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Subscribe to RSSEL PASO, Texas -- Expect to hear a lot more about immigration in the next two years, but not because anything is likely to get done on Capitol Hill.
In a speech that had all the hallmarks of a campaign -- the hand shaking, the outdoor event, chants of “Yes, we can” -- President Obama sought to build a “movement” around comprehensive immigration reform.
“We need Washington to know that there is a movement for reform gathering strength from coast to coast,” Obama said here steps from the U.S.-Mexico border. “That’s how we’ll get this done.”
And there were plenty of political shots to go around, especially for Republicans.
"We have gone above and beyond what was requested by the very Republicans who said they supported broader reform as long as we got serious about enforcement," Obama said. "But even though we've answered these concerns, I suspect there will be those who will try to move the goal posts one more time. They'll say we need to triple the border patrol. Or quadruple the border patrol. They'll say we need a higher fence to support reform. Maybe they'll say we need a moat. Or alligators in the moat.
"They'll never be satisfied. And I understand that. That's politics."
The president, however -- in his first trip here to the border since taking office -- did not offer any new details on what he would like to see in an immigration-reform bill, nor did he press a timeline. (The specifics he offered today were similar to what was offered in his July 2010 speech.) Aboard Air Force One earlier today, NBC’s Athena Jones reports that White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said he would not preview their legislative strategy.
One thing is clear, pressing this issue publicly is important to Obama’s reelection chances. Hispanics are the largest-growing group in the country, according to 2010 Census data. They now comprise 16% of the U.S. population, yet they comprised just 9% of the 2008 electorate. And they broke overwhelmingly for Obama, 67%-31%.
President Obama also talked about how immigrants have made great contributions to the country – in creating businesses like Intel and Google, that they, for the most part, come to America looking for work and to help their families. But he tried to strike a moderate tone, again saying immigrants who came here illegally and broke the rules need to pay a fine, learn English and go to the back of the line.
“Everyone recognizes the system is broken,” Obama said. “The question is, will we summon the political will to do something about it?”
He blamed “politics,” “rhetoric,” and “Washington games” on why comprehensive immigration reform hasn’t passed in Congress.
“The question is whether those in Congress who previously walked away in the name of enforcement are now ready to come back to the table and finish the work we’ve started,” the president said. “We have to put the politics aside. And if we do, I’m confident we can find common ground. Washington is behind the country on this.”
He continued, “[T]there is a consensus around fixing what’s broken. Now we need Congress to catch up to a train that’s leaving the station.”
The president now heads to Austin, Texas, for two fundraisers for his reelection.
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Mr Obama, Your speech in El Paso was a great disappointment. Instead of pandering to a block of marginal voters, you should be concentrated with putting unemployed Americans back to work!
You offended me by mocking Americans, such as myself, who want increased border security. While you spent time saying those who wanted a secure border will next ask for moats with alligators, more illegal aliens and more contraband entered our country. How can you say the border is secure when the Government Accountability Office says that illegal aliens can only be stopped along 129 miles of the nearly 2,000-mile-long U.S. - Mexico border?
On top of this, you called for an amnesty for the 11 million illegal aliens living in the United States. Are you unaware that 7 million of these Americans work low-skilled, non-agricultural jobs -- the jobs that America's most at risk workers need to support their families? How will permanently disemploying millions of Americans help these Americans or help our nation's economy?
You need to stop mocking those who want a secure border and start supporting legislation to finish the fence and put more men and women on the border. You need to stop calling for an amnesty for illegal aliens and start supporting programs that will put unemployed Americans in jobs held by illegal aliens.
Those 11 million illegals would also be under the amount of income to pay one dollar of federal taxes yet qualify for every single entitlement in the country. Oh and don't forget they will all get thousands back in Earned Income Tax Credits, be eligible for up to $900 in food stamps, HUD housing for 1/2 rent, utilities subsidies, free education, free childcare, free Medical, unlimited funds for special needs children, disability etc etc etc etc etc etc.
This 11 million could easily be higher than 20 million. They don't have any way to measure it and there are over 200,000 a month additional ones coming across. It is insane to dump between 11 million and 20 million federal liabilities into our massively decaying entitlement system that is bankrupting the country.
There is also no real way to check for felony convictions in any number of countries south of our border. Some are convicted felons in multiple countries. Many are also wanted felons in many of these other countries. How do you even identify these people for their actual real names and backgrounds. We might as well empty our prisons and let them all start over with a clean slate too. It is just insane to let 11 million people completely bypass all our immigration laws.
Has this guy ever stopped campaigning or will he ever get over the sound of his own voice. Maybe he can send another ipod of his speeches to William and kate for a wedding present.
Somebody tell him the whitehouse is where his office is and not just the place for Wednesday night parties of cop killer supporters.
Joebuck;
Obama's a narcissist and only out for personal gain, he'll say anything, promise what he can't deliver and lie to get power, after power is obtained he'll do as he wishes, same as dictators, only when he fails to achieve his power will he self implode crawl back into his hole and be silenced, hopefully 2012 or sooner.
even worse then obama (if thats concievable) is that there is so little credible news anymore - blatent syncophant shills like msnbc - lie and distort to help further little obama and his bad agenda - the current mainstream media is a disgrace
If this were really an item on the POTUS's agenda, it would have been resolved when his party had the majority. It would have been part of his Health Insurance Act.
So, the claim is he has met all of the 'demands' for enforcement of current laws. Yet the majority of 'enforcers' are merely standing around like a bunch of construction supervisors.
There's no need to move the goal posts when you're still sitting on the one yard line at the opposite end of the field.
Obama played the hispanics to get elected in o8. He felt their pain! Once elected with control of both houses of congress he wasted two years on healthcare that the American people did not want. He forgot to nationalize the millions of illegals. Now he is telling them that he will get it done next time if they give him another chance. How many times can he fool the hispanics into voting for him? That is the question.
We can't take care of our own.. And the Democrats what to let more untrained unskilled.Laborers in our country. Build up America before you put more on the backs of its people. Both Parties suck. different stories but same lie.