Will your candidate meet with this family at risk of deportation, too?

[bigtree]

America's Voice ?@americasvoice 7h7 hours ago
This DAPA family is meeting with @MartinOMalley. @HillaryClinton, which DAPA family will you meet for #DAPADinner?

America's Voice ?@americasvoice 7h7 hours ago
@MartinOMalley is joining this family for #DAPADinner tomorrow. @BernieSanders, will you meet w/a DAPA family, too?

Families At Risk Of Deportation Invite Presidential Candidates To Dinner

____America's Voice, United We Dream and the Center for Community Change Action/Fair Immigration Reform Movement have invited every presidential candidate -- Republican and Democrat -- to have dinner with a family that stands to benefit from President Barack Obama's program that would grant work permits to some parents of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents.

In a letter to candidates shared with The Huffington Post, the organizers said they want the presidential hopefuls to "see for yourself how they are just like other American families." They're willing to do the dinners any time that's convenient and in any state -- a move that makes it harder for candidates to use scheduling conflicts as an excuse.

"With 2016 politics there's been a lot written about what each of the candidates would do for our families -- or against them, if you're looking at the Republican stage," said Greisa Martinez of United We Dream. "It's important for that conversation to not only be had in the broad theoretical aspect but also to be had with the people that this would directly affect."

The program that the dinners are meant to highlight is Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents, or DAPA. When it comes to influencing the presidential candidates, protecting DAPA and a similar program called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals -- Obama's two biggest immigration executive actions -- is particularly vital, since the next president will have the power to stop the policies or prevent them from going into effect...

O'Malley is thus far the only candidate to accept the dinner invitation, according to organizers, although they are talking to the Clinton and Sanders campaigns as well.

read: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/immigration-presidential-candidates_56421095e4b0b24aee4bd190

[FSogol]

1. K&R. Thanks for posting. n/t

[HerbChestnut]

2. Bernie has met with undocumented families throughout this campaign.

He's even hired them to his campaign staff. If his campaign thinks there's time for this then I'm sure he'll go, but if he doesn't then I don't think it will reflect poorly on him at all.

[winter is coming]

3. I guess he wasn't clever enough to make a press opportunity out of it. n/t

[bigtree]

5. must have escaped your notice

...this group is looking to make a 'press opportunity' out of it.

What possible value to this organization and individuals is a private meeting which receives no coverage? It's time to bring these New Americans out of the shadows.

[winter is coming]

6. Trying to understand their issues and agenda?

Or can that only be done in a way that allows the candidate to publicly self-congratulate?

[bigtree]

7. he needs understanding of their issues and agenda, even today?

...this is a promotion of the plights of the families.

Hiding them behind closed doors just doesn't cut it.

The program that the dinners are meant to highlight is Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents, or DAPA. When it comes to influencing the presidential candidates, protecting DAPA and a similar program called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals -- Obama's two biggest immigration executive actions -- is particularly vital, since the next president will have the power to stop the policies or prevent them from going into effect...

[HerbChestnut]

9. I think all of the candidates would agree with that.

[winter is coming]

10. Hiding them behind closed doors?

Your posts throughout this thread are full of ugly and unwarranted insinuations. I'm done with you.

[bigtree]

12. it's your own suggestion

...I'm just responding to your view that publicity is something to be cynical about. I'm responding to your suggestion that O'Malley is only concerned about publicity. Funny that you think you're some victim in this discussion.

It's the entire purpose of this challenge, and it's a worthwhile endeavor in this campaign. Don't imagine that you can adequately represent these individuals and their plights by relegating these discussions to back rooms and behind closed doors.

[NCTraveler]

13. I know part of this will sound offensive...

But it seems some really don't get it. These events help to elevate the issue. Gets positive media attention and an increased understanding of what's going on. It's called leading and O'Malley gets it.

I really don't get how saying Sanders doesn't publicize it becomes a positive. Personalization leading to compassion and understanding are a huge part of gaining support.

[bigtree]

14. I certainly appreciate participation in the political process

...but we shouldn't lose sight of the issues and interests behind advocacy for these candidates. They're really the most important aspect of these campaigns.

Hard to imagine, for some, I know, that folks can care more about the issues than the personalities.

[bigtree]

4. if his response is anything like your own

...it may well reflect 'poorly' on him.

'Been there, done that, I'll check my schedule.'

"They're willing to do the dinners any time that's convenient and in any state -- a move that makes it harder for candidates to use scheduling conflicts as an excuse."

[HerbChestnut]

8. Yeah I saw that

This is the type of event that if a candidate doesn't show up to it then they look bad regardless of what they've done in the past. Let's just hope they all show up.

[bigtree]

11. that's the nature of a presidential campaign

...it would be a perfect opportunity to demonstrate unity among Democrats on this issue, as opposed to republicans content to turn their backs on these families to suit their cynical politics.

[bigtree]

15. »