What a way to make an impression with one's constituents. For some reason, Georgia Governor Nathan Deal (R) thought it would be a great idea to insult a group of undocumented immigrants confronting him over his inhumane anti-immigrant policies, including a rule that bars DREAMers from attending public colleges in Georgia.
Here's what Nathan Deal got wrong: He clearly wasn't expecting this good of a comeback. Oh, and the students he claimed were undocumented immigrants were actually US citizens. Whoops.
And this isn't the only recent example of G-O-TEA politicians encountering hot water when trying to spin away anything & everything immigration related. Earlier this month, Senator (& likely 2016 Presidential Candidate) Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) ran away when confronted by DREAMers. And earlier this week, Rep. (& fellow likely 2016 Presidential Candidate) Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin) refused to answer questions from DREAMers on why he voted to deport them along with Central American refugee children.
And then, there's Senator (& another possible 2016 Presidential Candidate) Marco Rubio (R-Florida). Once upon a time, Rubio was a lead sponsor of S 744, the comprehensive immigration reform (CIR) bill that handily passed the Senate last year. But as of late, Rubio has been trying to catch up with Rand Paul in the anti-immigrant department. And now, Senator Rubio is condemning the very CIR legislation he once sponsored.
The devolution is now complete. Republican politicians who once supported CIR are now running away from it as fast as they can. And once respected "conservative think tanks" are now advocating public funding for anti-immigrant/anti-government militia groups.
So why are they doing this? Why are they flip-flopping so wildly? And why are they now embracing the extreme anti-immigrant militia movement?
Simple answer: Short term politics. Longer answer: They're so frightened of their 21st Century Know Nothing base that they're willing to sacrifice sound policy (and smart political strategy) to grovel to G-O-TEA Culture Warriors' darkest desires.
This is why CIR now lies dead in some House committee room. And this is why President Obama must take executive action to address what the lower House of Congress refuses to fix. While DACA does provide some relief for DREAMers, their family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors are still being deported en masse. Even though they committed no crimes and have made many positive contributions to our communities, they're still being deported. In fact, President Obama has presided over more deportations than any other US President.
Since the lower House of Congress refuses to act, President Obama must. Since House Republicans (cough- Joe Heck -cough) insist on playing petty politics with real people's lives, President Obama must look past the petty politics and focus on good policy. Since the lower House of Congress declined to "go big", the President must.
Showing posts with label DREAM Act. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DREAM Act. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Monday, August 4, 2014
Losing Points & Missing Sense
It looked like they were about to leave town without doing anything on the matter. After whining and screaming and crying about it for a month, they were about to leave town without bringing a single border bill to the House floor. And of course, House Republican "leaders" were planning to blame President Obama for their own failure to whip their own members into doing their job.
But hey, this has been Republican "leaders'" modus operandi on comprehensive immigration reform (CIR) all along. They've feigned interest in passing some sort of legislation, then pandered to their 21st Century Know Nothing base when they became enraged at the thought of any sort of CIR passing, then abandoned their own "ideas" and while blaming President Obama for their own shortcomings.
But late Thursday night, there was another twist. House Republican "leaders" finally emerged with two bills... That catered to the whims & fancies of their most anti-immigrant members. The first one calls for the fast deportation of #BorderChildren without providing them with their due legal process, while the second one is yet another attempt at deporting all DREAMers. Both only barely passed and did so almost exclusively along party lines. (For the record, Reps. Joe Heck [R-Henderson] & Mark Amodei [R-Carson City] voted for mass deportations of refugee children, but not DREAMers.)
In one fell swoop (and two floor votes), House Republicans gave up any last modicum of "responsible governance" with their pandemonium on the House floor. Instead of doing anything to assist #BorderChildren and alleviate this humanitarian conundrum, they set the wheels in motion for a full crisis to explode by the end of their August recess.
But why? Why would they allow for such an unnecessary crisis? Why would they want these refugee children to suffer? And why are trying to use this as an excuse to deport American kids?
Well, why do they continue taking their marching orders from these fools?
So House Republicans (Joe Heck & Mark Amodei included) vote to sue President Obama for taking executive actions, then urge him to take executive action. They attack the President over their failure to pass CIR, then they attack him when he announces plans to right their wrongs to the greatest legal extent he can. They attack the President because refugee children have arrived at our border, then they attack him because he's reminded them that these children need legal due process (along with some tender loving care).
What does this all mean? Short answer: They're just biding their time until they vote to impeach President Obama. Longer answer: They're so terrified of their own deranged base that they've stopped caring about being consistent or making any sort of sense. And of course, they don't really care about silly things like making sense. They have more important things on their minds, important things like scoring political points. (Just don't tell them they're not even succeeding at that.)
But hey, this has been Republican "leaders'" modus operandi on comprehensive immigration reform (CIR) all along. They've feigned interest in passing some sort of legislation, then pandered to their 21st Century Know Nothing base when they became enraged at the thought of any sort of CIR passing, then abandoned their own "ideas" and while blaming President Obama for their own shortcomings.
But late Thursday night, there was another twist. House Republican "leaders" finally emerged with two bills... That catered to the whims & fancies of their most anti-immigrant members. The first one calls for the fast deportation of #BorderChildren without providing them with their due legal process, while the second one is yet another attempt at deporting all DREAMers. Both only barely passed and did so almost exclusively along party lines. (For the record, Reps. Joe Heck [R-Henderson] & Mark Amodei [R-Carson City] voted for mass deportations of refugee children, but not DREAMers.)
In one fell swoop (and two floor votes), House Republicans gave up any last modicum of "responsible governance" with their pandemonium on the House floor. Instead of doing anything to assist #BorderChildren and alleviate this humanitarian conundrum, they set the wheels in motion for a full crisis to explode by the end of their August recess.
But why? Why would they allow for such an unnecessary crisis? Why would they want these refugee children to suffer? And why are trying to use this as an excuse to deport American kids?
Well, why do they continue taking their marching orders from these fools?
So House Republicans (Joe Heck & Mark Amodei included) vote to sue President Obama for taking executive actions, then urge him to take executive action. They attack the President over their failure to pass CIR, then they attack him when he announces plans to right their wrongs to the greatest legal extent he can. They attack the President because refugee children have arrived at our border, then they attack him because he's reminded them that these children need legal due process (along with some tender loving care).
What does this all mean? Short answer: They're just biding their time until they vote to impeach President Obama. Longer answer: They're so terrified of their own deranged base that they've stopped caring about being consistent or making any sort of sense. And of course, they don't really care about silly things like making sense. They have more important things on their minds, important things like scoring political points. (Just don't tell them they're not even succeeding at that.)
Thursday, July 17, 2014
No Fun Here
It may be fun to stay at the YMCA, but it certainly isn't fun having to live one's childhood in total fear. Yesterday, we noted Arizona Congressional Candidate Adam Kwasman's (R) total failure to recognize the kids who were actually in that school bus yesterday. However, there's an even larger issue at hand here.
For far too long, too many politicians & pundits (particularly the "TEA" tinged ones) have been talking about the #BorderChildren as if they're all a bunch of hardened thugs out to rape, murder, and steal like there's no tomorrow. Oh, and they're also allegedly full of diseases. And according to them, the only solution to this problem is to deport them all ASAP.
As we've mentioned before, it's far easier for politicians to "discuss philosophy" and attack theoretical constructs than to deal with reality. These refugee children are escaping the epic violence and poverty that many of these very politicians helped create. And now that these children are here, ambitious G-O-TEA politicians want to further their political careers on the backs of these children by hurling all sorts of insults at them while threatening to return them to the very hell they escaped.
There's a reason why then President George W. Bush signed the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act on December 23, 2008. And there's a reason why this law passed Congress overwhelmingly in late 2008. This law is meant to ensure legal due process and proper aid for victims of human trafficking.
How are elementary & middle school aged children supposed to brief Border Patrol agents with evidence documenting their reasons for migrating here within 48 hours? Think about that. When abused children seek help, do we expect them to show up at the local police station with a complete dossier documenting their abusers' crimes? There's a reason why we have a legal system complete with courtrooms, judges, and legal counsel.
But wait, there's more. For many "TEA" flavored politicians, deporting at-risk refugee children isn't enough. They also (still) want to deport DREAMers.
Oh, yes. That's right. They went there... Again. And now, they're attacking Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D) for calling out the idiocy of this latest G-O-TEA "immigration idea"... And for explaining the reality of life anywhere near the border.
In summary, Republican "leaders" in DC have been spending plenty of time attacking a law a Republican President signed into law in order to protect children in danger. And they're doing that on top of the usual attacks on DREAMers, President Obama, and the actually very secure border. And on top of all that, they want to play politics with even more children's lives. It may be fun for Republican "leaders" to play politics with this rather difficult and complicated issue, but everyone else would rather just work on real solutions.
For far too long, too many politicians & pundits (particularly the "TEA" tinged ones) have been talking about the #BorderChildren as if they're all a bunch of hardened thugs out to rape, murder, and steal like there's no tomorrow. Oh, and they're also allegedly full of diseases. And according to them, the only solution to this problem is to deport them all ASAP.
As we've mentioned before, it's far easier for politicians to "discuss philosophy" and attack theoretical constructs than to deal with reality. These refugee children are escaping the epic violence and poverty that many of these very politicians helped create. And now that these children are here, ambitious G-O-TEA politicians want to further their political careers on the backs of these children by hurling all sorts of insults at them while threatening to return them to the very hell they escaped.
There's a reason why then President George W. Bush signed the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act on December 23, 2008. And there's a reason why this law passed Congress overwhelmingly in late 2008. This law is meant to ensure legal due process and proper aid for victims of human trafficking.
How are elementary & middle school aged children supposed to brief Border Patrol agents with evidence documenting their reasons for migrating here within 48 hours? Think about that. When abused children seek help, do we expect them to show up at the local police station with a complete dossier documenting their abusers' crimes? There's a reason why we have a legal system complete with courtrooms, judges, and legal counsel.
But wait, there's more. For many "TEA" flavored politicians, deporting at-risk refugee children isn't enough. They also (still) want to deport DREAMers.
Oh, yes. That's right. They went there... Again. And now, they're attacking Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D) for calling out the idiocy of this latest G-O-TEA "immigration idea"... And for explaining the reality of life anywhere near the border.
In summary, Republican "leaders" in DC have been spending plenty of time attacking a law a Republican President signed into law in order to protect children in danger. And they're doing that on top of the usual attacks on DREAMers, President Obama, and the actually very secure border. And on top of all that, they want to play politics with even more children's lives. It may be fun for Republican "leaders" to play politics with this rather difficult and complicated issue, but everyone else would rather just work on real solutions.
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Think About It.
He thought he could get away with it. He thought he had pulled off the perfect switcheroo. He thought he had deftly handled this "political hot potato".
Now, it looks like the potato just exploded in Rep. Joe Heck's (R-Henderson) face. Rep. Joe Heck had tried hard to have it both ways on comprehensive immigration reform (CIR). But after 16 months of dancing around the issue, Rep. Heck finally publicly embraced the 21st Century Know Nothings last month when he allowed his staff to call the police on immigrant rights activists. Rep. Heck then doubled down on this earlier this month by personally dismissing immigrant rights activists in Boulder City.
And now, Heck's 21st Century Know Nothing base is exploding in rage over children. Yet while he's been busy pandering to them, other NV-03 residents have been waiting to be heard. Yesterday, they paid a visit to Rep. Heck's Henderson adjacent district office.
Remember that while politicians & pundits are screaming over #BorderChildren (and failing to note their own role in creating this crisis), we're witnessing tragedies unfold throughout the nation. American families have had to live in fear of being torn apart. And yes, American kids must live in fear of having their DREAMs ripped to shreds.
Immigrants come here seeking a better life. They come for various reasons, and they come from different parts of the world. But ultimately, they come here seeking "The American Dream".
Hell, this has been happening for over 500 years. Unless you're Native American, your ancestors were immigrants. Even Rep. Heck has acknowledged that his grandparents immigrated from Italy. Does he realize what they experienced when they came here?
Think about it. Rep. Heck's ancestors came to America seeking a better life. Our ancestors came to America seeking a better life. US immigration law has frequently changed over the past 238 years. And the first European immigrants to America were "illegal" in that they were confiscating tribal lands.
So really, who are we to break up American families? Who are we to denigrate refugee children? And who are Rep. Heck and his Congressional colleagues (particularly the "TEA" flavored ones) to lecture everyone else on immigration policy? Think about that.
Now, it looks like the potato just exploded in Rep. Joe Heck's (R-Henderson) face. Rep. Joe Heck had tried hard to have it both ways on comprehensive immigration reform (CIR). But after 16 months of dancing around the issue, Rep. Heck finally publicly embraced the 21st Century Know Nothings last month when he allowed his staff to call the police on immigrant rights activists. Rep. Heck then doubled down on this earlier this month by personally dismissing immigrant rights activists in Boulder City.
And now, Heck's 21st Century Know Nothing base is exploding in rage over children. Yet while he's been busy pandering to them, other NV-03 residents have been waiting to be heard. Yesterday, they paid a visit to Rep. Heck's Henderson adjacent district office.
Remember that while politicians & pundits are screaming over #BorderChildren (and failing to note their own role in creating this crisis), we're witnessing tragedies unfold throughout the nation. American families have had to live in fear of being torn apart. And yes, American kids must live in fear of having their DREAMs ripped to shreds.
Immigrants come here seeking a better life. They come for various reasons, and they come from different parts of the world. But ultimately, they come here seeking "The American Dream".
Hell, this has been happening for over 500 years. Unless you're Native American, your ancestors were immigrants. Even Rep. Heck has acknowledged that his grandparents immigrated from Italy. Does he realize what they experienced when they came here?
Think about it. Rep. Heck's ancestors came to America seeking a better life. Our ancestors came to America seeking a better life. US immigration law has frequently changed over the past 238 years. And the first European immigrants to America were "illegal" in that they were confiscating tribal lands.
So really, who are we to break up American families? Who are we to denigrate refugee children? And who are Rep. Heck and his Congressional colleagues (particularly the "TEA" flavored ones) to lecture everyone else on immigration policy? Think about that.
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Imagine
Imagine living your life as you think you know it. You're sure you know who you are. And you're quite sure where you want to go with your future and what you want to do with your life.
Now imagine watching all of that suddenly fade away. Suddenly, you're no longer feeling so secure. Suddenly, you're unsure of your own future. Suddenly, you can relate to the story of Jose Antonio Vargas and the millions of other DREAMers living in this nation.
Just this morning, Jose Antonio Vargas was arrested and detained by US Border Patrol agents in McAllen, Texas. Ironically, Vargas was there to report on the Central American refugee crisis. It didn't take long for Vargas himself to become part of the story.
But then again, Jose Antonio Vargas himself is a refugee. His family brought him into the US so he could escape the poverty he was enduring in the Philippines and build a better life. He didn't even know he was undocumented until he was 16.
And he's not alone. Many more refugees have come here seeking asylum and hoping for a fresh start. And while a Kenyan woman recently succeeded in attaining legal status, millions more LGBTQ immigrants are living in limbo and waiting for the opportunity to emerge from the shadows.
And they're not alone. Bryan Rivera's mother just wanted her son to succeed. When she sued her abusive ex for child support, he turned her in to ICE. Bryan had to seek the aid of Rep. Steven Horsford (D-North Las Vegas) to free his mother from Henderson Detention Center.
Imagine having the solution to this problem right at your desk. And imagine that solution also holding the potential to boost the economy. Now imagine that solution being smothered to death in the lower House of Congress because the 21st Century Know Nothings don't want any solutions.
If Rep. Joe Heck (R-Henderson) and his House Republican colleagues truly care about finding a comprehensive solution to this complex problem, they know exactly where to find it. Oh, and where might that be? Try HR 15.
They don't need to imagine something else. They can simply take up what's been waiting for them since October. And they can actually be productive for a change. Now imagine that.
Now imagine watching all of that suddenly fade away. Suddenly, you're no longer feeling so secure. Suddenly, you're unsure of your own future. Suddenly, you can relate to the story of Jose Antonio Vargas and the millions of other DREAMers living in this nation.
Just this morning, Jose Antonio Vargas was arrested and detained by US Border Patrol agents in McAllen, Texas. Ironically, Vargas was there to report on the Central American refugee crisis. It didn't take long for Vargas himself to become part of the story.
But then again, Jose Antonio Vargas himself is a refugee. His family brought him into the US so he could escape the poverty he was enduring in the Philippines and build a better life. He didn't even know he was undocumented until he was 16.
And he's not alone. Many more refugees have come here seeking asylum and hoping for a fresh start. And while a Kenyan woman recently succeeded in attaining legal status, millions more LGBTQ immigrants are living in limbo and waiting for the opportunity to emerge from the shadows.
And they're not alone. Bryan Rivera's mother just wanted her son to succeed. When she sued her abusive ex for child support, he turned her in to ICE. Bryan had to seek the aid of Rep. Steven Horsford (D-North Las Vegas) to free his mother from Henderson Detention Center.
Imagine having the solution to this problem right at your desk. And imagine that solution also holding the potential to boost the economy. Now imagine that solution being smothered to death in the lower House of Congress because the 21st Century Know Nothings don't want any solutions.
If Rep. Joe Heck (R-Henderson) and his House Republican colleagues truly care about finding a comprehensive solution to this complex problem, they know exactly where to find it. Oh, and where might that be? Try HR 15.
They don't need to imagine something else. They can simply take up what's been waiting for them since October. And they can actually be productive for a change. Now imagine that.
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Foul
Right now, a whole lot of Americans are watching the World Cup. And why not? Team USA is performing surprisingly well in Brazil. And right now, millions of Americans are trying to figure out whatever excuse they can latch onto in order to watch the games.
So we have a whole lot of Americans rooting for the American soccer team. How much more patriotic can we get? According to G-O-TEAsoccer team reject washed up troll soon-to-be-unemployed circus clown pundit extraordinaire Ann Coulter, this isn't patriotic at all. And why's that? Oh, Latin@ Americans immigrants love soccer! And of course, this column wouldn't be from Ann Coulter unless it had some extra xenophobia, homophobia, misogyny, and plain old stupidity tossed in for "good measure".
Believe it or not, Ann Coulter and her fellow fire breathing G-O-TEA pundits from hell are dictating immigration policy in the lower House of Congress. Of course, this is not really a surprise to those of us who have been keeping track of House Speaker John Boehner (R-Marlboro) smoke signals. It's been evident for some time that House G-O-TEA "leaders" care more about their pyrrhic political victories than they do about accomplishing anything in their chamber. Even though it's now been a year since the US Senate passed comprehensive immigration reform (CIR), they've made it clear that they'd rather waste taxpayers' time & moneytrying to impeach President Obama on frivolous law suits.
And speaking of those frivolous law suits, it's increasingly looking like they will be targeting DACA. Oh, yes. That's right. They're going there again. They're once again demanding the deportations of DREAMers.
Never mind that these Americans want the same opportunity to succeed that all the rest of us take for granted. Never mind that American families continue to be torn apart while the House continues to block bipartisan legislation that the Senate passed a year ago. And never mind that passing CIR would actually benefit our economy. No, House G-O-TEA "leaders" would rather continue pandering to their 21st Century Know Nothing base with dirty underwear, vendettas against Spanish language media, and attacks on the entire Latin American region (??!!) than accomplish anything worthwhile.
Oh, and of course, they're now attacking soccer... Because immigration. Yet in a bizarre way, it makes sense why they now hate soccer. They just don't their foul called out.
So we have a whole lot of Americans rooting for the American soccer team. How much more patriotic can we get? According to G-O-TEA
Believe it or not, Ann Coulter and her fellow fire breathing G-O-TEA pundits from hell are dictating immigration policy in the lower House of Congress. Of course, this is not really a surprise to those of us who have been keeping track of House Speaker John Boehner (R-Marlboro) smoke signals. It's been evident for some time that House G-O-TEA "leaders" care more about their pyrrhic political victories than they do about accomplishing anything in their chamber. Even though it's now been a year since the US Senate passed comprehensive immigration reform (CIR), they've made it clear that they'd rather waste taxpayers' time & money
And speaking of those frivolous law suits, it's increasingly looking like they will be targeting DACA. Oh, yes. That's right. They're going there again. They're once again demanding the deportations of DREAMers.
Never mind that these Americans want the same opportunity to succeed that all the rest of us take for granted. Never mind that American families continue to be torn apart while the House continues to block bipartisan legislation that the Senate passed a year ago. And never mind that passing CIR would actually benefit our economy. No, House G-O-TEA "leaders" would rather continue pandering to their 21st Century Know Nothing base with dirty underwear, vendettas against Spanish language media, and attacks on the entire Latin American region (??!!) than accomplish anything worthwhile.
Oh, and of course, they're now attacking soccer... Because immigration. Yet in a bizarre way, it makes sense why they now hate soccer. They just don't their foul called out.
Monday, August 26, 2013
Tenemos un Sueño (DREAM).
This week, we're remembering the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech and the historic March on Washington where he delivered it. Much has been accomplished since then. And there's still more to do now.
And it spans far beyond what some media pundits traditionally consider "civil rights". Case in point: comprehensive immigration reform (CIR). Millions of American families have been torn apart, millions of workers have been exploited, and many communities have been full of strife. And it's all due to (the lack of) nine digits.
So is there a chance to finally change this for good? Maybe. Nearly two weeks ago, Rep. Joe Heck (R-Henderson) met and prayed with immigrant rights activists. And while he had some encouraging words at his town hall last week, he wouldn't commit to backing those words with concrete action.
And why is that? Oh, he and other House Republicans still fear their 21st Century Know Nothing base. Never mind that a growing number of Republicans are urging their own party to shape up and pass CIR. Far too many in the G-O-TEA are too busy fawning over racist rodeo clowns and pandering to their base to do anything serious on immigration reform.
But as we've discussed before, it doesn't have to be this way. Republicans like Rep. Heck can do something truly bipartisan and get a real CIR bill to the House floor. There are real people suffering under the status quo. No one will actually suffer if CIR is brought to the House floor.
Fifty years ago, Dr. King had a DREAM. And now, the DREAMers and other immigrant rights activists continue to remind us of this. Will Congress be able to drop the petty politicking for long enough to realize this?
And it spans far beyond what some media pundits traditionally consider "civil rights". Case in point: comprehensive immigration reform (CIR). Millions of American families have been torn apart, millions of workers have been exploited, and many communities have been full of strife. And it's all due to (the lack of) nine digits.
So is there a chance to finally change this for good? Maybe. Nearly two weeks ago, Rep. Joe Heck (R-Henderson) met and prayed with immigrant rights activists. And while he had some encouraging words at his town hall last week, he wouldn't commit to backing those words with concrete action.
And why is that? Oh, he and other House Republicans still fear their 21st Century Know Nothing base. Never mind that a growing number of Republicans are urging their own party to shape up and pass CIR. Far too many in the G-O-TEA are too busy fawning over racist rodeo clowns and pandering to their base to do anything serious on immigration reform.
But as we've discussed before, it doesn't have to be this way. Republicans like Rep. Heck can do something truly bipartisan and get a real CIR bill to the House floor. There are real people suffering under the status quo. No one will actually suffer if CIR is brought to the House floor.
Fifty years ago, Dr. King had a DREAM. And now, the DREAMers and other immigrant rights activists continue to remind us of this. Will Congress be able to drop the petty politicking for long enough to realize this?
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
One Heck of a Meeting
Today, we're seeing another office visit. Once again, Rep. Joe Heck (R-Henderson) was greeted by DREAM Big Vegas. And this time, they came ready to pray.
And that wasn't all. There was another twist. This time, Rep. Joe Heck came down to pray and speak with the activists.
Denice, Victoria, Chris, and Juan all shared their own personal stories with Rep. Heck. Denice's husband can no longer visit his family in Mexico. Neither can Victoria, as she was separated from her mother when she was only eight.
Chris and Juan then explained to Rep. Heck how DACA has allowed them to actually work and live their lives without (as much) fear. Maybe this is why he's been changing his tune on the DREAM Act?
(Stay tuned here for video coming soon.)
Astrid was not even expecting this. It was a pleasant surprise that Rep. Heck came out to speak with the activists. At least there was dialogue today.
Perhaps it can continue...
And that wasn't all. There was another twist. This time, Rep. Joe Heck came down to pray and speak with the activists.
Denice, Victoria, Chris, and Juan all shared their own personal stories with Rep. Heck. Denice's husband can no longer visit his family in Mexico. Neither can Victoria, as she was separated from her mother when she was only eight.
Chris and Juan then explained to Rep. Heck how DACA has allowed them to actually work and live their lives without (as much) fear. Maybe this is why he's been changing his tune on the DREAM Act?
(Stay tuned here for video coming soon.)
Astrid was not even expecting this. It was a pleasant surprise that Rep. Heck came out to speak with the activists. At least there was dialogue today.
Perhaps it can continue...
Friday, August 9, 2013
Allow a Floor Vote.
Even with Congress in recess, there's still plenty of chatter on the latest and greatest manufactured crisis. Apparently, some Congressional G-O-TEA acolytes hate Obamacare so much that they're willing to shut down the federal government and wreck the global economy in order to take health care away from millions of Americans. And now, we're seeing yet another battle in the ongoing Republican Party civil war.
But what if this latest battle leads to an unintended consequence? What if Ed Kilgore is right and the (old yet) new (again) haute faux health care "scandal" on the radical right opens just enough space for just enough House Republicans to cross over and pass comprehensive immigration reform (CIR)?
And that's not all. A few more House Republicans are changing their tune on CIR. And we're even hearing renewed discussion on using a procedure meant to sidestep "leadership" attempts to block legislation that can otherwise pass the House.
Earlier this year, Reps. Mark Amodei (R-?) and Joe Heck (R-??!!) signaled willingness to support CIR. Yet since then, they've voted in lockstep with the rest of the G-O-TEA to derail reform (and deport DREAMers!). But even now, they still want to look like they "support reform".
So will they sign a discharge petition to bring CIR legislation to the House floor? Will they encourage more of their Republican colleagues to step forward and demand a vote next week? Right now, House Republicans (and their "TEA" fueled base) are the only ones preventing immigration reform from happening.
However, that can change. They can allow for the reunification of families, as well as more economic growth and even more budget deficit reduction. All they have to do is allow a floor vote. Will they?
Right now, we're hearing a whole lot of chatter over a whole lot of unproductive activity. We don't need any more manufactured crises on Capitol Hill. We do, however, need comprehensive immigration reform. And all House Republicans have to do to change this dynamics is allow a floor vote.
But what if this latest battle leads to an unintended consequence? What if Ed Kilgore is right and the (old yet) new (again) haute faux health care "scandal" on the radical right opens just enough space for just enough House Republicans to cross over and pass comprehensive immigration reform (CIR)?
And that's not all. A few more House Republicans are changing their tune on CIR. And we're even hearing renewed discussion on using a procedure meant to sidestep "leadership" attempts to block legislation that can otherwise pass the House.
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Earlier this year, Reps. Mark Amodei (R-?) and Joe Heck (R-??!!) signaled willingness to support CIR. Yet since then, they've voted in lockstep with the rest of the G-O-TEA to derail reform (and deport DREAMers!). But even now, they still want to look like they "support reform".
So will they sign a discharge petition to bring CIR legislation to the House floor? Will they encourage more of their Republican colleagues to step forward and demand a vote next week? Right now, House Republicans (and their "TEA" fueled base) are the only ones preventing immigration reform from happening.
However, that can change. They can allow for the reunification of families, as well as more economic growth and even more budget deficit reduction. All they have to do is allow a floor vote. Will they?
Right now, we're hearing a whole lot of chatter over a whole lot of unproductive activity. We don't need any more manufactured crises on Capitol Hill. We do, however, need comprehensive immigration reform. And all House Republicans have to do to change this dynamics is allow a floor vote.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
The DREAM & The Id
Every so often, I'm asked why I'm so hard on the 21st Century Know Nothings. Why am I always "calling names" and "being mean"? If you really want to know why, it's not difficult to figure out.
Here, I'll let 21st Century Know Nothing folk hero Steve King (R-Iowa) explain.
And of course, Rep. King also has a penchant for comparing immigrants to dogs. So there's that.
Occasionally, Congressional G-O-TEA "leaders" try to spin this away and find silly excuses for this extreme rhetoric. They fail to actually make it go away because they match this extreme rhetoric with extreme legislation (like the recent amendment to deport DREAMers that passed the house on a mostly party line vote).
But now, all of a sudden, we're supposed to believe them and their "KIDS Act". Earlier today, PLAN called BS on this nightmare for DREAMers and their families.
As usual, Rep. Joe Heck (R-Superficial) wants to look "moderate" while voting "tea party". So of course, he's jumping onto this bill to try to have it both ways.
And of course, he hasn't said a peep on Rep. Steve King's outlandish new comments. Because of course, what Rep. King says speaks to the 21st Century Know Nothing id. And he & other G-O-TEA politicians long ago decided to pander to that 21st Century Know Nothing id instead of challenging it.
Of course, House Republicans don't like to hear this. Why must immigrant rights activists "call names" and "be mean"? Never mind that they're not the ones calling immigrants "dogs" and refusing to pass legislation that already passed the Senate on a bipartisan vote last month. And they've yet to repudiate Steve King and his latest round of bigoted insani-TEA.
Could this be due to their fear of admitting they don't have the ego or super-ego to reign in their "TEA" tinged id?
Here, I'll let 21st Century Know Nothing folk hero Steve King (R-Iowa) explain.
“There are kids that were brought into this country by their parents unknowing they were breaking the law. And they will say to me and others who defend the rule of law, ‘We have to do something about the 11 million. Some of them are valedictorians.’ Well, my answer to that is…it’s true in some cases, but they aren’t all valedictorians. They weren’t all brought in by their parents. For every one who’s a valedictorian, there’s another 100 out there who weigh 130 pounds and they’ve got calves the size of cantaloupes because they’re hauling 75 pounds of marijuana across the desert. Those people would be legalized with the same act.”
King also said during the interview that there were people in his state who were advocating for immigration reform because they depended upon cheap, illegal labor. “What they really, of course, mean is amnesty,” he said, “and then they will tell me, ‘I need someone to gather my eggs,’ or ‘I need someone to harvest the hogs, I need somebody to milk my cows.’”
He continued, “These are arguments that get weighed in with all of this, but there are many businesses in the state and in the country that were developed and evolved into the business they are today because of the anticipation of having cheap, illegal labor standing there ready to take those jobs.”
This is not the first time King has shown public disdain for undocumented immigrants. Last month, he tweeted about “brazen self professed illegal aliens” at his Washington, D.C., office and, earlier this year, advocated for an electrified fence along the border between the U.S. and Mexico.
And of course, Rep. King also has a penchant for comparing immigrants to dogs. So there's that.
Occasionally, Congressional G-O-TEA "leaders" try to spin this away and find silly excuses for this extreme rhetoric. They fail to actually make it go away because they match this extreme rhetoric with extreme legislation (like the recent amendment to deport DREAMers that passed the house on a mostly party line vote).
But now, all of a sudden, we're supposed to believe them and their "KIDS Act". Earlier today, PLAN called BS on this nightmare for DREAMers and their families.
“We have a serious crisis with our broken immigration system, and instead of addressing it in a comprehensive manner, Congressman Joe Heck and his colleagues are offering a crumb to some DREAMers and deportation for the rest,” said Astrid Silva, immigration organizer with the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada and co-founder of DREAM Big Vegas, an organization of and for undocumented youth known as DREAMers.
Congressman Joe Heck and members of Congress proposing the so-called “KIDS” Act are some of the same politicians who killed the DREAM Act in 2010, opposed deferred action for DREAMers to prevent them from deportation in 2012, and then voted to defund that initiative. [...]
On Monday, United We Dream, the largest immigrant youth-led organization in the nation, came out against this thinly-veiled attempt by House leaders to give their party political cover on the issue of immigration without presenting any serious solutions. PLAN agrees with United We Dream and rejects any proposal that puts millions of Latinos, Asians, and immigrants into a permanent underclass or excludes them from a pathway to citizenship.
Silva said, “House Republicans like Congressman Heck have a choice before them: deliver a real solution on immigration and start to rebuild their political brand with the fastest growing demographic in the country, or step further and further away from mainstream America and the Latino and immigrant community with extreme proposals that fall short of a real, long-term solution. Voters want immigration reform with a path to citizenship. It would be a positive step forward for the economy and our country."
As usual, Rep. Joe Heck (R-Superficial) wants to look "moderate" while voting "tea party". So of course, he's jumping onto this bill to try to have it both ways.
And of course, he hasn't said a peep on Rep. Steve King's outlandish new comments. Because of course, what Rep. King says speaks to the 21st Century Know Nothing id. And he & other G-O-TEA politicians long ago decided to pander to that 21st Century Know Nothing id instead of challenging it.
Of course, House Republicans don't like to hear this. Why must immigrant rights activists "call names" and "be mean"? Never mind that they're not the ones calling immigrants "dogs" and refusing to pass legislation that already passed the Senate on a bipartisan vote last month. And they've yet to repudiate Steve King and his latest round of bigoted insani-TEA.
Could this be due to their fear of admitting they don't have the ego or super-ego to reign in their "TEA" tinged id?
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Hot Potato
On Monday, we were again reminded of the human side of immigration reform. Oh, and we were again reminded of the G-O-TEA spin campaign to excuse its own drive to kill comprehensive immigration reform (CIR). House Republicans have taken a bill that easily passed the Senate 68-32!!!)... And turned it into some frightening hot potato.
Why is this? Why can't House Republicans even allow a floor vote on CIR? What do they fear?
Actually, it's more a matter of who they fear. Notice something below?
No really, this is what's behind the G-O-TEA obstruction on CIR. They want to create the illusion of "doing something", but they don’t want to pass something their "TEA" fueled base will object to.
This is why House Republicans (including Nevada's own Joe Heck & Mark Amodei) voted to deport DREAMers last month. Sure, House G-O-TEA "leaders" now say they kind-of-sort-of-somewhat-maybe are down with the DREAM Act. Where were they when their caucus (including Eric Cantor [R-Virginia] himself!) voted to deport DREAMers?
As we've discussed before, House Republicans want to have it both ways. They want to give the impression of "doing something" while only doing what the "tea party" demands, regardless of overall public opinion and/or actual sound public policy. We're seeing this locally from Joe Heck, and this is being repeated in Republican held Congressional Districts across the nation.
Univision's Jorge Ramos is one of the top journalists in Latin@ media today. And he has a warning for Congressional Republicans hoping to smother CIR to death in the House. (The English translation below is courtesy of Daily Kos.)
More immediately, Rep. Joe Heck (R-??!!) will have to explain his many stances on CIR in the coming months. And beyond that, Nevada Republicans will have to explain why some of their own have been going all in to undermine reform. I wonder what Senator Dean Heller (R-46%) has to say about this.
Just keep in mind that Republicans made CIR into a political hot potato among their own. So they onoy have themselves to blame when they get burned.
Why is this? Why can't House Republicans even allow a floor vote on CIR? What do they fear?
Actually, it's more a matter of who they fear. Notice something below?
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No really, this is what's behind the G-O-TEA obstruction on CIR. They want to create the illusion of "doing something", but they don’t want to pass something their "TEA" fueled base will object to.
This is why House Republicans (including Nevada's own Joe Heck & Mark Amodei) voted to deport DREAMers last month. Sure, House G-O-TEA "leaders" now say they kind-of-sort-of-somewhat-maybe are down with the DREAM Act. Where were they when their caucus (including Eric Cantor [R-Virginia] himself!) voted to deport DREAMers?
As we've discussed before, House Republicans want to have it both ways. They want to give the impression of "doing something" while only doing what the "tea party" demands, regardless of overall public opinion and/or actual sound public policy. We're seeing this locally from Joe Heck, and this is being repeated in Republican held Congressional Districts across the nation.
Univision's Jorge Ramos is one of the top journalists in Latin@ media today. And he has a warning for Congressional Republicans hoping to smother CIR to death in the House. (The English translation below is courtesy of Daily Kos.)
It's disturbing and disappointing that [House Speaker John] Boehner [R-Ohio], in a statement, called the Senate's immigration bill "a mistake" and "hurried". He seems to be disconnected from what the American majority wants, according to the polls, after almost three decades of delay. Does Boehner really want to be the new villain of the Hispanic community, replacing Sheriff Joe Arpaio? Does he really want to be part of the sad anti-immigrant contingent including Pete Wilson, Tom Tancredo, Jan Brewer and Ted Cruz? We'll see.
Republicans have an opportunity in 2016 to share credit with Democrats on immigration reform, leaving behind years of ill-will. Sixteen million Latino voters will decide that election.
But if after everything Republicans side with the most extremist anti-immigrants, they'll lose the White House in 2016 and will have to wait many years to earn the forgiveness of Latinos. Like the wise Mexican adage says, fair warning leaves no room for surprises.
More immediately, Rep. Joe Heck (R-??!!) will have to explain his many stances on CIR in the coming months. And beyond that, Nevada Republicans will have to explain why some of their own have been going all in to undermine reform. I wonder what Senator Dean Heller (R-46%) has to say about this.
Just keep in mind that Republicans made CIR into a political hot potato among their own. So they onoy have themselves to blame when they get burned.
Monday, July 15, 2013
Signs & Letters
Last week, I noticed something quite fascinating. While we here have known Astrid Silva and her amazing work for some time, the LA Times finally noticed what she's been up to here in Nevada. And they noticed her interesting "pen pal".
Astrid and her continuing letters inspired Senator Harry Reid (D-Searchlight) to deliver this moving speech on the Senate floor late last month.
And that's not all. Over the course of time, Senator Reid listened to even more immigrants' stories. And he realized just how serious of a problem this is. He realized the consequences of forcing these people to live life in the shadows of society.
Senator Reid and many of the other US Senators who have been working hard on comprehensive immigration reform (CIR) have been doing so because they've realized the real, human toll of inaction. They know who will pay the price of Congress' failure to act. They know the families who will suffer if CIR falls apart (again) soon.
Yet despite all this, Rep. Joe Heck (R-??!!) doesn't seem to care. The US Senate already passed S 744. Keep this in mind as Rep. Joe Heck attempts to whitewash the House G-O-TEA plan to kill the bill (S 744) by letting the Senate CIR bill languish as the House G-O-TEA clan cherry-picks draconian (and expensive) "border security" provisions to play with.
Just as the Senate completed its long process of passing CIR, the House G-O-TEA gang don't seem to care about any kind of rational governance. Instead, they're looking for a pretty face to cover their ghoulish agenda. As others worry about the human implications of CIR policy, they're only finessing the politics of continual obstruction.
So what will it take for Rep. Heck and other House Republicans to notice their politics is toxic beyond the realm of the G-O-TEA? Last month's Harper poll found that 71% of Nevadans support the principles of S 744. On top of this, a new PPP poll specifically shows that 40% of NV-03 voters are less likely to vote for Rep. Heck if he stands against CIR. Oh, and the latest national Gallup poll shows more Americans favor the Democrats' CIR agenda than what most Republicans are advocating.
Republicans ignore the signs at their own political peril. It remains to be seen if Rep. Heck will have to learn this lesson the hard way. He can only keep living in the past for so much longer before reality bites.
It's just tragic that he and too many other House Republicans fail to notice the letters of Astrid and so many other Americans who are hurt by the failed status quo of our immigration system. They are ultimately the ones who matter most here. And their letters can't be ignored forever, either.
A lover of old movies and the way notes were passed during an earlier era, Silva thought the majority leader, being older, might feel the same way. She wrote her first letter. Then another. And another."I ... have never even stolen a piece of gum from a 7-11, yet I feel as though my forehead says 'FELON.' I long for the day when that stigma will be gone and I can make my parents sacrifices worth it and be an asset to MY country."
As Silva became known around party headquarters, she was asked to introduce the senator at a public event. She was making her way off the stage when he told the audience she was one of his favorite Dreamers. She stopped cold. Reid had just unintentionally outed her as being here illegally.
Her mother became worried that the family would face trouble with the authorities. Her dad took another view. "You have to face it at some point. Just go forward," he told her.
Silva gathered her friends and they formed a Dreamers group, Dream Big Vegas. Every chance she found to put a note into Reid's hand on his visits home, she did.
She realizes how odd she must have seemed to the senator she started calling "abuelito," grandpa.
Astrid and her continuing letters inspired Senator Harry Reid (D-Searchlight) to deliver this moving speech on the Senate floor late last month.
And that's not all. Over the course of time, Senator Reid listened to even more immigrants' stories. And he realized just how serious of a problem this is. He realized the consequences of forcing these people to live life in the shadows of society.
Senator Reid and many of the other US Senators who have been working hard on comprehensive immigration reform (CIR) have been doing so because they've realized the real, human toll of inaction. They know who will pay the price of Congress' failure to act. They know the families who will suffer if CIR falls apart (again) soon.
Yet despite all this, Rep. Joe Heck (R-??!!) doesn't seem to care. The US Senate already passed S 744. Keep this in mind as Rep. Joe Heck attempts to whitewash the House G-O-TEA plan to kill the bill (S 744) by letting the Senate CIR bill languish as the House G-O-TEA clan cherry-picks draconian (and expensive) "border security" provisions to play with.
Just as the Senate completed its long process of passing CIR, the House G-O-TEA gang don't seem to care about any kind of rational governance. Instead, they're looking for a pretty face to cover their ghoulish agenda. As others worry about the human implications of CIR policy, they're only finessing the politics of continual obstruction.
So what will it take for Rep. Heck and other House Republicans to notice their politics is toxic beyond the realm of the G-O-TEA? Last month's Harper poll found that 71% of Nevadans support the principles of S 744. On top of this, a new PPP poll specifically shows that 40% of NV-03 voters are less likely to vote for Rep. Heck if he stands against CIR. Oh, and the latest national Gallup poll shows more Americans favor the Democrats' CIR agenda than what most Republicans are advocating.
Republicans ignore the signs at their own political peril. It remains to be seen if Rep. Heck will have to learn this lesson the hard way. He can only keep living in the past for so much longer before reality bites.
It's just tragic that he and too many other House Republicans fail to notice the letters of Astrid and so many other Americans who are hurt by the failed status quo of our immigration system. They are ultimately the ones who matter most here. And their letters can't be ignored forever, either.
Friday, May 17, 2013
It's Not Right... But It's OK.
Yesterday, we discussed the increasingly complicated and convoluted politics of comprehensive immigration reform (CIR) in Congress. Apparently, the House now has its own CIR deal floating around... And threatens to (further) undo the incredibly fragile Senate CIR deal. The CIR debate in Congress has been... Well, it's been awfully ridiculous lately.
Yet as that's been going down, many activists continue fighting for reform and to stop the deportations. And in fact, something quite amazing happened at The Center last night. DREAM Big Vegas, PLAN, and allies decided to help local DREAMers obtain DACA status. Oh, and they did so with a drag show!
There was plenty of fierce fashion, fabulous lip synchs, great original singing, and more. Oh, and DREAM Big raised enough money to fund two DACA applications! And during the intermission, the audience had a chance to listen to the stories of DREAMers who've only known life in America and just want a chance to succeed like the rest of us.
What made last night's event even more poignant was the demonstration of the intersection of Southern Nevada's Latin@ community and Southern Nevada's LGBTQ community. Believe it or not, both co-exist. Both cooperate. Oh yes, and many people are part of both communities!
This is actually another reason why 21st Century Know Nothing hopes of wedging the two communities against each other will ultimately prove to be futile. Especially as the plight of LGBTQ immigrants reaches the forefront, there's renewed purpose to make comprehensive immigration reform truly comprehensive. And besides, we know the 21st Century Know Nothings have never had the best interest of either community at heart anyway.
In fact, our long held suspicion was pretty much proven true last night. The Grio's Joy Reid broke the story of a Heritage letter (remember them?) circulating among Congressional Republicans and demanding that they essentially stop governing at all so they can circle the wagons around the latest haute faux scandals in hopes of weakening President Obama politically. Oh, yes. That's right. And many Republican Congresscritters already look to be taking their advice.
Clearly, they haven't met Raffi or Julius. Both have been living in this nation nearly their whole lives. Both have been educated in Southern Nevada schools. And both want to obtain the American Dream. Yet because their families came to America undocumented, they've had to live in fear and in constant limbo. Raffi now has DACA status. And while it's better than nothing, not even that is 100% guaranteed to prevent deportation. And they're being forced to raise money for DACA fees because Congress hasn't passed the DREAM Act.
Raffi & Julius and Ricardo & Blanca are among the many reasons why Congress should finally be moving on CIR. And so are undocumented workers who deserve freedom from exploitation. And so are LGBTQ families who deserve freedom from a life apart. These people are real people. They deserve better, and so do we.
Yet as usual, the 21st Century Know Nothings and the Republican Party that they have way too much power over can't get their act together. So they're ready to kill CIR and focus all their attention on bludgeoning President Obama with fictitious scandals. As Whitney would say, "It's not right, but it's OK."
Well, it's not all that OK. It's just that, as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., would say, "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." Something must change. Immigration reform must happen. And if Republicans don't join the solution, they'll soon understand firsthand why the 19th Century Know Nothings didn't last long.
It's not right, but it's OK. Got that, Senator Dean Heller (R-46%)?
Yet as that's been going down, many activists continue fighting for reform and to stop the deportations. And in fact, something quite amazing happened at The Center last night. DREAM Big Vegas, PLAN, and allies decided to help local DREAMers obtain DACA status. Oh, and they did so with a drag show!
There was plenty of fierce fashion, fabulous lip synchs, great original singing, and more. Oh, and DREAM Big raised enough money to fund two DACA applications! And during the intermission, the audience had a chance to listen to the stories of DREAMers who've only known life in America and just want a chance to succeed like the rest of us.
What made last night's event even more poignant was the demonstration of the intersection of Southern Nevada's Latin@ community and Southern Nevada's LGBTQ community. Believe it or not, both co-exist. Both cooperate. Oh yes, and many people are part of both communities!
This is actually another reason why 21st Century Know Nothing hopes of wedging the two communities against each other will ultimately prove to be futile. Especially as the plight of LGBTQ immigrants reaches the forefront, there's renewed purpose to make comprehensive immigration reform truly comprehensive. And besides, we know the 21st Century Know Nothings have never had the best interest of either community at heart anyway.
In fact, our long held suspicion was pretty much proven true last night. The Grio's Joy Reid broke the story of a Heritage letter (remember them?) circulating among Congressional Republicans and demanding that they essentially stop governing at all so they can circle the wagons around the latest haute faux scandals in hopes of weakening President Obama politically. Oh, yes. That's right. And many Republican Congresscritters already look to be taking their advice.
Clearly, they haven't met Raffi or Julius. Both have been living in this nation nearly their whole lives. Both have been educated in Southern Nevada schools. And both want to obtain the American Dream. Yet because their families came to America undocumented, they've had to live in fear and in constant limbo. Raffi now has DACA status. And while it's better than nothing, not even that is 100% guaranteed to prevent deportation. And they're being forced to raise money for DACA fees because Congress hasn't passed the DREAM Act.
Raffi & Julius and Ricardo & Blanca are among the many reasons why Congress should finally be moving on CIR. And so are undocumented workers who deserve freedom from exploitation. And so are LGBTQ families who deserve freedom from a life apart. These people are real people. They deserve better, and so do we.
Yet as usual, the 21st Century Know Nothings and the Republican Party that they have way too much power over can't get their act together. So they're ready to kill CIR and focus all their attention on bludgeoning President Obama with fictitious scandals. As Whitney would say, "It's not right, but it's OK."
Well, it's not all that OK. It's just that, as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., would say, "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." Something must change. Immigration reform must happen. And if Republicans don't join the solution, they'll soon understand firsthand why the 19th Century Know Nothings didn't last long.
It's not right, but it's OK. Got that, Senator Dean Heller (R-46%)?
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Remember the DREAM.
Yesterday, we saw something amazing. We saw thousands of people filling Downtown Las Vegas and demanding comprehensive immigration reform (CIR). Even while some Republicans in Congress are trying to kill the bipartisan Gang of 8 CIR bill, protesters in Las Vegas and elsewhere were cautioning Congress against watering down the key principles of CIR.
There were probably somewhere around 5,000 demonstrators in Downtown Las Vegas last night. Don't believe me? Look at the crowd.
And then, listen to Ricardo. He's served in the military. He's been doing well in Congress. Yet for so long, nine numbers have been holding him back. And now, one sheet of paper continues to hold him back.
Blanca from DREAM Big Vegas also made the stage. She was a star student at UNLV. She led a sorority, and her "sisters" loved her. She wants to accomplish so much, but those same nine numbers have been holding her back. And she's been in America since she was an infant.
Senator Harry Reid (D-Si Se Puede) spoke up for Blanca, Ricardo, and all other DREAMers last night when he addressed the crowd. We're a nation of immigrants. Immigrants made this nation what it is today. And the time is now to give these people a chance, just like our ancestors were given a chance.
While Senator Reid was speaking, a tiny handful of "tea party" hecklers were trying to interrupt him. As you can see above, he figured out a way to handle them. Now, we all await Senator Dean Heller's (R-46%) response. Will he side with the rage and xenophobia fueled few? Or will he actually step across that aisle and give people like Blanca & Ricardo a chance to fulfill their dreams?
There were probably somewhere around 5,000 demonstrators in Downtown Las Vegas last night. Don't believe me? Look at the crowd.
And then, listen to Ricardo. He's served in the military. He's been doing well in Congress. Yet for so long, nine numbers have been holding him back. And now, one sheet of paper continues to hold him back.
Blanca from DREAM Big Vegas also made the stage. She was a star student at UNLV. She led a sorority, and her "sisters" loved her. She wants to accomplish so much, but those same nine numbers have been holding her back. And she's been in America since she was an infant.
Senator Harry Reid (D-Si Se Puede) spoke up for Blanca, Ricardo, and all other DREAMers last night when he addressed the crowd. We're a nation of immigrants. Immigrants made this nation what it is today. And the time is now to give these people a chance, just like our ancestors were given a chance.
While Senator Reid was speaking, a tiny handful of "tea party" hecklers were trying to interrupt him. As you can see above, he figured out a way to handle them. Now, we all await Senator Dean Heller's (R-46%) response. Will he side with the rage and xenophobia fueled few? Or will he actually step across that aisle and give people like Blanca & Ricardo a chance to fulfill their dreams?
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Where's the DREAM?
As we've been discussing for some time, Nevada is (still) a Blue State. And Nevada turned Blue because of major demographic changes in the last 20 years. This is why Republicans here are at a crossroads.
Probably the biggest driver behind President Obama's fairly comfortable win here and Shelley Berkley nearly toppling Dean Heller in the US Senate race was El Voto Latino. Heller has certainly been thinking about this since Election Day. And this may be the key reason why he's not touching the new Republican immigration bill.
So what exactly is the Achieve Act? Basically, it's Republican leaders' latest half-assed attempt to respond to the DREAM Act and offer some sort of realistic immigration reform.
And even this still squarely falls into the EPIC FAIL category. Why? Well, why should young people be treated as criminals because they were brought across the border as children? Why should they be denied a chance at becoming American citizens as this country is the place they've come to know and love? So they can stay, but they can't be fully integrated into society?
And Republicans wonder why Latino voters have tuned them out? This is why! Do these Republicans really think they can treat DREAMers with such disrespect, champion policies of extreme racial profiling, obstruct any and all policies meant to promote economic empowerment in Latin@ communities, and then try to erase away all the blemishes they earned this year by proposing this? Apparently, someone smart explained this to Dean Heller in a way he could understand.
Already, immigrant rights advocates are turning down this "What Are They Trying to Achieve?" Act. This really should not be a surprise. Again, this has already been weighed and found wanting.
Not too long ago, the DREAM Act was considered a bipartisan first step for comprehensive immigration reform. But now, all of a sudden, we're supposed to believe that the DREAM Act is "too radical" for Republicans? And that all that can pass is some half-assed crap that relegates DREAMers to permanent second or third class status? No wonder why Republicans continue to struggle with Latin@ voters!
And no wonder why Dean Heller continues to distance himself from the bulk of his own party. And he may not be the only one doing so, especially on this issue. This may be what Harry Reid is counting on. After all, this may the only way of keeping the dream of political survival alive for certain Republican politicians.
Probably the biggest driver behind President Obama's fairly comfortable win here and Shelley Berkley nearly toppling Dean Heller in the US Senate race was El Voto Latino. Heller has certainly been thinking about this since Election Day. And this may be the key reason why he's not touching the new Republican immigration bill.
The authors of the [Achieve Act], Republican Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Jon Kyl, are retiring at the end of the year, and there’s not enough time left in the legislative calendar to get a comprehensive immigration discussion going before the start of the new congressional session in January.
Perhaps more important, unlike the Dream Act, their proposal doesn’t include a concrete pathway to citizenship for young immigrants brought to the country illegally, which leading Democrats have said is their bottom line on immigration reform from which they will not budge.
In recent weeks, even some Republicans — including Nevada Sen. Dean Heller — have adopted an outlook on immigration that includes a pathway to citizenship.
Heller told the Sun this month he supports citizenship for young, undocumented immigrants who enroll in college or enlist in the military — the two target populations of the Dream Act. He also said he was talking with Florida Sen. Marco Rubio — who has taken the lead on immigration reform — about the future of a comprehensive bill. [...]
Though Hutchison and Kyl credited Rubio with playing an important advisory role in the drafting of their bill, he was noticeably not listed as a co-sponsor to the legislation they unveiled Tuesday.
Neither was Heller. In fact, Heller hadn’t even seen the bill when the Sun asked him about it. Rubio also was silent.
So what exactly is the Achieve Act? Basically, it's Republican leaders' latest half-assed attempt to respond to the DREAM Act and offer some sort of realistic immigration reform.
The measure — sponsored by Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), and retiring Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison (Tex.) and Jon Kyl (Ariz.) —would offer a Republican alternative to the so-called Dream Act, providing a pathway for young adults to apply for legal permanent residency —but not citizenship —if they have completed military service or higher education and have worked in the United States for at least four years.
And even this still squarely falls into the EPIC FAIL category. Why? Well, why should young people be treated as criminals because they were brought across the border as children? Why should they be denied a chance at becoming American citizens as this country is the place they've come to know and love? So they can stay, but they can't be fully integrated into society?
And Republicans wonder why Latino voters have tuned them out? This is why! Do these Republicans really think they can treat DREAMers with such disrespect, champion policies of extreme racial profiling, obstruct any and all policies meant to promote economic empowerment in Latin@ communities, and then try to erase away all the blemishes they earned this year by proposing this? Apparently, someone smart explained this to Dean Heller in a way he could understand.
Already, immigrant rights advocates are turning down this "What Are They Trying to Achieve?" Act. This really should not be a surprise. Again, this has already been weighed and found wanting.
The DREAM Act is already conservative in nature and has even gathered support in the past from prominent conservative leaders, including Senator Hutchison herself, Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).
The American people certainly appreciate the proactive efforts of the Republican leadership for beginning to engage in the conversation of immigration. However, voters, specially Latino voters, spoke clearly on election day that they support the original DREAM Act. Mitt Romney garnered only 27 percent of the Latino vote, primarily due to his threat to veto the DREAM Act.
Indeed, the ACHIEVE Act complicates an issue that the Republican senators have admitted is “a strong starting point” and “a humanitarian issue.” For example, for Dreamers interested in serving this country, a strange visa such as the "W-1" status does not currently let someone join the military voluntarily, so unless they also amend the law to allow such persons to enlist, the ACHIEVE Act won't help much.
Republicans lost Latinos big this election, but some have already committed themselves to fight against the DREAM Act no matter how popular it is. And using the ACHIEVE Act is a way to avoid a solution and politicize the issue. The fight for a common sense immigration reform will not be easy; and this fight is not only for undocumented youth, but also for the parents who took the brave step to give these young people a better life. Nevertheless, undocumented youth will not give up on the DREAM Act.
Not too long ago, the DREAM Act was considered a bipartisan first step for comprehensive immigration reform. But now, all of a sudden, we're supposed to believe that the DREAM Act is "too radical" for Republicans? And that all that can pass is some half-assed crap that relegates DREAMers to permanent second or third class status? No wonder why Republicans continue to struggle with Latin@ voters!
And no wonder why Dean Heller continues to distance himself from the bulk of his own party. And he may not be the only one doing so, especially on this issue. This may be what Harry Reid is counting on. After all, this may the only way of keeping the dream of political survival alive for certain Republican politicians.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
"That's a Clown Question, Bro."
For some reason, the Beltway pundit crowd always gets puzzled whenever Harry Reid gets badass on them.
And apparently, they're further confounded by "Abuelito" Reid's ability to shame the G-O-TEA by simply unmasking their crazed extremism. They just didn't know how to handle President Obama's recent announcement on immigration policy, so they clumsily tried to spin away their filibusters against the DREAM Act. I guess they figured that was their least bad option, since they're winning over no new supporters with their xenophobia.
Someone must have told them to wake up and smell the polling.
This just further complicates Republicans' dilemma. After all, "TEA" fueled radical righties like Romney have been the ones usingracism immigration to whip the "tea party" into a frenzy. No matter how hard they try to spin it, that's the reality behind the spin.
And now, they're angry that their anti-immigrant strategy is blowing up in their faces. So what does the G-O-TEA do? Simple, just try to blame someone else and distract with something else...
That is, if Republicans can finally agree on a response. I wonder if Dean Heller will say anything soon. Ah, why even bother? That's such a clown question, bro.
It’s no secret that Sen. Harry Reid is a fan of Bryce Harper, the 19-year-old slugger from Las Vegas who’s led the Washington Nationals from the butt of capital-city jokes to first place in the National League’s Eastern Division.
But few ever expected the septuagenarian senator would start emulating the phenom teen’s now-infamous quips.
When confronted with a question Reid didn’t feel like answering at his weekly press availability, Reid turned and told a reporter: “That’s a clown question, bro.”
Harper said the same thing to a Canadian reporter last week who asked him if he would celebrate hitting a home run against the Toronto Blue Jays with a beer. Harper is above the legal drinking age in Canada.
Reid invoked Harper’s line when a reporter asked him what he thought of Sen. Mitch McConnell, the Senate Republican leader, saying the Republicans were going to wait to fully respond to President Barack Obama’s announcement last Friday that DREAM-Act eligible youth could start applying for work visas until Mitt Romney presented his response.
And apparently, they're further confounded by "Abuelito" Reid's ability to shame the G-O-TEA by simply unmasking their crazed extremism. They just didn't know how to handle President Obama's recent announcement on immigration policy, so they clumsily tried to spin away their filibusters against the DREAM Act. I guess they figured that was their least bad option, since they're winning over no new supporters with their xenophobia.
Someone must have told them to wake up and smell the polling.
The latest poll from Bloomberg was conducted after the president’s June 15 directive, which applies to undocumented immigrants under 30 years old who were brought to the United States before the age of 16, have been in the country for at least five years and graduated from high school, earned a GED or served in the military. In the nationwide survey, 64 percent of likely voters agree with the president’s decision, while 30 percent disagree. Sixty-six percent of independents — a crucial portion of the electorate that will likely decide the presidential race — support the policy.
Although Obama insisted that he bypassed Congress to advance the policy because it was “the right thing to do,” it is hard to ignore the political shrewdness of the move. The policy could prove to be a galvanizing force among the nation’s largest ethnic minority group. A poll on Monday showed Latino voters in five swing states are much more enthusiastic about Obama in the wake of the move.
Obama has also placed his general election opponent in a political quandary. Mitt Romney, who took a hardline position on immigration during the Republican nomination contest, has actively avoided the issue since the president’s Friday announcement. The presumptive Republican nominee may now be handcuffed, stuck between potentially alienating his party’s base — the Bloomberg poll shows 56 percent of Republicans oppose the president’s policy — and disenchanting a voting bloc whose influence on American elections will only grow. Obama’s move will affect upwards of 800,000 undocumented immigrants.
This just further complicates Republicans' dilemma. After all, "TEA" fueled radical righties like Romney have been the ones using
And now, they're angry that their anti-immigrant strategy is blowing up in their faces. So what does the G-O-TEA do? Simple, just try to blame someone else and distract with something else...
That is, if Republicans can finally agree on a response. I wonder if Dean Heller will say anything soon. Ah, why even bother? That's such a clown question, bro.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Dean Heller's "Moderate" Baloney
All of a sudden, Dean Heller wants Nevada voters to forget his real record. All of a sudden, Heller now says he's "open" to Marco Rubio's "Kill the DREAM Act" that would permanently make millions of immigrant kids second-class citizens.
And this is what Dean Heller is "open" to. Second-class citizenship? Mitt Romnney and Kris Kobach may still think it's "amnesty", but this is really nothing more than pointless pandering.
And then, there's this. All of a sudden, Heller wants us to think he opposes Paul Ryan's Medicare busting budget. So now we're supposed to forget Heller's real record? And we're supposed to forget his unbalanced nonsense plan that would destroy Medicare & Social Security if enacted?
Heller is even trying to have it both ways on marriage equality. He claims he "doesn't want to talk about it", but he still managed to (again) state his support for marriage discrimination against LGBTQ Nevadans. So he "doesn't want to talk about it", except when he wants to reassure the radical religious right that he's still "one of them". Lovely.
I can see right through Heller's BS. He's trying to make us forget his real record. He wants us to forget his history of bowing to extreme "tea party" madness. But in today's era of online vote archives & YouTube, Dean Heller will have to find out the hard way that it's not as easy to erase away his own record as he thinks.
Rubio’s suggestion for a DREAM Act would mean that potentially millions of kids who grew up in the United States without the right papers would be forced to be non-voting residents of their home country. Rubio may be using the rhetoric of defending Latinos against right-wing attacks, but the Republican policies don’t play out well for Latinos, specifically on the DREAM Act. The Republican presidential candidates are running on extreme immigration policies, and it would take a lot for Latinos to regain trust in the party. Offering a path to second-class citizenship is not exactly the olive branch Latinos are looking for.
And this is what Dean Heller is "open" to. Second-class citizenship? Mitt Romnney and Kris Kobach may still think it's "amnesty", but this is really nothing more than pointless pandering.
And then, there's this. All of a sudden, Heller wants us to think he opposes Paul Ryan's Medicare busting budget. So now we're supposed to forget Heller's real record? And we're supposed to forget his unbalanced nonsense plan that would destroy Medicare & Social Security if enacted?
Heller is even trying to have it both ways on marriage equality. He claims he "doesn't want to talk about it", but he still managed to (again) state his support for marriage discrimination against LGBTQ Nevadans. So he "doesn't want to talk about it", except when he wants to reassure the radical religious right that he's still "one of them". Lovely.
I can see right through Heller's BS. He's trying to make us forget his real record. He wants us to forget his history of bowing to extreme "tea party" madness. But in today's era of online vote archives & YouTube, Dean Heller will have to find out the hard way that it's not as easy to erase away his own record as he thinks.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Thank You, Senator Reid.
Do the right thing. Let the consequences follow.
It's long past time for action on repealing DADT and passing the DREAM Act.
This isn't about "cronies" or "illegals", unless one considers brave military soldiers who happen to be gay "cronies" and kids who had no say in where they'd end up "illegals". This is about HUMAN BEINGS. This is about kids being unfairly shut out of jobs and colleges because they can't "go through the process like everyone else", as well as soldiers getting the fair treatment they deserve for fighting so hard for our country.
Under current law, soldiers are still being discharged from the military simply because of who they are. It doesn't matter that they're good soldiers. It doesn't matter that they are so patriotic that they enlisted to fight for our country. It doesn't matter that they have lived up to our military's standards of honor, courage, and service. All that matters under DADT is that they may be gay or transgender, so they can't serve. It's ridiculous, and needed to end yesterday.
And under current law, children who were brought into this country undocumented (by their parents, or perhaps by someone else) can't go through any sort of process because they're undocumented. But because they grew up here in America, learning English and going to American K-12 schools, it makes no sense to tear them away from their families and deport them. All the DREAM Act would do is give them the chance to "go through the process like everyone else", and give them a chance to get a job and/or get college education precisely so that they can become independent adults with no need for any sort of "special treatment" or "welfare".
It's long past time for these two measures to get done, and I'm glad to see Harry Reid working to get them done. Thank you, Harry Reid, for your courage and your resolve to get DADT repealed and get the DREAM Act passed! Thank you, Senator Reid. This is why I voted for you.
Republicans may not like it, but Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Wednesday he’s going to go ahead with bills to repeal a ban on gays serving openly in the military and provide undocumented college students and military recruits a chance to become American citizens.
In September, Reid attempted to use the annual defense authorization bill as a vehicle to pass both a repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy that prevents gays from serving openly in the military, and the DREAM Act, which puts qualifying young undocumented adults who were brought to the country as children on a pathway to citizenship.
The must-pass measure to fund the military will serve once again as the backbone piece of legislation for the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell repeal, while the DREAM Act will be presented on its own for an up-or-down vote.
It's long past time for action on repealing DADT and passing the DREAM Act.
This isn't about "cronies" or "illegals", unless one considers brave military soldiers who happen to be gay "cronies" and kids who had no say in where they'd end up "illegals". This is about HUMAN BEINGS. This is about kids being unfairly shut out of jobs and colleges because they can't "go through the process like everyone else", as well as soldiers getting the fair treatment they deserve for fighting so hard for our country.
Under current law, soldiers are still being discharged from the military simply because of who they are. It doesn't matter that they're good soldiers. It doesn't matter that they are so patriotic that they enlisted to fight for our country. It doesn't matter that they have lived up to our military's standards of honor, courage, and service. All that matters under DADT is that they may be gay or transgender, so they can't serve. It's ridiculous, and needed to end yesterday.
And under current law, children who were brought into this country undocumented (by their parents, or perhaps by someone else) can't go through any sort of process because they're undocumented. But because they grew up here in America, learning English and going to American K-12 schools, it makes no sense to tear them away from their families and deport them. All the DREAM Act would do is give them the chance to "go through the process like everyone else", and give them a chance to get a job and/or get college education precisely so that they can become independent adults with no need for any sort of "special treatment" or "welfare".
It's long past time for these two measures to get done, and I'm glad to see Harry Reid working to get them done. Thank you, Harry Reid, for your courage and your resolve to get DADT repealed and get the DREAM Act passed! Thank you, Senator Reid. This is why I voted for you.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
GOoP Hypocrisy Inaction: They Accuse Reid of "Playing Politics" While They Endanger the Country
In today's Sun, some Republicans are whining about DADT repeal and the DREAM Act being included in this year's defense authorization bill. Here's how ridiculous they sound.
Ah, so John McCain doesn't like the DREAM Act... Except that he did in 2008, when he tried to court the Latin@ vote!
But now that he's had to court the teabaggers to win his primary, all of a sudden he abandons comprehensive immigration reform and turns his back on the kids who need the DREAM Act to go to college, get work, and be productive American citizens.
And as Edward Schumacher-Matos wrote in a WaPo blog yesterday, it's just ridiculous for all these Republicans who supported the DREAM Act three years ago to now say Democrats are "playing politics" and somehow hurting The Pentagon... Especially when The Pentagon SUPPORTS this legislation!
Pathetic, isn't it?
And here's where it gets even worse. Most Senate Republicans seem determined to block DADT repeal, even though DADT hurts our national security and serves no purpose other than blatant discrimination. Doesn't our country deserve better? And don't all our brave soldiers deserve better?
Apparently, some Republicans think not. But again, our country and our security are at stake. This DADT policy serves no purpose, and a federal court has already ruled it unconstitutional. So why continue it?
But if we're to believe the GOoPers, this is all just "Harry Reid playing politics"... While they're the ones holding up the funding for our military, leaving many American kids' futures in limbo, and continuing an unconstitutional and dangerous discriminatory policy?
The last time the DREAM Act came up for a vote, in 2007, it did not pass, but 12 Republicans supported the measure. This time, Democrats aren’t sure if they will get any Republicans to support a cloture vote on the defense authorization bill.
On “don’t ask, don’t tell,” many Republicans have said they prefer to defer to the decisions of military leaders, a position echoed by the Angle campaign. This year, Defense Secretary Robert Gates came out in support of repealing the policy.
Republicans are nonetheless expected to attempt to block the addition of the DREAM Act, and potentially even purge the existing language on repealing “don’t ask, don’t tell” from the defense bill. Led by Arizona Sen. John McCain — a former champion of immigration reform who has tacked to the right on the issue this campaign season — they have been making the case against inclusion of both measures on the ground that they are not relevant to the bill.
Ah, so John McCain doesn't like the DREAM Act... Except that he did in 2008, when he tried to court the Latin@ vote!
But now that he's had to court the teabaggers to win his primary, all of a sudden he abandons comprehensive immigration reform and turns his back on the kids who need the DREAM Act to go to college, get work, and be productive American citizens.
And as Edward Schumacher-Matos wrote in a WaPo blog yesterday, it's just ridiculous for all these Republicans who supported the DREAM Act three years ago to now say Democrats are "playing politics" and somehow hurting The Pentagon... Especially when The Pentagon SUPPORTS this legislation!
The Dream Act would offer legal residency to unauthorized immigrant young people who, through no fault of their own, came with their parents and grew up here. But they must first complete two years of college or military service. These deserving young people are almost all culturally American, having gone to school here. American taxpayers have thus already invested in them, too. Now the young immigrants would pay back through military service or getting more education and joining the upper ranks of productive, taxpaying citizens.
Republican senators, however, say, as Arizona's Sen. John McCain (R) told Fox News' Greta Van Susteren, that, by using the armed forces bill, Reid is cynically out to get votes "at the expense…of the men and women who are serving in the military."
That argument might hold more water were it not that the Pentagon itself favors the Dream Act, having helped draw it up in 2001 and including the projected recruits they would get through it in the Department of Defense's FY2010-12 Strategic Plan.
Moreover, McCain was among 12 Republicans who voted in 2007 for an identical cloture motion on an annual defense authorization bill that was scheduled to include a similar version of the Dream Act as an amendment.
Pathetic, isn't it?
And here's where it gets even worse. Most Senate Republicans seem determined to block DADT repeal, even though DADT hurts our national security and serves no purpose other than blatant discrimination. Doesn't our country deserve better? And don't all our brave soldiers deserve better?
Apparently, some Republicans think not. But again, our country and our security are at stake. This DADT policy serves no purpose, and a federal court has already ruled it unconstitutional. So why continue it?
But if we're to believe the GOoPers, this is all just "Harry Reid playing politics"... While they're the ones holding up the funding for our military, leaving many American kids' futures in limbo, and continuing an unconstitutional and dangerous discriminatory policy?
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