Obama Ally: Joe Wilson Won Face-Off With President

ABC News:

For the third day in a row, President Obama came under fire from a Chicago Democrat who was the first Latino member of Congress to endorse him for president. [...]

Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., hammered President Obama on Wednesday for announcing over the weekend that he would not only block health care subsidies from flowing to undocumented workers, he would also block them from using their own money to purchase health coverage through the proposed health insurance exchange.

Read the whole story: ABC News

Comments

[poster1122]

The analysis about Wilson "winning" is probably correct.

Sure, Wilson comes off as a jerk. But, thanks to the magic of gerrymandering where our House members get to pick their voters and the makeup of his particular district, he'll almost certainly be re-elected. If the left can't unseat Bachmann, good luck with trying to unseat Wilson. On top of that, he's made himself a folk hero within his base and elevated his public standing from unknown Congressional backbencher to well-known Presidential foe.

On the flip side, the President has had to provide assurances against Wilson's objection and get legislators to modify their code, giving the perception that the Democrats folded.

Not that all this matters; ultimately we will provide some sort of coverage for illegals. We know we will for emergency services like now. My guess is that we'll expand from there, no matter what reform gets implemented, if any. Pre-natal care and child vaccinations for undocumented children would almost get quietly covered for purposes of public policy. And ban will be chipped at bit by bit from there. I think that's just how the US works.

Politically, in the long term, this is probably a net negative for the Republicans; they disaffect Hispanics and because their objections won't get what they're trying to achieve--a total denial of benefits to illegals (except maybe in the most extreme cases). We've done this dance with Proposition 187 in California.

[econ1]

I think Obama is correct in making the change. While the bill didn't specifically cover illegal immigrants, it did cover citizens and also say that you couldn't ask for citizenship verificati­on....so it could be interpreted as a wink and a nod to covering illegal immigrants.

By saying that illegals are not covered and can't purchase the government subsidized policies, Obama is making it explicit..­..end of issue.

[springsm]

Welll my gosh, what does one expect. The Media picks up anything negative that their perverese minds thinks is important and rattles it 24/7 for weeks. This is how they manipulate what they want. The media promotes lies, does not do research, does not give equal time to the other side and in this case it is Obama's and thinks it is newsy. How many times did the taiking lemmnings bring up that Obama had accepted this thugs' apology. The trouble with Obama is ...is that he has grace and class, manners and civility. We have seen that that does not sell with the screaming shills of the media. There basically is no "news" regurgation that is worthy. I ache for straight news. But I do also watch Rachel...s­he being the smartest of any of the tv personalities.

[KLordsha]

The non stories keep on coming... I suppose President Obama should have cursed Joe Wilson out..and threatenedhim. Some people are never satisfied.­..

[HoracePManure]

Just another news balloon being floated. Saying that Wilson won is an attempt to fire up the base.

[Twopennygal]

When is this article going to be moved from the top of the Politics page? There is so much more important and relevant news. It's been stuck at the top of the page for over 24 hours!

[cnobody]

gutierrez is too predictable. for once, i wish he'd make the news for something that isn't tied to the illegal immigrant issue.

[Whinger]

What Joe Wilson won was the deserved contempt of every right thinking American!

[JakeMontero]

He didn't win. Can we please make sure all Americans get heath care first? You folks are f' ing it up by over reaching. do we need a solution for illegals, YES ... but not at the expense of the entire cause.

[Gizmo1125]

After a illegal immigrant is treated at a emergency room, then authorities should be called and they should be bussed back to their country. I can understand we have to treat them at the emergency room, but I do not understand how they just get to get up and leave out the hospital. The authorities should be called.

[Dwain Wilder]

Do you realize that illegal immigrants pay federal and state income and sales taxes? If they own a home, they pay school and property taxes to fund schools, social services and local government. If they rent an apartment, part of the rent goes for property taxes. Do you know that they pay into the Social Security fund? Do you realize they pay into the Medicare fund? Most of these payments are in the form of withholding from their pay, just as for most citizens.

They pay for all these services, yet are denied any service. And they are treated as if they never paid anything to be a part of this American society. And they are harangued like these comments at the mere suggestion that they might be served by the institutions they help fund. Shame on us.

[suzc]

That is idiotic! ILLEGAL immigrants take AWAY, send money home, live under the table, take welfare, health care, free housing, and free education, but they do NOT ADD to this country. LEGAL immigrants ADD. ILLEGAL immigrants do NOT. There is a REASON for immigration LAWS. They are BREAKING them, at OUR expense. Rarely do they own homes. They certainly do NOT "pay for all these services." What alternate universe do you live in?

[inorbit]

I don't think a lot of illegal immigrants pay taxes because they are working under the table. But, if they do pay taxes then they should of course receive the benefits that result from paying taxes. Those that don't pay taxes should then be the recipients of charity care. We can't be barbaric and deny healthcare to anyone who is in this country - no matter what their status.

[yweston]

Maybe, I'm being insensitive, but I don't think illegal immigrants should get the same privileges as people who are here legally. Illegal immigrants need to take necessary steps to become citizens first.

[respectingothers]

triple agree with you. Laws are made for reasons. all people need to respect the laws of the land. it keeps us from CHAOS. If you want benefits you must abide by our laws. Immigrate legally!! perhaps our immigration laws need revisiting but until they are changed they need to be respected.

[Oakland]

What part of illegal does Rep. Luis Gutierrez not get? If illegals can vote, buy health care (which they can't afford anyway), get a license, apply for welfare, attend our schools, then who the hell needs immigration policy or to be legal.

This is why Democrats are such losers. They can't even put their own self-interests aside long enough to represent the good of the country. Be it hispanics, gays, women, etc., it is ME, ME, ME...... Instead of cleaning up the corporations and kicking them out of government, passing single payer, or getting us out of Afghanistan, Gutierrez would rather fight about health care for people who aren't even suppose to be here. Maybe he should run for office in Mexico.

[MarionWatts]

How, exactly, can illegals vote?

http://emiliawahoo76.blogspot.com
http://myspace.com/virginiadem

[suzc]

illegally, of course....­.

[Niet]

Say what? Wilson demonstrated in front of the world what a petulant bunch of little whiners the GOP is. This is ridiculous.

[jlab]

Yes, but isn't it more ridiculous that the Democrats caved to a petulant bunch of little whiners? Again?

[yweston]

No they didn't. What are you talking about clarifying the language in the bill because you need to tell the pathetic bunch of whiners the same thing 1000 different ways they're so st00pid. I wouldn't be proud of that.

[suzc]

Yes

[suzc]

Dems have long been known for being expert at one thing: snatching defeat from the jaws of victory!

[joceeco]

I think Rep. Gutierrez is filled with wisdom and courage. We should not reward any individual in America for illegal behavior, but if a human being is on American soil and he/she or their children gets sick, they should be given the opportunity to get medical attention if they can afford to purchase it for themselves and their families. By not allowing them the opportunity to purchase health insurance we are endangering the public. Let's face the facts here, we are not going to deport millions of people, and if one of them should came down with a commutable disease, it is best that they have access to a doctor, rather than be turn out into the American population untreated. If they can afford to purchase healthcare under the new plan, let them. Obama and the Democrats are losing this debate to bigots and racist, and I call them bigots and racist, because most of the concerns of the republicans stem from the fear that they have of Black and Brown people becoming the majority in America. Hatred and fear will not solve America's immigration and healthcare problems.

[Silent Edge]

Exactly. They wouldn't call it 'universal' for nothing. We're all humans in this.

[respectingothers]

there's a law on the books that takes care of that. Obama is trying to get MAJOR REFORM passed. give him a freeking break

[sngynan]

12 million human beings!! Most of them working for sub-minimum wage!! And you Republican hypocrites want to deny them the most basic of human rights: health care!! Why are there 12 million illegal aliens? Because there is work for them here!! They do the work no one else wants to do! If the idiots who are demanding that they all be deported just did a little simple math, they would find that we Americans profit from their toil!! Add up what they make and subtract that from what they would make if they were properly paid, and you'll see.

I am responding to joceeco's posting, because he is one of the few that stands up here for basic human decency. And so does President Obama, but the country isn't just about human decency. He's everyone's president, and he must manage the whole, even the hate-filled racists. I believe that the coalition that brought victory to Barack Obama is still strong and I still have hope that our reasonable and intelligent president will win the day.

[Shadow08]

Wilson lost. He lost big and the loss will afftect him and his party for a long time.

[PhilipB]

Yes.

[savertime]

Yes, Wilson lost big. Some of these people sound as if they'd make excellent Nazis. March the people to the gas ovens; then turn on the gas. If a man, women or child shows up at an emergency facility or doctor's office in need of medical attention, someone there, with an ounce of humanity, will provide that medical attention. If not, they shouldn't have credentials certifying their humanity.

That is the understanding of most real Americans. The Health Care bill did not include coverage for illegal immigrants, so Obama did not lie.