Whitehouse downplays NYT immigration story

lilbawler2001 · 04-09-2009, 05:13 PM

Quote:

GIBBS DOWNPLAYS NYT immigration story: "Most of what I read today, one could have written a year or so ago, based on what he said on the campaign trail."

MORE: "I don't think he expects that it'll be done this year." (3:19 p.m.)

http://www.politico.com/politico44/w...d04092009.html

dado123 · 05:48 PM

Who is this chump?^^^ This person does not speak for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus nor for the President, there are many other variables to consider before arriving at this blunt conclusion, In my opinion all indications are that CIR will be debated, whether we will reach the magic number of 60 votes to prevent a republican filibuster is another issue, that is why we are all here to try and garner the 60 votes needed!

CIR_DREAM2009 · 04-09-2009, 06:04 PM

Robert Gibbs is the White House Press Secretary, and he is the main spokesperson for the President. The NYT cited a "senior administration official" as their source so maybe there's disagreement inside the White House over when to follow through with immigration reform. President Obama will make the final decision on this matter.

We can have the Dream Act as a stand alone or as an attachment to CIR. We'll be ready for either option.

angeleno · 04-09-2009, 08:55 PM

Kind of troubling since it's coming from Gibbs.

I really hope it's all strategy, and not their actual position.

JGuevara1986 · 04-09-2009, 10:28 PM

Why would they try to downplay this? Maybe because this is going world wide!!!!!

bigdreamer · 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by angeleno

I really hope it's all strategy, and not their actual position.

I have a feeling that's what's goin on...

Quote:

Originally Posted by CIR_DREAM2009

President Obama will make the final decision on this matter.

That is right..

dado123 · 03:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CIR_DREAM2009

Robert Gibbs is the White House Press Secretary, and he is the main spokesperson for the President. The NYT cited a "senior administration official" as their source so maybe there's disagreement inside the White House over when to follow through with immigration reform. President Obama will make the final decision on this matter.

We can have the Dream Act as a stand alone or as an attachment to CIR. We'll be ready for either option.

Well there is no way of knowing why he said this, it is only one official, he does not speak for Reid or Pelosi, who make the legislative agenda (With Obama's priorities in mind). Again, most indications from Reid, Pelosi, Durbin, The CHC, and Obama, are that CIR will come up, will it have the votes necessary to get it through the legislative process, that no one knows.

CIR_DREAM2009 · 04-10-2009, 11:27 AM

^ Yeah, events can certainly be fluid, and we'll see what shows up in the coming months. What the White House press secretary says can change depending on the priorities of the White House at a given time. Right now, it's energy, health care, and education.

Here's the transcript of yesterday's press briefing:

Quote:

Q Robert, we know the President is expected to take up -- start looking at immigration reform in the next couple of months, May, June. How hard is the President willing to push to try to keep some, if not all, of these 12 million illegal immigrants in this country here illegally?

MR. GIBBS: Well, let me, I guess, back up a little bit in the sense that most of what I read today, one could have written a year or so ago based on what he said on the campaign trail; that -- I mean, I think he told groups throughout 2007 and 2008 that the process on immigration reform would begin his first year in office.

Look, I don't -- obviously there are a lot of things on his plate and a lot of pressing issues relating to the economy. I don't think he expects that it will be done this year. But obviously it's an issue out there, a big issue out there, that the previous administration and Congress worked to try to address, and it's something the President is committed to addressing, as he said throughout the campaign trail.

Q But on this one issue of trying to keep many of these illegal immigrants here, some 12 million, how hard is he willing to push on that one issue?

MR. GIBBS: Well, look, the President has spoken, again, throughout the campaign about the need to have a comprehensive solution to immigration reform that requires increased border security, that includes immigrants going to the back of the line, learning English, paying a fine. The President worked on, as a member of the Senate, cracking down on employers that flaunt our laws by employing illegal immigrants. And I've even seen statements today from Republicans that have talked about continuing the effort that they've also been involved in over the past several years.

I think the President believes that there's only one way to solve this problem, and that is through comprehensive immigration reform.

Quote:

Q Robert, the Times article on immigration this morning said that the President believes that the economic difficulties in the country have undermined political support for immigration reform. Does the President believe the economic difficulties have undermined support for immigration reform?

MR. GIBBS: Well, I have not talked to him specifically. I don't think there was a quote -- I don't think they quoted the President on that. I don't think the President is under any illusion that comprehensive immigration reform is going to be easy. It hasn't been in the previous two Congresses and I don't anticipate that it's certainly going to get any easier now.

Q Does the White House think that the economic problems have undermined political possibilities for a bill?

MR. GIBBS: I think the -- what we have to address in terms of dealing with the economy make dealing with -- make adding any number of issues difficult simply by the sheer breadth of what we have to address each day.

questionsihave · 04-10-2009, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JGuevara1986

Why would they try to downplay this? Maybe because this is going world wide!!!!!

They would downplay this because they don't want the media constantly asking questions or talking about immigration.

The White House press secretary does speak for the White House. They have a press conference everyday(weekdays), and the press(CNN,NBC,CBS,etc) ask questions about the issues the president and his staff are involved in. This is how they get their information; you can see it on Cspan.

Mr. Gibbs is a good guy, but again, he doesn't want the press asking questions about immigration when the economy is still bad. It doesn't look good, and it isn't good politically.

Basically, this is a non-issue.

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Whitehouse downplays NYT immigration story