Posted on 07/01/2010 6:58:40 AM PDT by BradtotheBone
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama hopes to rally new momentum behind the push for an immigration overhaul by explaining why he thinks a comprehensive approach is the only way to fix what he and others say is a system badly in need of repair.
Obama was laying out his rationale in a speech Thursday, his first as president on the issue.
Obama wasn't expected to announce any new proposals or policy changes. But feeling pressure from a range of supporters, he was aiming to jump-start the effort he had promised to make a priority in his first year and which advocates had hoped would be completed by now.
The speech follows up on back-to-back meetings Obama had with advocates and lawmakers at the White House this week.
Obama has said a comprehensive solution means "accountability for everybody"- from the U.S. government meeting its obligation to secure the border, to businesses facing the consequences of knowingly employing illegal immigrants, to those who enter the country illegally owning up to their actions before they can begin the process of becoming citizens.
Recent developments on immigration influenced his decision to give a speech, White House officials say, most notably Arizona's enactment of a tough anti-immigrant law and protests across the country against it.
"He thought this was a good time to talk plainly with the American people about his views on immigration," spokesman Bill Burton said.
Still, prospects appear bleak for getting a bill to Obama's desk before lawmakers leave town in the fall to campaign for re-election in November, and the president could be partly responsible for that. In April, he gave lawmakers some wiggle room when he said Congress may not have the appetite to deal with immigration this year following a tough legislative year in 2009.
(Excerpt) Read more at ktar.com ...
“and protests across the country against it.”???? How about support across the country for the Arizona Law? You can’t have reform until you close the border.
Community service? That's a hoot. Most illegals are living 20 to a house, driving 10 to a vehicle, and scraping by on underpaid menial labor. Yeah, when you get done working 12 hours at your landscaping job, you need to come out and work on a Habitat house for 8 hours, OK? Si, I be there.
BTW how's the plug the hole thing coming, or the fix for unemployment Barry?
It is a bad, broken system in need of repair.
But the repair Obama has in mind will not repair it.
Obama intends to make all illegals legal by just saying so.
We need to send illegals home, shut the border and only allow immigration by people who do it in the legal manner.
If they wish to become citizens, God bless them, learn to speak English and paytaxes like the rest of us.
Lawmaker/Lawbreaker,,,is there really much difference anymore?
With our government broke and 20% practical employment, it seems obvious that sending them home would do a world of good—for our country and theirs.
Sealing the border is not an option and shouldn’t be part of the debate. It’s our border and the CIC swears to protect our nation.
I don’t care if it is Reagan, Carter, Bush, Clinton, whoever. Seal the freaking border, take the politics out of it and then form a comprehensive immigration policy.
What’s this need for a ‘comprehensive immigration policy’?
We have one already, if only it would be enforced. I’d like to see selective tightening up—no more anchor babies, accepting immigrants by qualification and sponsor, without discrimination against Europeans, a stop on immigration from Muslim-dominant countries with a high rate of population enmity toward the US, etc.. But all of these work in the same direction of enforcing current laws, including the security of our borders.
Certainly a lot of good for ours.
I dont know how much good it would do theirs.
And Frankly I dont give a Damn Scarlett.
Let's ride!
Employing illegal immigrants is Obama’s plan for flat pay scale for everone see socialism.
By inventing clever new ways to hide the Amnesty in a cloud of obfuscation. That is speaking plainly to Obama.
Sends back people who have learned from the American experience, largely young and working age—but I agree, their benefit isn’t the point. (And they’d be getting plenty of criminals back, too.)
Sounds like Obozo knows the democrats are in deep stuff this November. This is about votes, no more, no less. What we need to do is start NOW with flooding Grahnesty’s office with calls telling him not to be the useful idiot the democrats are looking for. At the very least Lindsey, wait until after the election to stab us.
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