Mr. President: U.S. Latinos Respect the Constitution, Too
President Obama can rewrite U.S. immigration policy all by himself. Who knew?
The Obama administration will stop deporting — and begin giving work permits — to younger illegal immigrants who entered the U.S. as children and have since led law-abiding lives. The administration’s policy will affect as many as 800,000 immigrants: they will avoid deportation and be eligible for work permits if they arrived in the U.S. before age 16, are younger than 30, and have been in the country for at least five continuous years.
This president has continually lied to people with my skin color and surname. I’m angry that he thinks me and other Latino-Americans too stupid to see this for what it is — election-year politics. I’m further upset that he is attempting to divert my attention from the most important issue facing my children: the state of the U.S. economy.
Our forebears came here in search of the economic freedom that had been taken from them in their leftist countries of origin. Yet under President Obama’s leadership, America is approaching the very thing my grandmother fled. The May jobs numbers spelled bad news for all Americans; whites and African-Americans were just as disgusted when the figures revealed that Hispanics were hit especially hard. (In May alone, the Hispanic unemployment rate soared from 10.3% to 11%.)
The last thing on my mind: trying to figure out how illegal immigrants can find work.
I’d prefer my president focus on putting Americans back to work — once we have full employment here, then we can turn our attention to helping the world. But that’s not President Obama’s way: he’s a “citizen of the world,” and I fear his collectivist mentality prevents him from taking care of business at home first.
Mr. Obama is supposedly well ahead of Mitt Romney within the Latino community, so why would he make this play? Likely, he did this because he isn’t as solid with Latinos as the mainstream press has presented him as being. At the start of 2010, the president enjoyed support from 69% of Hispanics, yet by October 2010 that figure hit 55%. The Democrats had taken the Latino vote for granted, which contributed to the historic 2010 “shellacking.” As of today, the president still hasn’t delivered on his 2008 promises of legal and illegal immigration reform, and he has reportedly deported over a million illegals — double George W. Bush’s total.
Obama’s crackdown was likely payback to his union supporters, who don’t like illegals very much: the sentiment was expressed long ago by Cesar Chavez, who famously referred to illegals as “human contraband” in congressional testimony. But when the Latino community cried foul over the deportations and the press got wind, the deportations stopped.
When polls ask who Latinos like, Romney or Obama, Obama wins hands-down. But the numbers from 2010 — and I suspect the current internals for the Obama campaign — show that like isn’t enough to get Latinos to the polls right now.
Latino groups were fighting mad at the president in the 2010 midterms. They actually took Obama at his word when he promised to address immigration issues in 2008. But it took a backseat to his stimulus spending, and then took a backseat to his Obamacare fight. When confronted, he claimed:
I just have to continue to say this notion that somehow I can just change the laws unilaterally is just not true. We are doing everything we can administratively. But the fact of the matter is there are laws on the books that I have to enforce.
I laugh when liberals try to convince me of George W. Bush’s supposed imperialism and lawlessness. And I have news for our president: not all Latinos are ignorant of the law; in fact, we American Latinos cherish our nation of laws. Some of us have studied our countries of origin, and now recognize when narcissistic thugs who sport the title “president” make unilateral decisions contradictory to established law or even their own prior claims.
I caution Mr. Obama not to believe the cover of Time magazine featuring illegals that arrogantly proclaims: “We are Americans. Just not legally.” It takes more to be an American than simply declaring yourself one.
The people of the world do not have a right to be an American. There is a process, as cumbersome as it is, to achieve that goal. It is my hope that legal U.S. Latinos will insist that the process of legal immigration be streamlined, while simultaneously insisting on the rule of law in the interim.
Legal Latinos value the rule of law as codified in the Constitution. It’s part of being an American.
Enforce law. Stop looking at who’s doing crime. Just enforce law.
The Constitution establishes the rule of law and one set of laws for rich and poor alike, but our politics have been so corrupt that the republic remains a dream yet to be realized. Yet there is hope, as I showed here: http://clarespark.com/2012/06/16/the-social-history-racket/. The parts on Obama’s executive order that panders to the “Hispanic vote” are near the end of the blog.
Thankfully we have a Living Constitution so that President Obama can do the right thing. We do have a Living Constitution don’t we? A document that can be changed at the whim of our Dear Leader for Life. Our Dear Leader for Life demands that all bow to him. Forward for the betterment of the world under our Dear Leader for Life.
Evidently our constitution lives in much the same way Venezuela’s did in the late 90s. Perhaps the next executive order is to nationalize the oil industry.
living constitution?..naw…it started the death throes when obama took office..he and his administration of crooked people have trompled it to death..gone with the wind , his background, and birth certificate…gonegonegone…
AND…it’s our fault and the fault of the cojoneless GOP…
This is just another reminder, as if another were needed, that the utopians view the Constitution as just another piece of paper.
Yes, well, I am an Visigoth, just not legally.
I should have said, a Visigoth who is just learning to type!
Wow, look how easy it is! Hey, I visited Nova Scotia once. I have touched Canadian soil. That means I’m a Canadian citizen! Give me Canadian government benefits NOW! I deserve them because I have a dream! Everybody with a dream deserves everything they want!
I really hope that Hispanics see this latest move by Obama for what it is, a raw political move by an increasingly frightened and desperate president. When Rubio and others get their version of the DREAM Act through Congress it will be interesting to see if Obama will sign it.
Sorry to dash your hopes, but did you see how long it took for gay Hollywood one-percenters to empty their piggy-banks into Obama’s campaign after he “evolved” enough to change his opinion of gay marriage, but not enough to actually use his office to do anything about it?
I’m with blotto (below). I’m quite skeptical of this article and of Hispanic/Latino/whatever wisdom to prefer justice, reason, law, the Constitution and all those White-man’s Excuses over identity politics. Okay, Jose Garcia, there are exceptions, but I bet overall Hispanics are jumping for joy over this.
Good article. I take offense by what this man is doing. I also take offense at being called “Latino.” I don’t speak latin. Nor do I have ancestors from Italy. The true “Latinos” are Italians.
Observation 1: Garcia is Spanish.
Observation 2: America is named after Amerigo, an Italian.
Observation 3: The Mexicans who waved the Mexican flag at Cinco de Mayo would denounce Anglo encroachment, some of them were so proud of their “ancient Mayan heritage” without realizing that they were speaking the language of their blood thirsty colonists who killed at least as many Mayan natives as the big bad Anglos killing the Indians in North America.
Question 1: What is the difference between Hispanic and Latino?
Question 2: Will illegals come out of the woodwork to claim work permits knowing that they will be investigated? Those investigations take time, and their names and locations will be on file. What will happen to them when Obama’s time is up, and Obama’s action is found illegal, i.e. not backed by laws passed by Congress. Will they be setting themselves up for deportation?
Question 3: If Obama has deported twice as many illegals as Bush had to placate the unions, is today’s announcement a payback for the unions’ decision a couple days ago of not spending their money on his re-election?
Question 4: Is this another gay-marriage-esque gaffe? What will the union members do now? Will the unemployed legal Americans vote for him? He lost 20% of black voters in NC for his gay-marriage stunt, how many union members will he lose?
A “Hispanic” is a person whose surname originated in Spain (Castile, Aragon, Navarre) and may reasonably be presumed to be able trace some ancestry either to Spain or to the former Spanish colonial dominion in Central and South America and the Carribean. It says nothing about the degree to which assimilation may or may not have take place (I know two Hispanic women named “Shannon”).
“Latino” is a DemoKKKrat code word for “Mexican illegal”.
Just. Quit. with all this Latino/Hispanic crap already! “they” don’t speak Latin,Where is “Hispana” anyway? Face it, they are Illegal and just because O says otherwise doesn’t change a thing,and if your here Legally, your an American,
Bob
You make a good point. I was raised by a Mexican American grandmother who called herself Spanish. She was from White Oaks,New Mexico, where my mother was born. My last name is Wagner, yet I am part Hispanic.
The constitution is far more important than advancing Obama’s reelection hopes. He and Holder should both be fired for not enforcing the US Constitution and laws of the USA.
Those women named Shannon. Is that like Jay Carneys’ knowing three women by the name Hilary what’shername?
I have some problems with your commentary. First, you cannot separate the kids from their parents; therefore if the parents are illegal the kids are also illegal. You and the left are always saying that the kids and parents are one in order to stop doportations so you can’t have it both ways.
Next, “I’m angry that he thinks me and other Latino-Americans too stupid to see this for what it is — election-year politics.”
Oh, Bull Crap. Latinos are overjoyed at this. And he does think you and other Latinos are stupid, and you and they will vote for him. If Latinos were smart they would stay in their country and make it better; not come here and make this once proud nation worse.
“Our forebears came here in search of the economic freedom that had been taken from them in their leftist countries of origin.”
If in fact this statement were true, we would NOT have the illegal immigratnt problem that we have today. If your forebearers came here legally and became American citizens we would not have this problem.
“As of today, the president still hasn’t delivered on his 2008 promises of legal and illegal immigration reform, and he has reportedly deported over a million illegals — double George W. Bush’s total.”
Ah, it took a few paragraphs but the truth finally came out. You are not upset that America is being torn down by illegal immigrants, but that you and your fellow illegal Latinos were not granted amnesty….
And we are white or European Americans, and not just “whites.”
“you and your fellow illegal Latinos”
Did the writer say he’s illegal? His forebears might have been here longer than yours.
Except they were granted amnesty – twice, as a matter of fact. And then the fence was built and the border secured…..oh, wait? That second part didn’t happen? Wow, who’d a thunk it?
Words to remember: “It takes more to be an American than simply declaring yourself one. The people of the world do not have a right to be an American.”
I grew up in a firmly middle-class, all-American environment, populated by European Jews, Germans, Japanese, Hispanics, Swedes and more. At the time, this fact totally escaped my attention and that of my peers. Why? Because all our parents were focused on one thing: to be/become/live as full-fledged Americans. Period.
Every last one was here legally. Many waited years (decades) to immigrate. Many sold/sacrified all they had to come here. Without exception, they and their children “made it” – without government help, I might add. (Ticking through the list in my mind, every last one would’ve been insulted/offended/enraged at the slightest hint they couldn’t work hard and make it on their own. My, how times have changed.)
Everything Midas touched turned to gold. Everything Obama touches turns into fools’ gold. Both, in the end, are useless.
As a fifth-generation white American, I am proud that from its very beginning, America was more than just another nation on the map. America is not just a country. It is an idea. At her best, America has welcomed people of all creeds and color. With a few exceptions, I believe most who visit PJ Media feel as I do.
Mr. Sosa, I suspect it took some courage to write what you wrote. I suspect there are those in the Hispanic community who are already calling you a “traitor” to their dubious cause. And there are others who espouse equally dubious causes who, as seen above, find fault in what you say. I am not one of them. Thank you for honestly stating what you believe to be true.
“As a fifth-generation white American, I am proud that from its very beginning, America was more than just another nation on the map. America is not just a country. It is an idea. At her best, America has welcomed people of all creeds and color. With a few exceptions, I believe most who visit PJ Media feel as I do.”
America indeed welcomed peoples from around the world to become AMERICANS by entering America legally, becoming a citizen and abiding by our laws, and not restructuring America to fit their needs based on where they left.
America is NOT an “idea.” You betray your true feeling about America with that statement because you believe America should have a living document for a Constitution.
“And there are others who espouse equally dubious causes who, as seen above, find fault in what you say. I am not one of them. Thank you for honestly stating what you believe to be true.”
And what I say is what I believe to be true so who made you judge? Take your weak-kneed progressive self to MM or some other prog site and spout your drivel.
Does the rule of law matter to you DS? I need not go further because if you cannot answer that in the affrimative there is no need for further comment. And if you answer that in the affirmative, how can you agree with this EO? The two are mutually exclusive.
You may consider yourself some type of “patriot” but your negative assumptions of what other think betrays you as somewhat of a bigot. Many, many second, third and fourth generation Americans of Hispanic ancestry see the Won as the fool he is, and wouldn’t vote for him to be dog-catcher, let alone anything else. The polls you are reading are designed to return the results you see. They are not honest numbers. Ignore them before they drive you bananas. The Won will be back in Chicago before next February.
So last year obozo told us that he couldn’t do anything because he has laws that he must enforce. Now that he is losing his election bid, he can break the laws, to pander for votes.
Guess that is what a chicago style thug politician does. But it isn’t working this time
And this pandering ploy may come back,once more to bite him in his butt. What happens when you put 800,000 people into this unemployment pool. the unemployment number must get larger.
What happens when this pool of job seekers start to take jobs from American Citizens. And when are we going to worry about our citizens first. But those groups that lose these jobs aren’t going to be real happy with that.
And because he can’t fully break all laws, he told us that these people aren’t going to be citizens, so they have no votes. If any of them vote I expect that he will have them prosecuted for election fraud, or whatever the penalty is and then take away their right to work.
The Sandra Fluke fiasco and the contraception debate was hot about two months, and now no one cares. Obama turned ambiguously pro gay maybe two weeks ago and the nation barely stirred. The Latinos were largely unable to save the dems in the midterms or the Walker recal despite all the outrage caused by SB 1070. Do voters even remember that BHO is the nation’s first black president?
When the economy is this bad, it’s awful tough to push unrelated agendas to even preach to the choir. By next week Obama will proclaim that “I respect the states’ right to legalize pot” and delight the libertarians who would vote either Ron Paul or Gary Johnson.
Secure the white working class vote (including the prodigal sons from the 08 election), the most reliable voters. Don’t give opposition fodder by employing over the top anti illegal immigration rhetoric. Ensure low turnout among Latinos and other minorities by emphasizing their disillusionment in the economy. Defending traditional marriage won’t hurt.
That’s probably a good formula for a win.
It’s good to remember things said in the past…
March 28, 2011
Remarks by the President at Univision Town Hall
Bell Multicultural High School
Washington, D.C.
“With respect to the notion that I can just suspend deportations through executive order, that’s just not the case, because there are laws on the books that Congress has passed — and I know that everybody here at Bell is studying hard so you know that we’ve got three branches of government. Congress passes the law. The executive branch’s job is to enforce and implement those laws. And then the judiciary has to interpret the laws.
There are enough laws on the books by Congress that are very clear in terms of how we have to enforce our immigration system that for me to simply through executive order ignore those congressional mandates would not conform with my appropriate role as President.”
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/03/28/remarks-president-univision-town-hall
How can the US President rule by dictat? His King-like powers of rule by executive order are surely against the constittion?
Hell, that’s what the rest of us are wondering.
If the situation were reversed, if Americans were invading Mexico at the numbers Mexicans are invading America, would the Mexican government be as leniant and understanding of their plight?
If 35 million Americans invaded Mexico and refused to obey their laws, would Mexico be so understanding of them?
If Americans invaded entire states of Mexico, would Mexico support them into perpetuality?
If Americans became the burden to Mexico Mexicans have become here, would Mexico be as understanding?
Or would the Mexican government forcibly remove the American invaders, build a wal to keep Americans out, and patrol that wall vigorously…for all their talk about ‘equality and fairness’, the dems side of things is simply full of shit! If this were about anything other than the dems needing the illegals to pursue their socialist agenda here, this wouldn’t even be a discussion…but I believe America is just beginning to wake up to what the dems are and what their about, whether or not Americans wake up fast enough, or in the numbers necessary to stop the socialists agenda remains to be seen…
Those of us who attend crappy inner city schools learn about the constituion only insofar as it was written by caucasian, racist, christian men who owned slaves.
On the positive side, only the most compliant goody-goodies pay attention to a faculty that consists of goddess worshiping lesbians, effeminate white males, and Faculty Advisors who try to seduce all the cute MeCha chicas.
And yet you are the child of a nation of racist, catholic men who owned slaves. So there’s hope for both of us. Uncomfortable factoid: Less than 9% of African slaves ended up in the US. Almost 60% ended up in Central America and the Caribbean. No nation’s hands are that clean on the slavery issue.
My dad was Irish so I got the evilness coming from both sides.
Mr. Sosa’s article is excellent. The community organizer President seems to think that all members of the minority groups that tend to vote Democrat are just too dumb to understand what their real interests are. To Obama, all those who speak Spanish or have a Spanish surname or whose grandparents or parents speak Spanish are the same faceless blobs. If Obama classifies you as Hispanic or Latino, then he believes you don’t have enough intelligence to realize what the presence of an additional illegal 800,000 educated job-seekers will have on your chances of getting or holding onto a job. You’re all the same to him, whether here legally or illegally, whether you arrived yesterday or three generations ago.
Yes, it’s a fine article. The only true non-racist position is to treat all Hispanics/Latinos/Beaners (does it really matter?) as you find them and as they are: a broad slice of humanity that includes many who just happen to be among the latest wave of immigrants. It’s not as though we haven’t been down this road before. Done right, our country comes out way ahead and so do the new arrivals. That doesn’t mean the flow should not be controlled via effective laws rather than abandoned to the whims of the Boy King.
The one-size-fits-all branding iron wielded like a mace by our ‘elites’ is absurd, effete, patronizing, arrogant, ignorant and offensive. Ditto Aztlan. If the slow-moving objects who comprise GOP leadership ever locate their cataplines (fat chance) they’ll introduce a Cesar Chavez Memorial Day alongside MLK’s.
Repubs are never going to win Hispanics… no matter what we do.
BUT, if we lose the immigration battle, a flood of left voting Hispanics will empower an absolute open borders policy. No kidding. A de facto merge with Mexico. Borders without guards. Once Hispanics, in coalition with white liberal allies, gain a democratic stronghold, they’ll tilt the playing field, and America as we know it is done. Stand up, it’s now or never.
I continue in wonder reading arguments of President Obama defying the Constitution. Your arguments ring hollow (and I’m being generous by calling them arguments). The President is operating well within his authority as he has “the inherent power to execute prosecutorial discretion” as Daniel Kanstroom, a professor of immigration and human rights law at Boston College explained. Had the President granted legal status, you might have something. But he didn’t. What he did was to put their immigration status on hold until there’s a legislative fix.
Actually, he’s putting the ball back in Congress’s court, forcing them to end their filibuster games, do their job, and bring the Dream Act to a vote.
Ronald,
I’m not certain your assertion that the president is acting within the confines of his Constitutional power is entirely accurate. I think it may be tantamount to our border laws. Our elected leaders just choose to ignore the law. It’s the same as Harry Reid violating the 1974 budget act. He just chooses to ignore it. Our laws have a fatal flaw in this respect…they don’t punish our lawmakers when they choose to ignore them.
Cal, an accusation that “Our elected leaders just choose to ignore the law” based on, from your own admission, that you “‘think’ it may be tantamount to our border laws” and that you’re “not certain” that my “assertion that the president is acting within the confines of his Constitutional power” is pretty weak tea. Generally, arguments are countered with rebuttals of substance, proving that your argument has merit or legs to stand on. Not meaning to sound condescending but it’s as if you’re suggesting that what you choose to think, regardless of your own certainty of that thought process, somehow trumps others rationale of the argument.
Ronald,
Don’t mistake my attempt at being cordial as being wishy wahsy on the issues. The facts are clear. The Senate majority leader is in violation of the law. Our lawmakers have not enforced our border laws. If they had, Mr. Obama’s power grab would not have been needed. Instead of making excuses for an imperial president, perhaps you should insist that our “leaders” follow the law they lay out for the rest of us. The article was very clear, this presidt has deported over a million illegals. Some of them fell under the new protected class of illegals. He was following and enforcing our laws as our chief executive should. Now, he’s chosen not to follow the laws prompted by election year pressures. I agree with the author, legal immigration needs attention in this country. But in a free society and a nation of laws, you don’t protest a law by choosing to ignore it. If that’s your idea of, ” The President is operating well within his authority,” then hell I’d like to ignore his healthcare law, his tax increases and proposed increases in the public sector. HE IS OUR PRESIDENT. HE IS NOT ABOVE THE LAW.
It’s against the laws to grant work permits to someone without legal status or is in process of obtaining permanent status. Of course, There are INDIVIDUAL circumstances that allow prosecutorial discretion. What if a Sheriff decides he not going to arrest anyone over .08 BAC, because a lot of his friends drive drunk?? You can’t ignore entire laws, only use discretion in individual circumstances, otherwise laws mean nothing if “discretion” can be used to ignore them.
Apparently my message to Dan Sosa touched a raw nerve, Blotto. My recent comment was no more, or no less, a judgment about you, than yours was a judgment about Mr. Sosa.
How does characterizing America as not just another nation, but also an Idea, make me a progressive? How does this concept translate to me believing the Constitution to be a “living document”?
To me, America is an idea. An idea unmatched anywhere else in the world. An idea that sprang from the Enlightenment and the minds of some of history’s most remarkable men. I do NOT believe the Constitution to be malleable in any way save by the Constitution’s Amendment Process.
Hardly a liberal or progressive view.
I don’t know you, Blotto, except for your periodic comments in this space. But from your two most recent missives, you appear to be an angry person. You seem to write in anger. You attacked Mr. Sosa for real and imagined positions he took in his article. And now you’ve done the same to me.
May I respectfully suggest that the next time you choose to vent against your fellow conservatives, you stop, just for a moment, and ask yourself, “Is he/she really saying what I think he/she is saying? Or am I imagining something that isn’t really being said? And, finally, do I really need to express myself in such an angry manner. Or, is there a better way?”
Just a suggestion, Mr. Blotto.
Poppycock. Save your feigned indignation for Oprah, and your attempt at psycho-analysis for Dr. Phil.
President Obama is the Chief Executive of the government of the United States, and broke no law and made no new law. He made an executive decision that for two years, ICE and DHS should re-allocate their resources toward deporting felons rather than deporting students. This was entirely within his purview as Chief Executive.
Some of those students were brought into the United States as infants, speak no Spanish, have no specific knowledge of Mexican culture, and are graduates of United States high schools. To be forced into Mexico at gunpoint would leave them in a country they don’t know, unable to speak the local language, and with no ability to gain employment or further education.
He made clear that this is not a “fast track” to U. S. citizenship. Even if the above is the situation, they will still have to go through the standard process to legally gain U. S. citizenship.
Looks like some people here need a junior high civics lesson.
The President is head of the Executive branch of the United States, the branch responsible for enforcing the laws written by the congress. As such, the president and the executive branch maintain prosecutorial discretion regarding how best to enforce the laws. The executive’s choice of how to enforce the law is not unconstitutional, to the contrary it is part and parcel of or system of checks and balances. If you don’t liek the way he enforces the laws of the US, then vote for someone else. But for the love of dog please stop claiming that an action is unconstitutional simply because you don’t like it.
And yet an earlier post had a point. Prosecutorial discretion is one thing, but issuing work permits that provides these folks a legal status is something else. It is not provided for under current immigration law, nor does the President have the authority under the Constitution or any standing law I am aware of, or can imagine, to create a new class of temporary entry visa based on his sole authority and discretion.
Ron Paul Just Won The Iowa Caucuses Grace Wyler | Jun. 16, 2012
http://www.businessinsider.com/ron-paul-wins-iowa-caucuses-2012-6
What Obama did was pull out the carrot and wave it in front of the Liberal Democratic Hispanics. Based on all the endorsements from typically left leaning Latino groups, they fell for it hook, line and sinker. It’s sad thaty Obama knows how weak they are, that all he has to do is make another promise he can’t keep. Here’s Obama’s next move, (thinking he’s slick)…He can’t wait to come out and say, “Now listen here…I’m doing all I can to get this passed…it’s those Republicans that are in your way.”
We Conservative, Constitution-loving Hispanics (or Latino’s…or whatever)must unite across the country and Lead on a Real National Solution.
I think the groups came out for Obama because they need funding. It proves they don’t want to solve immigration…rather, they just want to stretch out the agony, only helping a small percentage of the illegal population.
That won’t work Mr. President.