Are Democrats Falling For Rubio’s Trap On The DREAM Act?

freshh. · 05-14-2012, 09:10 AM

Quote:

“One of the things that has already been documented is that the White House has been — the articles that have been written, two or three by now — the White House has been calling in DREAM Act advocates and asking them, almost ordering them, not to work with me on this issue,” Rubio told Laura Ingraham last Thursday on her radio show. “They have been counting on using this issue as a wedge issue in October to drive up turnout.”

Blaming the White House papers over the fact that Republicans have fiercely opposed measures that benefit people living in the country illegally. House Speaker John Boehner has signaled that Rubio’s upcoming proposal won’t change this dynamic. By contrast Democrats voted overwhelmingly in 2010 for the DREAM Act, which unlike Rubio’s alternative includes the promise of citizenship for undocumented people raised in the U.S. who attend college or join the military.

Even so, administration officials and top Democrats may be playing into Rubio’s hands by resisting his effort. Part of the political calculus is that they believe the issue will help energize Hispanic voters for Democrats ahead of the election. Hispanic voters are not happy with President Obama but they prefer him by a huge margin to Republicans, who have repeatedly thwarted efforts to pass comprehensive immigration reform.

This leaves the White House in a tricky situation. Even though immigrant-rights advocates prefer the actual DREAM Act, they still consider Rubio’s version progress — he says it’ll provide non-immigrant visas to some undocumented people and let them apply for citizenship through the regular channels. If Democrats undermine Rubio’s effort, that makes it easier for the senator to blame them when the proposal goes down, with the aim of confusing voters as to which party is on their side.

As Boehner has signaled, DREAMers ought not to expect any action from Congress in the foreseeable future. But the political upshot of Rubio’s effort is to obfuscate a clear and important distinction between the two parties among a key constituency that may potentially swing the outcome of what is expected to be a close election.

- Full Article

JohannBernoulli1667 · 05-14-2012, 11:37 AM

Bullshit!

2Face · 05-14-2012, 11:49 AM

Republicans ought to piss off because they have zero chance this November if this Rubio bill doesn't pass Congress.

immigration truth · 05-14-2012, 11:49 AM

I just want a bill out already, the speculation is driving most of us mad. Rubio needs to release a bill soon or else he risks looking hyper-political if he continues these blasts of the democratic party before even releasing a bill.

immigration truth · 05-14-2012, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2Face

Republicans ought to piss off because they have zero chance this November if this Rubio bill doesn't pass Congress.

That's the problem, that party has evolved into the most stagnant party with practically no strategic depth yet, they can barely see the writings on the wall of their demographic future. Hopefully they can wake up and just accept this damn bill already.

2Face · 05-14-2012, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by immigration truth

That's the problem, that party has evolved into the most stagnant party with practically no strategic depth yet, they can barely see the writings on the wall of their demographic future. Hopefully they can wake up and just accept this damn bill already.

But at the same time they are known to support each other ovewhelmingly unlike the Democrats. I don't see why that can't be the case here especially knowing that it is a young GOP senator who is a strong candidate for VP introducing the bill. I don't know whether these are direct quotes from Boehner. Sometimes these journalists like to twist words and misinform the audience but he has traditionally been someone who is willing to compromise with immigration. I've never heard a radical word from that man regarding Dreamer's/undocumented immigrants. There's no denying that the House would pose an uphill battle but it is possible with a compromise.

immigration truth · 05-14-2012, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2Face

Republicans ought to piss off because they have zero chance this November if this Rubio bill doesn't pass Congress.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2Face

But at the same time they are known to support each other ovewhelmingly unlike the Democrats. I don't see why that can't be the case here especially knowing that it is a young GOP senator who is a strong candidate for VP introducing the bill. I don't know whether these are direct quotes from Boehner. Sometimes these journalists like to twist words and misinform the audience but he has traditionally been someone who is willing to compromise with immigration. I've never heard a radical word from that man regarding Dreamer's/undocumented immigrants. There's no denying that the House would pose an uphill battle but it is possible with a compromise.

Agreed, there is a chance it could be accepted, there is a chance. Rubio has proven himself to be adept.

Smooth · 05-14-2012, 12:58 PM

Guys,

Wait until the bill is presented and both sides give their feedback. At this point, all of us (from Dreamers to the media) are engaging in well-reasoned analytical arguments that could go either way. We could spend years and hours on end analyzing this. We could derive numerous scenarios, but all of this will not do anything now. Let's wait to see what kind of reaction the bill gets. Don't lose hope.

Smooth · 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2Face

But at the same time they are known to support each other ovewhelmingly unlike the Democrats. I don't see why that can't be the case here especially knowing that it is a young GOP senator who is a strong candidate for VP introducing the bill. I don't know whether these are direct quotes from Boehner. Sometimes these journalists like to twist words and misinform the audience but he has traditionally been someone who is willing to compromise with immigration. I've never heard a radical word from that man regarding Dreamer's/undocumented immigrants. There's no denying that the House would pose an uphill battle but it is possible with a compromise.

They aren't Boehner's words. Boehner said that it would be "difficult at best . . . but there's always hope."

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/spea...nd-it-interest

So again, I could write an article completely different from this one and argue that Boehner says that he is hopeful that something can be done despite the difficult political climate.

DA User · 05-14-2012, 01:43 PM

DA is bound to pass.

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Are Democrats Falling For Rubio’s Trap On The DREAM Act?