Obama To Make A Grassroots Push For DA, Won't Engage In Filibuster Reform Fight

Lora · 12-22-2010, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Obama To Make A Grassroots Push For DREAM Act, Won't Engage In Filibuster Reform Fight

WASHINGTON -- The White House is preparing a major grassroots push to pass the DREAM Act next year, which President Obama said Wednesday was one of his top priorities after the legislation failed in the recent lame duck session. Acknowledging the next Congress will be much more resistant to the President's agenda, the White House also backs changing the rules of the Senate, although it won't get involved in specific proposals.

On a conference call with journalists Wednesday, White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer said the President is willing to "wage a very public campaign" to push the DREAM Act, which would grant undocumented students who were brought into the United States as minors by their parents a path to citizenship through higher education or military service. He added that grassroots activism will be essential to success.

"The President always said on the campaign trail that change comes from the bottom up, and on issues like the DREAM Act, it has to, because there's some real resistance in Washington -- primarily in the other party, but some in our own -- and I think we're going to need to get people activated, and I think you'll see a lot of that over the next months and years," said Pfeiffer in response to a question from The Huffington Post.

During a news conference Wednesday, Obama said he will be reaching out to Republicans who may believe "in their heart of hearts" that passing the DREAM Act is the right thing to do but think the politics are tough.

"Well, that may mean that we've got to change the politics," said Obama. "And I've got to spend some time talking to the American people, and others have to spend time talking to the American people, because I think that if the American people knew any of these kids -- they probably do, they just may not know their status -- they'd say, of course we want you. That's who we are. That's the better angels of our nature."

Pfeiffer said the White House was also frustrated with the slow pace of confirmation for the President's judicial and staff nominees. In the past, Obama has endorsed changing the rules of the Senate, stating, "I will say that, as just an observer of our political process, that if we do not fix how the filibuster is used in the Senate, then it is going to be very difficult for us over the long term to compete in a very fast moving global environment."

Pfeiffer, however, said the White House will not endorse any specific proposal because it's an issue the Senate needs to work out itself. "I'm not sure a president getting involved in a legislative branch matter like that would be viewed as constructive by the other branch," he said.

As The Huffington Post has reported, senators leading the filibuster reform effort have said bipartisan support is building up around three proposals: 1) No longer allowing senators to filibuster the motion to proceed and instead allow a set amount of time for debate, 2) ending secret holds, and 3) stopping filibustering senators from hiding behind quorum calls and forcing them to speak up if they block a bill. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) said to expect "fireworks" on Jan. 5, 2011, the day on which the Senate can, he argued, revamp its rules by a simple majority vote.

By
Amanda Terkel
[email protected]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/1..._n_800506.html

Please leave comments on Huffington Post's comment section of this article if you can.

static · 12-22-2010, 09:21 PM

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The White House is preparing a major grassroots push to pass the DREAM Act next year

I'm looking forward to see what will happen. This year has been a tough one for us. Glad it'll soon be over. Just really hope we won't be soon forgotten...

lostpath · 12-22-2010, 09:22 PM

It makes me happy to hear things like this now I hope he gets this done soon. I'm getting too old. Need my freedom.

kbs111 · 12-22-2010, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lora

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/1..._n_800506.html

Please leave comments on Huffington Post's comment section of this article if you can.

Please don't even look at comments on HP.

There are so many people who are rotten who post there. They don't give two shits if you were brought here at 6 months of age and you saved 10 American lives (just an example) to them ILLEGAL IS ILLEGAL.

2Face · 12-22-2010, 09:37 PM

Lets see if the administration makes good on this promise. After the economy, this has to be the biggest issue along with climate change. It's time to undress those senators who've supported it in the past and voted against cloture this past saturday and also provide the ones like Senator Sessions a chance to make changes to the Dream.

Lora · 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kbs111

Please don't even look at comments on HP.

There are so many people who are rotten who post there. They don't give two shits if you were brought here at 6 months of age and you saved 10 American lives (just an example) to them ILLEGAL IS ILLEGAL.

Yeah!! Thats why we should leave posotive comments/ examples of how the DA is good for America. Honestly how many ppl go out an research legislation??? Not alot. Alot of ppl are Lazy!!! (like 70% of America my estimate lol) if they see A LOTof comments abt how DA is the "Nightmare Act" they will automatically assume that since the majority is against DA it must be true...

If they see how people support it and have valid reasons why this legislation is good they might not associate it as bad. I know this sounds kinda dumb but seriously all of you guys know how dumb ppl will easily believe what Fox news says. The People that say "the law is the law" and are stubborn as F***!

If we promote the DA it's just another way of us putting out positive information out there....

lilbawler2001 · 12-22-2010, 09:46 PM

Nothing is going to pass the GOP controlled house. Why didn't he do this when there was a more realistic chance of something passing the house?

2Face · 12-22-2010, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilbawler2001

Nothing is going to pass the GOP controlled house. Why didn't he do this when there was a more realistic chance of something passing the house?

You're right. He should've done something when the Democrats had a filibuster proof majority. However, he still has a chance to do this in a GOP controlled house if he flexes his muscle and engages the Repubs. He is the President after all. There is no point in thinking about the past now. The past is a sunk cost that we are not going to recover so might as well learn from the lessons in the past and hopefully the President will do the same.

Alex QA · 12-22-2010, 09:57 PM

Seriously the little things we can do as an individual is write lots of positive comments , facts and information about the DA we need to defend it , that's the way we can grassroots campaign as one person , every article related to the DA write comments , let's be heard people , 2010 is over it's time for 2011 !!

Lora · 12-22-2010, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex QA

Seriously the little things we can do as an individual is write lots of positive comments , facts and information about the DA we need to defend it , that's the way we can grassroots campaign as one person , every article related to the DA write comments , let's be heard people , 2010 is over it's time for 2011 !!

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Obama To Make A Grassroots Push For DA, Won't Engage In Filibuster Reform Fight