Thread: IMMIGRATION REFORM CAN HELP AND HARM

IMMIGRATION REFORM CAN HELP AND HARM
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Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
May 7, 2009 Thursday
Broward Metro Edition
GUILLERMO I. MARTINEZ COMMENTARY

One must grant President Barack Obama that he has kept most of his campaign promises. In his first 100 days he tackled the banking crisis, lowered taxes for low-income tax payers and raised it for the rich; he has been willing to talk of this country's foreign enemies; given a timeline for withdrawal of troops from Iraq and increased the number of American troops in Afghanistan.

The "yes we can" refrain so often heard during Obama's presidential campaign could now be modified to say: "yes we have" done what we said we would do. He has kept his word in practically everything he promised to change, except on immigration reform.

It is easy to understand why the Obama administration has been hesitant to tackle the immigration issue. It is the classical political hot potato. The anti-immigrant zealots are a big part of the plight of the Republican Party, which has lost most of its appeal to Hispanics in the country. And even among Democrats in Congress the issue is only for those not faint of heart.

Granting undocumented aliens a path to citizenship if they pay a penalty for entering the country illegally while closing the border tight to those still seeking to come was candidate Obama's promise. In fact, in an April 8 speech he said he would push immigration reform through Congress "as one priority."

Congress is seriously split on the issue, and not necessarily along party lines, although most Republicans have campaigned publicly against the issue. Democrats are in better shape on this issue.

If pressured, Democrats and some moderate Republicans, such as Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., might be able to carve a bloody victory in Congress.

The repercussions of such a move worry Democratic political pundits. Passing an immigration reform bill would be a big plus for Democrats in New Mexico, Colorado and Nevada, where Obama won the vote in November, but it would hurt him in states such as Indiana, North Carolina and Ohio, which he also won and would like to keep in the blue corner.

That is why the administration is not likely to push immigration reform any time soon, even though it was an Obama campaign promise. The politics of the issue don't add up.

Guillermo I. MartÃ*nez resides in South Florida. His e-mail is Guimar123@gmail.com

http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/En ... 07&start=1

The repercussions of such a move worry Democratic political pundits. Passing an immigration reform bill would be a big plus for Democrats in New Mexico, Colorado and Nevada, where Obama won the vote in November,

I don't agree since it would be six to eight years before amnestied illegal aliens could vote, I don't see how amnesty would help Obama in these states, and in this economy it could hurt him.

Amnesty was never a good idea and it is especially a bad idea in the midst of a depression.

Why should the American people have over their country to illegals?

One must grant President Barack Obama that he has kept most of his campaign promises.

This article had me laughing after reading the first sentence.

How conveniently this writer omits all of Obama's broken promises.

Obama broke his promises about hiring lobbyists in the White House, about bringing our troops back from the war, about no earmarks in stimulus bills etc...

this article loses credibility in the very first sentence!

W

Many illegal aliens are in mixed families which include members who can vote. The non citizens can also volunteer and donate on political campaigns.

Originally Posted by Bowman

The repercussions of such a move worry Democratic political pundits. Passing an immigration reform bill would be a big plus for Democrats in New Mexico, Colorado and Nevada, where Obama won the vote in November,

I don't agree since it would be six to eight years before amnestied illegal aliens could vote, I don't see how amnesty would help Obama in these states, and in this economy it could hurt him.

That's the thing their voting now illegally,if they deport them there goes that vote.

LETS STOP THIS BAILOUT!!! GO HERE!!! ACT NOW!!!!

http://www.alipac.us/ftopicp-895262.html#895262