Immigration advocates vow big Washington rallies to press reform

Ianus · 09-02-2013, 01:54 PM

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/31...o-press-reform

Quote:

After a summer of targeting individual House members in their districts, advocates for comprehensive immigration reform say they will escalate their efforts in the fall with larger rallies and demonstrations aimed at a national audience.

The shift in tactics comes as some leaders in the movement are voicing frustration that the more narrowly tailored activities used during the August recess have failed to maximize pressure on House Republican leaders to take up immigration legislation.

“I say that one of the problems we have is that Congress isn’t hearing enough from the American people, that we’re using too many sophisticated methods of communication,” Rep. Luis Gutiérrez (D-Ill.) told reporters earlier this week. “We’re buying ads there, and radio ads there, and hiring this lobbyist there. We need people power, and we need to concentrate.”

A series of demonstrations and rallies are planned for major cities on Oct. 5 ahead of a march in Washington on Oct. 8, Gutiérrez said. He said organizers hoped to attract 15,000 people in the capital to pressure Congress.

With budget and debt-ceiling debates expected to dominate an abbreviated legislative calendar in September, immigration reform isn’t likely to come to the House floor until October, lawmakers and aides have said.

Even then, advocates may have difficulty sustaining momentum for the issue, particularly if the fiscal fights drag out through the fall.

Immigration reform advocates defended their strategy for August, saying their goal was to “outgun” the movement’s opponents and generate headlines in local rather than national press.

“It’s been not huge marches on Washington, but those have been happening on Main Street, in key districts around the country,” said Jeremy Robbins, director of the Partnership for a New American Economy, the group pushing for immigration reform backed by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. “And that's something we’re very proud and optimistic with how that's gone.”

“You do have to lobby,” said Tom Snyder, who is managing the AFL-CIO’s campaign for immigration reform that includes a path to citizenship.

The August plan, Snyder said in an interview, was for a “massive number of events in Republican districts, not necessarily huge rallies.”

“We’re planning to escalate the pressure in September, October and November,” he said. “We’re executing a plan that we made some time ago.”

Opponents of comprehensive immigration reform said the relative lack of major activity in August was due to the slim chance that the House would actually consider legislation similar to the bill that passed the Senate in June. Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) has said the House won't vote on that measure and that any immigration proposal must gain the support of a majority of the Republican conference.

"As long as that's the case, there's not this great sense of looming danger out there," said Roy Beck, executive director of Numbers USA, which opposes a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants.

Beck voiced doubt that any plans for large rallies by reform advocates would alter the political dynamic. "I thought that was what they were planning for August. It sounds like more of the same," he said. "I don't see how more political theater is going to make a difference."

dtrt09 · 09-02-2013, 02:24 PM

For heaven's sake, not the same litany AGAIN.

Quote:

“I say that one of the problems we have is that Congress isn’t hearing enough from the American people, that we’re using too many sophisticated methods of communication,” Rep. Luis Gutiérrez (D-Ill.) told reporters earlier this week. “We’re buying ads there, and radio ads there, and hiring this lobbyist there. We need people power, and we need to concentrate.”

Geez, Rep.Gutierrez, maybe the reason people aren't listening is because they are on VACATION and people in Summer aren't keen on being hammered with problems and negativity, whether to our benefit or not. It is also the reason most workers turn off their company's email while away from the job. You should know that by now.

Quote:

“We’re planning to escalate the pressure in September, October and November,” he said. “We’re executing a plan that we made some time ago.”

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! But all of you have been feeding the masses that the vote will come in October. Now is November and then Congress leaves the first week of December for Christmas 'break' - at the risk of sounding like a broken record, I will work up until December 23rd and will return to work on December 26th, you know, because patients need care and I need to earn my livelyhood.

For those of you who still believe the bs spouting from Democratic leaders, here is a legitimate morning headline, or at least one with more credibility than the above statements:

Obama Will Launch a Huge Propaganda Blitz -- And May Attack Syria Even If He Loses the Vote in Congress

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/norman...b_3852970.html

Quote:

Hell hath no fury like war-makers scorned. Simmering rage will be palpable from political elites who do not want to see Congress set an unprecedented precedent: thwarting the will of a president who wants Pentagon firepower unleashed on another country.

President Obama and top Democrats such as House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi will twist every arm they can to get a "yes" vote for attacking Syria. Meanwhile, most mainline media pundits, numbingly addicted to war, will often chastise and denigrate foes of authorization.

Proving once again that when the President and Dems actually want something to happen, they make it happen.

#EPICFAIL

kabs · 09-02-2013, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtrt09

Proving once again that when the President and Dems actually want something to happen, they make it happen.

#EPICFAIL

Basically.

Time to make contingency plans (again).

DA User · 09-02-2013, 03:08 PM

Big momentum for CIR in House!

dtrt09 · 09-02-2013, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DA User

Big momentum for CIR in House!

Are you having a good Labor day weekend? Looking forward to going back to work tomorrow?

VeryNicePerson1 · 09-02-2013, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtrt09

Are you having a good Labor day weekend? Looking forward to going back to work tomorrow?

Well, according to him...he works like a champ every day here on DAP.

...just ignore him.

Dreamer X · 09-02-2013, 04:29 PM

Hopefully we don't ignored since this Syria thing is escalating.

2Face · 09-02-2013, 04:31 PM

This is the saddest news story I've read all freakin week. These people aren't even funny any more. They deserve no attention from us. We are the only ones who can make it happen. We must push Obama for DACA like status for the ENTIRE undocumented population. Only individuals who have been here 5+ years should be eligible for this. Sorry to the rest. I just don't see this Congress passing any immigration bill. They're all in it together. Democrats aren't really what we're making them out to be. And Republicans are just Republicans.

Tonyhasadream · 09-02-2013, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VeryNicePerson1

Well, according to him...he works like a champ every day here on DAP.

...just ignore him.

HER not him lol

VeryNicePerson1 · 09-02-2013, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tonyhasadream

HER not him lol

lol,

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Immigration advocates vow big Washington rallies to press reform