Hispanics skeptical that Obama, Democrats will deliver immigration reform

[alp227]

By Sandhya Somashekhar
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, April 11, 2010;

AURORA, COLO. -- Maria Garcia can rattle off a dozen things that are more important to her than politics. Her sky-high mortgage payments, for instance. The convenience store she owns, which isn't making money. And, at this moment, the chili peppers toasting in the store's kitchen.

"I don't have time to think about politics," she said, rubbing her eyes amid the caustic fumes. "Ten years ago, I was doing good. But right now, when you have all these problems, you feel lazy. You can't do anything. Sometimes, it's better that you have nothing because you just have to make money to eat and to pay rent."

Garcia was among the 61 percent of Hispanic voters in Colorado who turned out in 2008 to vote for Barack Obama. But her political disengagement now hints at the difficulty Democrats face in rallying their core constituencies ahead of the November midterm elections.

Among Hispanics, one concern often voiced is that Obama has not moved quickly on immigration reform. He campaigned on the issue two years ago, but he and his party appear hesitant to take on such a contentious issue soon after overhauling health care.

Immigrant advocacy groups have ratcheted up the pressure on lawmakers, saying they risk losing the support of Hispanic voters if they do not establish a way for the 12 million people thought to be in the United States illegally to achieve legal status. They say there could be political consequences in swing states such as Colorado, where Hispanics made up 13 percent of the electorate in 2008.

A measure that would have created a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants contributed to the downfall of a 2007 bipartisan effort in Congress to remake the immigration system. But activists argue that disconnected voters such as Garcia might be motivated to go to the polls this year if lawmakers appeared poised to take up the issue again.

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/10/AR2010041001260_pf.html

[Vattel]

1. I'm not convinced that pursuing immigation reform

would produce a net gain in votes. I'm also not convinced that the current Congress/President would produce good immigration reform if they pursued it. The Republicans and blue dogs, if not others, would probably screw it up royally. I am convinced that we need good immigration reform, though.

[TomCADem]

2. Complete Corporate BS. Are They Going To The GOP/Tea Party With Its Open Race-Baiting?

What about Sotomayor hearings when Republican members of Congress were making impressions of Ricky Ricardo. Under Bush with a Republican majority, the GOP almost made illegal immigration a felony.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

3. Sure

Because you know that Hispanics will be treated so much better by them.

:sarcasm:

Change is never easy but giving up sure is. With Obama and the Democrats there is a MUCH better chance of doing SOMETHING positive than there would be if the Republicans get back in power anytime in the near future. If Hispanics/immigrants want change, they need to mobilize (more) and make their voices heard. Giving up and believing that nothing is ever going to change for the better is no way to.....ummmm...bring about change and Obama and the Democrats can't do it alone (nor should they be expected to).

[salguine]

4. If their idea of immigration reform is anything like their idea of health care reform,

then consider that a blessing.