Obama prods liberals to give-and-take on Senate immigration bill

[alp227]

Source: Washington Post

President Obama is warning liberal supporters that their push to make changes in a comprehensive immigration bill could jeopardize the strategy of Senate leaders, who are aiming to win up to 70 votes for the measure.

While much of Washington has focused on objections from Republicans, Obama and other Democrats have mounted a behind-the-scenes campaign in recent days aimed at mollifying advocates, who argue that an 844-page Senate bill excludes too many illegal immigrants and makes it too hard for the rest to become citizens.

The efforts underscore the perilous path ahead for a comprehensive immigration deal, which is one of Obama’s top agenda items for his second term but faces mounting criticism from those on both the left and right.

In a private meeting with a dozen Latino leaders at the White House this week, Obama emphasized that securing a large margin in the Senate is crucial to putting pressure on House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) to accept the general framework of the legislation.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-tries-to-set-realistic-expectations-on-senate-immigration-bill/2013/05/01/b5f30a80-b276-11e2-bbf2-a6f9e9d79e19_singlePage.html

[L0oniX]

1. Oh so now he's prodding liberals ...WTF ...WP is framing this shit.

[tblue]

2. He wins.

Whatever, Mr. President. You win. I concede to you. If I don't, I am a person who wants a pony that farts glitter and I deserve every bad thing that happens. If you succeed, it's my fault for my inaction. If you fail, it's my fault for my disloyalty. Good luck! I'm pulling for you. Or something.

I love waking up in the morning and remembering that absolutely everything is in my power and is my fault. But frankly I am fresh out of ideas and my energy pack's running a bit low. Somebody, please fill in for me while I recharge. Peace y'all.

[Doctor_J]

17. Don't forget that the mid-term disaster is your fault too

[tblue]

20. I voted in the midterm. Always have.

But it's my fault for not doing it with enough fervor.

[Doctor_J]

21. same here

It's still our fault. By constantly trying to make the president act like a dem, we're undermining him, Don't you know.

[tblue]

24. Yep. I love waking up in the morning

and remembering that I am responsible for everything the president does or doesn't do.

[ReRe]

22. I voted too...

...if the polls are open, I'm there voting the Democratic ticket. I think that meme is over-used. We sure did reelect him, didn't we?

[MotherPetrie]

3. Obama only knows how to cave

[Alamuti Lotus]

4. you have your usual orders: Give up, and Take your lumps *nt

[The Second Stone]

5. We liberals are going to push our liberal agenda

and if the Washington Post doesn't like it, then the Post don't like it. No biggie.

[msongs]

6. "I welcome their hatred" versus, well, Obama nt

[tblue]

25. He welcomes our grief.

Because we are naughty, he musteth spanketh us. We have it coming.

[pampango]

7. Republicans never stop hatin'. "Conservatives are mounting opposition to the path to citizenship..."

Obama’s strategy represents a calculated bet that throwing his full support behind a bipartisan proposal crafted by four Democrats and four Republicans is the surest way to avoid the pitfalls that have doomed his initiatives on gun control and the budget. As the White House prepares to confront fierce opposition from conservatives, the administration’s ability to galvanize support among liberals represents a tricky, but particularly critical, task.

The Senate’s proposal faces deep uncertainty in the Republican-controlled House, where conservatives are mounting opposition to the 13-year path to citizenship for undocumented workers. Some Republicans, including House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (Va.), have called for votes on smaller, piecemeal bills, a tactic that advocates fear would kill any chance of a sweeping overhaul.

White House officials and their Senate allies hope to win a big enough majority in that chamber to leave Boehner with little choice but to accept a comprehensive framework. Under this scenario, Republican leaders — eager to broaden the party’s appeal to Latino voters in the wake of Obama’s reelection last fall — would feel compelled to put the Senate bill up for a vote, likely passing with support from Democrats and centrist Republicans.

Looks like most of the republican leadership wants to at least give the appearance of broadening "the party’s appeal to Latino voters in the wake of Obama’s reelection last fall". Their base, however, is still hopping mad about immigration reform.

If I put partisan politics over good policy (now there's a 'republican' approach to a national problem), a republican 'win' on immigration reform by killing it would further drive Hispanics away from their party and help us in the future. Of course that scenario leaves millions of highly exploitable workers untouched unless they do a "Mitt" and self-deport. And if they don't, certain employers will thank the republican base for leaving their workforce right where it is.

[tblue]

13. Source please

for your blockquote.

[pampango]

14. The OP link. n/t

[bowens43]

8. Obama once again attacks his base and kisses conservative ass.....

the man is a huge disaster.

[tularetom]

9. Give up your opposition and take this lousy bill

So I can brag about how I achieved bipartisan immigration reform.

[ReRe]

10. I'm gonna' say it....

.... I wish he would resign and join the Republican Party. It's not that we are "Libruls'", it's that he's not a Democrat.

[Myrina]

11. Yes indeed.

Sigh.

[tblue]

12. The (D) by his name

Has bought him a LOT if mileage. We've been had.

[Dustlawyer]

15. When you allow legalized bribery in the form of campaign " donations", this is what you get!

You get "spineless" Democrats (like having a "D" behind your name gives you a birth defect) who cave to Repugs at every turn. It is all an act played to us as reality and we soak it up and take the bait. We need campaign finance reform before we can truly expect to see democracy in action. What we have now is Facism! They OWN Obama, the House, Senate, the Courts, and the media and they will not give up control of this country willingly! If you think the blow back from OWS was bad, any strong call for CCFR (COMPLETE CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM) will start a war b/w the corporations and the 1% vs. we the people! That is where the real fight would be, all of this fighting over issues one at a time like immigration reform, gun restrictions, gay marriage... will all be rigged b/c the politicians all play for the same team! It is a performance much like the Harlem Globetrotters and the Washington Generals where it appears to be a legitimate contest, but you know who will win b/c it is NOT A REAL CONTEST!!!!

[Doctor_J]

16. BUT! He's having the DoJ challenge reproductive rights in SCOTUS

I'm not kidding - really

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014471755

Let it not be said he's completely impotent.

[xxqqqzme]

18. Still waiting for

ANY conservative to be prodded into 'give and take'.

[24601]

19. We could have had Universal Health Care as far back as the Nixon Admin. But no, that might

be everything to everybody, so let's call it off until later - perhaps in another 40 years.

But History doesn't seem to be our strongest class.

[Doctor_J]

23. sounds like he wants liberals to shut up while he makes a deal

with the right wing Senate, so that he can hope Boner goes along with it. The Kasparov of the Potomac strikes again.

[haikugal]

26. The 'deal' is already made...

[Sunlei]

27. anyone have a link to the "high fees and rigorous employment requirements"? can't find details

looks like 13 years and no provisions for the many unpapered people who are small business owners.?