Posted on 12/30/2009 7:00:44 AM PST by ConjunctionJunction
WASHINGTON — Immigration reform is increasingly looking like a political albatross that could hurt Democrats in the 2010 midterm elections whether President Obama succeeds or fails in overhauling today's widely disliked system.
After postponing action for a year because of the national economic crisis and a drawn-out debate over health reform, President Obama is being pushed by advocates of comprehensive reform to fulfill the campaign promise he made in 2008.
But a 2010 reform push faces daunting political challenges like solid Republican opposition to key provisions and division among Democrats over both strategy and substance. Democrats facing tough re-election battles in states from Arkansas to North Dakota will be hard-pressed to vote to legalize the status of unauthorized immigrants during an economic downturn.
On the other hand, continuing inaction on the issue could alienate crucial Hispanic voters who helped deliver the White House to Democrats last year. And that could cost Democrats swing congressional seats in Nevada, New Mexico and even Texas.
Latino civil rights groups are pushing the White House to move quickly and aggressively, arguing that a promise is a promise.
“After being on our national agenda for a decade, comprehensive immigration reform's time has come,” said Thomas Saenz, president of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.
BALL IN SENATE'S COURT
Perhaps. But the House Democratic leadership has become so skittish about the issue's risks that Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is demanding that the Senate go first. Rep. Chris Van Hollen, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said House leaders want to be sure the Senate can “get something done” before forcing its members to cast a politically risky vote.
(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...
New Obama rules.
All muslims from abroad enter here!
Only immigrants from Yemen and Somalia are welcome next year.
The wacky Left spews race hatred and praise for immigration as a way of displacement (genocide by some accounts), the big momma left cries that we must do something, the respectable right dithers and spends more time name calling than anything else, and the immigration issue illustrates the seemingly feckless idea of a huge centralized state.
Umm yeah, tell almost 20% of the US population that we should legalize almost 20 million illegals, tell the 35% of black males who are unemployed, go ahead, tell the American people that we’re going to legalize almost 20 million people who broke the law, and that they’re going to be able to bring their families in and the population could rise to over 80 million people, who BTW are now eligible for social service programs and because of their income won’t pay taxes.
Go ahead, tell Americans all of that, let’s see how well that goes over.
Ooops, meant to say tell almost 20% of Americans who are unemployed.
The problem is that the Republican establishment is reluctant to make the excellent points that you raise. They don’t want to be divisive. So they will most likely go along with amnesty.
Republicans and Democrats won’t go along with Amnesty because the screams from Americans will be deafening. I know Democrats who want illegals deported.
“Democrats facing tough re-election battles in states from Arkansas to North Dakota will be hard-pressed to vote to legalize the status of unauthorized immigrants during an economic downturn.”
Are you listening, GOP leaders??
New Zogby poll:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417069/posts
“Most members of religious denominations do not feel that illegal immigration is caused by limits on legal immigration, as many religious leaders do; instead, members feel it’s due to a lack of enforcement.”
“Most parishioners believe that enforcing the law and improving the wages and working conditions of unskilled workers to attract more Americans is the best way to deal with illegal immigration. The huge divide between leaders and members means that if there is a full-blown immigration debate next year it will be all the more contentious, with Jewish and Christian leaders on one side of the issue, their members on the other, and elected officials in the middle.”
Most American oppose abortion. Most American oppose Health Care Reform. Most Americans want Muslims profiled at airports.
The politicians don't care.
btt
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