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Subscribe to RSSLAKE BUENA VISTA, FL -- A day after Mitt Romney spoke before Latino political leaders here and criticized President Obama on the economy and for not achieving comprehensive immigration reform, the president today took his turn on the stage, touting his recent executive action help young illegal immigrants.
And he gladly returned the fire, arguing that Romney's positions were out of step with the Latino community.
"In his speech [yesterday] he said that when he makes a promise to you he'll keep it," Obama told the 1,300 attendees at the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials conference. "Well, he has promised to veto the DREAM Act, and we should take him at his word."
The president received applause when he talked about his executive action -- announced last Friday -- that would temporarily lift deportation threats from qualified young illegal immigrants.
While he said the action fell short of granting these young illegal immigrants a path to citizenship, he added that he believed it was still the right thing to do.
"Was providing these young people with the opportunity for a temporary measure of relief the right thing to do? I think it was. It's long past time that we gave them a sense of hope."
Rebutting Romney's charge from yesterday at the same conference, the president noted that he would have enacted further reforms if congressional Republicans were willing to work with their Democratic counterparts, as they did when 23 Senate Republicans -- including Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) joined former President George W. Bush to champion comprehensive immigration reform.
"Today those same Republicans have been driven away from the table by a small faction of their own party," he said.
He added that Congress could have passed the DREAM Act -- essentially a permanent version of the presidents stopgap measure, but with a pathway for citizenship -- when it came up for a vote a year and a half ago. But the measure fell five votes short of getting the 60 needed to clear a filibuster.
"The bill hadn't changed. The need hadn't changed. The only thing that had changed was politics," he said.
The president also seemed to take a jab at Sen. Marco Rubio, a Latino Republican political hero widely considered a vice presidential contender, who recently criticized the president for not reaching out to him on immigration reform since he was elected.
"My door has been open for three and a half years. They know where to find me," he said.
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Stop Obama's war on America!!
Stop the Republican war on America!
redsuxrule Provide some facts that there is a war on America. Show us the facts!
How many times does he need to ignore the constitution before you see that he is waging a war on America?
Even a "path to citizenship" isn't an easy road. I have a co-worker who has been on that path for years: he came to this country from the UK on a special visa, because he works for our European counterpart. While here, he met and married an American citizen and they have a child together. He's still working on his residency permit. It involves lots of paperwork, paying a fee, and then waiting, and waiting. The FBI had to investigate him and his wife had to be interviewed, it's not a process you go through unless you really want to stay here.
When has he ignored the constitution?
Answer the question. How many examples do you need.
Republicans don't have details. They can only make blanket talking points that have no validity. They are against whatever President Obama is for, without any valid reasons.
RedSoxRule, please tell us exactly when President Obama ignored the Constitution and don't tell us that it was with Executive Orders because Bush signed about 291 of them; plus Bush did "signing statements" where he wrote that he would ignore portions of laws passed by Congress. Just because you don't like President Obama's policies does NOT mean he is not following the Constitution.
Seems that phrase about being able to fool some of the people all of the time is 100% accurage because RedSox is a perfect example of people believing whatever they are told because it suits them--despite huge evidence that says otherwise or better yet, lack of evidence to support what they think.
RedSox, you will not get an answer to your question because you have yet to provide any incidents let alone evidence to support your claim. It's just empty, anti-Obama chatter from a naybob.
One will do. However, you want find one. Of course the right wing idiots will tell you things that they know you want check.
Ignored the Constitution...need I remind you of his bombing of Libya without Congressonal approval?
How about Obama ignoring existing immigration law which is a violation of his oath of office !
I don't recall the oath saying "I solemnly swear to uphold the laws of the United States, AT LEAST THE ONES I LIKE AND AGREE WITH ......."
Obama consistently puts himself above the law and he hates the separation of powers concept .... Obama wants and seeks all power. If he doesn't like a law previously passed, he will just ignore it.
JK and Jim already gave you two. So i guess you now agree that Obama has a war on America. Glad you see the light.
RedSoxRule - we didn't bomb Libya - NATO forces did.
jim - the immigration stance is NOT in any way a violation of his oath of office. That's totally stupid. Do you even know what that means? Try to have someone explain it to you before you look even stupider. And, no one violated the separation of powers concept more than Bush. Clearly you had no problem with his actions.
If ANYONE or thing has a war going against America, it is our CONGRESS who can't agree on ANYTHING to help us, just mocking of this standing President and doing NOTHING but social engineering of our love lives and our reproduction choices.
Why don't you explain to us dumb a$$ liberals how the Constitution is being ignored, Einstein. And guess what, you've proven that being first to post doesn't automatically guarantee the most up votes. Maybe it's just that Feisty is good and you guys are so jealous that your only rebuttal is stupid, childish insults. And I agree, the Red Sux suck.
Therein, is why I have the bulls-eye on my back!
If these idiots think their half-assed attempts at an insult in going to silence me... they better think again! lol
I eat these little pricks for lunch & spit out to discard their grizzle!
Jody -- One can't get into the false equivalency with rightwingers. Whether it's vacation time or a birthday party or campaign bus or signing statements or programs like Operation Wide Receiver etc., these people live in their petty Land of Lies in which President Obama is everything evil--how exactly they can't say--but they know he is evil because FOX/Hate Radio tell them he is.
I keep saying who gives a sh!t about these Jerry Springer distractions, show me the JOBS Teapublicans promised before the 2010 mid-term elections. I want details about the supposed measly 30 jobs bills put forward by the GOP/TP -- versus non-stop filibuster of job creation like the Jobs Act and keeping teachers, firefighters and cops employed, infrastructure, or the transportation bill, trying to block unemployment, and now cuts to food stamps. These rightwingers NEVER reply with facts to support their position.
If they did, they would look as idiotic as the group in Alaska protesting against Eric Holder. I saw that clip and nearly fell over in amazement. Think about it, they are so angry that they went out to the street on their free time with professional signs to yell at traffic and pedestrians about a cause. And then when asked for FACTS, they couldn't provide anything remotely coherent.
I'm at a point where the only thing I agree about is this is a Holy War against the insanity of RWNJs.
Yeah, they know where to find him........on the golf course!! Nice leadership.
redsuxrule Prove it! You talk out your a$$ allot.
... that's because you have to go to a golf course to speak to Boehner ... he's usual putting a few at the 19th hole.
Obama -- 100 rounds of golf so far. LOL
I guess you were not a fan of Eisenhower RedSockRube.
During his 8 years in the WH, Ike averaged 2 rounds a week (over 400 rounds).
Bush spent 3 of his 8 years on vacation.
How more childish can you get counting the golf games of Presidents? If you want a winner, George Bush Sr. was most of the time playing golf.
Who cares?
here's conservative leader ship you can count on
www.factcheck.org/2010/01/president-obamas-vacation-days/
how about repuk controlled congress 1 week vacation every 2 weeks on. real conservative leadership.
That's right. Look backward at others to justify Obama's laziness.
Who cares? Are you kidding? The guy isn't doing his job. He thinks he is just playing the role of president on some tv show.
And you have proof of this statement?
100 of them.
RedSuxRove
His job as CIC is to keep America safe ... he wakes up in the morning and blows away a few AlQueda guys and then blows away a few more just before going to bed ... the rest of the day is spent trying to get Repubs off their fatcat lazy asses. Your beef is with Repubs in congress.
it's not looking back word. it's a "unit a measure" conservative presidents take a third of there presidency on vacation. conservative are ok with that. president Obama goes on vacations and it's like...it's never been done before.
In your case r,.... it's just what you hear on conservative radio and repeat it here. as if it where fact.....now that's funny.
dumb parrots, simply repeat what they hear.
another thing, I know you conservative don't like looking backwards. I'd try and run and hide if I voted for bush/cheney!!! The party of failure.
There is no proof, just dumb a$$ right wing statements.
ideo,
Please stop with the hero Obama worship. You make it sound as if he is the sole person responsible for bringing down AlQuada...
RedSox is one angry, petty, conservative amongst a cast of hundreds of petty conservatives who never once complained about President George Bush's vacations or golf or bike rides or ???. 100 rounds of golf, I'd say President Obama is beind--out of 1,267 days, or 192 weekends, it means President Obama has played golf fewer times than there are weekends.
bulletstopper, you're right about the golf and vacations but got proof of that spending? Thought not because contrary to what right-wing media and the GOP tells you, it simply is NOT true. Try fact checking, it will make you look less uninformed.
bulletstopper,
So true, it so important to get the word out, make sure people register and get to the polls come November. That's why I am having a voters registration party this weekend.
Jody,
I thought they debunk Market Watch Study using bogus numbers to deceive voters
JK1963 ... he is not my hero and I do not worship him ... I reserve such feelings for the women I have met and have yet to meet. The Jane Austins, Billie Holidays, etc. of this world.
As we ALL know - at least those that bother to do their research - there have been very few cases of voter fraud. But, the far right keeps harping on it because it scares their low information voters.
And, bulletstopper - I wouldn't be so quick to celebrate the coming months. Romney will actually have to answer questions not vetted by his handlers. He's going down because he couldn't handle a cotton candy ball without running scared!
Obama/Biden 2012
You mean like out of the millions who vote, voter fraud consists of 0.003%?
Yeah - let's fix something that isn't freakin broken!
If yesterday & today's speeches @ NALEO are any indication... bring on the debates! lmao!
Willard is TOAST!
*popcorn*?
popcorn & margaritas!
Chris @SLC - they are called "ditto heads". You have to admit though, Rush Limbaugh has a very convincing way or getting his out-right lies and distorted truth across to his audience
The key here is his audience. Not very well informed, angry and afraid. Not too hard to capture that kind of audience. lol
Mitt Romney will keep his word. Just sayin'.
High Five, Pat. Hi Five.
Obama hasn't kept his. Just sayin'
Best line of the speech Pat!
The crowd went wild!
He didn't even have to mention Willard by name!
You look at at Obama and see a Leader and you look at Romney and see a loser!
Job, that has to be the funniest thing I have heard all week! Thanks for ending the week with a good laugh!
You crack me up.
One of the best things President Obama does for himself is golf. Isn't it great to be out in the environment on beautiful days, with the sun and grass and trees. It's a great way to exercise, don't you think?
There isn't anything quite like it, being outside on beautiful days. He gets to relax, he's away from the crowds and media and the phones and he just gets to spend some quiet time in the beautiful outdoors.
Glad to see he takes some quiet time. We all need it.
If only folks could figure out which word he will keep!.......
"I stand by what I said, whatever it was that I said"....there ya' go Willard!
Mitt Romney will keep his word. Just sayin'.
Pat:
The problem with Mitt Romney is that "his word" changes every week. So, we must ask ourselves: what word, on what month, on what day will he keep?
I think the President should stay far away from any discussion on keeping promises.
I agree thetotas... If I recall, Obama promised comprehensive immigration reform...instead we get some half baked, last minute pandering supposedly designed to keep the Latino community happy. If I were a Latino, I'd be offended that Obama has taken me for granted for the last 3 1/2 years, and now that he desperately needs my vote, he is throwing me a bone... Pretty disgusting...
thetotas, President Obama has kept many, many of his campaign promises. Those not kept to date are through no fault of his but rather the result of a dysfunctional Congress. Statements such as yours are the perfect example of believing what others tell you instead of checking the facts oneself.
So Jody, you are saying Congress FORCED Obama to keep Gitmo open, right ?
You are saying Congress forced him to not cut the deficit in half as he promised, correct ??
So, you are saying Congress forced him to attack Libya with Cruise missiles. Is that so ???
Congress also forced him to ram-through Obamacare without being televised on CNN ????
To a libbie, their "OPINION" is deemed as "fact". Empirical evidence is non-existent.
Jody,
The one promise that I wish he would have kept is that if the economy didn't recover that he'd be a one term president!
Yup, Congress refused to provide the funding!
Yup, Weeper of the House could not control the TeaPeople in the grand bargain that President Obama offered, because it included closing loopholes and increasing taxes on the very wealthy!
He (President Obama) did not attack Libya!
Nice talking point 'ram-through'....hardly....all the GOP complained about was the length of the Legislation and of course 'death panels'!....
Televised, haven't seen anything lately.....guess the House is too busy on vacation!
Jody,
What facts do I need? I am commenting on what Obama had promised, and he has broken some of them. I don't know about you, but when I make a promise, I am the one who is responsible to make sure its kept. To blame others just shows lack of character.
Chilled,
So are you saying that not one US bomb ever hit Libya?? Really?? I think you might want to revisit your statement...
JK1963 - The US did not bomb Libya. NATO did. Period!
NATO Forces, remember...and I think the word used by jim#### was 'attack'!
Anymore questions, JK###
Nevermind!
Chilled,
I seem to recall that Obama said that we led the war on Libya...using NATO as a front was a joke. The bulk of the mutions dumped on Libya were from the US. And yes, ATTACK is the correct term...what would you call it?? Libya INVITED us to bomb the hell of it??
@JK1963
...going in circles it seems.......I don't recall that the Libya thing was something that President Obama promised.
Anywho......Didn't know you were such a fan of Khaddafy (sp)........
Willard told NALEO that his father was born in Mexico. Does that make Willard an "anchor baby?"
that's okay, JK, i'll play along. WE ATTACKED LIBYA!!!!!!! Feel better now? Just answer a couple of tiny little questions: How many military personnel were killed, captured or wounded in that operation? Now, turn your little pea brain to the War in Iraq and tell me how many military personnel were killed, captured or wounded there after George W. Bush flew onto an aircraft carrier claiming "Mission Accomplished!" Worm your way out of that one, homey.
It does crack me up how the bleeding heart Republicans have a soft spot for the dictator that approved the Lockerbie bombing, among other terrorist acts against Americans. In fact, once Bin Laden was dead, I would bet that Gaddafi had more blood on his hands than any other terrorist. So why was the right soft on this terrorist?
Richard Griffin, Jr., where does President Obama find these people?
Tony,
You seem to have me confused with someone that cares with what you post. Did I ever mention Iraq? Did I ever mention Afghanistan? Did I happen to mention that we lost more soldiers in Afghnistan under Obama than we lost while Bush was in office? And does it really matter if we lost anyone? You liberals like to jump up and down that we attacked Iraq, but yet you get your pants wet when Obama attacks Libya. So which is it? You like attacking countries or you don't? You see with liberals like you it gets real confusing to rest of America.
And those of you that are all giddy that Quaddfi is dead, were you equally joyful when Hussein was hanged? You see you just can't pick and choose who you love to hate...
The American demographic has been and is changing. Hispanic citizens are the majority now particularly in border states,...or didn't you notice?
The President is not pandering to Hispanic people. The President is addressing the majority of his constituents.
After all; RedSox, Spanky, JoAnnaSmith1, NoJo and even me,....our ancestors were all immigrants to this nation at one time or another. Unless you are people of the First Nations you really need to get over yourself if you think you are entitled to national preeminence. They were here first, and we did steal about 1/3rd of this country from the Mexicans. The only nationality / race that was brought here by force were the African Americans. One of those good people rose to become President.
Get over it.
BTW: Nice smack down Mr. President.
Hispanic citizens are the majority now
Actually I was listening to the news last night, and Asians are now the majority of immigrants to this country. I guess the GOP prefers to always badmouth the Mexicans, since the orientals come here to take the jobs that the Republicans can't never even dream of having: engineering and science jobs.
They are keeping the secret from the "followers" since they are as illiterate as they can be.
Yeah IRESPOND,....the H1B Visa thing is a pet peeve of mine. I've been watching scores of Indian and Asian, and Middle Eastern and East Europeans hired over Americans for years now at Chrysler.
And don't even bother giving me the S * * T about how they couldn't find any qualified Americans to take the jobs. If so, how'd they make do in the years BEFORE the H1B legislation? We seemed to be able to find enough native-born American engineers then. Why the sudden overnight change? More corporate welfare.
I'm glad the Asians are here, but we need to start looking after Americans for a change. Even the H1B'ers converted to citizens say we hire too many H1B'ers in this country!! These people know only too well how salaries are suppressed, and working hours are piled on. Turnabout is fair play.
GOP...
Gee...what about about give me your tired, your hungry..?? I thought you loved giving everyone a home here in America? You bend over backwards to accommodate people that crossed the border illegally, but you seem to have a problem by people that played by the rules, and obtained an H1B? You would rather reward criminals rather than those that chose to be law abiding??
I heard President Obama's entire speech--let's just say he ate Mitt Romney's lunch!
It wouldn't surprise me to see Obama eat Romney's lunch...its his next step in redistribution of wealth.
mlkboneundrwear - Obama has better taste than that!
As a gesture of good will - I would suggest next time you re-reg you use the moniker; "Pork chop around my neck & the dogs still won't play with me"...
President Obama blames everyone and everything for his true lack of leadership on the immigration issue.
What did he do for 2 years when the Democractic party controlled both houses regarding this issue ? Not a thing, period.
He has always focused on playing the masses for fools with his eye on a second term to implement his progressive views on the citizens of America. He figured wrong, this will be proven in November 2012.
GRAFF - this has been explained over and over again, but we'll do it once more since you're a slow learner. The President did NOT have a filibuster proof majority in Congress except for a short 7 months - and even during that time Ted Kennedy was ill so missed most votes - and there were several recesses. No control of both houses because the GOP used the filibuster more than any party EVER has!
Do you get it now? Probably not!
Obama has just thrown away his union support. Why hire a high priced union construction worker now?? There will be 800,000 new workers on the market that will gladly undercut the union workers.
Nice going Obama
Edward: first, you are making an assumption that the 800,000 people were not working already, i.e. being paid under the table by law-breaking businesses. When that happens we lose tax revenue.
Secondly, you hire a union construction worker because they are trained through a certification process which requires technical (book) knowledge as well as applied (hands on) knowledge testing . You know the skill set and capability of the workers you are hiring. If, as a business person, you hire someone that doesn't know what they are doing it ends up costing you more that the "high priced union" constrcution worker. Think of the liability issues alone associated with this . . .
Further, as a business owner, if you hire union workers (or subcontractors that are union certified) YOUR business will receive the benefit of being supported by the union which can help in advertising, networking, word of mouth job acquisition, etc. Unions are partners, not enemies of businesses.
Edward, I suggest that you look at the life and works of W. Edwards Deming and his work on quality control. He was a statistician that used numbers to prove what I said about quality control (trained and certified workers).
Matthew and network-gal - the increase in tax revenue will be good for the country and you're absolutely right - high skilled trade workers will not be replaced by those with less skill and talent.
This is a win-win.
Mathew,
I have read Demming and his push for SPC.
But you are really full of yourself.
I live in Southern Nevada where Illegals by the thousands , who had never even seen a hammer before, were building your new house. There is no more union workers at the residential level here. Too expensive. Thanks Obama.
network-gal, I think it's because we're fulfilling Alvin Toffler's prediction of becoming a throw away society. Technology has allowed us to become more automated in our manufacturing, which in turn has diminished the number of, variety of, and ultimately devalue the human worker.
Has Romney shown off any of his past and current relations with Latinos, like friends and buddies of his he grew up with or worked with or invested with or worshipped with? These guys take care of their real friends and who has he been hanging around with the last 30 years, or for that matter his whole super rich life? He probably has looked down his nose at every minority his whole life unless they are richer than him. Do you want a cold hearted robot for president that is full of himself?