Immigration Reform
Lets Do This $H!T
Over the past couple of years, debate on immigration reform has taken centre stage aplenty times only for it to be pushed back to the burner to cater other important issues at the time. If it isn’t gun control, then it’s the ruling on the Affordable Act Care (aka, Obamacare); if it isn’t the sequester cuts debate then it is the government shutdown. One after the other, the debate and efforts on immigration reform keeps getting stalled. Today, more than 6 years after President Obama first promised immigration reform, the immigration reform activists are still waiting. They aren’t just waiting for a promise to be fulfilled; they are waiting for a solution for their family members.
President Obama has conveniently shied away from taking responsibility for not fulfilling a promise he made while a candidate for the highest office on the planet. It is one thing to put in the miles and not reach to your destination like in the case of gun control. But, without making a heavy push towards this cause and then diverting the blame towards the opposition is just not very leader-like. Plus, let us not forget that the President held a majority in the House and a super majority in the Senate in his first term; so, if the cause had been so dear to him, he probably would have had that chapter done and dusted when he had the chance.
Anyhow, this isn’t meant to be a smear piece for President Obama but instead a support piece for immigration reform. I don’t agree with the President on much but at least we agree that there is a very significant need for immigration reform and that, it needs to be happen sooner rather than later. Actually, not sooner; more like, now.
I think both sides of the aisle have dropped the ball on this issue. Yes there have been efforts in both, the House and the Senate, to negotiate a bi-partisan deal on the matter and yes, both deals led to dead ends. But now, the times have changed oh-so-significantly. The Tea Party, the chief destroyer of the bipartisan immigration bills, is experiencing a crash in their influence and their credibility. John Boehner (R-Ohio), the Speaker of the House, has openly denounced the movement and many other members in the Republican Party have broken ranks with the movement and have defied the Tea Party.
It is like they say ‘strike while the iron is hot.’ Well, I would say that now is as good as a time as any. The very people who were firmly against this reform are facing an unprecedented backlash and so, while their influence diminishes, both chambers of the government should capitalize on the change in momentum and make use of this shift of opinion and influence among the Republican ranks.
That said, the reform has to be one that appeals to people on both sides of the aisle. Just because there is going to be less pressure or influence from Tea Party, doesn’t mean that the reform bill can pass both chambers. The reform has to include the Democratic favorite ‘path to citizenship’ while accommodating the Republican favorite ‘securing the borders.’
In fact, if you ask me, the crushed Senate Bill from the Gang of 8 would actually suffice. Personally, I liked the bill. It was drafted by 4 Republicans and 4 Democrats, thus, achieving significant bipartisanship. It included clauses which enhanced border security and simultaneously, had a path to citizenship in 12 years. So, resurrecting that very bill would satisfy the likes of me.
To those conservative skeptics who are concerned that any path to citizenship will mean handing Democrats 12 million voters going forward, I say that if Republicans don’t start making inroads in fastest growing voting bloc (Hispanic voters), then they don’t stand a chance to win any elections on the state level in 12 years (by the time illegal immigrants qualify for citizenship and voting). And, let’s just forget that about the White House! Therefore, it is imperative that Republicans help pass this bill if they want to make any inroads with the Hispanic voters in the future.
And yes, I am familiar of the primary threat that conservatives will face if they support any path to citizenship, but the truth of the matter is that these representatives were elected to the House for a reason. It is their job to make laws that progress the country, if they cannot do that just because they are insecure of their job, then they don’t deserve to be in the positions they are. So, it’s high time Republicans grew a pair
The Democrats too, have a duty to help their Republican colleagues out. The Democrats might not get everything they want and so, they have to receptive to get what they get. They can try for more when they are able to via a majority in the House and a supermajority in the Senate. But now is not that time. So, take what you get for now, anyways.
And President Obama, how can I forget you, stop with the mud-slinging. There is no need to drive up rhetoric and aggravate already on-edge Republicans. Just follow this piece of advice ‘…keep your enemies closer.’ Let’s face it, you’re not going to get any reform without the Republicans votes. And don’t forget, you were the one who promised immigration reform, not Republicans.
