Today, at a speech at American University, President Obama reiterated his support for comprehensive immigration reform. He said:
The question now is whether we will have the courage and the political will to pass a [comprehensive immigration ] bill through Congress, to finally get it done.
The Democratic Leadership in Congress has stated its support as well, as has a vast majority of Americans. According to a recent poll sponsored by America's Voice Education Fund, and conducted by Lake Research Partners and Public Opinion Strategies, 78 percent of all voters support comprehensive immigration reform. The controversy over Arizona's decision to usurp federal power and implement racial profiling as a solution to our immigration crisis would seem to have put this issue and America's frustration with lack of action from Washington on the front burner.
Problem? There is a huge stumbling block and it's called the Republican Party. Instead of even attempting to find common ground or proposing a solution, they've resorted to vilifying immigrants and fabricating stories to incite Americans' insecurities. Former advocates of comprehensive immigration reform have turned their back on what they once hailed as a practical solution. Sen. Lindsey Graham, gone. Sen. John McCain, gone. Sen. Jon Kyl, gone. Why? To even novice political observers, the answers are apparent. Threatened by a wave of racist tea party pressure, they've chosen to side with the racists over immigrants despite polling that shows the vast majority of Americans want Congress to fix this broken system. Specifically, it would seem Kyl and Graham are protecting McCain, who is facing a rabid anti-immigration nut, disgraced former Rep. J.D. Hayworth, in the Arizona Republican primary.
To be clear, Republican obstructionism isn't limited to the issue of immigration. Across the board, the GOP has chosen to put politics before the interests of their nation. Quite simply, they would rather do political damage to President Obama than work on solving America's problems. They've denied the unemployed access to jobs and assistance, they've tried to block Americans from access to quality affordable health insurance, they've sided with the millionaires of Wall Street over working Americans in the financial reform fight, and they are standing with BP rather than helping address our critical energy security and environment crisis. It's little wonder then that they are willing to demagogue and sacrifice immigrants for the sake of perceived political expediency.
If you think my words are too strong, than consider some of vile comments and completely off-base hysterical statements from Republicans:
Arizona Republican Gov. Jan Brewer, apparently buoyed by enacting SB1070, a law that begs for racial profiling, made a whopper of a statement saying that most undocumented immigrants are drug mules, a claim even the conservative National Border Patrol Council called unfounded. Days later, in an attempt to give credence to her claim that Arizona is suffering from out-of-control border violence, Brewer claimed local law enforcement officers had found several beheaded bodies in the dessert, but medical examiners who investigate all suspicious deaths said they hadn't seen not even one such case.
The author of Arizona's SB 1070 law is state Sen. Russell Pearce. Pearce is a well known white supremacist and has other racist ties that have been profiled by Southern Poverty Law Center.
Sen. McCain, in a quest to appear hawkish on border security and immigration, has set aside his integrity and honesty in a misguided attempt to appeal to extremists. He's not only is engaging in purely fictional fear mongering (FBI statistics show crime at an all-time low in Arizona and undocumented immigration at historic lows as well), but by identifying himself as "one of us," his advertisement is clearly engaging in despicable race baiting.
The President's speech makes clear where his administration stands. Now it is a time for Republicans to either stand with Americans who want a practical solution to our broken immigration system or continue down the road of un-American obstructionism and open flirtation with racist extremism.
If you'd like to join the call for Republicans to work with the President on immigration please call (866) 563-5608.
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Steve Clemons: Lindsey Graham: In Today's Republican Party, Reagan Wouldn't Make It as a Republican
Today's Republican Party is not a comfortable place for many classic Republicans. This is why I don't see someone like General David Petraeus easily saddling up to the Republican Party in his post-military, post-Afghanistan Eisenhoweresque rise.
No, unemployment didn't stay below 8%
No , porkulus hasn't worked
No , after 75 days the Gulf is still not contained
No , ObamaScare Healthcare isn't worth a damn, and is costing all of us
So actually the President of No and Pelosi and Reid are the No crowd
No,Unemployment hasnt stayed below 8% - Ressision hasnt affected where I live
No, Bush's porkulus didnt work either
No, The Gulf spill hasn't been contained-But would it have been if you were President?
No, Obamacare is worth it cause Health care is a right!
2. Sevier penalties for those that employ illegal aliens
3. Deport any illegal alien that breaks our laws
4. Citizenship for those here illegally, sure, go back and get in line like everyone else
The liberal media will continue to downplay the massive support for secure borders and screening of persons entering the US. But it all comes down to the fact that Americans will welcome immigrants to our country as long as they do so legally. This is necessary to protect the security of our Nation and more importantly protect our famlies from harm. Over 90% of Illegals are Hispanic who believe that they have special rights over all other Immigrants. They push to the head of the line demanding instant citizenship while other Immigrants that obey our laws must go to the end of the line. That is true racism.
And further " Over 90% of Illegals are Hispanic who believe that they have special rights over all other Immigrants"...where do you come up with this stuff? You seriously believe that 90% of illegal immigrants believe that they have special rights over other immigrants??
Fail.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22614102/
There is nothing wrong with our immigrations laws, other than the fact that they are not enforced!
That's why we need a REAL reform now.
What else is new?
Don't forget what comes next:
"President caves, ineffective legislation passed, no problem solved"
Since being elected he ramped up immigration enforcement to levels that are unprecedented, and are even beyond what we saw under Bush. The vast majority of his speech was dedicated to his commitment to vigorous immigration enforcement, and he scapegoats the GOP for his administration's own policies.
Obama continues to fail immigrants, and it is time that immigration reform activists start calling his bluff.
And why in the world wouldn't you want that??
What he calls obstructionism is driven by no mood to compromise on anything immigration before the border is secure so that the flood of illegals can be stopped, and no mood to reward law breakers with an amnesty and citizenship. If Obama and his gang can start with these two points, then we can talk about the other details of immigration reform.
Or he has read the legislation, he understands what the legislation says, and he is lying.
No. They are pikers.
Try the Goldman Sachs gang.
Wait, I'm looking at his past articles. Just as I figured, no opposition to the bill.
Sure millions supported it, but millions more opposed it.