Not that he cares about the issue, mind you. It’s just that he thinks it will sell with Hispanics, who’ve been leaving him in droves. And rather than appeal to all Americans, the President hopes to win re-election by grabbing up various grievance groups, whom he’ll promise to reward in exchange for votes. From The Hill:
The president’s renewed focus on immigration reform comes as Latino advocates are demanding that he do more to achieve comprehensive immigration reform, a goal he touted during his 2008 presidential campaign.
Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), the head of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus’s immigration task force, is on a countrywide tour promoting the issue. He has repeatedly said he could refrain from supporting Obama next year if he does not seriously take on immigration reform.
Immigration reform has largely sat on the shelf ever since Republicans took control of the House and made significant gains in the Senate. The House last year passed the DREAM Act, which would establish a pathway to legal residency for some children of illegal immigrants, but it failed to advance past the Senate and its future prospects appear bleak in the current Congress. Some sort of compromise measure would likely be the only piece of legislation that could pass through the GOP House and the Democratic Senate.
In addition, the still-fragile economic recovery and the pro-democracy uprisings across the Middle East this year have drawn attention away from the issue. A Gallup poll released last week showed immigration at the bottom of a list of issues the public feels are most important. Only 4 percent ranked it as the top issue, compared to 45 percent who named either the economy in general or unemployment.
But at the same time, Obama needs to mobilize Latino groups and liberals, who favor comprehensive reform, to win reelection in 2012. Latino voters helped Obama win in a handful of key swing states three years ago, including Florida, New Mexico, Colorado and Nevada.
Obama and the Democrats are looking to put other states with large minority populations into play in 2012, like Arizona and Texas, both typically GOP strongholds.
“I never write off any states,” he told WFAA. “I love Texas.”
Among those who attended the Tuesday summit meeting were Al Sharpton, Richard Trumka, f Arnold Schwarzenegger, Facebook’s CEO, officials from JP Morgan Chase, and the Bishop of Salt Lake. Governors from border states? Not so much.
— Which makes sense, if you think about it. Were you actually worried about appearing serious about border security — rather than wondering how to spin amnesty into something that sounds fair and social justice-y — you’d invite those who are working to secure the border. If not, don’t.
Less money spent on catering to feed racist nativist xenophobe haters that hate the poor struggling brown man who just wants to pick lettuce for freedom = Obama showing fiscal responsibility.
Win-win!
You made this up. Im reporting you.
Fixed it for ya, Congressman.
I don’t know why any of them bother with the “comprehensive reform” twaddle anymore, because everyone on both sides of the political divide knows exactly what they mean.
“You think we’re stupid.”
“What was your first clue, Sherlock?”
Fuck this “immigration reform” bullshit.
We have adequate mechanisms in place to deal with immigration.
We do not have the WILL to deal with it.
Plus, if you invite those haters, they might try to ask a question or something offensive like that.
I’m still confused about how an immigration policy can be labeled as “comprehensive” when it concerns itself entirely with immigrants from one single nation. Last I checked, Mexico was just one of almost 200 countries in the world, and had about 1.7% of the world’s non-U.S. population. I’m thinking that any “comprehensive” reforms will start from a baseline where Mexican immigration makes up less than 2% of total immigration into the U.S.
The Irish gave us St Patrick’s Day; the Germans brought Oktoberfest; the Italians have Le Festa Salmonella. We already took Cinco de Mayo from our neighbors to the south. It’s time to move on! We’re long overdue to co-opt another several dozen national/cultural holidays, but we can’t do that if we don’t let in any other nationals. I want more excuses to drink in a socially accepted environment, dammit!
If Obama is willing to start from that point, then I’ll happily say that I’m on board with comprehensive immigration reform.