Next Up: Immigration Reform
[Guest post by DRJ]
The Obama Administration has brought us health care reform, financial reform, and next up may be immigration reform:
“Speaking in the Rose Garden where 24 active-duty U.S. service members from more than a dozen countries became Americans, Obama said their efforts to earn their citizenship is a reminder “of how we must remain both a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws.”
“This includes fixing America’s broken immigration system,” he said.
The president said that while disagreements have gone on for years, “surely we can all agree that when 11 million people in our country are living here illegally, outside the system, that’s unacceptable.”
He called for “common-sense, comprehensive immigration reform grounded in the principles of responsibility and accountability.”
Some think the unacceptable part is that they are allowed to live here illegally. Others are simply amazed at the Obama Administration’s refusal to “pivot” to the economy and jobs. Why are Obama and the Democrats taking on so many polarizing and unpopular reforms? I subscribe to Byron York’s answer — they want to ram through as much as possible while they still control Congress:
“So why are Obama, Pelosi and Reid going forward? There are five possible explanations.
1) They’ve lost their minds.
2) They are very smart and know something we don’t.
3) They’re out of touch with the public’s concerns.
4) They want to be able to tell the most ardent supporters of reform that they tried.
5) They’re fully aware that the public doesn’t want “comprehensive” reform but are racing to do as much as they can before the elections take away their power to defy the public’s wishes.
The first possibility is highly unlikely. The second is less so, but still pretty unlikely. The third is plausible, but not probable. The fourth is arguable. And the fifth? It makes a lot of sense, especially in light of the Obamacare experience.”
Will Obama “Go for it”?
— DRJ
““So why are Obama, Pelosi and Reid going forward? There are five possible explanations.”
There’s a few simple ones. The easiest is of course, that they know we need immigration reform and in this environment it can be done with less partisanship — since all they need is one GOP vote. So it is easier to do it now than later. Another factor is they know this is a huge wedge for the right. Add this to the GOP recalcitrance on wall street reform, and the politics is kind of simple.
imdw (017d51) — 4/23/2010 @ 2:45 pm“And the fifth? It makes a lot of sense, especially in light of the Obamacare experience.””
The problem with this one is that i’m not so sure about “the public doesn’t want “comprehensive” reform.” I’m looking for polls on it but many features we would find in a comprehensive bill get quite a bit of support:
http://www.pollingreport.com/immigration.htm
imdw (05d41e) — 4/23/2010 @ 2:50 pmThe public is currently (and historically) wary of “comprehensive” reform legislation: too many possibilities for unintended consequences.
AD - RtR/OS! (9562e0) — 4/23/2010 @ 2:54 pmWhat they want is for the government to secure the border.
Once that is done, other approaches can be considered – piecemeal!
Huge wedge for the right? It split the Dems when the Republicans tried for amnesty before. Why would it be any different this time? Is amnesty more popular today? What they really want is a chance to scream RACIST for disagreeing with a Dem policy, not that they really need an excuse.
JD (9f2abc) — 4/23/2010 @ 3:00 pmIf you look at those polls you’ll see there’s lots of things people want. But wingnuts remain wingnuts, so maybe Byron work doesn’t see what other people see.
imdw (017d51) — 4/23/2010 @ 3:01 pm“The easiest is of course, that they know we need immigration reform and in this environment it can be done with less partisanship — since all they need is one GOP vote.”
“The problem with this one is that i’m not so sure about “the public doesn’t want “comprehensive” reform.””
imdw – Since only 21% of the public supported the 2006 bill, if they decide to go for it, especially if they draft it behind closed doors like the health care reform failure, it should make for interesting spectating. Please pass the popcorn.
daleyrocks (1d0d98) — 4/23/2010 @ 3:51 pmPeople who believe that immigration reform (or “reform”), at least in the guise of do-gooder, big-hugs policymaking, is a long-needed answer to a porous border should be required — if not forced — to relocate to and live in the variety of border cities roiling from an almost Dark-Ages type of terror and brutality. I’m referring to endless numbers of stories involving people in Mexico, including cops, soldiers, members of the media, innocent bystanders and children, who have been kidnapped and/or murdered. In some cases, even chopped up in pieces and then stuffed in bags or suitcases, or left lying around in an empty field.
Mark (411533) — 4/23/2010 @ 4:06 pmDoes Obama still believe that we should give illegal aliens U.S. drivers licenses? Hillary dropped that like a hot potato and then Obama ran with it. It’s a fun concept. These people are in our country illegally, but we should give them some legal privileges to drive.
Suh-weet! The minds of the elite educated class work in mysterious ways. They clearly know what is best for us.
daleyrocks (1d0d98) — 4/23/2010 @ 4:34 pm“…but we should give them some legal privileges to drive…”
Not just that when you remember that that DL is their entryway onto a commercial airliner.
AD - RtR/OS! (9562e0) — 4/23/2010 @ 4:57 pm“There’s a few simple ones. The easiest is of course, that they know we need immigration reform …”
It must be comforting to have the
mindset of a serf.
The b@#$%&*s work for us. Next
thing you know, our betters will be
telling us what we can’t say, or
what we can’t eat, or that we
have to buy goods or services
we don’t want.
Because after all,
GaleH (710dbc) — 4/23/2010 @ 5:49 pmit is for our own good; and the
ignorant will cheer their masters.
I think a single word sums it up – “Arugula”
Damion (77ab06) — 4/23/2010 @ 6:25 pmIf nothing else, this gives J.D. Hayworth a great issue. Either McCain drops his principled support for amnesty, or he betrays Arizona voters by sticking with them.
Ed from SFV (f0e1cb) — 4/23/2010 @ 7:18 pmMore unemployment – from the increased illegal immigration and flag-pole legal immigration – just what the country needs. In fact, increased unemployment in the minority community. Perfect plan.
SPQR (26be8b) — 4/24/2010 @ 9:46 am