This explains Romney's reticence to blast Obama's new policy, à la lightweights Brewer and Pearce. Two days after the announcement, Romney appeared on Face the Nation, where host Bob Schieffer dogged him on whether he would repeal the president's decision.
Romney dodged a yes-or-no reply, explaining that if he were elected, he would seek to resolve the issue on "a long-term basis." His main criticism of Obama seemed to be that he had waited so long to act.
"[H]e was president for the last 31/2 years and did nothing on immigration," Romney said, adding, " I would work with Congress to put in place a long-term solution for the children of those that have come here illegally."
Is this the same candidate who, during the GOP primaries, espoused "self-deportation" for the estimated 12 million undocumented people in the United States? The same guy who said he would veto DREAM Act legislation?
Such is political reality. Romney needs to siphon some of Obama's Latino support in the general election if he wants to win, and Obama needs to make sure Latinos turn out for him in record numbers, as they did in 2008. Both politicians are acting accordingly.
Additionally, in Arizona, there are cracks in the wall of bigotry that surrounds the GOP, the successful recall of top brown-hater Russell Pearce in 2011 being the most prominent.
One moment of Republican clarity came during a discussion of the president's DREAM Act order on the Channel 12 news show Sunday Square Off. Asked his opinion on the decision, state GOP spokesman and conservative blogger Shane Wikfors gave a shockingly sane response.
"This is a conversation that's not going to go away anytime soon," he said. "And it's a conversation the Republican Party has got to have at our national convention at Tampa in August.
"I think this party needs to re-evaluate its position on how we deal with people [who] are part of us, part of our community," he added.
Wikfors noted that what he said "went against the grain," but he averred that state party Chairman Tom Morrissey was of the same mind.
Another panelist wondered whether Pearce, the state party's first vice chair, would agree with him.
"I think he would, to a large degree," Wikfors said.
Sadly, that sort of generosity of spirit was not evident in the remarks of Pearce or Brewer. Still, Wikfors deserves props for simply saying what a lot of Arizona Republicans believe but have been too cowed by a nasty GOP strain of ethnic McCarthyism to voice.
Juan Escalante, spokesman for the Florida-based website DREAMActivist.org, is as skeptical as Daniela Cruz of the president's maneuver.
He compared it to the so-called "Morton memos," penned by ICE Director John Morton, prioritizing criminal aliens for removal and laying out guidelines for ICE officers regarding the use of "prosecutorial discretion" in cases where aliens are not a threat to the country.
Escalante noted that people were "very excited" when Morton issued those directives, only to be disappointed later when they were not fully implemented and deportations rolled on to record numbers — 1.5 million for the Obama administration so far.
"It just seems to me that a 'case-by-case basis' means people like myself," he said, "who are politically informed [and advocating for the DREAM Act] are going to fight on a case-by-case basis, begging essentially for the benefits [of the president's policy] to be allotted."
Yet, his jaundiced view aside, Escalante acknowledges that the president's move was a "game changer," though in a way many did not expect.
"It changes the dialogue," Escalante said. "Now people are adjusting their positions, adjusting their messaging . . . because whatever happens on this issue, it's going to get them power."
In other words, Obama's action, though bearing an obvious political advantage for the president, forces all but the most hateful to re-evaluate their opinions on the issue.
See, the DREAM Act is something that's difficult to oppose.
In 2010, the measure was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and would have passed the U.S. Senate were it not for the 60-vote rule on blocking filibusters. The bill won 55 votes in the Senate, just five votes short of cloture.
The bill's failure was not just because of Republican intransigence, as five Democrats either voted nay or did not vote at all, leaving the bill to die once more. Nor was the bill a priority for the president in his first term, despite his public promise to sign it if it got to his desk.
Obama didn't keep the DREAM alive. DREAMers deserve credit for that, through tireless activism, helping pro-immigration politicos get elected, encouraging others to vote, and carrying out demonstrations that often included defiant acts of civil disobedience and sometimes direct confrontation with law enforcement.
I clearly recall, on the day following the massive anti-SB 1070 demonstrations of July 29, 2010, a DREAMer approaching Sheriff Joe Arpaio as he strutted in front of one of his jails, proud of himself after his goons wrongfully had arrested Phoenix civil rights leader Sal Reza.
Arpaio was saying something to reporters about how he was "just enforcing the law," when a DREAM Act student presented himself to Maricopa County's top law enforcement official.
as if Americans don't commit horrendous crimes against humanity. Oh yeah we call it war and protecting citizens of other countries Do you have an idea how many of our guys have blood on their hands not from one but from many and we chose to call them heroes. Tell me how many other countries go to war as much as we do. Oh and I refuse to carry my passport inside my own country. I get asked for it I will sue.
ignorance and lies go hand in hand. No I am an American Citizen just not think different than you but I keep forgetting that in your American little world if I don't believe your lies and check them out for myself I am then not considered American. Good grief I thought America meant FREEDOM. I'm wrong about that toi huh?
yeah just that everythung related to john illegal is inaccurate &15/hr come on. Food Stamps Ilegals are undocumented you need Id and A social to identify you. therefore obviously no food stamps EDD or helo of any kind on government funded programs. when they file income taxes which they must if they ever want to be considered for any type of legalization process. They get back $0 because their ITIN is only to identify and report. Do your homework before spreading such innacuracies. Everyone would be able to get on any of those programs by just claiming to be undocumented. Give you governmental workers some credit you're making them out to be idiots running our country and I'm sure through out the years. There was bound to be someone as smart as you to come out change it or do you think you are the only smart American in this country that no one would have found all the flaws you have and changed it. They have'nt because it's nothing like you say. Get educated then maybe you will have something of use to someone instead of just spreading HATE and LIES
Illegal aliens including DREAMies are losers; pure and simple. They need to return home and apply to come back to the USA like any other legal immigrant. If it means waiting in line for a few years, so be it.
No, I'm not fine with it..that's why, after retiring from public service, I became a full time volunteer with a global social service organization to help as much as I am able. But you lay out some bullshit about unions and the cessation of trade agreements to pursue the American Dream while claiming to give a shit about the 30k+ children that die of starvation every day is ludicrous.
No, I'm not fine with it..that's why, after retiring from public service, I became a full time volunteer with a global social service organization to help as much as I am able. But you lay out some bullshit about unions and the cessation of trade agreements to pursue the American Dream while claiming to give a shit about the 30k+ children that die of starvation every day is ludicrous.
No, Kay, judging by the reply you gave on a previous post that you were just fine with people making 32 cents an hour and getting a bowl of rice for lunch, it is YOU, THAT IS FINE WITH HAVING YOUR LIFE DEPEND ON THE SUFFERING OF OTHERS. Stop kidding yourself. Calling me names is just clouding the issue you don't want to face.
Your way of life depends on the suffering of others while you spew your union, working class trade agreement bullshit!! Do you realize that if we were to take all the planets resources and spread them out equally among the 8 billion that we would all live as in the nike / fish / rice scenario of yours. In order for the current population to live in a manor as anyone able to post on this thread (Americans) we would need nine planet earths to provide the resources and another whole planet just to dump all the waste. You claim to be so damn righteous with your conspiratorial bullshit and the everyone else is so blind. But the truth is that the very computer you're using to spew your bullshit depended on the exploitation of others. Get out from under your little bubble and take a look at your own selfish bullshit before you start preaching to others.
Again, in my opinion, this is the underhanded by the administration, carrying out of the many working class trade agreements that continue to be so ruinous to American citizens and so profitable to bottom line labor. I marvel at the blindness and arrogance of so many of the posters here and elsewhere, that cannot grasp what is happening to them and going to continue to happen to them. So many of these youth think they are so hip, but they are going to experience a reality they could never imagine.
The only way I glady accept Obama's political error, is if he plans for the IRS to create a specific (double tax deduction table) which includes their immediate families still living in the USA with them, 4 FREE. Perhaps this table says it all: American JOHN vs. Illegal JOHN You have two families: "John Legal" and "John Illegal". Both families have two parents, two children, and live in Arizona. John Legal works in construction, has a Social Security Number and makes $25.00 per hour with taxes deducted. John Illegal also works in construction, has NO Social Security Number, and gets paid $15.00 in cash "under the table". Ready? Now pay attention.... John Legal: $25.00 per hour x 40 hours = $1000.00 per week, or $52,000.00 per year. Now take 30% away for state and federal tax; John Legal now has $31,231.00. John Illegal: $15.00 per hour x 40 hours = $600.00 per week, or $31,200 per year.John Illegal pays no taxes. John Illegal now has $31,200.00. John Legal pays medical and dental insurance with limited coverage for his family at $600.00 per month, or $7,200.00 per year. John Legal now has $24,031.00. John Illegal has full medical and dental coverage through the state and local clinics and emergency hospitals at a cost of $0.00 per year. John Illegal still has $31,200.00. John Legal makes too much money and is not eligible for food stamps or welfare. John Legal pays $500.00 per month for food, or $6,000..00 per year. John Legal now has $18,031.00. John Illegal has no documented income and is eligible for food stamps, WIC and welfare. John Illegal still has $31,200.00. John Legal pays rent of $1,200.00 per month, or $14,400.00 per year. John Legal now has 9,631.00. John Illegal receives a $500.00 per month Federal Rent Subsidy. John Illegal pays out that $500.00 per month, or $6,000.00 per year. John Illegal still has $ 31,200.00. John Legal pays $200.00 per month, or $2,400.00 for car insurance. Some of that is uninsured motorist insurance. John Legal now has $7,231.00. John Illegal says, "We don't need no stinkin' insurance!" and still has $31,200.00. John Legal has to make his $7,231.00 stretch to pay utilities, gasoline, etc.. John Illegal has to make his $31,200.00 stretch to pay utilities, gasoline, and what he sends out of the country every month. John Legal now works overtime on Saturdays or gets a part time job after work. John Illegal has nights and weekends off to enjoy with his family. John Legal's and John Illegals children both attend the same elementary school. John Legal pays for his children's lunches, while John Illegal's children get a government sponsored lunch. John Illegal's children have an after school ESL program. John Legal's children go home. Now, when they reach college age, John Legal's kids may not get into a State School and may not qualify for scholarships, grants or other tuition help, even though John has been paying for state schools through his taxes, while John Illegal's kids "go to the head of the class" because they are a minority. John Legal and John Illegal both enjoy the same police and fire services, but John paid for them and John Illegal did not pay. If you vote for or support any politician that supports illegal aliens, go figure! You are part of the problem!
It wouldn't surprise me in the tiniest bit. D.C. is now run by a clearly disconnected from actual citizens, criminal cabal, called the Senate and Congress and W.H. all working to screw what was formerly called American citizens.
They are busy filing false complaints against LEO's. They are busy calling home and saying come now! They are busy getting their work papers and soon they will miraculously all have jobs while citizens continue with massive un and under employment.
Here come the hordes. Big win for the globalists. US national sovereignty - well there is no question now where our political monied class stands. TRAITORS! And they claim to serve us? Exactly how is that? I heard rumor that MSthirteen has huge contingent here in AZ laying low for what purpose? Perhaps this is exactly the purpose.
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