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With both sides eying one of the fastest-growing blocs in the American electorate, President Barack Obama's re-election campaign on Wednesday announced an aggressive outreach to Latino voters, pushing Democrats' reform proposals and casting Mitt Romney as "extreme" on immigration issues.
Not only do Latinos account for 16 percent of the total U.S. population, they are also a formidable presence in many of the swing states like Colorado, and Arizona that could make the final difference in November. Obama campaign deputy manager Stephanie Cutter discusses.
The new "Latinos for Obama" effort includes on-the-ground volunteer and staff outreach as well as Spanish-language ads slated to air in heavily Hispanic swing states Colorado, Florida, and Nevada.
Backers of the president hope that Romney's embrace of Arizona's controversial immigration law as well as his pledge to oppose the DREAM Act -- which would offer a path to citizenship for some children who were brought to the United States illegally at an early age -- will mobilize Latinos against the presumptive Republican nominee.
"This election is an opportunity in this country for the Latino community to send a message," said Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., on a conference call announcing the new push. "The reality is that we look at this as the civil rights issue of our time."
Opposition to the DREAM Act is "insulting" to Hispanic families, added San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, who -- echoed by campaign manager Jim Messina -- labeled Romney's positions "the most extreme nominee that the Republican party has ever had on immigration."
Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida has pushed for a "conservative alternative" to the DREAM Act, which would allow some young illegal immigrants to stay in the United States but would prevent them from attaining citizenship. Messina said Wednesday that the president has been focused on reviving the original legislation, which failed in the Senate by a narrow margin late in 2010, but added that the White House would work to "find common ground" with those on the other side of the aisle.
The Republican National Committee announced its own Latino-focused program earlier this week, launching community outreach directors in Florida, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina and Virginia. A key part of their message, said chairman Reince Priebus, is to highlight the impact the nation's sluggish economy has on the Hispanic community.
Hispanic voters favored Obama over Republican John McCain by an almost 2-1 margin in the 2008 presidential election. Nationally, the Hispanic vote in 2008 rose to 9 percent of the electorate, up from 8 percent in 2004, but turnout jumped by five points in swing states Colorado and Nevada and by nine points in New Mexico.
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Willard's idea of the Dream Act = self deportation!
With approval ratings like his amongst Latinos - AZ could very well come into play for Democrat's! ;o)
Arizona's immigration enforcement laws wouldn't have gotten passed if supporters in the state didn't outnumber those who push amnesty.
You have to addMITT ....
MITT does at least understand math ....
Obama out in 2012 ....
Yet wants to dismantle the Department Of Education, so future generations won't understand math, right BBA?
Romney does not have a single immigration stance. He will change his stance depending on who the audience is. His repeated 180'S make him look like a coin flipping in the air! Even if Romney chooses Rubio for his running mate, he would lose decisively. Independents may still be mulling over the choice, but the Hispanic/Latino vote is considerably set in stone. Not just against Romney, but against the TEA-Republican actions across the nation from Arizona to Georgia to New Hampshire and Washington. Romney's saying he would veto the "Dream Act" if president and of course the base support from 94% of the black voters in America. Women's vote will go to Obama. The Hispanic/Latino vote will go for Obama. The union vote will go for Obama. The split within the TEA-GOP-Republican parties even at the state level will place forth a multitude new blood from every segment of the nation and economy, The TEA-Republican party will splinter further while blaming each other. I have said for over ten years, the political party that speaks, reads, writes and goes into the Hispanic/Latino population and sees the conditions and they way they were and are treated, that party will gain their vote and support. To date, the TEA-Republican parties, have shown no real desire to bring this huge political-socio-economic group into their fold. Alienation of the Hispanic/Latino populous is not the way to win in November and the future.
Romney has had an Immigration stance for a very long time. And if he did change his stance.. the newspapers would have had it in banner headlines with-in hours. .... hours. The rest of that post is a pipe dream.
The progressive/liberals in this country just keep dividing us on a regular basis. What don't they understand about "legal immigration"? If they want to change the immigration laws in this country why didn't they when they had the chance? Oh, I forgot, those nasty Republicans stopped them from doing anyhting.BS. Legal Hispanics are smarter than you progressives/liberals think they are. They may have voted for President Obama last time but we will have to wait and see what happens this time. Afterall, his record is out there for Hispanics to see now.
Legal Americans will decide this coming election.
Rudy,
Your first two sentences are amusing. Just what do you think obama was, has and is doing? You don't think he panders to the whims of the audience he is speaking to then goes on to speak to a different group and change his tune?
He played to the liberal whites and blacks in his first campaign and now he's trying to win the latino vote. Why? Because he lost those voters by changing his policies and he now needs to pull the wool over their eyes.
This guy changes his views more then he changes his drawers.
Since WHEN, Senator Menendez, does Illegal Aliens (Immigrants) have a "CIVIL RIGHT" to become a United States citizen without going through the PROPER immigration procedures ? Do they also have a "CIVIL RIGHT" for free housing, free food, free education, free transportation, free social security, free health insurance....etc. ?
No wonder our Congress is "dysfunctional" with folks like you being elected.
I wonder why this article failed to mention that Mr. Obama had the DHS implement "new procedures" which allows about 1,000,000 Illegal Aliens (Immigrants) to obtain permanent residency in a relative was an American citizen....WITHOUT Congressional approval ?
Latinos, you our your parents fled countries where the answer to all issues was government, how can you possibly support the same thing here?
Vote Republican, because if our government encompasses any more of our life, we will be just like those countries you fled. Government poicking the winners and losers, how pathetic.
BigBen...you are pathetic. All I have read by you is either "Obama out in 2012" or some vitriol about Obama. Your hate is strong, Darth. Would you really vote for a Koch Bros presidency? Their idea of a good relationship is with someone bent over a table and them standing behind them. Do you really want to work for the Koch-heads? Let me say,first of all, that if you really believe that Obama will lose to a piece of lying, gold trash like Romney, you are quite delusional. Forget your silly polls. Elections are won state by state. Romney doesn't have enough states to win. Do the math. Second of all, while you may regard blacks and latinos as second class, their vote counts as much as your. Whites are no longer a majority. As long as your goose-stepping, jack-booted storm troopers continue to frantically try and rally the whites, they are guaranteeing a likely defeat now and a certain defeat as the numbers continue to grow against reactionary whites. Remember what happened in South Africa? A train is coming through and your party is standing on the tracks,pal. If you really want to help your side, you should stop the bluster, arrogance, and venom and post something supported by historical (and recent) facts, not just your hate. You make yourself look bad,bro. You really should join the 21st century. Romney is a flagrant liar. A serial liar. You don't really know what he thinks. No one does. The Kochs are thieves. And you want to give them the keys to the nation. Really?????
Thomas Blue - Great post. You can tell the brain-washed on this site. They don't bother with facts but spew their hatred at every chance. Romney has flip flopped on every issue and I don't even know his stance on immigration - I'm sure he doesn't yet.
Feisty - AZ could definitely be in play. People are tired of looking like the lunatics Jan Brewer and party have made them appear. Plus, the voters just don't see much in Romney.
JH - just like legal Americans decided last election you moron. What a totally ridiculous post but it matches your usual posts. Nothing of fact - just more blabbering about how liberals are divisive. What is pathetic is that you know it is the far right that has been so divisive. You just hope totally ignorant people will read your post and believe your lies. Not going to happen.
Feisty - how is it the small minds haven't collapsed you yet????
Obama/Biden 2012
@lvingbarefoot
What's equally pathetic is the govt serving up the poor and middle class to the rich to swallow for lunch. That's what the repugs are doing. And incidentally, no dem has ever increased the size and power of the govt more than Ronnie Raygun and the shrub. Wanna guess how many latinos Raygun killed in Central and South America with his illegal wars? Remember El Salvador, Nicaragua, Chili,Panama...the list goes on. Are you this stupid or are you just hoping latino readers are that stupid.
Shhhh - don't give the cowards any ideas! ☺
@Thomas Blue - stop by First Thought's this morning - if you get a chance.
You got quite the well deserved shout out!
I'm 1 Latina that is not voting for Obama and I fully spport SB1070. Many
hispanic voters here in Arizona spported and are still supportive of it. We are Americans !st and foremost.
Jan Brewer ... We know that's you posting with a Hispanic name...
Seeking Sanity - keep seeking you might find
You are right about legal Americans deciding the last election. The progressives got their ass handed to them. I loved it. We will finish the shellacking in November.
Please be more specific about what it is I lie about. Just because someone says that something is a lie doesn't make it one. I can't see one lie in my post 1.6. You just can't stand another opinion other than your own and BS from most of your lefty liberal friends here. Remember be specific.
You talk about small minds because you know so much about them? The collapsing on MSNBC comes from the left and you know it. Fiesty gets collapsed because she doesn't add to the discussion most of the time. She is very predicable, she is very nasty most of the time.
Sheeeesh, just another day at a Liberal Social Media site, and Flyeisty's post #1.13 is so revealing.
Romney's immigration plan is to make our country so miserable the illegals will want to leave on their own. Anyone else affected by his policies will be collateral damage.
Need proof? Look at the voter right restrictions in place. The elderly and college students are collateral damage just to prevent the illegals from voting.
So, Romney's immigration plan?? Makes everyone miserable enough to want to leave the country. Yeah, that works out so well for the conservatives.
Juanita Dominguez,
If you're a native Latin-American, you were an American even before you arrived in the United States. Only folks in the United States of America, like you, have the gall and self-absorption to ignore some 20 other American countries to call themselves "American." It's clear you've been coopted to accept blind adherence to the Monroe Doctrine, which has been used as an excuse for the United States to be Latin America's worst neighbor.
the United States has sponsored anti-democratic dictators, many of whom used horrible atrocities committed against their own people to defeat attempts at freedom, in Latin American countries for the last 110 years:
The United States fomented military coups and installed and defended right wing dictators in Latin American countries during the last 110 years, including Cuban dictator Fulgenico Batista, who was dispatched by the Cuban Revolution in 1959. In 1912, the United States sent its Marine Corps to fight in Nicaragua, where they remained until 1933, at the end of which was installed a cruel dictator named Anasatsio Somoza, who ruled until the Sandinistas, led by Daniel Ortega, overthrew him, and we all know that in 1986, as Reagan dozed off, extreme right wingers in the Republican Party covertly sent money received from Iran in exchange for guns given to Iran to fight Iraq, whose leader, Saddam Hussein, was receiving money from the CIA and the United States to wage war against Iran, to fund the Contras, which had been organized by the CIA, to take down the Sandinista government. In 1954, the United States' CIA, with the help of United Fruit Company, caused a military coup in Guatemala that removed a democratically elected Arbenz, and then replaced him with a series of anti-Communist dictators that terrorized Gautemalans for over 30 years. In 1973, the United States' CIA organized a coup of Chile to overthrow the democratically elected but socialist government of Salvador Allende, leaving control of Chile to a murdering General Agosto Pinochet, who caused the disappearance of thousands of Chileans. In Haiti, the United States supported anti-Communist Dictators Papa Doc and Baby Doc Duvalier in Haiti between 1957 and 1986, and, more recently, funded the expulsion of democratically elected President Aristide.
Here is a list of dictators who have been installed and/or supported by the United States in Latin America:ANASTASIO SOMOZA GARCIA,Dictator of Nicaragua 1937-1947, 1950-1956, ANASTASIO "TACHITO" SOMOZA DEBAYLE, Dictator of Nicaragua 1967-1972, 1974-1979, MANUEL ESTRADA CABRERA,Dictator of Guatemala 1898-1920, GEN. JORGE UBICO CASTANEDA, Dictator of Guatemala 1931-1944, COL. CARLOS ENRIQUE CASTILLO ARMAS, Dictator of Guatemala 1954-1957, GEN. JOSE MIGUEL YDIGORAS FUENTES, President/Dictator of Guatemala 1958-1963, COL. ENRIQUE PERALTA AZURDIA, Military Junta, Guatemala 1963-1966, COL. CARLOS ARANA OSORIO, Dictator of Guatemala 1970-1974, GEN. FERNANDO ROMEO LUCAS GARCIA, Dictator of Guatemala 1978-1982, GEN. JOSE EFRAIN RIOS MONTT, Dictator of Guatemala 1982-1983, MARCO VINICIO CEREZO ARÉVALO, President/Dictator of Guatemala 1986-1991, MAXIMILIANO HERNANDEZ MARTINEZ, Dictator of El Salvador 1931-1944, COL. OSMIN AGUIRRE Y SALINAS, Dictator of El Salvador 1944-1945, CIVILIAN-MILITARY JUNTA, EL SALVADOR 1961-1962, COL. ARTURO ARMANDO MOLINA BARRAZA, Dictator of El Salvador 1972-1977, JUNTA, EL SALVADOR 1979-1982, ALFREDO FÉLIX CRISTIANI BUKARD, President/Dictator of El Salvador 1989-1994, TIBURCIO CARIAS ANDINO, Dictator of Honduras 1932-1948, COL. OSWALDO LOPEZ ARELLANO, Dictator of Honduras 1963-1975, ROBERTO SUAZO CORDOVA, President/Dictator of Honduras 1982-1986, GEN. OMAR HERRERA-TORRIJOS, Dictator of Panama 1969-1981, GEN. MANUEL ANTONIO MORENA NORIEGA, Dictator of Panama 1982-1989, AUGUSTO PINOCHET UGARTE, Dictator of Chile 1973-1990, GEN. JORGE RAFAEL VIDELA, Dictator of Argentina 1976-1981, COL. MARCOS PEREZ JIMENEZ, Dictator of Venezuela 1950-1958, GEN. ALFREDO STROESSNER, Dictator of Paraguay 1954-1989, ALBERTO FUJIMORI, Dictator of Peru 1990-2000, FRANCOIS "PAPA DOC" DUVALIER, Dictator of Haiti 1957-1971, JEAN-CLAUDE "BABY DOC" DUVALIER, Dictator of Haiti 1971-1986, MILITARY JUNTA / LT. GEN. RAOUL CEDRAS, GEN. PHILIPPE BIAMBY and LT. COL. MICHEL-JOSEPH FRANCO, Haiti 1991-1994, GEN. RENE BARRIENTOS ORTUNO, President/Dictator of Bolivia 1964-1969, GEN. HUGO BANZER SUAREZ, Dictator of Bolivia 1971-1978, DR. GETULIO VARGAS, Dictator of Brazil 1930-1945, 1951-1954, GEN. HUMBERTO DE ALENCAR CASTELLO BRANCO, Dictator of Brazil 1964-1967, CARLOS PRIO SOCARRAS, Dictator of Cuba 1948-1952, FULGENCIO BATISTA, Dictator of Cuba 1933-44, 1952-1959, GERARDO MACHADO MORALES, Dictator of Cuba 1925-1933, RAFAEL LEONIDAS TRUJILLO, Dictator of the Dominican Republic 1930-1961. The United States created and defended all these dictators, many of whom slaughtered their own citizens for political and other reasons, in contravention of democratic principles.
This history is not lost on Latinos here in the United States. The latest meeting of the Organization of American States (OAS) demonstrated how Latin American leaders will no longer kowtow to the United States' political positions. According to Fox News, Obama wins 6 out of every 7 votes among Latinos most likely to vote. http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2012/03/05/gop-hopefuls-losing-ground-to-obama-among-latinos-poll-says/. So, Juanita, when you opine that many Latinos in Arizona favor SB1070, it's quite beside the main point. Whether it's Romney's personal positions or those of the Teathuglican Party's positions on policies affecting Latinos, the vast majority of Latino voters are going to repudiate them and be one of the major voting blocs that will greatly favor Obama this coming Fall. Unless, of course, they're not disenfranchised by your Party's voter suppression measures ALEC conned many states into passing.
Thanks Feisty...got a link?
Wow a Latina that is in favor of being racially profiled?? now i have seen everything..
For the rest of you?? Dream Act is about bringing immigration laws into the 21st century.. What is so wrong about allowing a person that puts their life in harms way for a chance at citizenship? or a young man/woman getting a college education as a standard of gaining citizenship? We are talking about an educated, English speaking young person that identifies themselves as Americans and have bought into being productive tax paying citizens of this country, even before they have stepped one foot into a university.
Last thing, did you know that most illegal immigrants that have been in this country for years cannot find work for an employer due to their status. But being illegal does not prevent you from gaining a tax I.D? so you know what they do?? start their own business and pay taxes. only a small amount are criminals looking to reek havoc on the rest of us...
losman - "Wow a Latina that is in favor of being racially profiled?? now i have seen everything.."
No, you just imagined what you wanted to see, if you had actually seen anything you wouldn't want criminals living next door no matter their race. The "latina" isn't afraid of the law, why are you?
Here ya go!
Enjoy!
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/19/11284929-first-thoughts-government-gone-wild?last=1334858762&threadId=3398340&sp=0&pc=25#c64808534
pjam09
I have no reason to be afraid.. i am an american citizen just like Juanita Domingues.. what I am afraid of is finding that one police officer that takes his sb1070 enforcement above and beyond and finds me taking a rood trip across the country and because i have an accent (which i dont if you live in New England that is) wants to take me in for "further questioning" based on how i sound and how i look.
What is specifically troubling about your post is that you assume these ppl are criminals when in fact, more likely than not, they are law biding ppl looking to give their children a better life then they themselves have ever experiece
Michael L. Marowitz: thanks so much for your Latin-American studies lecture...all of my "gall and self-absorption" aside, my family heritage not only is connected to "the Americas" but we are also indigenous. Many US citizens call themselves Americans...I am one of them.
LosMan:I, nor anyone that I know, has ever been racially profiled, and I do have a problem with illegal immigrants...they steal social security numbers...my husband found out someone was using his number...what a mess to deal with.
NinjaCodeMan: no, I'm not Jan Brewer...but I do like her and voted for her and I would again if given the opportunity.
Obama/Biden: 9 more months
Never say never Juanita... But tell me are you for or against the Dream Act?
LosMan: I am against the Dream Act...as it's written. Close our borders first and then we can start talking about immigration reform.
Its never been done.. so why wait for something no one has been able to do in history... never mind.. que facil la jente se orvida de donde son su jente... good day!!
According to pjam, anyone with ancestors from a Latin American country or the Iberian peninsula is a criminal. It's ALL about ethnicity with pjam.
Los Man, it's gente, not jente, but I doubt Mr. "dominguez" speaks Spanish anyway.
The DREAM Act has nothing to do with immigration reform.
It would ALLOW American children to enlist in the military or attend college and work for pay while doing so if they have a spotless record.
You know, just like the rest of us.
Those children would have to pay their own tuition and be accepted on their own merits. The DREAM ACT would provide no subsidies or assistance or special preferences of any kind.
You know, just like the rest of us.
Hah. Any guy who knows that the Bush tax cuts plunged this country into a deficit and sees large deficits in the future and still proposes additional tax cuts is an idiot. No ifs, ands, or buts. And ben, please start offering real arguments. Shooting you down for your short pieces of bull@!$%# is just too easy these days...
OBAMA BIDEN 2012
Commonsense: my 1st name is Juanita...I am not a "Mr" as you stated...whether I speak Spanish or not has nothing to do with this discussion.
'
Fisty, didn't you get caught colluding with MSNBC staff to lead conversation on articles like these?
ANYBODY WHO SUPPORTS THE DREAM ACT IS A TRAITOR TO OUR NATIONS CHILDREN!
They have had thier primary education diluted by huge influxes of poorly educated illegal immigrants, many of whom came with little or no english skills. All of the resources we expend on these illegal childrean are resources NOT used to educate our own children.
They have had thier early job experiences stolen from them by adult illegals who take all the low paying jobs that teenagers used to do. Our teens can't find jobs as dishwashers or mowing lawns anymore, they miss out on this experience and are less prepared for the job market because of it.
And now you want to also allow all of the financial aid for college to be stolen from them!
Shame on you Fake Liberals!
(Marowitz says:)
Oh, puh-lease. This kind of pseudo-scholarly pedantry may impress some, but it doesn't make it any less pointless than it is. It is, and has been for centuries, customary in the English language (as well as most languages in the civilized world, besides Portuguese and Spanish) to use the demonym "American" to refer to U.S. citizens. Continents are not legally recognized as distinct entities—what constitutes a continent is not a universal truth by any means, and as such there are many different models breaking up the land differently. Most of the world (and, again, by that I mean everyone save for speakers of Iberian languages) chiefly uses one of the many models that separates the Americas into two or three continents: North America, South America, and (sometimes) Central America. As such, usage of the word "American" to describe all people of the Americas is rare. I know this to be true for several languages, but regarding English, in particular, it is so well-established that it is pointless to fight it. And seeing as the demonym of the United Mexican States is "Mexican," the demonym of the European Union is "European" (yes, despite the fact that not all Europeans live in the European Union), it is perfectly justifiable, linguistically speaking, for the demonym of the United States of America to be "American."
As for the "gall and self-absorption" of Americans who ignore that there exist other countries in the Americas, even if what I said above weren't true, i.e., even if continents were universally-recognized entities and there were some sort of legal instrument that described the entirety of the Americas as one continent called "America," I don't see why Americans' continued usage of the word "American" to describe themselves is indicative of self-absorption. If anything, it's ethnocentrism you're referring to—not egocentrism, which deals with oneself, not one's culture. But regardless, you don't have to attribute it to malice. Like I said, common usage of the word "American" is so widespread and widely-accepted that it doesn't take any conscious process to decide whether one should use the word or not. Do you really believe that every American actively thinks, "I call myself an 'American' because there isn't anyone from any other country who might wish to be called an 'American' as well"? You're making the fundamental attribution error, and it speaks loads of your subjectivity and your crippling prejudices.
Obama doing what he does best -- divisive politics! When you don't have anything else to stand on, stand on dividing people by race, ethnicity or wealth.
Commonsense.. my bad on the spelling lol.. great post on the Dream Act!!
Juanita, he did not call you a "Mr"... he is asuming you husband perhaps does not speak english..
"Yet wants to dismantle the Department Of Education, so future generations won't understand math, right BBA?"
Hey Bryan E.,
It takes a very special gullible person to believe the propaganda that eliminating the Dept. of Education has anything whatsoever to do with hurting students.
The Dept. of Education takes tax payer money and simply hands it back to the states. They are completely and utterly useless because they have NO IDEA WHATSOEVER about the needs of schools and students on a local level.
And we've exponentially increased the costs of education and money we've thrown at it and why haven't the test scores improved?
Until you and the entire progressive movement in this country stops being brainwashed by the liberal media and starts to learn how the world really works, we're never going to fix this country.
Mitt, like many other successful business people who know how to 'trim the fat,' wants to bring power and money back to the local level where it can be put to better use. You and your short-sighted thought process can only gleam one conclusion when you hear 'eliminate the Dept. of Education.' And it speaks volumes about your character.
If Romney really wanted to "trim the fat," then why doesn't he start with the military??? They spend nearly $1 trillion a year; and he wants to INCREASE it!!!! And frankly, the states are too volatile fiscally to handle education. They cut it every time they have a deficit.
I believe its time to centralize the education system. A single national standard would be much more efficient that 50 state standards that can contrast with one another. Plus the states could still be used in a sort of partnership to manage their schools, but with federal oversight.
OBAMA BIDEN 2012
The GOP is going to have to play catch up on their voter suppression efforts in Colorado and Nevada to counter that five point jump in turnout!
Ursula-279622
The GOP is going to have to play catch up on their voter suppression efforts in Colorado and Nevada to counter that five point jump in turnout!
Amen, Ursula
2-1 is a steep climb for Flipper. When you factor in the women and the vicious attacks not just Willard's flip flops, I personally don't see how any Hispanic could vote "Myth" Rob-ney. In fact I can see his numbers decreasing since Willard has no idea what it is like to be on the other side of his rich fence.
He does not care about anyone but his rich buddies and exploiting common every day people. That has been his lifestyle. He can't help it.
That's the view from the cheap seats. What it boils down to Beverly and Ursula is the perception of the voters come November. While you liberals see it one way, when faced with the alternative of another 4 years of Obama's madness, voters will come to their senses. Most elections for president are the lesser of 2 evils... just because you liberals believe in greater evil, doesn't mean the rest of society does.
Perhaps the president would like to explain to the unemployed why he favors legalizing 11m new workers? Is there no correlation between the high unemployment of least educated and the numbers of illegal workers? Do they not compete for the same type of jobs? Does the fact that 11m illegal workers are here not suppress the wages of those at the bottom?
Good point, Alan. In DC, Blacks, especially Black males, have a very high unemployment rate, but the city is a sanctuary city for illegal aliens, and they take many of the better unskilled jobs, such as working construction.
Maybe they get the jobs because of their work ethic.
beebobby...Please tell me that You are kidding...Right, cuz You can't be that naive...Right, Cuz even Liberal demcraps KNOW it's all about dirt-cheap SLAVE wages.....Sheeeesh!!!!!!!!!!
Maybe they just aren't too lazy to type the word "because"? Or just not that lazy in general, which you seem to be?
Courts are ruling in favor of voter I.D., that will change things to legal voters. Nuff said.
70% of Americans agree with voter ID laws. I think this next election will tell the other 30% what we feel about the progressive agenda.
1/20/2012 - the end of an error
Ron Paul was not standing at the Podium in this debate.. He was sitting on his balls because they are THAT BIG...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YjBoHAzhiU
Hey, JH,
1/20/12 is so three months old. For me, I'll settle for November 6, 2012, when Americans tell all you ignoramuses that you're full of your imbecilic propaganda, and Obama will be re-elected, thereby preserving a middle class from extinction and, once again, giving our children hope for a better tomorrow. Right now, there is no such hope, courtesy of your party and the Democrat-in-Name-Only Clinton, who have done little to help average Americans but have acted assiduously to transfer or "redistribute" wealth to the already wealthy ("trickle up, not trickle down"):
"The top 1 percent of American earners controls as much of the nation’s total income as it did on the eve of the Great Depression. Now, however, their money comes from skyrocketing paychecks more than from unearned income, as it did in 1928." http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/10/26/nyregion/the-new-gilded-age.html. The top 10% has as much income as everybody else; and one-half of what comes in to the top 10% goes to the top 1%. And the income of the top 1% is heavily concentrated at the very top.In effect there are increasingly two economies, a wealthy “top” economy doing very well, and a “bottom” economy for roughly the bottom 99% facing income stagnation, with dwindling wealth and resources. . . .[O]ver the past 30 years only people roughly within the top 10% were able to realize any growth in real income.
Robert Reich puts it this way:
Beeboby is right.. work ethic has a lot to do with it.. no one is going to cross miles of desert to come here and be lazy about their work..
And i do agree that MOST of those 11mil will be in competition for those low skilled workers. But you also have to understand that the 11mill also include children that are being educated in american schools. And for a country that is going to lose 20% of their labor force (Boomers) in the next 10-15yrs.. you are going to need those kids to be well educated and LEGAL CITIZENS to make up for the fact that americans did not have enough babies to replace that kind of loss in the workforce..
"and casting Mitt Romney as "extreme" on immigration issues."
Haha. Are the Mexicrats really truing to dust off the "always label them 'extreme'" campaign "strategy" again?
How could anyone vote for someone who obviously thinks the voters are dumb as dirt?
@Michael... Calling people names is not going to get much done.. Just saying..
Take away your name calling skills and what have you got left? OBAMA?
One thngs for sure. Mitt Romney has the bigot vote locked up tight.
Yes, there is.
When immigrants, even unauthorized immigrants, find gainful employment, it grows the economy and there are more jobs available for everyone.
What's ridiculous is that so many people these days think that the GOVERNMENT should be making hiring decisions instead of EMPLOYERS.
Even more idiotic is the notion that the RIGHT TO WORK should be inherited and confined only to the privileged classes.
Then there are those who despise African Americans and yet holler, "Hey, black guy! That brown guy just stole your job! Why don't you help us drive him out of the country?"
The GOP is going to have to play catch up on their voter suppression efforts
Don't worry, they will, because THAT'S how you do voter fraud in the US.
Jan Brewer was rewarded with the governorship of Arizona because as Secretary of State she eliminated 100,000 Spanish-sounding surnames from the voter rolls just a few days before an important election.
Did you really think MERIT had anything to do with a nitwit like that landing such an important job?
commonsense: Jan Brewer was not "awarded" the position of governor...she became Governor as a result of Janet Napalitano accepting the job of Secretary of Homeland Security...after serving out that term, she then ran for governor and won. I lot of people voted for her including myself, that's how she became governor...you've lost your argument when you start calling people names.
What I find most interesting is the fact that Obama somehow feels American Latino's support illegal immigration. Most of the dealings I have with people from Cuba and Mexico are that they have gone through the immigration process and object to our government allowing illegals to enter in without prejudice.
Obama is counting his chickens before they hatch.
Besides... when have illegal immigrants been allowed to vote in the first place? Democrats seem to think their voting is somehow legal. Bizzaro World unleashed!
The same is true in Memphis. There is a pretty large Hispanic group here of all 'legal' immigrants and they make it clear they do not support the open borders that BO wants!
How about the dream path that Romney wants. They support that?
FrankH said: How about the dream path that Romney wants. They support that?
Not that I am aware of. Romney can say and feel whatever he likes. He's a politician who is trying to win election. Pretty much like Obama in 08... said a lot of things he didn't really want to happen, but said them to pander votes. Romney's no different.
I find it interesting that you can be arrested for having expired tags on your car, but not for being in the country illegally! Obama supports this as he's counting on the support of those illegals in this country that will be able to vote for him..... what an upside-down country he's turned us into.....
Illegals won't be voting. Turn off limbaugh.
Beebobby - How wrong you are. Haven't you ever heard of fake ID? Haven't you ever heard of falsifying information on someone that is illegal? Don't be naive. What do you think the purpose of ACORN was? It was to put as many voters on the bloc no matter who they were. Why do you think ACORN lost it's federal funding? Might I remind you that Obama was an attorney for ACORN so he supports them completely. Don't be fooled the activists in ACORN are still activists.
So if we summarily dismiss the validity of photo identification in respect to voting, why the big push to require it to vote? Or is that smoke and mirrors to introduce more complexity in the voting process for those who may be of lower intelligence or disadvantaged in some other way.
If ID's can be forged, then they aren't really the best means of controlling voter fraud are they? Being obtained fraudulently and all?
Reading a lot of these comments one would assume that Obama favors allowing illegal immigration and legalizing all the millions who are already here illegally. I pay pretty close attention and I was never under the impression that he advocated that policy. If that is the case, why has he deported a considerably higher percentage of illegals than Bush did? I think maybe you guys are making stuff up again.
This Latino said something that I feel was worth repeating. Here it goes.
Ya know it really irritates me when the press asks politicians, "How are you gonna appeal to Hispanics?!?" Like we're monkeys that need a banana to behave. Excuse me reporters, I'm a Hispanic and I hate the border problem just as much as any Anglo. Politicians don't need to "appeal to Hispanics." They need to appeal to the thinking person, not any "race." Ron Paul 2012!
And from another.
"if you cant be counted as an American before a minority you, need to go back to wherever your forefathers are from."
And another.
"I say.. When are we going to force the media to stop separating us into groups.. Bunch of RACIST PIGS"..
And one more from ME.
Long live our Republic and not the pigs who wish to destroy Liberty for ALL.
Brian and Care4,
You wrote, "Most of the dealings I have with people from Cuba and Mexico are that they have gone through the immigration process and object to our government allowing illegals to enter in without prejudice." According to Fox News, Obama wins 6 out of every 7 votes among Latinos most likely to vote. http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2012/03/05/gop-hopefuls-losing-ground-to-obama-among-latinos-poll-says/. Accordingly, your personal anecdotal evidence, even if true, merely shows how limited your contact with actual Latino voters is.
And, contrary to your warped opinion, Democrats don't advocate that undocumented aliens be permitted to vote. That's yet another false "straw man" argument for Republicans like you, sheer propaganda, nothing more. Have a nice day, Brian.
As to you, Care4, you wrote, ""if you cant be counted as an American before a minority you, need to go back to wherever your forefathers are from." This implies that American minorities can't have different opinions from yours, another example of the kind of absolutist drivel promoted by your arrogant hero who won't just go away after being completely whipped for the third time. Have a nice day, Care4.
Obama has deported more illegal immgrants than any other president before him.. so when ppl come on this blog and start talking about Obama pandering to latinos, when i fact he had a plan in place that was supported by most latinos. It was the republicans that defeated his plan that created another avenue for citizenship for young ppl. I agree that most legal latinos want the border closed but if you ask them if they have family that is here illegally most would say YES... and if you asked "would you like them to get deported because they are here illegally?" the answer would be no.. so why would they want to vote republican?? BTW.. if a Cuban had to go though the same process as a Mexican to become a legal citizen Rubio would have been a democrat because most of the Cubans that he grew up around would be part of this illegal immagration problem.. all a Cuban has to do is reach land and he is here to stay..
While Romney feels that he can appeal to voters by pandering to racist programs that target Latinos in general (citizen and non-citizen, native born, immigrant and unauthorized immigrant alike) in an effort to try and force them to flee the country (self-departation).
Sound familiar? Romney's choice of immigration initiatives comes to you courtesy of a group of organizations (CIS, FAIR, NumbersUSA, etc.) founded and spearheaded by a Nazi-admirer who has written openly that he wants the United States to adopt the "genetics policies" of the Third Reich, and thinks immigration is the best place to start.
@Michale... A Latino said it.... The media can report it,,, so can we.. Look around the groups of people who understand liberty and you'll find bunches of them making that quote.. But that person I quoted knows racism only grows if you separate us into groups... WE are Americans.. We as Americans only are one people if we are in a true republic.. From there we all should put the personal liberty's of each individual first.. You have no right to call a person anything but an American.. That's whats wrong here.. We need to put our country first.. It unites us and then we can go on from there.. to each decide about more important issues like our country's well being and we can put in our 2cents each and figure it out.. So whats your 2cents on your candidate if I can get you to speak beyond race as to what his record shows? BTW I voted Obama but I don't want a choice between the lesser of 2 evils again. What does Paul say that makes him so bad to you?
Not really. He said he was going to remove our troops from Iraq and he did.
He said he was going to increase drone strikes against al Qaeda targets in Pakistan and he did.
He said he was going to increaase the number of troops in Afghanistan and go after al Qaeda there, and he did.
He said he was going to kill bin Laden and he did.
He said he was going to help the American automobile manufacturers without giving taxpayer money away and he did.
He said he was going to propose ways to reduce the budget deficit and he did.
He said he was going to work tirelessly to stop the hemmhoraging of American jobs (750,000 jobs lost per MONTH before he took office, versus 100,000 to 300,000 added per month at present), and he did.
Oh, yes he is.
Romney's the biggest liar to waltz across the American political scene since.... Since.... Well, I can't think of anyone who lied that consistently.
It's pretty bad when a politicians backers say, vote for my candidate, because he's LYING to you.
Which is why requiring yet ANOTHER piece of ID to vote is a waste of government money.
bb, if you think unauthorized immigrants are skewing election results by voting, this challenge ought to be easy for you.
Come up with ONE documentable case of an unauthorized immigrant being convicted for voting fraudulently in any state or national election, anywhere in the United States of America, at any time during the last 20 years.
I'm not asking for a million examples, or a thousand, or a hundred, or even ten.
I'm not asking for five, examples, or three, or even two.
ONE documentable example. Just ONE.
Anywhere in the US.
At any time in the last 20 years.
ONE.
What a bunch of crap.
Typical Ron Paul BS. It's okay for the KKK to burn crosses, bomb churches, and lynch blacks because the KKK is only expressing themselves, but it's not okay for blacks to protest such actions, because it is the demands for EQUALITY that "separate us into groups". Talk about blaming the victim!
An unholy alliance of the GOP and Nazis has unleashed a spate of ignorant, counterproductive, hateful, and discriminatory legislation aimed at forcing Latinos to flee the country, and everyone with brown skin is a target, and we should all cheer because to do otherwise would "separate us into groups".
Why should anyone be arrested for "being in the country".
Aren't we ALL "in the country", including YOU?
There are 308 MILLION of us and there is room for at least that many more. Why should SOME of us be arrested for doing something that ALL of us are doing?
That's like saying bank robbers should not be arrested if they were born in the same town the bank is in.
Or that eating at McDonald's should be a crime unless you were born in the same county as the restaurant.
2commonsense... Your just making that up.. Show a single Ron Paul supporter of the millions who is what you say.. I guess you just want to spat because your pretty stuck.. Its tough to beat liberty.. I would like to see if you know something about liberty.. I quiz you.. What is the REPUBLIC for which we stand?
Care4, all politicians pander to interest groups. It's happened for centuries. Ron Paul does the same thing; he doesn't say it though. He panders to the limited government sector of the conservative wing of America; the libertarians, extreme conservatives, states' rights supporters, and the like. He also appeals to conservatives in the Tea Party wing by promoting slash-and-burn budget policies, lower taxes, a strict adherence to the Constitution, and free market extremists. EVERYONE panders to interest groups. I am sick and tired of Ron Paul supporters acting like Ron Paul will solve everything (I admit Obama didn't), and that he is perfect and above politics (I admit Obama is not). He isn't. He may have good intentions, but he is still a politician. He bashes his opponents. I remember an ad that attacked his fellow Republican candidates for their previous support of "big government spending." Ron Paul doesn't have all the solutions; in fact, his policies would create a whole new set of problems for America.
OBAMA BIDEN 2012
As a nation I thought we were supposed to uphold candidates who will pander to the constitution. What's the oath of office that our forefathers created? And darn right about bashing a official who has a record of spending your money on waste or supporting the biggest theft in history for the bankers at the peoples expense. Check out this video of you being ripped off. America being ripped off.. The tax man loves us so he can give our money to these guys... I SURE HOPE YOU WATCH this and tell me what you think. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJmjf_gZOUs&list=FL1ku-rw7YzF89yGqVhYQ-oA&index=106&feature=plpp_video
Yea, I watched it. Didn't like it one bit. Didn't change my political views, but still, pretty infuriating...
And yes, we are supposed to vote for candidates who stay within the lines of the Constitution. But there are different interpretations of the Constitution. Some take a strict interpretation; some have a very loose interpretation. I personally have a "flexible" interpretation that says that we have to have a big government to manage our big nation.
Freshieee - But you don't pay any taxes to support the big government you want do you?
Your right, there are two views of our Constitution.. One that is derived from lawyers and one that is derived from historians.. Once you take a look at what was going on from a historian, it becomes amazing.. Something will happen to you.. You'll realize the men were genious.. they were expierenced.. they were dedicated.. and what they created becomes the most special thing the world has ever seen a country have in world history.. You'll never be the same if you really dig into what it is as a historian.. We must protect it.. We must restore the republic for which we stand.. Here is another video.. Please watch..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4r0VUybeXY&list=FL1ku-rw7YzF89yGqVhYQ-oA&index=104&feature=plpp_video
If you like it there is a fantastic one that's about 2 hours long where Paul drills congress on our history of the republic we are. There are many other historical books that cover it from the time as well as our pledge of allegiance to our flag.
I cannot pay taxes, mainly because I cannot work. I am not unemployed or anything, I simply am too young to work.
Our founders were experienced. They were also smart; they created something that had never been tried before. They created something special. We have to remember that. But we also have to be practical. We cannot observe the Constitution word for word, or else we are finished. That is the truth. Our nation, and everything that we have done and stood for will be destroyed internally, by economic collapse and maybe social chaos, and our glorious nation will just become another footnote in the history books, a warning for the rest of the world. Not to follow any document word-for-word, even if it was the cornerstone of an entire civilization. The modern age requires a strong government, and so does our large nation. We cannot return to the times of limited government, stark individualism, and uncompromising anti-statism. I favor the welfare state, or at least a particular version of it, simply because it is the middle ground between a tiny government and a totalitarian one. We cannot go back to the 19th century. It is a matter of logistics. A small government was sufficient for the government of the 1700 and 1800s, when our nation was small in both size and influence. But as our nation grew larger and more powerful, our government needed to grow. Now that we are a superpower, we have to have a strong government. I do not advocate the squashing of civil liberties or the desecration of the Constitution and of our freedoms, but we cannot expect to be able to stay constant in a rapidly changing world. The days of limited government are long gone, and they most likely won't come back. That is why I am a liberal, otherwise known as a "big government lefty." And I am not some government crony bought out or bribed. I am just a youth speaking the truth.
OBAMA BIDEN 2012
What about the 65% of the people who work in the free market that are taxed to pay for the ones who are employed from that tax? You believe that % should grow? What about the lack of funds to meet the spending of this bigger government your enjoying? Is it ok to have the debt continue to rise? The debt that we sold to the communists to fund your good times is ok? The interest the nation must pay on that debt is funding the largest standing military in the world that has nuke weapons to boot. The shortfalls of funding is off the charts as a percentage and a total.. Where do you think that deficit money comes from? Nations require gifts to be swayed to buy the current debt... Gifts like your country's technology... War technology.. What happens in the history going forward when the day comes very soon that they no longer buy our debt because we have nothing left to give? Especially being young.. your going to see it if its allowed to be supported.. Trade agreements like NAFTA, CAFTA, TAFTA, and all the others AFTA are just gifts.. Deregulation of markets have been gifts and the driving force of it all is the banks who should have never been allowed to slip in under the free market ideas.. Banks are only supposed to be banks, not brokers and unfunded insurers of debt.. Thats what caused the first great deppresion.. We have to stop selling out our country.. A 3rd world America is more possible than your being led to believe.. Don't say a powerful government will never let it happen with all its strength and weapons.. Look at what happened to Russia and what the citizens had to live through and many are still suffering.. Over burdening a nation with growth through government debt always ends the same for thousands of years.. Who will always be there to give you more credit for the good times? Further, do these look like good times you may have heard about from an older generation? These times are the tip of the iceberg. Elect a man who knows history and has a history of not wanting any money or lusts of power and greed.. Let him get us back on course.. I beg you..
If you're talking about people who work for the government, than I would say that the number of employees should grow when the need for more arises. I don't make a big fuss about the size of the government; only by how efficient it is and what it does.
I would prefer that the size of the debt go down, but at the very least I would like its size compared to the national economy to go down. Debt doesn't usually affect economies unless it goes past the 100% mark. We are currently at the 76% mark.
I know where the deficit money comes from; either Americans who buy Treasury bonds or foreigners who do so. People don't buy our debt because we give them gifts; they do so because they think US debt is the safest investment in the bond market, based on our credit rating (You're going to make a comment about our downgrade, aren't you?).
Technically, those agreements could have benefited America, had the nations we signed those agreements with played by the rules. That is why I am personally for fair trade.
The deregulation of the markets was a "gift," in a way, to the financial industry. But the government gave them that so they would "encourage growth." It did, but it also led to a depression...
The Great Depression was not caused by debt. It was caused by uninsured bank deposits, the Dust Bowl, and the wave of protectionism that flowed all across the world, among other things.
These do not look like good times. I may be young, but I know my history. Ron Paul may be somewhat untainted by the special interests of money and power, but personally I don't think his policies would work. I don't believe that tight monetary policy even under the worst of economic conditions is viable, nor is tight fiscal policies. This guy said that Obama should have cut spending and balanced the budget during the recession. How in the hell do we know that that would do anything??? We'd have to raise taxes and cut spending in the most economically troubling times since the 1930s. Immediately after Roosevelt tightened fiscal policy in 1937, the economy went through a double-dip recession until 1938. While Ron Paul would argue that loose monetary policy caused this recession, I think that the tight fiscal policy and the lack of funding for programs like the WPA caused the collapse. The days of limited government are over; believe me. Name me three nations with large populations and economies managed to survive under a limited government. It's practically impossible to have a limited government in the modern age; we don't live in the Wild West. We live in the 21st century, a century that requires large government programs to help Americans, especially in rough economic times. Ron Paul's far right-wing policies are a recipe for disaster; I admire his candor, but his ideas are insane.
The Latino's were polled is was just on TV 67% for Obama 33% for Mitzi..He can't seem to seal the deal anywhere !
In the latest polls Romney is either tied with or ahead of Obama across the nation with registered voters. I guess you have a different idea of "sealing the deal" than clear thinking individuals.
This poll was less then 10 min ago . Maybe FOX NEWS reported it wrong ?
The question Palm Springs is... did the poll cover only legal immigrants, or was it a man on the street poll where anyone profiled to be Latino was questioned? Makes a huge difference... I'm sure illegals would say they'd vote for Obama just because they think they'd get some government benefit from him.
Polling data is nothing but GIGO. Liberals rely too much on stacked polling in order to support their failing causes.
Its FOX ... the polled republicans ! That's why they said he can't seem to seal the deal anywhere .
Gee palm springs....Did Your head just spin around on your shoulders & was that Foam spraying from your snout.....maybe you should get that checked.......just sayin.......
palm - "The Latino's were polled ...He can't seem to seal the deal anywhere !"
"The Latino's"... really? All of them were polled? And they are all located in one location?
The only poll that matters is the one for ALL AMERICAN CITIZENS, it happens this fall and Obama doesn't have a chance.
@InPalmSpringsCa..... Exactly.. That's why allot of Republicans are turning to the Guy who can seal the deal.. RON PAUL.. You won't hear it on main stream, but WE elect our leaders.. Not them..
The central bankers.. The status-quo.. The debt makers of government.. The war mongers, & The media pukes that degrade our soldiers and try and keep us separated and sell us lies are crapping themselves should liberty continue to put up a good fight..
Here is the TRUTH and they'll all start hearing us very soon... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhwxcyyjGBI&feature=related
The first state conventions begin to be held next week when a real vote gets counted.. They call this a Representative form of government for a reason because only someone involved in the country should get to be counted.. That's the way its always worked.. Time to pass the old guard of Pharisees and its corrupt media.. Let freedom ring.. So DELEGATE for THOMAS JEFFERSON,, I MEAN "RON PAUL" 2012
To BrianB and the rest of the nincompoops on this thread,
According to a late February 2012 poll conducted by Fox News, Obama wins 6 out of every 7 votes among Latinos most likely to vote. http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2012/03/05/gop-hopefuls-losing-ground-to-obama-among-latinos-poll-says/. Apparently, Fox's more recent poll shows the gap has closed to 2-1, but that figure will likely climb in the debates when Obama exposes Romney's enthusiastic support for Republican positions on immigration reform.
@leftliberalliars
Elections are decided state by state, not the total vote. Didn't you know that? It would be possible to get 55 or even 60% of the vote and lose. Total vote is irrelevent. It's who gets what states. 10 Alaskas wouldn't outweigh California. Watch the game, not the color of the seats. Your focusing on irrelevent math trivia. Romney doesn't have the states. And unless Obama develops a severe case of "Romney-mouth", Romney is almost certainly doomed.
care4mycountry,mychildren,myparents,
You wrote, "So DELEGATE for THOMAS JEFFERSON,, I MEAN "RON PAUL" 2012." Mr. Care4, you and other zombies need to awaken to the real world. Ron Paul isn't going to be on the ballot this Fall. He's already said he won't run as an independent, and he's certainly not going to win the Republican nomination. But you can quixotically argue on his behalf if you like.
Funny how you mention Thomas Jefferson and Ron Paul in the same breath. Do you know that Ron Paul corrupts the First Amendment by saying that, "The Founding Fathers envisioned a robustly Christian yet religiously tolerant America, with churches serving as vital institutions that would eclipse the state in importance." This is demonstrably wrong, according to no less an authority than the United States Supreme Court, which has consistently recognized that the purpose of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment was to build or erect a wall separating Church and State, according to no less a figure than Thomas Jefferson, whose group crafted the clause:
"[A]t the first session of the first Congress the amendment now under consideration was proposed with others by Mr. Madison. It met the views of the advocates of religious freedom, and was adopted. Mr. Jefferson afterwards, in reply to an address to him by a committee of the Danbury Baptist Association (8 id. 113), took occasion to say: 'Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God; that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship; that the legislative powers of the government reach actions only, and not opinions,-I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,' thus building a wall of separation between church and State. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore man to all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.' Coming as this does from an acknowledged leader of the advocates of the measure, it may be accepted almost as an authoritative declaration of the scope and effect of the amendment thus secured." Reynolds v. United States, 98 U.S. 145, 164 (1878) (emphasis added).
"This Court first reviewed a challenge to state law under the Establishment Clause in Everson v. Board of Ed. of Ewing, 330 U.S. 1, 67 S.Ct. 504, 91 L. Ed. 711 (1947).1 Relying on the history of the Clause, and the Court's prior analysis, Justice Black outlined the considerations that have become the touchstone of Establishment Clause jurisprudence: Neither a State nor the Federal Government can pass laws which aid one religion, aid all religions, or prefer one religion over another. Neither a State nor the Federal Government, openly or secretly, can participate in the affairs of any religious organization and vice versa.2 "In the words of Jefferson, the clause against establishment of religion by law was intended to erect 'a wall of separation between church and State.' "Everson, 330 U.S., at 16, 67 S. Ct., at 511 (quoting Reynolds v. United States, 98 U.S. 145, 164, 25 L. Ed. 244 (1878)). Even the Everson dissenters agreed: "The Amendment's purpose ... was to create a complete and permanent separation of the spheres of religious activity and civil authority by comprehensively forbidding every form of public aid or support for religion." 330 U.S., at 31–32, 67 S. Ct., at 519–520 (Rutledge, J., dissenting, joined by Frankfurter, Jackson, and Burton, JJ.); accord, Lee v. Weisman, 505 US 577, 599-600 (1992)(emphasis added).
Ron Paul, a non-lawyer, presents himself as an expert on constitutional law when the truth of the matter is that he is a perfect example of the happy marriage of ignorance with arrogance. His views on the 10th Amendment are equally corrupted. Moreover, Ron has no problem defying Roe v. Wade, which has been the law of the land for almost 40 years, he just thinks it's the states that should forbid abortion. He's way too kooky for the American public, as has been demonstrated by his 3 lost presidential campaigns, including this one.
That you continue enthusiastically to push this dead horse is a reflection of the self-absorbed dogmatism of your candidate and you.
There's "garbage in, garbage out" (GIGO) and then there's "doesn't matter what you send through this black box, everything that comes out is garbage".
It might surprise Mr. bb that not all Latinos are immigrants. After all, there were no restrictions on people immigrating to the United States from anywhere in the Western Hemishpere until 1965. And no serious bigotted attempt to specifically discriminate against immigration by Latinos until 1986.
I'd like to return to the days when our immigration policy was NOT based on bigotry.
That makes me the Conservative on this issue.
Didn't Obama promise the Hispanic community in 2008 that he was going to change the immigration policies and get passed a amnesty program? Hasn't Obama and the left pandered toward the Hispanic community but have failed to pass any significant legislation? What does Obama and his clown AG Holder brag about, that they have deported more illegals than the Bush Administration.
My questions to all in the Hispanic community is "are you better off now than 4 years ago?" Is the unemployment rate among Hispanics higher now than 4 years ago? Hispanics, like most voters, will be voting their pocket book.
You forgot to mention that Obama's been talking out of both sides of his mouth. He tells American audiences that he's got "record" deportation figures, but he acknowledges to Hispanic audiences that the number of these deportations is exaggerated. He's trying to have it both ways--convince Americans he's enforcing the law and Latinos that he's not.
Responding to sfcret and Brianb
As a third generation latino, a citizen I will answer your open ended questions. As it is true to say that all Latinos don't vote or think alike; it is also true to say that most of us understand that Obama has proposed and or supported comprehensive immigration reform. They understand that it takes the legislative branch to pass it before he can sign it. They understand that he has done his duty to protect the border and carry on with deportations. Although he has stressed that violent immigrants should make up the bulk of those deported and directed homeland security to take family issues into consideration when dealing with breaking up families with children.
We understand that he has spoken out against the unconstitutional state mandates in Arizona and Alabama. Believe me I've watched the Univision and TeleMundo interviews first hand. Have you? Do you have any first hand knowledge, spoken to people in your church, neighborhood, grocery store in english and spanish? Do you have first hand knowledge of the ethnic group your post about?
Legislation has not passed due to the fillibuster threats from the Republicans due to the xenophobic atmosphere coming from the GOP base.
Regarding unemployment numbers...
_________
Dept. of Labor - Hispanic work force in recovery.
Unemployment rate peaked for this business cycle at 10.1 percent in October 2009. Among Hispanics, the unemployment rate reached a high of 13.2 percent the following year in November 2010, while it peaked for whites at 9.4 percent in October 2009 and at16.5 percent among blacks in April 2010 (see Chart 1). These racial differences, with Hispanics having higher unemployment rates than whites, but lower than blacks, are long-standing. For example, in the year in which the recession started, 2007, the unemployment rate for Hispanics was 5.6 percent, compared to 4.1 percent for whites and 8.3 percent for blacks.
While the unemployment rate peaked for Hispanics a year after it peaked among whites, the unemployment rate remained elevated for all groups from the fall of 2009 through much of 2010. As illustrated in Chart 1, Hispanics faced an unemployment rate of 13.1 percent in October 2009 when the rate peaked among whites. The gap in the unemployment rates of Hispanics and whites was largely steady between October 2009 and November 2010 at approximately 3.7 percentage points. Since reaching its high point in November 2010, the overall Hispanic unemployment rate has fallen by 1.6 percentage points.
_______
Hispanics are returning to the workforce at a faster pace than other groups, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
The unemployment rate for Hispanics has been falling since it reached a high of 13.2 percent in November 2010, according to a new Department of Labor report, "The Hispanic Labor Force in the Recovery." For all of 2010, the unemployment rate for Hispanics averaged 12.5 percent.
________
Seems it is getting better despite the worst recession since the 1930's.
To answer other questions about amnesty and new undocumented immigrants getting special treatment. I believe that they should be provided a pathway to legalization and to citizenship. Me and the people I know and associate with believe they should not jump in line of those immigrants who have entered legally. Do you have any personal understanding of these issues, do you know what the process entails for gaining residency and then citizenship?
Your point is taken about pocket book importance, but many people I know will not support a party or platform that no longer tries to hide the blatant contempt the GOP blankets on citizens and non-citizens alike.
People I know believe that this group that so many try to scapegoat support this country with their labor and stimulate our economy. Some may say why as a latino citizen I would support or care what happens to them. As my grandparents came to this country more than 90 years ago, I see this new population's great potential to contribute.
Ran out of time while editing.
Yes I am better off than I was four years ago. Bush's recession had destroyed the economy. I survived three company wide layoffs during 2008, but right after the Lehman brothers collapse I knew the writing was on the wall.
My architectural firm fired me on 11/07/08 right after the election. Better off now, I am gainfully employed as a construction manager/architect have been since Jan 09.
Yellowdog, Read your post with interest, and I live in CA and have talked to a lot of Latinos/Hispanics here legally and many do not agree with giving illegals priority to citizenship. I have employed and worked with many Latinos/Hispanics and find them to be hard working, and good neighbors. As far as Obama's so called Amnesty Program, which he promised in his first year, was nothing but political BS to gather votes. Remember he had a majority in congress and he failed to even present a immigration policy.
Since you are better off now than 4 yrs ago, I assume you will vote for Obama.
sfcret - Meant to say I was laid off not fired.
Anyway, for all his faults in my mind, different faults in the eyes of the right mind you, yes I will vote for Obama.
With a split in power like we have now, legislatively nothing gets done whether it comes from the right or left. I guess I will saddle up with a bit of pandering in the hopes that Obama who is for comprehensive immigration reform can actually do something (highly unlikely, see my first sentence). Romney is against anything other than border security, which is only one part of the solution along with penalizing employeers for hiring.
My reason for pulling for Obama is not based solely on this issue. That being said if Romney wins, the GOP will control both branches entirely, Congress and the executive. The democrats are going to lose the Senate, no hoping on my part will change that, it is simple math.
With Romney at the helm and lower Senate numbers I fear that the Democrats couldn't filibuster the GOP wish list. I need Obama's veto pen for this issue and a myriad of others.
In this election comparing Romney - Obama is still the best I got.
@Dog
Good comments. Here is my two cents. I don't support the DREAM act as currently written. The education requirements are too loose and could be easily fabricated. If this is to be used as criteria then the conditions have to be tightened up. The military requirements are fine as far as I'm concerned and the Republicans if they had any political savvy would be pushing this proposal to drive a wedge into a Democrat policy. For all other illegals no amnesty and potential of an amnesty. Any chance of an amnesty will always give hope to someone who has broke the law by being here and working illegally.
Legal immigration should be streamlined as much as possible. I don't know enough about the specifics but the easiest solution in the short term would be a guest worker program (which illegal immigrants should be given priority), and to raise the quotas for permanent residence.
It is the GOP plan that they try to blame President Obama for not passing the Dream Act even though they are the people who voted against it! Just like the GOP to "complain" about the Dream Act and vote against it then try to blame President Obama for their do-nothing policy. Same with the JOBS act. Boehner had the audacity to say the President checked out in the Fall. Really Boehner? You don't recall that you and Little Prince Cantor blocked both the "Grand Deal" that was offered last Summer by President Obama that would have cut $4 Trillion from the National Debt. Then, when that was rejected by Boehner and Little Prince Canto then President Obama offered a smaller version and that was rejected too. Then the GOP blocked the JOBS ACT! The GOP ain't so grand just the old party of no new ideas.
G-9 - "It is the GOP plan that they try to blame President Obama for not passing the Dream Act even though they are the people who voted against it!"
Why on earth would the GOP give Obama credit for not passing the Dream Act? Stopping the Obama administration's agenda is what the were elected to do in 2010 and killing the Dream Act is a great example of listening to what Americans want.
Yes, i am better off.. Obama is deporting more ppl but he is targeting criminals first and for most while they are in holding. He has to give republicans a bone on immigration so he can get some of them to reach across the isle.. and he has tried to pass reform, if only republicans would just allow reform to happen. if he had to go though them to deport as many as he did, republicans would most likely oppose it just because he thought it up.. someone said earlier on this blog that elections usually comes down to the lesser of two evils. Do you want a person that belives in a path to citizenship or one that believes in self deportation of all? if you are here illegally but do not commit crimes against citizens and are paying taxes and doing all that you can so that you can stay here and raise your familly here.. which of the two evils would you choose?
sfcret,
The real question isn't whether Hispanics see themselves as better off than they were four years ago, but rather whether they believe they'll be better off during the next four years with Romney as President. According to a late February 2012 poll conducted by Fox News, Obama wins 6 out of every 7 votes among Latinos most likely to vote. http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2012/03/05/gop-hopefuls-losing-ground-to-obama-among-latinos-poll-says/. Apparently, Fox's more recent poll (yesterday) shows the gap has closed to 2-1.
Suffice it to say, Romney is not going to win the Latino vote no matter how many tacos, chalupas, or pupusas he eats during the next six months. Tenga buen tarde, amigo.
Obama's Latino Outreach plan is to send in Secret Service agents to high unemployment areas to help the local prostitutes.
Rocco - Now that's just plain funny! I like the way you think! Thanks ever so much for the laugh! :o)
stupid comment, but yes funny
Funny, no.
Stupid and offensive, yes.
At least Willard and the Republicans can always count on the Red Neck vote.
Job1, by Red Neck, I'm sure you mean legal American, lol! It is the growing illegal population that will vote and sometimes be paid to vote for BO that is the real issue! But having read your inane comments for too long, I understand that this concept is a bit confusing for you...
Red Neck and proud Job1. Yes he has our votes. Anyone who doesn't want America destroyed will vote for him. Guess we know what column your in.
Proof of that? Didn't think so. Just more republican bull@!$%# to try to justify disenfranchising so many legitimate voters they think will vote for a dem.
Here's your Proof...Link below....cuz ya Really have to be Stupid, Naive or Both to believe that ILLEGALS Steal into this country, then Steal Jobs (using Stolen SSI's), Steal Services, Expect that Taxpayer Funded Education, AND then toooo Blind/Stupid AND Naive to believe that that same ILLEGAL will NOT use that stolen ID to Vote....!!!!!----Yea cuz they're just too 'honest' for that ............. Really, is that what You're goin with......
rked,
What link?
Most likely some of the so called loyal true blue good ole boy (redneck types) that hate black people have lost their drivers licences, due to some reason and the voter suppression laws will kick in.
No link, no proof.
keeps removing my link...go to youtube (duh), entitled "ILLEGAL immigrants, Caught Voting in Fla. in Large Numbers"
jobless1 - "At least Willard and the Republicans can always count on the Red Neck vote."
And they can count on a lot more demographics of Americans than that.... while Democrats continue desperatly to attempt to buy votes from foreigners, leeches, and criminals.
Name some more demographics lol other than old white guys? students? nope, women? nope, minorities? nope..
Opposition to the DREAM Act is "insulting" to Hispanic families, added San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro.
-----------Support of the Dream Act is insulting to Americans and legal immigrants. Hispanic families are no more entitled to break the laws of this country than anyone else is and to imply they should be is UnAmerican.
Come to America ....
Get free stuff ....
Obama out in 2012 ....
Illegals have been coming to this country getting free stuff for decades. I live in San Antonio and a lot of families would be torn apart, if massive deportation was enacted. Governor Perry, Republican, allows illegals to go to college at state schools will grants. The subject of illegals cannot be blamed on just one party.
This needs to be addressed in a civil and humane way. Pushing a lot of people south of the board is not going to work. Romney is working on a new dream act, through Rubio. He is pandering, but it is something that should be taken seriously.
If Mitt wins, America loses.
When Mr Romney wins we can be a prosperous country again.
What evidence do you have to support this claim? Of course Mitt and his rich buddies will continue to be prosperous, that we can be sure of. The rest of us, not so much. The man has no vision, or none that he has shared outside of the normal bulleted talking points.
He took a small office supply store and turned it into a megastore. When he was elected Governor of MA, they had a $600M defecit and he turned it into a surplus. The Salt Lake Olympic Games were headed towards bankruptcy and he turned it into a profit, while taking no salary. Bain was also headed into bankruptcy and he saved the company, again while taking no salary. Evidence of turning around private companies, state government, and non profit organizations.
What evidence can you give of President Obama's financial success? Running up as much debt in 3 years as Bush did in 8? Blaming everything on President Bush, even though Democrats had overwhelming majorities in the Senate and House for 2 years when President Obama got everything that he wanted?
I dont know about the rest of you but i dont want my president to to run a country like a venture capitalist runs his investment firm. Gut the business, do more with less, sell for parts and fill it with dept and then claim bankrupcy... that is not how you run a country..
And here we go with the Olympics again.. He took govt money to save the olympics and actually took some of that money to benefit some of his local friends including paying for privet roads to his friends homes.. he could not find money from privet companies so he lobbied for it multiple time!!
If we stick to the main issues like the debt, it is time for a change.
www.usdebtclock.org
Romney will counterattack. As he said, "For Pete's sake I'm running for President. Get the illegals off my lawn." Because he really didn't care one way or the other until votes came into play. But now he'll come up with some gimmick to get the Hispanic vote - some watered down - no path to citizenship Dream Act. Maybe he'll just say that if an illegal immigrant dies in one of our wars - starting in Iran - they get citizenship posthumously. Otherwise, they can "self-deport." And that Rubio, whose family did NOT flee Castro, he'll make it all go down better.
How about an article that talks about Democrats bailing out of the party because of the resentment towards their open border anti labor stance?
How about an article that shows the fact that illegal immigration under the Obama administration is down significantly while deportation of illegals is up significantly?
Libs always have to spin the numbers.......
Deportation is Up Because the number of immigrants SNEAKING across the border is UP!
DUH!
Same as oil production is "UP"....but no because of ANYTHING obama has done!!!
Who's doing the spinning here Patty??? Seems the Repugs do it far more than the Libs...
crack a book,Patty. Illegal immigration is down. Mexico's economy is not bad and improving. Mexican's don't come here just to piss you off. They come here because NAFTA, Monsanto, ConAgra, and ADM have destroyed their agricultural economy. However, at this point, they have a lower unemployment rate than us and many are returning to Mexico to get jobs. So if our deportations are up and illegal crossings are down, what do you think that is saying? Should I do the math for you? Reality must really be a bitch for you teabagging neocons....
The biggest reason less South Americans (not just Mexicans) are crossing the border less these days is because a lot of them are being snatched up by the cartels and killed if they dont help them bring drugs across the border. Any story you read about mass graves being found in Mexico, most of those identified are non Mexicans that have been making the trip from as far as Guatemala or worst...
Illegal immigration is significantly down.
LOL..does it not bother you that you NEVER get a "thumbs up" on your posts?
Could it be because nobody agrees with you or believes your fake numbers?
And..
Gas was $1.83 in 2008.......NOW almost $4
Unemployment was 6.7%....NOW 8.2%
Debt up over $5 TRILLION in 3 1/2 yrs!
Food prices up almost 10%
Wow.....everything is just marvelous!!!
Run to the mailbox and get your check, Precious!
You are entitled to your own opinion little one, not your own facts.
These ARE FACTS!
:-)
No Patty... That is not true. Lies of omission make your statements lies...
patty,patty...you poor deluded thing...as Winston Churchill said," lies,damned lies, and statistics." Do you really believe these horse droppings you're sharing or just hoping someone else will be stupid enough to believe your half-truths. I'll give you an A for audacity but an F for originality and accuracy. Gas was under $2.00 because your storm troopers, Bushco, had just finished demolishing the economy. That's what happens when people have no jobs and no money. Prices go down. Are you so stupid that you fail to make this connection or are you, as you accused in the last line of posts, "spinning numbers"? That's seriously weak...not even weak...dead. GMAFB...really???? this is the best you have???? If you want, we could get gas back down to $2 again. All we have to do is flush the economy down the toilet and give all the money to Halliburton like Boy George did. Is that really what you want? Or are you just having fun throwing pooh against the wall to see if any sticks....really???? BTW...when gas went up after the Bushco planecrash settled, so did everything else. Unemployment kept going up because it is not a LEADING INDICATOR. It trails. So unemployment continued to spike, not because of Obama but because your jackasses hadn't finished burning down the bARN YET. One of your brethren yesterday posted the first anti-Obama criticism with any real validity or intelligence that I have seen in many months. He linked the Obama campaign with three culprits from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Obama certainly has his vulnerabilities but having mental midgets play games with misleading numbers is the least of his worries, I assure you. If you can't mount an intelligent attack on President Obama, maybe you should either stay off your computer or find the poster who finally found a good point to attack and just copy him or let him do your thinking for you. $2.00....puhhlleease...spare me...this is all you have?
There are two reasons why gas prices are higher. Back in 2008, the economy plunged, and so did demand for gasoline, shoving down gas prices. The second reason is because of Iran threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz, scaring speculators. Romney's tougher policies would push gas prices even higher.
Unemployment was 7.2 or 7.6% when Obama went into office and was skyrocketing. Now it's 8.2% and going down. Plus jobs are growing, compared to when Obama took office, thanks to Obama's economic policy.
Technically, debt is up about $3.8 trillion because of Obama, if you subtract Bush's last budget appropriation in 2009. Bush added over $5.5 trillion to the debt in a calm economy; and much of the deficit isn't even because of Obama's spending. Much of it was because of depressed revenues and increased spending thanks to the recession.
Actually, it's your numbers that are faulty, my friend.
OBAMA BIDEN 2012
Romney needs a lot of help to get elected, I guess when you are not mainstream....you need a lot of assistance to get people to vote for you and prevent some voters to vote for the other party using ID laws.
Are you kidding?
The Thug HOLDER goes after Arizona for trying to curb illegal immigration!
The Thug HOLDER goes after Alabama for requiring an I.D. to vote!
The Thug Holder does NOT do a dam thing about the Panthers intimidating voters in PA.
The Thug Holder does not do a dam thing about the Panthers putting out a Wanted DEAD or Alive Flyer, which is the same as "Murder for Hire".
This is the corrupt Administration in History!!!
Ironic how the poor little Welfare Angels have no problem getting an I.D. to get their monthly checks or board a plane or cash a check????? And nobody whines about that?
Romney committed voter fraud
Republican presidential front-runner Mitt Romney has survived the heated GOP nominating contest so far without attracting significant attention to what may become a general election issue: allegations that he committed voter fraud in 2010. In January 2010 the former Massachusetts governor proudly cast a ballot for Republican Scott Brown in the special election to replace the late Sen. Ted Kennedy. He didn’t own property in the state at the time, and had registered to vote listing his son’s unfinished basement as his residence. Massachusetts law defines a residence for voter registration purposes as “where a person dwells and which is the center of his domestic, social, and civil life.” Anyone found guilty of committing voter fraud faces up to five years behind bars and a fine of $10,000.
The issue was first raised last year, after long-shot GOP candidate Fred Karger traveled to Romney’s former community of Belmont and interviewed members of his former church — who informed Karger that the Romneys had moved — and their former realtor, who told him, “Oh, they moved to California.” Additionally, Karger claimed that Ann Romney told him that the couple lived in California.
Thermen,
Funny how Obama RUFUSES to release ANTHING about his College transcripts......WHY?
Because he received ILLEGAL scholarship funds as a "Foreign Student". (or maybe he graduated with a D Average?)
Why are he and Michelle Antoinette so embarassed about their college information?
So much for transparency!
Where are Romney's college transcripts? Where is his birth certificate? Where the phuck are his tax returns??????
Huh little one? Answer that.
The wing nuts and birthers aren't concerned about Romney's documents. For some unknown reason they are only worried about Kenyan ancestry.
LMAO @ Patty....really???? from $2 gas to college transcripts?? If all of Mitts supporters are as smart as you, he's home free...college transcripts... were you concerned about how Boy George's daddy bought him a C average for his MBA??? Btw...a C for graduate work is really lame. You really need to confer with your compatriots before you continue attacking PRESIDENT Obama and embarassing yourself. I'm starting to feel bad for you. If this was a boxing match, the ref would stop it now to protect you.
Lefties, I thought you were for wage protection.
Enforcing our immigration laws is the biggest wage protection there is. So basically you all are just party hacks and could care less that big business gets to have cheap labor just as long as you get what you want.
What a pathetic group!
What do you expect?
GSA and the Secret Servivce guys see the Royal BIG Chief Obama renting 500 hotel rooms in Indonesia and $50,000 per week house in the Vineyard and designer gowns and African Safaris, and luxury trips to over 50 countires (disguised as *business*).......
Monkey see, Monkey do!
hahahaha! such a tool, Patsy. Wouldn't happen to have a link for that tripe, would ya?
Here is an Idea for the Liberal Party.Have the Illegals hold rallies in all the major cities. Mr.Obama can have Spike Lee tweet the addresses for the rallies.The illegals know that they will not be arrested .Mr. Obama can have Mr. Holder issue an investagation to see if any of their civil rights have been violated like someone actually asked them if they are here ilegally then they can charge them with profiling. Does this in any way resemble the current policies. LOL
Obama spent our 5 trillion foolishly and then ate my dog.
Naw, Mit stole it and it's now strapped to the roof of his car...
LOL...........our Dog loves, loves, loves the wind in his face and hangs out the car window!!!!
Nice try!
I am stilled miffed at the liberal base.What part of Illegal don't you understand. These people in our country are criminals not citizens with rights!!! !It flies in the face of every American who abides by the law, pays their taxes etc. How anyone can rationalize this into anthing else is pure bullshat. Please spare me you drivel we either have laws or we don't its that simple!!!
And for the record im am all for legal imigration FOLLOW THE LAW!!!!!!!!!!!
"Legal" is not a race so it doesn't make self-loathing liberals feel "special" inside when they support it. Whats more distubing is their lack of caring about the resulting impact of their actions on future generations.
We don't oppose legal immigration and agree with illegal immigration. Did you know that millions of illegals pay taxes and are not criminals??? Did you also know that some were brought here at a young age??? I say crackdown on illegal immigration, but while doing so make legal immigration easier and allow a way for those who were brought here as children and only know their American home to become citizens as long as they aren't criminals and they will work, go to college, or serve in the military. That is a fair deal that satisfies everyone.
OBAMA BIDEN 2012
Don't get nasty with Mitt or he will tell his wife and then you are really in trouble. PS wonder why his draft doging sons just show up smiling and never say anything.Like father like sons who dodged the military and go around making profits off those that do the the honorable work for the country that is being swindled by their father.
Exactly what was Mr. Obama's military record???? I guess if he had a son he would be in the miitary.
More likely jail.
Ed...........you probably won't see this..
But what an IDIOT you are!
Don't know your age......but there is NO draft!
DUH!
BTW..when did NoBama serve? Maybe in Indonesia while he was eating DOG?
Ed...........you probably won't see this..
But what an IDIOT you are!
Don't know your age......but there is NO draft!
DUH!
BTW..when did NoBama serve? Maybe in Indonesia while he was eating DOG?
A SMALL SAMPLING OF THE MANY LIES OF Willard Mitt Romney
"100,000 new jobs." Romney has repeatedly claimed that during his tenure at Bain Capital, "net-net, we created over 100,000 jobs." His campaign defends the figure by tallying the current employment totals of some companies Bain aided. That's a stretch in and of itself, but it's also not a net figure. It lacks the balancing context of how many jobs were destroyed by Bain. As the Los Angeles Times reported in December, while Bain helped some companies grow, "Romney and his team also maximized returns by firing workers, seeking government subsidies, and flipping companies quickly for large profits. Sometimes Bain investors gained even when companies slid into bankruptcy."
Indeed, the Wall Street Journal looked closely at Bain's record under Romney and found that 22 percent "either filed for bankruptcy or closed their doors by the end of the eighth year after Bain first invested, sometimes with substantial job losses." Which is not really terribly surprising: Bain's raison d'etre is not job creation but wealth creation for its investors. As Washington Post fact checker Glenn Kessler noted in an article Monday calling Romney's "100,000 jobs" figure "untenable," Romney and Bain "never could have raised money from investors if the prospectus seeking $1-million investments from the super wealthy had said it would focus on creating jobs."
As a corollary, when Romney's record has been criticized, he has dismissed criticisms as an attempt to "put free enterprise on trial." It's not an attack on free enterprise. It's an attack on Romney's strained attempt to spin his successful record of wealth-creation into one of job-creation. It's also a recognition that while a net good, the free market has its destructive side—and it's a fair question to ask, whether voters consider experience in that sort of vulture capitalism as a good qualification for the presidency. Do they want government to be run more like that kind of business?
[See a collection of political cartoons on Mitt Romney.]
Obama's jobs record. By Romney's own logic (touting jobs created but ignoring jobs lost), his attacks on President Obama's economic record are nonsensical. He told Time that Obama "has not created any new jobs," and he told Fox News last week that Obama has "lost" 2 million jobs as president. This is indeed a net figure, but also a misleading one. When Obama took office, the economy was shedding jobs at a rate of nearly 1 million jobs per month, losing roughly 3 million during the first four months of 2009. But presidential policies don't take effect as soon as the incoming chief takes his oath. Once Obama's policies started to take effect, the trend turned. The country had added 3.2 million private sector jobs over the course of 22 straight months of private sector growth. By Romney's definition, the president has created more than 3 million jobs—not enough, but also not none.
[Read the U.S. News debate: Will Mitt Romney Be the GOP Presidential Nominee?]
In fact the biggest drag on job growth is the 600,000 public sector jobs that have disappeared under the auspices of budget austerity. As my colleague Danielle Kurtzleben reported in September, "government jobs are being shed by the tens of thousands almost every month, hindering an already weak recovery."
"Entitlement society." Romney has argued that Obama "is replacing our merit-based, opportunity society with an entitlement society," where "everyone is handed the same rewards, regardless of education, effort, and willingness to take risk." As New York's Jonathan Chait has observed, "This accusation is approximately as accurate as claiming that the Republican Party wants to pass laws forbidding poor people from making more money." The idea that President Obama (or any Democrat) advocates for equality of outcomes simply lacks a basis in fact.
[See a collection of political cartoons on the budget and deficit.]
It's an important fabrication, because it marks a turning point in Romney's attacks on Obama. Previously the president was characterized as ineffectual, but not a socialist. Forced to battle to win the GOP primaries, Romney has adopted the Tea Party's extremist rhetoric. It won't play with swing voters, even delivered in his polished drone.
Defense cuts. In an October speech on national security, Romney promised to "reverse President Obama's massive defense cuts." One problem: Pentagon spending has gone up under Obama, from $594 billion in 2008 to $666 billion. The 2011 request was for $739 billion. As Rick Perry would say, "Oops."
[Read the U.S. News debate: Are Cuts to the Defense Budget Necessary?]
No apologies. Romney has said that Obama "went around the world and apologized for America." This is part of the conservative, dog-whistle meme that Obama is un-American (and possibly even a foreigner!). While the notion of an international apology tour is a staple of the conservative case against Obama, it is also fictitious. The Washington Post's fact-checker concluded that "the claim that Obama repeatedly has apologized for the United States is not borne out by the facts, especially if his full quotes are viewed in context." Don't hold your breath waiting for an apology from Romney on this one.
"Mitt." It's a small one, but might be my favorite. During a debate in November, when moderator Wolf Blitzer introduced himself by saying that "Wolf" is really his first name, Romney greeted the audience by saying, "I'm Mitt Romney, and yes, Wolf, that's also my first name." In fact, Willard is his first name. It's a lie notable for being so mundane: Why would someone fudge their name? It's almost as if he can't control himself.
All the GOP has are distortions and lies about President Obama. Their goal is to make him a "one term President"
Romney doesn't stand a chance with the Latino voters. Mr. Etch-A-Sketch is sadly mistaken if thinks he can simply erase what he said to woo the Reich wing base during primary season. No one will believe another flip-flop from this jellyfish.
A recent focus group had some advice for the spineless candidate - "stick to something!" Perhaps it was just my imagination, but I could almost hear the unsaid word "anything!" at the end of that advice.
ben - "Romney doesn't stand a chance with the Latino voters."
Who cares? He has American voters behind him, which is far more important than the racially motivated pandering of Obama.
So Latinos are not Americans??? Whose being racist now????
Yeah, for all you crazy kids out there like Feisty, et al, I have a dream, too: to be able to live free in a land where I don't have to support the constant and debilitating degree of sloth and indigence that the Democrats and POTUS would have us support.
Someone once said that whatever you subsidize you will always have more. Subsidize sloth and indigence and we do have more. Subsidize thrift and investment and you will have more.
Of which do we have more? A very simple question, but so many of you are making the answer so hard.
I am tired of subsidizing massively profitable corporations.
End corporate welfare NOW!
Therman - All the more reason to throw Obama out this fall, along with his "job czar" GM CEO Immelt. Maybe the next admin can even get some of the GM bailout/taxbreak/bankruptcy/UAW gifts back.
Well lets see. Chrysler has paid back 100% of its loan with Interest. GM has paid back 75% of theirs and is well on pace to pay back the rest as they are profitable again. The unions members took substantial pay CUTS and benefit CUTS as part of the deal.
You did not know that, now you do.
This is why obama had Holder try and put injunctins against Voter I.D. Laws. Because intelligent people won't vote for him twice so he needs to court the Latino vote with promises of citizenship and benefits.
Here is one example of voter fraud;
Romney committed voter fraud
Republican presidential front-runner Mitt Romney has survived the heated GOP nominating contest so far without attracting significant attention to what may become a general election issue: allegations that he committed voter fraud in 2010. In January 2010 the former Massachusetts governor proudly cast a ballot for Republican Scott Brown in the special election to replace the late Sen. Ted Kennedy. He didn’t own property in the state at the time, and had registered to vote listing his son’s unfinished basement as his residence. Massachusetts law defines a residence for voter registration purposes as “where a person dwells and which is the center of his domestic, social, and civil life.” Anyone found guilty of committing voter fraud faces up to five years behind bars and a fine of $10,000.
The issue was first raised last year, after long-shot GOP candidate Fred Karger traveled to Romney’s former community of Belmont and interviewed members of his former church — who informed Karger that the Romneys had moved — and their former realtor, who told him, “Oh, they moved to California.” Additionally, Karger claimed that Ann Romney told him that the couple lived in California.
If you can make Rahm Emmanuel Mayor of Chicago I guess anything is legal.
This is the best you liberal loons can come up with? ROTFLMAO I have a picture of obama having sex with a goat. I guess it is as valid as your claim.
Show me one other case of voter fraud. I just gave you a substantiated one with witnesses.
Ali Alexander thinks 1070 wouldnt have gotten passed if it werent popular...News Flash for you pal, our legislature doesnt listen to the people, just the GOP party. Case in point, they have shut the dems out of all budget talks..and they also turned around and made the first recalled state senator (who was also the man responsible for pushing 1070) the VP of the local party..not a month after he was recalled!
I think Romney realizes that Obama is going to get the Latino vote. They are just fighting over how wide the margin is going to be. With the damage that the Republicans have done to the women's vote Romney really can't afford to lose the Latino by the wide margin that the Republicans have in the past.