So why is Obama bring up immigration at all in the SOTU? "To force republican leaders to make a

[pampango]

decision on the issue of immigration: to either become known as a moderate, inclusive party that rejects the nationalism of the Tea Party movement, reducing the enthusiasm of its base just in time for the 2012 elections, or to become known as an anti-Latino party that embraces that nationalism, alienating the nation's largest and fastest-growing ethnic minority group and irreversibly damaging its demographic prospects. Obama's motives in forcing the GOP to choose are more likely strategic than benevolent, and are unlikely to result in any useful short-term policy changes, but continuing to press these two legislative issues could highlight a clear, measurable policy difference between the two parties on a key civil liberties issue--just in time for the next election cycle.

The last sentence (of an excerpt of the SOTU) is a reference to the DREAM Act, which passed the House by a 216-198 margin during the lame-duck session but was filibustered in the Senate. It's possible, but unlikely, that it could still pass the House, and possible, but unlikely, that Senate conservatives could elect not to filibuster and let it through. But both scenarios assume greater Republican cooperation on moderately progressive immigration reform, which would put more GOP legislators at odds with the very right-wing and nationalistic Tea Party movement. I don't think this is going to happen.

I also don't think that comprehensive immigration reform is going to happen within the next two years. Considering the viciously hateful, nightmarish mess House Republicans produced the last time they attempted to reform immigration law, under the leadership of a president of their party who was fairly moderate on the issue, I don't think the current, Tea Party-backed majority is likely to produce anything satisfactory.

http://civilliberty.about.com/b/2011/01/27/civil-liberties-and-the-state-of-the-union-2011.htm

[Cleita]

1. But, but but..........

they would have to pay Consuela, the maid/nanny, a decent wage not to even mention Jose the gardener.

[rgbecker]

2. Your last line says it all...

I don't think the current, Tea Party-backed majority is likely to produce anything satisfactory.

[liberal N proud]

3. I think he wants to force them to put-up or shut-up

Immigration has become one of those issues they would run on for eternity yet do nothing about it once elected.

[Rabrrrrrr]

6. Indeed - just like they run on "abortion" all the time, and never do anything about it, either.

"immigration", "abortion", "gays", and "guns" are the four magic words (though "gays" is losing its power) that will bring them voters, and as long as they do nothing to actually "solve" the problems, they have guaranteed campaign-issues to run on.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. I think Obama is being very clever about this...

Either way the Republicans go, they lose.

Who do they want to alienate? Why, nobody, of course. But the way the Tea Party folks are behaving leaves the so-called mainstream Republicans no place to go.

So.....either they alienate the Tea Party folk by being moderate on this issue...

Or.........they alienate the Latino as these folks assume a greater and greater prominence in the voter pantheon.

I love it.

:evilgrin:

[hfojvt]

5. seems to me that Bush mentioned it in most of his SOTUs

it is considered a big issue, so perhaps it must be mentioned or the POTUS would get attacked for ignoring it.