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Obama: We can't get immigration done because of the GOP's 'nativist elements'
The Washington Examiner ^ | August 4, 2014 | T. Becket Adams

Posted on 08/05/2014 8:11:05 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

The Republican Party’s “nativist elements” have successfully undermined Congress’ many attempts to pass comprehensive immigration reform, President Obama griped in an interview published over the weekend by the Economist.

Obama’s remarks were made during a broader discussion that covered the health of the U.S. economy, job growth and the responsibilities of business leaders.

“There’s a huge gap between the professed values and visions of corporate CEOs and how their lobbyists operate in Washington,” he said, claiming that businesses must be genuine when it comes to being socially engaged and giving back to the community.

“And I’ve said this to various CEOs. When they come and they have lunch with me,” he added, “and they’ll say, you know what, we really care about the environment, and we really care about education, and we really care about getting immigration reform done — then my challenge to them consistently is, is your lobbyist working as hard on those issues as he or she is on preserving that tax break that you’ve got? And if the answer is no, then you don’t care about it as much as you say.”

However, he continued, the business community has shown a genuine interest in seeing immigration reform passed.

“Now, to their credit, I think on an issue like immigration reform, for example, companies did step up,” he said.

But this broad support from the business community has been undermined by the GOP’s unwillingness to see comprehensive reform passed in Congress, he said.

“And what they’re discovering is the problem is not the regulatory zealotry of the Obama administration; what they’re discovering is the dysfunction of a Republican Party that knows we need immigration reform, knows that it would actually be good for its long-term prospects, but is captive to the nativist elements in its party,” Obama said.

The president concluded his lengthy interview by once again explaining what he believes is the proper role of business, capitalism and “wealth distribution” in the United States.

“How do we preserve the incredible dynamism of the capitalist system while making sure that the distribution of wealth and incomes and goods and services in that system is broadly based, is widely spread?” he asked.

“And the reason I’m concerned about this is not in any way a punitive notion. Oftentimes, you’ll hear some hedge-fund manager say, 'Oh, he’s just trying to stir class resentment'. No. Feel free to keep your house in the Hamptons and your corporate jet, etc. I’m not concerned about how you’re living. I am concerned about making sure that we have a system in which the ordinary person who is working hard and is being responsible can get ahead and are seeing modest improvements in their life prospects, if not for themselves, then certainly for the next generation,” he added.


TOPICS: Issues; Parties; U.S. Congress; U.S. Senate
KEYWORDS: aliens; amnesty; illegalsinvasion; immigration; nativistelements; obamaillegals; obamainterview; obamalies; teaparty; xenophobia
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He just called you a racist, bigoted xenophobe and there ain't a **** thing you can do about it.
1 posted on 08/05/2014 8:11:05 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
He called CEO's liars as well.

Takes one........

2 posted on 08/05/2014 8:12:51 AM PDT by blackdog (There is no such thing as healing, only a balance between destructive and constructive forces.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Oh look, your 15 minutes is almost up


3 posted on 08/05/2014 8:13:04 AM PDT by molson209 (Blank)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Obama can kiss my fat rear.
4 posted on 08/05/2014 8:13:05 AM PDT by fatnotlazy
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Obama has no intention of granting a unilateral amnesty. None.

The real threat are RINOs rolling over.

5 posted on 08/05/2014 8:14:14 AM PDT by skeeter
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
WOW

Maybe not what you think. Reference comments recently made by Mo Brooks. (R - Alabama)

6 posted on 08/05/2014 8:17:43 AM PDT by gov_bean_ counter (Romans 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
"Nativist elements."

He shore do hate 'doze white boys.

7 posted on 08/05/2014 8:17:46 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum ("The man who damns money obtained it dishonorably; the man who respects it earned it." --Ayn Rand)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Nativist Mau Maus ?


8 posted on 08/05/2014 8:19:01 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (Rip it out by the roots.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Those damned bitter clingers keep Bammy from working with the UNIPARTY to get things done. A phone and a pen can fix that, Bammy.


9 posted on 08/05/2014 8:22:44 AM PDT by TADSLOS (The Event Horizon has come and gone. Buckle up and hang on.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

“the ordinary person who is working hard and is being responsible can get ahead and are seeing modest improvements in their life prospects, if not for themselves, then certainly for the next generation,”

Did he just move the goal posts? (i.e., “for the next generation”) Is this his tacit acknowledgement that he has suceeded in destroying the financial potential of this generation? The Soviets used to have a 5 year plan and all complaining was to be deflected by saying people should be patient with the present harships because constant, dedicated (uncomplaining) work would ensure a better future for the NEXT generation.


10 posted on 08/05/2014 8:24:20 AM PDT by ransomnote
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To: skeeter
"Obama has no intention of granting a unilateral amnesty. None."

I'm not so sure. Yes, doing so would give up one of their pet wedge issues. Then again, they'd only have to wait a couple of years till there's another million Illegals that need to be addressed. Win- win….

11 posted on 08/05/2014 8:24:22 AM PDT by moehoward
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

He’ll continue the blame game all they way to his grave. His tombstone will probably say “Bush’s fault”

Meanwhile, he ignores all the bills passed by the House that are sitting on Reid’s desk waiting for the Senate to look at them.


12 posted on 08/05/2014 8:36:38 AM PDT by al_c (Obama's standing in the world has fallen so much that Kenya now claims he was born in America.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

He would rather just let any sicko or disease riddled maggot have first claim to this land..

They can have it the day Obama is planted permanently in Hawaii.


13 posted on 08/05/2014 8:42:54 AM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi - Revolution is a'brewin!!!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

All his talk about amnesty is just that, talk. No way he can try something like that without giving the Senate away.


14 posted on 08/05/2014 8:46:09 AM PDT by Kenny
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

“Nativist elements?!” Why’s he hate the injuns?


15 posted on 08/05/2014 8:47:36 AM PDT by dead (I've got my eye out for Mullah Omar.)
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To: al_c
His tombstone will probably say “Bush’s fault”

And there would be some amount of truth to that as an epitaph for Obama. Bush's second term did a lot to give us Obama.

16 posted on 08/05/2014 8:57:38 AM PDT by Will88
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To: Will88

The reason you can’t get the House to vote on or pass the so called “immigration reform” act is because a majority of the voters are against it..because it is amnesty and doesn’t include the reforms that we would like to see. Congress is more favorable to the act..because of all the special interests, but they know they will be out on their butt if they vote for it.
Keep those phones and emails ringing..not to mention the little demonstrations.


17 posted on 08/05/2014 9:01:58 AM PDT by Oldexpat
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I stumbled across a representative on FOX who said what I’ve been saying here for months... that the Dems are having a “war on whites.” Although he used that phrase, he framed it by saying that Dems don’t really see traditional white Democrat voters (especially males) as a constituency worth bothering about. Obama’s cobbled together a larger coalition of the dissatisfied.


18 posted on 08/05/2014 9:05:17 AM PDT by Pearls Before Swine
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

“Now, to their credit, I think on an issue like immigration reform, for example, companies did step up,” he said.”

You bet they did and it’s not for the reason he’s thinking either.


19 posted on 08/05/2014 9:07:33 AM PDT by headstamp 2
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Spoken by the undocumented Kenyan.

No, we’re rule of law Americans, Hussein.


20 posted on 08/05/2014 9:09:00 AM PDT by polymuser ( Enough is enough.)
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