West Wing briefing: Is Obama serious about immigration reform?

[The Northerner]

Is President Obama serious about reforming the nation’s immigration laws?

In a series of well-publicized meetings and speeches the last several weeks, the president has repeatedly touted his support of both the Dream Act and other measures to make it easier for people who are in the U.S. without legal status to become citizens. He will likely deliver the same message at a session at the White House on Tuesday with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

But from a bipartisan meeting with Republicans and Democrats who largely back his immigration views to a speech at Miami Dade College last week, the president has also repeatedly said he can’t do anything on immigration without getting support from Republicans in Congress.

“I know some here wish that I could just bypass Congress and change the law myself,” he said at Miami Dade, making reference to calls by some Latino activists to use some of his powers as an executive to limit deportations. “But that’s not how democracy works.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/44/post/west-wing-briefing-commitment-to-immigration-reform-questioned/2011/05/02/AFJlh6eF_blog.html

[bluestateguy]

1. Does anybody here actually think he could get any bill at all through this Congress?

And if you think he can just make a few speeches and a few phone calls, you are naive as to how polarizing this issue is.

[GSLevel9]

2. It's all politics, he won't touch this issue in an election issue.