Obama embraces Senate immigration plan in call for reform

[TomCADem]

Source: NBC

President Barack Obama hailed the Senate's bipartisan immigration framework at a major speech on that topic this afternoon in Nevada, but threatened to send his own alternative legislation to Capitol Hill if Congress fails to act.

The president embraced of a statement of principles offered Monday by four Democratic and four Republican senators, which would strengthen border security and employment verification in exchange for a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants in the United States.

"The good news is that -- for the first time in many years -- Republicans and Democrats seem ready to tackle this problem together," Obama said in his speech in Las Vegas, according to prepared excerpts.

"And yesterday, a bipartisan group of senators announced their principles for comprehensive immigration reform, which are very much in line with the principles I've proposed and campaigned on for the last few years," the president also said. "At this moment, it looks like there's a genuine desire to get this done soon. And that's very encouraging."

Read more: http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/29/16756940-obama-embraces-senate-immigration-plan-in-call-for-reform?lite

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The interesting thing, which Rachel Maddow pointed out by comparing a speech President Obama delivered a few years ago to this one is that President Obama did not really embrace the Senate position. Instead, the Senate largely came to him. Indeed, on Rush Limbaugh's show, Rubio already seemed to be distancing himself from his own plan by saying that he would vote against it if it did not include more for border security. Really? Rubio would hold millions of residents hostage unless more money is spent on security:

http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/01/29/16758284-rubios-exit-strategy-takes-shape?lite

But during today's on-air interview, both Republicans staked out interesting positions that were not altogether expected. Limbaugh, for example, wanted to kill the bipartisan reform plan yesterday, but today lauded Rubio's efforts as "admirable and noteworthy," and "recognizing reality." And while Rubio was all smiles yesterday, today the GOP lawmaker seemed to be hinting at an exit strategy from the reform initiative he's helped launch.

In an interview with Rush Limbaugh aired Tuesday, Sen. Marco Rubio said he wouldn't support a bill granting a pathway to citizenship to undocumented immigrants unless it first addressed border security.

"To the point of them not wanting to do the security, look, all I can tell you is that that's a big issue for me," Rubio responded. "That's why I'm involved in this process. I have no reason to believe it won't happen. But if it doesn't, I'll come back to you and say look, it didn't happen. We tried, they put that in the principles, but then they drafted a bill and I couldn't support it."

So, literally one day after Rubio threw his support to a bipartisan, comprehensive reform package, he told a right-wing radio show he's prepared to walk away unless he gets what he wants. That doesn't exactly speak highly of Rubio's commitment to following through on a policy he claims to take seriously.

[elleng]

1. Good history she did.

Also, good (if unfortunate) look at complexity of doing ANYTHING. Whatever is agreed to will take a LONG time to feel/see effects.

[PSPS]

2. NPR had a story about this yesterday which was a fiasco

First, they start out by saying that the proposed plan has "bipartisan backing." But that certainly would never do, would it? Next, they say, "but not everyone is in favor of the plan." Then they trot out some bimbo from the right-wing Heritage Foundation to explain why k it's a bad plan.

So, I guess we have private right-wing propaganda organs passing judgement or having veto power over the work of Congress. Wonderful, isn't it? Thanks, NPR, for giving a ready platform for these crank outfits.