by Paul West
News flash: Barack Obama and John McCain share an identical position on a matter of intense interest to voters--immigration--that is a symbol of Washington's failure to solve the nation's problems.
Does that mean something will finally get done about immigration when the new president takes over? Surprisingly, perhaps, the answer appears to be "No." And that might raise questions about exactly how much change the next president will deliver.
At the moment, Obama and McCain are intensifying their efforts to gain support from Latinos, whose votes have the power to decide the presidential election. Both candidates support a comprehensive overhaul of immigration law, an issue that remains stalemated at the national level.
Chants of "Si, se puede (yes, we can)" greeted Obama's pledge here the other day, to representatives of the nation's oldest Hispanic organization, that he'd "bring undocumented immigrants out of the shadows" and "avoid creating second-class servants in our midst."
When McCain promoted a plan to give millions of illegal immigrants a path to citizenship, it nearly cost him the Republican nomination. His rhetoric is more muted now. But he remains dedicated to dealing "practically and humanely" with those who are here illegally, he told the same Hispanic audience that Obama addressed.
The next round in their duel for Hispanic votes will come in separate speeches to the National Council of La Raza, which calls itself the largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization, at its current convention in San Diego.
By itself, having a supporter of immigration reform in the White House means little. A weakened President Bush was no match for grassroots activists, whipped up by conservative talk radio, who blocked the attempt to push immigration reform through Congress in his second term.
According to those who track the issue, the key to breaking the stalemate is early action in the next president's tenure, when his influence will be greatest.
If Washington "is to take serious steps to resolve the current impasse, it is widely thought that the new president will have to move swiftly and creatively in the honeymoon period," David A. Martin, former general counsel of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, concluded in an analysis for the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia.
Obama says he'd make immigration "a top priority in my first year as president" and finish the job "by the end of my first term." McCain says he'll make another run at reform once he's proved that the borders are secure.
But outside analysts say odds of action in 2009 have dimmed. For many voters, dealing with a faltering economy is far more important than fixing immigration.
"The next president will be called upon to focus early and intensely on the problems of the economy and the associated problems of energy and perhaps health care," said Bill Galston, a domestic policy adviser in the Clinton White House, now at the Brookings Institution. "Whether there would be space in the legislative agenda early on for an all-out assault on the immigration problems strikes me as a dicey proposition at best."
Like others, Galston believes that, at some point, the next president--whether it is Obama or McCain--will make "a serious run at immigration reform. There are all sorts of forces dissatisfied with the status quo."
Logic might argue that a Democratic Congress and a Democratic president would have a better chance of getting something done. But logic does not always explain how things work inside the Beltway.
Mark Krikorian, author of "The New Case Against Immigration, Both Legal and Illegal," points out that some of the Democrats who replaced Republicans in the 2006 election opposed the immigration measure co-sponsored by McCain and Democratic Sen. Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts. It is too early to know how the Class of '08 will come down on the issue, but the "anti" forces that successfully blocked action last year will be back to pressure Congress, no matter who's in charge.
Krikorian is no admirer of McCain--he's called him "weasely" and "terrible on immigration"--but thinks the Republican may be more committed to reform than Obama.
For McCain, the fight "is now personal," he says. "He wants revenge on the Republican Party for having stopped him last year, so he's much more likely to expend political capital when the going gets rough in Congress."
A President Obama, he adds, might not fight as hard for reform but would be less likely than McCain to put hardliners into top border and immigration enforcement positions at the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice.
Immigration, a hot topic in the primaries, especially for Republicans, wasn't expected to be part of the general election debate, since the candidates agree on the issue. But that appears to be changing.
Obama, in his speech to the Hispanic audience in Washington, accused McCain of abandoning his "courageous stance" on immigration when it became politically unpopular. The attack on his reputation may have gotten under McCain's skin.
"McCain is an honor politician, and he considers that kind of charge an attack on his honor that he has to defend," says Krikorian.
As if on cue, the McCain campaign is airing a new ad this weekend in three swing states where Hispanics could hold the balance of power--Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona. It features footage of McCain defending his immigration stance during a Republican primary debate.
In the ad, McCain praises the patriotism of Hispanic members of the armed services and points out that even those who are in this country illegally are "God's children. They must come into our country legally, but they have enriched our culture and our nation as every generation of immigrants before them."
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Comments
News Flash:
Obama = Republican Lite
Posted by: The Outer | July 12, 2008 8:43 AM
Obama – Oh Mama. A look at the phenomenon of Obama’s selection and the enthusiasm of his supporters. Obama Oh Mama The Temptation, The Mantra, The Consequences
I hope you will consider it at zachjonesishome.wordpress.com. Specifically: http://zachjonesishome.wordpress.com/2008/07/11/obama-oh-mama/
Posted by: ZachJonesIsHome | July 12, 2008 8:45 AM
THe Legal citizens of
the USA have already spoken
and will shut down Washington
again if they have to,
Posted by: M A Andrews | July 12, 2008 9:15 AM
Here's a radical thought:
Instead of trying to engineer a "Comprehensive Top To Bottom Revolutionary Revamping Reform Bill" on immigration, just do 3 simple things:
1. reinstate judicial review of the immigration bureaucracy (now they're a law unto themselves)
2. reinstate a section of the law called "245(i)"
3. increase the number of visas for Mexico for family based cases.
See how easy that was?
Posted by: ornery | July 12, 2008 9:51 AM
Enforce the current laws better would help-
Second check and see if the lobbyist are telling congress no, no as they seem to have more clout than the voters-
Posted by: George | July 12, 2008 11:57 AM
Regarding God’s Children: Those opposed to illegal immigration have never — ever— discounted the contributions of Hispanic citizens and legal residents to the welfare of America, especially not their long history of service to this nation in the armed forces. What McCain does is mix up and obfuscate legal and illegal immigrants. The issue is that is the problem is illegal immigration and border security, not whether we know that Americans of Hispanic descent have risked and given their lives for us in service to America.
Posted by: BlueRider | July 12, 2008 12:17 PM
Bottom line: a comprehensive immigration reform with path to citiznehsip is a matter of when, not if. Even Billy Bob knows that but doesn't want to admit it.
Posted by: Cohen | July 12, 2008 12:35 PM
This issue is not about denigration of Hispanics, it is about the Rule of Law. Why is it so important for our candidates to trip over themselves to find a way to provide citizenship to law breakers? We know that both Obama and McCain want this.
How about we stop or at least slow down illegal immigration, fix the immigration system, stop listening to lobbyists for money, and address this issue for what it is?
How about we find a way to honor those Hispanics who entered this nation legally, fought their way to citizenship, and are serving as part of the backbone of America by maintaining the integrity of Citizenship?
Read more on "The Current Illegal Immigration Population - What To Do?" at:
http://brokengovernment.wordpress.com/2008/01/24/the-current-illegal-immigration-population-%e2%80%93-what-to-do/
Posted by: Ken Moyes | July 12, 2008 12:57 PM
Posted by: Ryan H
Guess you would say that daily bombardment of the Internet, shows that
illegal immigration is a volatile issue that isn't going away. Our
politicians promised 'No more Amnesties' after the 1986 Simpson/Mazzoli
Immigration control act. But Ultra Liberal Ted Kennedy lied to the American
people. Right now anti-illegal advocates are battling to bring the Federal
Save Act (H.R.4088) to a vote, because like potentate speaker Nancy Pelosi
trying to dismantle the original plans of the border fence. This Democratic
lady and her minions are intimidating her moderate people not to sponsor
this piece of legislation.
The author fails to mention that ALIPAC, NUMBERSUSA, AMERICAN PATROL,
LIBERTY POST, GRASSFIRE,IMMIGRATION NEWS INDEXER, doesn't have the benefit
of big business and the special interest lobby financing them. The soul
donors to all the pro-sovereignty, anti-illegal immigrant organizations is
the general public.
Our main problem now is potential President Obama stated in a previous
speech, he would offer a path to citizenship. Which means a massive
AMNESTY, for all the illegal aliens, who ignored our laws. The newspapers
restrict information about the carnage within our communities and on the
highways, by the criminal element that have also entered through our highly
deceptive line--the government calls a border. Yet another deceptive
report, is the numbers of illegal foreign nationals that have entered here.
May be 5 years ago it was perhaps, 12 million. But today UNIPAC has
estimated that the illegal population is at least 30 million.
Has anybody taken into consideration if another AMNESTY passes, what are
going to be the ramifications of this law? It will mean an immediate rush
towards the border, from either Canada or Mexico because they will be
expecting a third AMNESTY...?
It's not bigotry or the race card..its about saving our way of life, the
quality of life. It about millions of poor, illiterate people suddenly
legal, able to steal the jobs of own poverty stricken citizens. The single
Moms with children, homeless veterans back from an ugly war along with the
sick and infirm and of course senior citizens. Would you not call it
discrimination, when a Teacher with tenure loses her job because she
doesn't speak Spanish.
If you listen to the pro-illegal immigration business funded groups, who
talk about that it will be great for the economy? Perhaps you might ask an
ailing California; a 'Sanctuary State' that has become a haven for illegal
immigrants. Then read about Arizona that has shown a remarkable economic
comeback, as illegal aliens have been fleeing owing to its new harsh
employer sanction laws.
Overpopulation, congestion, urban sprawl, pollution, Water shortages,
environmental damage, crime, diminishing resources, Diseases, lack of
affordable housing, depressed wages, underground economic, fraudulent
documents, identity theft, tax evasion, soaring crime rate, increased tax
burdens, overcrowded schools, uneducated children, overcrowded prisons,
inadequate health care, the balkanization of our communities and a large
and growing population with loyalty to other Nations. The overall decline
in our quality of life are the result of unrestrained illegal immigration!
America cannot accept the worlds destitute population of other countries.
Criminals, Undesirables and Uneducated people. Too many people chasing too
few resources is not sound economic, social or cultural policy. This is not
racism but pragmatism & common sense!
Every industrialized nation has taken steps to end illegal immigration and
to limit legal immigration to only that which is prudent, demonstrably
necessary, and above al! l other concerns, in the best interest of their
native population. Its insane to suggest that America should not do
likewise! England and Australia have adopted a points system, when it comes
to immigration. You are just not going to get a working visa, unless you
have valuable skills to offer that nation.
If we enact the SAVE ACT (H.R.4088) as an enforcement tool against illegal
foreign nationals. Then they repatriate their person by ATTRITION. After
that then we could adopt an orderly guest worker program, with no legal
right to being a citizen. However, guest workers would receive a special
preferences, but first must return to their home country. But then they
could apply for legal residence. This is the way it must be...?
American patriots have beaten just by sheer numbers, each time a new
AMNESTY has arrived into Washington for a vote. We must keep fighting,
because the alternative is to be flooded with illegal foreign nationals,
who know how to tap the welfare safety net, originally awarded to citizens
and legal residents. If you believe for one minute that illegal foreigners
don't know how to collect food stamps, because you must have legal status.
Then how come the government extracts secretly squeezes 356 billion dollars
billion dollars to support the invaders? Yet even that doesn't cover the
costs to taxpayers, when you realize this should be the weighty burden that
pariah business should be accountable for? Then can you imagine the strain
on the Social Security system and pension for seniors?
The only way working class Americans are going to hold onto their jobs, is
to demand their Democratic representatives endorse the SAVE ACT. Because it
doesn't matter what your country of origin, businesses will take the
easiest route to profits. All of us will suffer under the globalist open
border, free trade agenda as they are in Europe. Today! It's a fight to
keep our sovereignty against bad free market agreements. It's a ongoing
battle against the momentum of overpopulation.
If small state laws like in Oklahoma and Arizona, has seen a definite
change as thousands of foreign nationals have packed their bags and fled
elsewhere. Just think what the all encompassing federal SAVE ACT (H.R.4088)
could do for your states future?
Posted by: Bad Bob | July 12, 2008 1:41 PM
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Posted by: BlueRider | July 12, 2008 12:17 PM
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You are correct. Opposition to "illegal immigration" does not come from the "immigrant" part; it comes from the "illegal" part. We should welcome anyone who crosses the border legally. On the other hand, we treat ourselves and legal immigrants to a large measure of uncertainty if we cannot enforce our own laws.
Posted by: John W. | July 12, 2008 2:43 PM
Let's secure our borders by building the fence so we have an effective and controlled immigration system at the same time as we enforce our currently existing immigration laws.
During this interval we encourage illegals to depart (attrition through enforcement). Once our borders are secured and we have a grip on a functional system of immigration, we move against those illegals that have refused to leave. We should never ever grant amnesty.
We tried 'comprehensive immigration reform' in 1986. We gave amnesty to 3 million illegal aliens in exchange for the government promising to secure the borders, conduct workplace enforcement and enforce immigration law. It didn't work because the government lied and did nothing other than process the amnesty paperwork. Due to that folly, we now have 20 Million or more illegal aliens here demanding amnesty.
Don't you think it is far beyond time that we engage in Comprehensive Immigration ENFORCEMENT rather than Comprehensive Immigration Reform (amnesty)?
Posted by: BlueRider | July 12, 2008 4:38 PM
I am appalled by apologists and illegal immigration advocates who think it is perfectly acceptable for us to accommodate 20 million people who have no business or right to be in our country.
America was built with native born citizens and LEGAL immigrants. The millions of illegals here are costing the American taxpayer over $100 billion every year on health care and other services including education, law enforcement, welfare and housing. It is in the best interest of America, her citizens and LEGAL immigrants to reject illegal immigration and force the illegals to depart.
Honoring America’s values don’t include embracing illegal immigration, in fact, honoring America’s values involves honoring the rule of law. We have allowed ourselves to become a fractured society, with citizens who have to obey the law and illegal aliens who don’t. Anyone with even a modicum of logic can see that this is anarchy.
I embrace legal immigration as we have the right and duty as a sovereign nation to decide whom we let in and whom we keep out and illegal immigration voids both of those precepts.
Posted by: BlueRider | July 12, 2008 4:40 PM
First we must separate the enigma of who is in this country legally and those who entered America without being processed?
I'm all for using my tax dollars for supporting the poor people of this nation. But I draw the line of underwriting the profit margins of predatory businesses, that pay NOTHING towards their hired subservient cheap labor. Americans can no longer continue to subsidies anybody else, no matter their sympathetic values. Our government has taken advantage of the majority. Who are already paying for confusing wars, free-so called-trade, spiraling energy costs and a stagnated mortgage crisis.
Perhaps some brave Independent politician should ask the Bush/ Pelosi administrations, how many houses was sold to low income illegal aliens and families who walked away from the mess? While our governors. Mayors and city managers debate amongst themselves, we THE PEOPLE should demand the federal SAVE ACT (H.R.4088). Unless we stand up for our rights. a new AMNESTY will be enacted. Then as the border still remains wide-open the next hordes of poor, will be streaking into America. Added to the already overloaded free government handouts., The financial disaster will be paramount to the 1929 depression. Join for free NUMBERSUSA and commit yourself to halting the illegal foreign national occupation of this nation.
Posted by: Brittanicus | July 12, 2008 7:24 PM
I am legal immigrant and am now thinking I wish I was here illegally because there is greater chance of illegal reform passing in washington than a legal reform.Legal immigrants have no voice in washington...
Posted by: legalimmigrant | July 12, 2008 8:20 PM
As a taxpayer, I am absolutely opposed to any more pork barrel projects like some silly fence or added immigrant "enforcement" until we pay off the absurd national debt that the big government Republicans have saddled our country with.
Cut the size of government back to what it was in 2000 (the Republicans grew it 70 or 80 percent), get rid of useless agencies like their "Homeland Security", stop borrowing money from everyone else in the world, which has decimated the value of our dollar and led to higher fuel prices, end the bottomless pit of a pork-laden war against the people who live in the Middle East, and do away with the tax giveaways to people who send jobs overseas.
The Republicans have spent any money we may have had to address the immigrant issue on their silly "terror" campaign of the last several years. When that stupidity is paid off, then we, the taxpayers, might consider using our resources to address the immigrant issue...but until it's paid off (in 5-10 years), we, the taxpayers, aren't gonna give it a second thought, and (as we saw very clearly last year) will tell our lawmakers to keep things exactly as they are, without spending more than a token sum of out tax dollars, if only to make the anti-immigrant yahoos shut up.
Like it or not, regardless of whatever those anti-immigrant websites may be feeding you about what "America wants", the majority of folks out here have much more relevent things to think about than whether hate groups want to push some irrelevent nonsense trying to make a distinction between what they call "legal" and "illegal" immigrants.
Pay the debt and cut the size of government, then we'll consider the immigration issue.
Posted by: No More Pork | July 12, 2008 11:58 PM
We will never truly enforce immigration reform. Nothing but a hot button issue to rile the ignorant masses around a non-issue. Deport 12-15 million people? Laughable. Enforce penalties on huge agri-business for hiring illegals? Still laughing. Build a giant fence? I think I just wet myself.
A tanking economy, food prices through the roof, transportation costs cutting margins and you fools think our free market is going to be restricted by our government in any way? Rolling on the floor in a puddle of my own piddle!
Posted by: Free Market Marty | July 13, 2008 10:24 AM
Another reason Congressional approval rating at 9%
Posted by: Terry | July 13, 2008 12:40 PM
A Win-Win For All:
U.S. citizens are not against immigration per se...they are against illegal immigration. Responsible, legal immigration; trained and qualified employees; contributing, law-abiding citizenship are the demands of the day.
Visit immigrantopportunities.org
Posted by: I mmigrant Opportunities | July 13, 2008 2:37 PM
There is much emotional rhetoric about immigration but I don't see any viable solutions being offered. We believe we have a very viable component that would move this nation in the direction of at least reducing if not solving the problem of illegal immigration as it relates to taxpayer burden. Please visit our website at immigrantopportunities.org. Let us know your thoughts by contacting us at kcdc@immigrantopportunities.org.
Posted by: Immigrant Opportunities | July 13, 2008 2:54 PM
The man who, according to the AMA Journal, was ranked the greatest surgeon who ever operated, just died.
His parents were Lebanese immigrants who came in about 1900. Before the quota system and other abominations were instituted in the 1920's post WW I.
Dr. Michael DeBakey.
You right wingers would never have let his parents in in the first place.
Posted by: ornery | July 14, 2008 1:22 AM
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Posted by: ornery | July 14, 2008 1:22 AM
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What a bunch of crap, ornery! Conservatives (other than their ersatz conservative representatives) oppose illegal immigration, not immigration in general. This has a whole bunch to do with the fact that those who immigrate illegally, by definition, break the law. It is not - I repeat - it is not, a matter of racial preference or discrimination. You can go on believing the contrary all you like - and I suppose people like you, who love to categorically demonize their opponents and absolve their political kindred of all wrong, will do just that.
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Now, as usual, I will point out part of the historic record showing you how downright rotten Democrats had once been in dealing with the same issue. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt faced a crisis owing to the persecution of Jews in Nazi Germany. He had inherited a policy under the quota system of excluding all aliens who would not have a guaranteed job upon arrival in the U.S. (The policy, as worded, excluded those who would become a "charge" on the government.) He continued the policy because we were still in the midst of the Great Depression. Thus, despite a great clamor to admit more Jews outside the quota system, Roosevelt and his compliant Democrat Congress stood their ground. Officials turned away a passenger ship carrying Jews, and Roosevelt nixed a bill to admit Jewish children. Incredibly, in a statement made in 1940 (approximately a year and a half before we entered World War II), Roosevelt stated that he believed we had to exercise caution because there would be spies among Jews fleeing Europe.
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Under the laws in existence today, the government can grant asylum, outside the quota system, to a person facing persecution. Had that law existed during Roosevelt's presidency, we might have been able to save many of those whom the Nazis killed. Furthermore, then, as now, the federal government enforced those "evil" quotas because Roosevelt and his compliant Democrat Congress felt it more important to save America for Americans having money problems. How's that for big hearted? So you think conservatives are capable of all evil, and Democrats can do no wrong? It is truly naïve of you to think so.
Posted by: John W. | July 14, 2008 3:15 AM
Mcclain says he will listen to the people,but he don't listen to the people of his own state he represents, they were against amnesty,Did he listen to them? So he sure isn't going to listen to us. Obama is a good speaker,but thats as far as it goes. The media has shoved him down our throats. I have never seen anyone get away with the things he does and the media ignore it.He scares the life out of me.His associates are gone for now until and if he becomes president. We need shorter primarys, less costly and all the states vote at one time to make it fair. As far as the illegal immigrants go, Stop the freebies,fine the employers and they will go home. Let them come the right way.MAYBE THEY SHOULD GO AFTER THERE OWN GOVERNMENT.
Posted by: marilyn mangan | August 2, 2008 4:39 AM