Martin O'Malley was the most pro-Latino, pro-immigration candidate in the Dem debate

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from the NYT:

COOPER: Senator Sanders, I want to bring it over to Juan Carlos Lopez from CNN en Espanol. We’re obviously in Nevada. It’s had the highest percentage of undocumented immigrants of any state in the country as of last year. Juan Carlos?

LOPEZ: Gracias, Anderson. Senator Sanders, in 2013, you voted for immigration reform. But in 2007, when Democrats controlled Congress and the Bush White House was onboard, you voted against it. Why should Latino voters trust you now when you left them at the altar at the moment when reform was very close?

SANDERS: I didn’t leave anybody at the altar. I voted against that piece of legislation because it had guest-worker provisions in it which the Southern Poverty Law Center talked about being semi-slavery. Guest workers are coming in, they’re working under terrible conditions, but if they stand up for their rights, they’re thrown out of the country. I was not the only progressive to vote against that legislation for that reason. Tom Harkin, a very good friend of Hillary Clinton’s and mine, one of the leading labor advocates, also voted against that.

LOPEZ: Tom Harkin isn’t running for president. You are.

SANDERS: I know that. But point being is that progressives did vote against that for that reason. My view right now — and always has been — is that when you have 11 million undocumented people in this country, we need comprehensive immigration reform, we need a path toward citizenship, we need to take people out of the shadows.

LOPEZ: Secretary Clinton — Secretary Clinton, Governor O’Malley wants to open up Obamacare to millions of undocumented immigrants and their children, including almost 90,000 people right here in Nevada. Do you?

CLINTON: Well, first of all, I want to make sure every child gets health care. That’s why I helped to create the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and I want to support states that are expanding health care and including undocumented children and others. I want to open up the opportunity for immigrants to be able to buy in to the exchanges under the Affordable Care Act. I think to go beyond that, as I understand what Governor O’Malley has recommended, so that they would get the same subsidies. I think that is — it raises so many issues. It would be very difficult to administer, it needs to be part of a comprehensive immigration reform, when we finally do get to it.

LOPEZ: Governor O’Malley?

O’MALLEY: Juan Carlos, I think what you’ve heard up here is some of the old thinking on immigration reform, and that’s why it’s gridlocked. We need to understand that our country is stronger in every generation by the arrival of new American immigrants. That is why I have put out a policy for comprehensive immigration reform, that is why I would go further than President Obama has on DACA, and DAPA. I mean, we are a nation of immigrants, we are made stronger by immigrants. Do you think for a second that simply because somebody’s standing in a broken que on naturalization they’re not going to go to the hospital, and that care isn’t going to fall on to our insurance rates? I am for a generous, compassionate America that says we’re all in this together. We need comprehensive...immigration reform. It’ll make wages go up in America $250 for every year...

LOPEZ: Senator Webb, do you support the undocumented immigrants getting Obamacare?

WEBB: I wouldn’t have a problem with that. Let me start by saying my wife is an immigrant. She was a refugee, her family escaped from Vietnam on a boat— her entire extended family, after the communists took over, when hundreds of thousands of people were out there and thousands of them were dying. Went to two refugee camps, she never spoke English in her home, and she ended, as I said, graduating from Cornell Law School. That’s not only American dream, that’s a value that we have with a good immigration system in place. No country has — is a country without defining its borders. We need to resolve this issue. I actually introduced an amendment in the 2007 immigration bill...Giving a pathway to citizenship to those people who had come here, and put down their roots, and met as a series of standards...I introduced that in 2007 — We need a comprehensive reform, and we need to be able to define our borders

COOPER: Secretary Clinton?

CLINTON: I want to follow up because I think underneath Juan Carlos’ important questions, there is such a difference between everything you’re hearing here on this stage, and what we hear from the Republicans...Demonize hard-working immigrants... You know, I came to Las Vegas in, I think, May. Early may. Met with a group of DREAMers, I wish everybody in America could meet with this young people, to hear their stories, to know their incredible talent, their determination, and that’s why I would go further...than even the executive orders that President Obama has signed when I’m president.

COOPER: Secretary Clinton, let me ask you. Two of your rivals from your left, Governor O’Malley, and Senator Sanders, want to provide instate college tuition to undocumented immigrants. Where do you stand on that?

CLINTON: My plan would support any state that takes that position, and would work with those states and encourage more states to do the same thing.

COOPER: So, on the record, you believe that undocumented immigrants should get instate college tuition.

CLINTON: If their states agree, then we want more states to do the same thing.

COOPER: Governor O’Malley?

O’MALLEY: Anderson, we actually did this in my state of Maryland. We passed...

(APPLAUSE)

O’MALLEY: We passed a state version of the DREAM Act...

(CHEERING)

O’MALLEY: ...And a lot of the xenophobes, the immigrant haters like some that we’ve heard like, Donald Trump, that carnival barker in the Republican party...

(CHEERING) (APPLAUSE)

O’MALLEY: Tried to mischaracterize it as free tuition for illegal immigrants. But, we took our case to the people when it was petitioned to referendum, and we won with 58 percent of the vote. The more our children learn, the more they will earn, and that’s true of children who have yet to be naturalized...but will become American citizens...

[FSogol]

1. Very true. He also has the best, most comprehensive plan on immigration

Read the plan here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/12813600#post14

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5. Actions Not Words: Governor O’Malley Enacted Tough Gun Safety Reform

from: http://press.martinomalley.com/post/131125078200/actions-not-words-governor-omalley-enacted-tough


Now is the time to act to reduce gun violence. Democrats need a nominee who doesn’t just hold progressive principles, but who can deliver results. Tonight, Governor O’Malley pointed to his record enacting some of the toughest gun safety reforms in the country after the Newtown massacre.

O’Malley took on the NRA and won – signing into law an assault weapons ban, fingerprinting, background checks, and licensing requirements for dealers.

BACKGROUND:

BALTIMORE SUN: O’MALLEY’S INTRODUCED GUN REFORM WAS A BOLD STEP AND SHOWED HE WAS MORE INTERESTED IN DOING MORE THAN WHAT WAS POLITICALLY CONVENIENT

Baltimore Sun Editorial Headline: “O’Malley Takes A Stand On Guns.” Baltimore Sun, Editorial, 1/14/13

Baltimore Sun Editorial: O’Malley’s Gun Proposal “Would Do Much More Than Merely React To That Terrible Act” Including A Comprehensive Licensing System For Handgun Buyers. “State and federal politicians have been scrambling for the last few weeks to react to the school shootings in Newtown, Conn., with governors, congressmen and the president exploring new laws that might have prevented that tragic massacre. But today, Gov. Martin O'Malley announced the outlines of a package of legislation that would do much more than merely react to that terrible act. He pledged to take some of the steps that many of his peers are pursuing, such as a ban on assault weapons and large-capacity magazines, but also to pursue a comprehensive licensing system for handgun buyers.” Baltimore Sun, Editorial, 1/14/13

Baltimore Sun Editorial: “That Said, If Governor O'Malley Had Been Interested Merely In Gaining What Political Points Can Be Scored By Focusing On Gun Control After Newtown, He Could Have Gotten Away With Doing Much Less.” Baltimore Sun, Editorial, 1/14/13

O’MALLEY’S GUN REFORMS WOULD “SERVE AS A MODEL” AND MADE MARYLAND LAWS SOME OF THE TOUGHEST IN THE NATION

Baltimore Sun: O’Malley Was To Sign “The Most Comprehensive Gun Control Legislation Maryland Has Seen In At Least 25 Years” Which Would “Serve As A Model For Other States” And Was Doubly Important With The Failure Of Any Federal Reforms. “This morning, Gov. Martin O'Malley plans to sign into law the most comprehensive gun control legislation Maryland has seen in at least 25 years, a bill that will not only help guard against a mass shooting incident, like December’s massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School, but will also help fight the day-to-day violence that plagues Baltimore and other communities. The bill has become doubly important with the failure – at least for the moment – of attempts to tighten gun laws on the federal level, both because it will make Marylanders safer and because it can serve as a model for other states as they seek ways to address gun violence.” Editorial, Baltimore Sun, 5/16/13

O’MALLEY PASSED GUN REFORMS THAT BANNED ASSAULT WEAPONS, REQUIRED FINGERPRINTING, REFORMED MENTAL HEALTH PROVISIONS, AND PROTECTED SCHOOLS

O’Malley Introduced And Passed the Firearm Safety Act Of 2013, Which Banned Assault Weapons, Lowered Magazine Capacity, Requiring Fingerprinting For A Firearms Purchase, And Strengthens The State Police’s Ability To Regulate Gun Dealers. “The Maryland General Assembly enacted unprecedented gun reforms with the passage of the Governor’s Firearm Safety Act.

On gun safety, the O’Malley-Brown Administration’s plan:

requires licensing, fingerprinting, and safety training to purchase a handgun
bans the sale of 45 types of assault weapons (including the AR-15) and certain copycats
limits magazine capacity to 10 rounds (previously 20 rounds)
makes the use of “cop-killer” bullets in any violent crime a separate offense;
requires mandatory reporting to law enforcement of lost or stolen firearms
bars persons who receive probation before judgment for violent crimes from possessing firearms;
establishes a single automated gun application process between gun dealers and the Maryland State Police;
strengthens the Maryland State Police’s ability to regulate gun dealers allowing them to shut down rogue dealers
prohibits persons who cannot lawfully possess firearms, such as those prohibited based on a prior conviction or a mental health disqualifier, from possessing ammunition.” Press Release, Governor O’Malley, 5/16/13

O’Malley’s Violence Prevention Act Prevented Anyone Involuntarily Committed From Possessing A Firearm, And Called For More Information Sharing Between The Federal And State. “On mental health, the O’Malley-Brown Administration’s plan:

creates safeguards to keep guns away from people who may be dangerous to themselves or others due to mental illness including expanding the category of persons prohibited from possessing guns to include anyone involuntarily committed for any length of time;
facilitates unprecedented levels of information sharing among federal and state partners for background checks;
improves mental health services in Maryland;
expands Maryland’s Crisis Intervention Teams and Crisis Response Services; and
establishes a Department of Health and Mental Hygiene-led Task Force to improve continuity of care for individuals in Maryland’s mental health system Press Release, Governor O’Malley, 5/16/13

O’Malley’s Violence Prevention Act Dedicated $25 Million For School Safety Enhancements And Created A Maryland Center For School Safety. “On school safety, the O’Malley-Brown Administration’s plan:

· dedicates $25 million of school construction dollars for school security enhancements; establishes a Maryland Center for School Safety; and

· ensures that the Maryland State Department of Education and Maryland’s higher education institutions will work with the State Police to review all school emergency plans to identify and address any gaps.” [Press Release, Governor O’Malley, 5/16/13]

Washington Post Editorial: The Centerpiece Of O’Malley’s Violence Prevention Bill Was A Requirement That Anyone Purchasing A Firearm Would Submit To A Finger Printing, Which Was Designed To Cut Down On Straw Buyers, And Had Worked In New York And New Jersey. “The centerpiece of his program is legislation that would require anyone who wishes to buy a firearm — excepting hunting rifles and shotguns, which sportsmen tend to use — to submit to fingerprinting by the state police in order to secure a gun owner’s license. No such licensing regimen exists currently in Maryland, although gun buyers have to undergo background checks and, if they are to obtain a permit to carry a weapon, a seven-day waiting period. That’s already more than most states demand. The logic of fingerprinting and licensing is compelling, given that many handguns used by criminals are procured by “straw buyers” as a favor or for a price — often shortly before the weapons are deployed in the commission of a crime. Straw buyers may dislike background checks, but they are likely to detest making a personal visit to the police to be digitally fingerprinted as a condition of being issued a gun license… But requiring fingerprints and other identifying information as a means to obtain a gun license has proved workable in New York, New Jersey and other tough-on-guns states. By following suit, Mr. O’Malley is on the right track. Let’s hope Congress pays heed.” Editorial, Washington Post, 1/15/13

Baltimore Sun Editorial: John Hopkins Research Showed Strong Accountability Gun Laws Show “Very Strong Effects” On Preventing Intrastate Gun Trafficking. “Evidence from other states backs up the notion that such a law would reduce the diversion of handguns to criminals in Maryland. Daniel Webster, the head of Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Gun Policy and Research and one of the leaders of this week’s summit, has researched such laws extensively and has found that they show “very strong effects” on preventing intrastate gun trafficking, particularly when enacted as part of a comprehensive state-level regulatory scheme. In a 2009 paper published in the Journal of Urban Health, Mr. Webster and colleagues from Hopkins and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst write that cities with the lowest rates of intrastate gun trafficking were all in states with strong systems of gun sales accountability measures, and four of the top five included purchase permit requirements similar to those Mr. O'Malley is proposing.” Editorial, Baltimore Sun, 1/14/13

GOVERNOR O’MALLEY FACED OPPOSITION FROM HIS OWN PARTY AND FROM GUN ACTIVISTS BUT FORGED A NEW CONSENSUS

Washington Post: “Gun Rights Advocates Marshaled One Of The Biggest Crowds To Descend On Annapolis For A Bill Hearing In Years Wednesday, Packing The Halls Of The Maryland State House Complex To Oppose Gov. Martin O'Malley’s Plan To Institute Some Of The Nation’s Strictest Gun-Control Laws.” Washington Post, 2/7/13

Over Two Thousand Attended Annapolis As The House Of Delegates Voted On The Violence Prevention Package. “Maryland’s gun control debate drew more than 2,000 people to Annapolis on Friday as the House of Delegates took up the governor’s bill to ban the sale of assault weapons and impose some of the nation’s strictest licensing requirements. People arrived as early as 7 a.m., and some stayed into the night. More than 1,300 people signed up to testify at the House hearing on Gov. Martin O'Malley’s proposal, many of them against it. A midmorning rally to support the plan drew an additional 1,000 people to the mall outside the State House.” Baltimore Sun, 2/2/13

Washington Post: Governor O’Malley Was Quick To Propose New Violence Prevention Measures, But The Bill’s Survival Was Threated By Democratic Conservative Members.“But now his proposal is caught in a tug of war between members of his own party that some fear could threaten its chances of passage. Liberal Democrats, intent on capitalizing on public support for gun safety after the massacre, have introduced more than dozen pieces of legislation that add several additional gun-control measures. Some more conservative - and powerful - Democrats, meanwhile, say O'Malley’s plan goes too far, and they are working to carve it up into pieces that might make the licensing portion more difficult to pass.” Washington Post, 2/6/13

O’MALLEY HAS A LONG HISTORY OF SUPPORTING GUN REFORMS IN MARYLAND

2006: O’Malley Urged Maryland’s Assembly To Ban Assault Weapons. “Mayor Martin O'Malley urged state legislators yesterday to ban assault weapons, something the General Assembly has shied away from for three years running. O'Malley and the bill’s sponsor, Del. Neil F. Quinter, a Howard County Democrat, said at an Annapolis news conference that banning the high-powered guns would make Maryland safer. “This isn’t about hunting,” said O'Malley, a Democratic candidate for governor. “This is about removing high-powered assault weapons from the hands of those who would use them.” Baltimore Sun, 2/10/06

2003: Mayor O’Malley Called For Passage Of A Bill That Would Outlaw The Sale Of Assault Weapons. “Several Democratic elected officials in Maryland, including two leading contenders for governor in 2006, called yesterday for a ban on military-style assault weapons as part of a campaign that could force Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. ® into a legislative battle over gun control. Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan and Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley – Ehrlich’s chief rivals in state politics – joined a handful of state lawmakers and activists at separate news conferences yesterday in urging passage of a bill that would outlaw the sale or transfer of 45 models of assault rifles and shotguns that are currently legal to sell in Maryland.” Washington Post, 9/16/03

O’MALLEY’S BEEN CALLED A “MENACE” BY THE NRA

O’Malley Received An “F” Rating From The NRA In His 2006 And 2010 Campaigns. National Review, 11/2/06; NRA PVF, archived 11/26/10

The NRA Attacked O’Malley On The Cover Of Its Monthly Magazine, Calling Him A “Menace” To The Second Amendment And Accusing Him Of Offering “Hope And Change To Convicted Killers And Criminals.” “The National Rifle Association’s magazine America’s 1st Freedom attacks Democratic presidential candidate Martin O'Malley on its first cover focused on the 2016 presidential race. The issue’s feature article outlandishly accuses the former Maryland governor of offering ‘hope and change to convicted killers and criminals,’ but the organization’s overheated rhetoric is based on unfounded attacks on O'Malley’s record. The September edition of the magazine features a cover characterizing O'Malley, who served as governor of Maryland from 2007 to 2015, as a ‘menace’ to the Second Amendment who has ‘made a mockery of Maryland’s gun rights.’” Media Matters, 8/21/15; America’s 1stFreedom, September 2015

Wayne LaPierre: “Martin O’Malley Has Presided Over Some The Most Spectacular, Bloody And Brutal Failures Of ‘Gun Control In Our Nations History. Yet Despite The Catastrophic Consequences Of Those Policies For Innocent People, He Wants To Impose Those Same Policies Nationwide As President Of The United States.” America’s 1st Freedom, September 2015

Chris W. Cox, NRA-ILA Executive Director: “If O’Malley Wins The Democratic Presidential Nomination, Or If Hillary Clinton Chooses Him As Her Running Mate, Americans Could Face A Fight For The Survival Of Second Amendment Freedom As We Know It.” America’s 1st Freedom, September 2015

[HooptieWagon]

2. OMalley did well in the time he was allotted.

Chafee and Webb fumbled the ball several times. They had to have known they weren't going to get the face time Sanders and Clinton were going to get. Thus, make good use of the time you do get...neither did. And though the complaints about lack of time were valid, it was more waste of time and sounded whiney.

[askew]

3. I was appalled by Hillary's answers on immigration and the DREAM Act.

No Latino should be supporting her after that. The media isn't covering any substance of what she said, but she is against a federal DREAM Act and she wouldn't give healthcare to undocumented kids. Those are appalling views.

Hillary's dodge on expanding social security was just as bad.

O'Malley stood out as the compassionate leader who has gotten DREAM Act, gun control, etc. done. His closing speech was the note of optimism that no other candidate matched.

I expect he'll get a bump in Iowa from this debate. I don't think he was given enough time to get a bump nationwide though. Cooper made sure to keep his time to a minimum.

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4. she really hedged on the education question

...mumbling something about supporting DREAMERS 'if' states want TO.

CLINTON: My plan would support any state that takes that position, and would work with those states and encourage more states to do the same thing.

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6. Yeah if Anderson Cooper didn't suck as a moderator so much, we could have gotten

a good moment with O'Malley and Sanders pinning her down on this issue. The DREAM Act is a core Democratic prinicple. I can't believe she hedged on that.

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7. I think the Latino community will take notice

...of O'Malley's unconditional support, Clinton's ambivalence, and the others
relative indifference in the debate.