready for our dreams. Do well in school and work hard.
Time, maybe by next year Jan we have a reasonable recovery. Those 30% may begin to ease the tension.

Again, dreamer is not to destroy people, take people's benefits. We understand the meaning of DA is to provide a brighter future to the younger generation by legalize us at once.

So this "time" is meaningful.
It is never too late. In less than a year or so, we should see more and more support and more news on this.

I beg to differ. The time is right this year.

Mona Lisa · 05-04-2009, 01:35 AM

Well I dont have time. If nothing happens by the end of the year I have to go back. My mom doesn't want me here anymore and well that's my luck.

Bluestar · 05-04-2009, 02:00 AM

I have to agree with Deftbeta. We have the momentum is with us. We have tons of support. Many diffrent organizations ( such as microsoft, college board, ... ), TV news and diffrent groups ( too many for me to name) are with us. Support is increasing at a rapid rate.

If we delay more, if we wait until next year, we might lose our chances.

Also as next year comes , there will be tons of attempts to probably delay us. Dont forget, at the end of 2010, there is another election. If we dont do it this year, it will just get postponeded untill like 2011.

Look at the past 8 years. When has there ever been talk on immigration during the even years? All of it were like in odd years.

If it is not done this year, the chances of it being done next year is much lower.

Nalgon · 05-04-2009, 12:33 PM

dude those poll #'s are all assumptions posted as fact to make a point.

If DREAM ACT does not pass this year it will be no ones fault but ourselves for not making that extra call to your senator, extra fax, or extra letter.

ari88 · 05-04-2009, 09:29 PM

If it does not pass this year i will lose total faith =(

J_Velasquez3 · 05-04-2009, 10:14 PM

ok maybe they are speaking of CIR, not DREAM? remember that during the election, Mr. President was asked about immigration and said it was a must to fix immigration and bring people out the shadows. He also said that CIR was in his agenda but other important things will be ahead, but he said what could be done right away was another form of reform, DREAM. dont lose hope ppl... especially to those who only have this year to "Dream."

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Does Oprah Care? · 05-04-2009, 10:25 PM

I am the biggest fan of Obama. I heard him on Charlie Rose in 2005 and he mentioned that the biggest problem with the state of affairs as he saw it was what he called the "empathy deficit." The inability to have empathy for others and put yourselves in their shoes. From that day, I noted that he will make a great leader and supported him passionately.

That being said- The dream act has to pass this year and the CIR early next year. This whole idea of pushing it back another year is a plan by the republicans to kick it down the road in hopes that Obama's popularity like every other president before will be too low after a year for him to forge ahead on such a divisive issue especially in an election year.

The article mentioned the dilemma he faces based on the states he won. The latino heavy states of Colorado and New Mexico vs. Indiana and Ohio. Well, he has to make a choice. It has to be clear that if it is not done this year, the latino vote should not be counted on for support. The fastest growing demographic is the latino population and that clout should be leveraged. This is what politics is all about.

For example- If nothing starts moving in the next months- someone in the latino population needs to write an article ruminating on what the world would be like if HILLARY CLINTON was the President and how we might have gotten comprehensive immigration reform by now because she would not feel the need to be all things to all people. It is tough but it has to be said.

Those who voted for the winner have to have their priorities also taking into consideration.

DONT BUY THE WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR LINE- Ask the Chicago cubs. We need to work hard and let it be known that it will be a failure for the administration and people will feel betrayed or let down if nothing is done this year.

Minorities in the democratic party should not be taken for granted.

God Bless

ram · 05-05-2009, 12:09 PM

Does Oprah Care?, I could not have said it better myself!

We have to push for it this year, now it's the time~!

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Buying Time on Immigration