Posted on 11/21/2014 7:22:25 AM PST by Tailgunner Joe
Democrats hailed President Obama's move Thursday to halt deportations for millions of immigrants living in the country illegally.
But the lawmakers were quick to frame the executive actions as merely the first step on a much longer path toward overhauling the immigration system, a move they say only Congress can realize.
"It's bold, it's courageous, it's as good as it can be under the law," said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). "But that doesn't mean we wouldn't like to have a bill, and some of the provisions will have to take a little time to be implemented," she quickly added. "So there's plenty of time for the Republicans – in fact even two weeks when we come back [in December] – to pass an immigration bill."
A wave of Democrats issued statements Thursday night echoing that message.
Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.), the incoming head of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, said Obama's action is "a bold step in the right direction" but "not a permanent solution." Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) said the changes mark "a turning point for the nation" but "are not all-encompassing." And Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), Capitol Hill's most vocal proponent of an immigration overhaul, praised Obama's "courage" but quickly emphasized the need for a more permanent fix.
"We all must recognize that no executive action is a substitute for legislation," he said, "so the fundamental challenge of getting legislation through the Republican-controlled House remains the same."
The Democrats' strategy is clear: As much as they're welcoming Obama's actions with open arms, they also don't want it to become an impediment – political or otherwise – to Congress's efforts to enact a more permanent comprehensive immigration reform law over the next two years.
The Senate had passed such a reform bill in June 2013 with broad bipartisan support, but House Republican leaders refused to consider it. Obama said his announcement this week is simply designed to help keep families together in the face of that congressional inaction, and he urged Congress to take the steps that would make his unilateral moves dispensable.
"The day I sign that bill into law, the actions I take will no longer be necessary," Obama said during Thursday's speech.
Such statements, however, have done nothing to appease Republicans, who are furious with what they consider an unconstitutional power grab by a president who has habitually abused his executive power.
Scores of Republicans issued statements Thursday night suggesting that Obama, by his executive action, just made it harder for lawmakers to reach a deal on broader reforms.
"By ignoring the will of the American people, President Obama has cemented his legacy of lawlessness and squandered what little credibility he had left," Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) said in a statement. "His ‘my way or the highway’ approach makes it harder to build the trust with the American people that is necessary to get things done on behalf of the country."
Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), a former federal prosecutor, said Democrats' argument that past presidents have taken similar actions simply doesn't fly with GOP lawmakers.
"Attempts to undermine the law via executive fiat, regardless of motivation, are dangerous," Gowdy said in a statement. "Whether previous administrations acted outside of constitutional boundaries is not license to do the same."
Democrats, for their part, reject the notion that Obama's actions reduce the odds that Congress can pass legislation. They're quick to note that Boehner and the Republicans had the entirety of the 113th Congress to consider a bill before Obama acted Thursday but declined to do so.
"They are trying to poison the well by saying the president shouldn't do this," Pelosi said.
"But the fact is that I think many of our [Republican] colleagues here understand that we have to do this."
The real headline: Dems praise Obama’s ‘imperialistic’ first steps
My economic vote is that when I hire contractors, the few times I don’t do the work myself, the contractors and their helpers will be Americans. Show up with an illegal (or a legal who doesn’t speak English), and you’re not working on my property. When I eat at a restaurant, even Subway/McD’s the few times I eat there, the workers will speak English, or I will walk out. I am permanently boycotting those who support illegals.
As for the corrupt thug in our White House, I will pray for his entire criminal legacy to be repealed, and I will work full time to make that happen.
BHO is moving in the steps of Hugo Rafael Chávez
There is one plumber in the Texas Hill Country who is Hispanic and absolutely HATES Obama. You should have heard him shortly after Zero’s “you didn’t build that”. If you walked into his shop and saw his posters, you would think he would be calling for the Marines to storm the White Hut.
“He kicked the GOP’s collective butt. Obama isn’t the smartest man in the room, but he is a trained and cunning subversive.
Obama has turned the tables on the GOP victory. Obama has killed the GOP momentum, and fueled the GOP infighting.
The Chamber of Commerce got what they wanted. The Democrats got what they wanted. And, as usual, the average American got screwed.
As a Browns fan, I know this situation, I know this feeling. Your side is in constant chaos, nothing seems to work. All moves seem to explode in your face, making the other side appear to be ultra competent.
This is the pivotal point. The GOP is poised to become irrelevant. I’m not smart enough to know what they can, or should do, but they are one foot in the grave, and the other on a banana peel.”
Agree with you 100% We did not win anything in this last election. We are the party of dirty air, water and now baby killers.
Democrats hailed President Obama’s move on Obamacare a wonderful thing too so much for thinking.
Chimps get more bananas happy times.
Sure, Obama has courage to pull off a coup d’etat.
The question is are there enough of us with courage to fight the tyrants and put the Rule of Constitutional Law and freedom back in place?
Either the unconstitutional $4,000,000,000,000 gets cut by at least 80% or those with courage gather in a state to nullify unconstitutional federal acts and cut financial ties with the feds.
Just once, I would like to hear SOMEONE explain what is so "broken" about our immigration laws. Why does our "immigration system" need "overhauling"? This is the false premise from which the whole immigration debate starts, and it is an absolute lie.
The only problem with our immigration policy is that the existing laws are not enforced, and haven't been for a very, very long time.
Tea Party - Schoolhouse Rock - No more Kings
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-9pDZMRCpQ
Watch, forward, and post on social networks.
Kid KNOW this stuff. They’ll relate. Use it.
RIP GOP.
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