President Barack Obama's decision to back down from his promises to take executive action on immigration reform until after the November midterm election could backfire on him, said Latino leaders Saturday, who vowed they won't forget the president and Democrats' "attempts to fool them" when the elections roll around.
Dreamers again conned by the liar in chief
I started thinking in these same terms when I wrote that President Obama had lied to me when he decided to cut the Food Stamps to those of us who depended on them for survival along with their families after he promised never to do so. And if that was not enough he then chose to cut into social security with promises to restore both cuts at later dates. That never happened and I believe many others like me started to think whether we had made the right choice in the past Presidential elections.
Like the majority of Government beneficiaries who under law receive nutrition assistance benefits such as food stamps I am an older senior who believes that I have contributed to the Nation by paying federal and state income taxes I should at least enjoy the enjoyment knowing that my government does not lie or take from me. Obama has conned me like no other U.S. President has done in my life. Twice and swiftly he has betrayed me and my family personally where it counts and hurts.
Back in June, Obama had promised during a high-profile Rose Garden appearance that he would announce unilateral measures by summer's end if Congress did not enact reform legislation.
Early Saturday, Obama bowed to Democratic Party pressure and reversed course on taking executive action on immigration reform until after the November midterm elections, after leaders voiced concerns that his rulings could cost Democrats their control of the Senate.
But while the White House blamed his reversal on "Republicans' extreme politicization of the issue," Latino groups blamed him and his fellow Democrats, reports The Hill adding that :
"It is hard to believe this litany of high expectations and broken promises will be mended by the end of the year," he said.
Adding onto what could be viewed as calls to mobilize against Democrats during a crucial election year, Sharry said "the stakes have only been raised; so is our determination."
I honestly believe that it had to come down to this drawing a line in the sand. And if you ask why I am so pissed and whether it is because I am undocumented, my answer is no.
If you are a U.S. born citizen I am as American citizen as you are. My problem is that I know many undocumented folks in this country who work hard to support their families, some of their children even born here. They dream for their children. I have children of my own so I know what they seek. The whole Hispanic continent turned out to vote for this first Black President who now enjoys the power no other man posess on the planet, all because of the Hispanic vote. All because he promised immigration reform. Do I think I want to go through that again? No
No one knows Ole Texan here at Daily kos as an avowed politician, more less as one who writes diaries on politics. You do might know him as one who despises politicans no matter the stripe, as liars and cheats. However, when it comes to Barrack Obama I have consistently been critical of his broken promises. I could write a new diary on those broken promises but I won`t. No need to. You already know that story about our new war monger who sends death by air on defenseless nations ala Bush/Cheney when he promised not to wage another senseless war with Iraq -- while he golfs with friends here at home.
"To wait nine more weeks means that I must again look my mother in the eye and see the fear she has about living under the threat of deportation every day," said Cristina Jimenez, director of the advocacy group United We Dream. "But Dreamers will not soon forget the president and Democrats' latest failure and their attempts to fool the Latino community, and we remain resolute in fighting for justice for our families."
Anger from Latino groups could further hinder Democrats' chances of holding the Senate this fall. Republicans need to take just nine seats, and many of those are being held by incumbent Democrats facing tough races as they seek re-election in traditionally "red" states.
One can only imagine how Hispanics will respond this time around. I reluctantly would try to even think of the outcome. But this is my own personal and secret dream, if you will.
Traditionally, the Latino vote leans Democratic, but this time around, matters may be different, adding even more problems for the party.
Frank Sharry, director of America's Voice and a staunch immigration activist, ripped Obama apart about the delay and said the Latino community is bitterly disappointed over his turnabout.
"We advocates didn’t make the reform promise; we just made the mistake of believing it," Sharry said. "The President and Senate Democrats have chosen politics over people; the status quo over solving real problems. It is hard to believe this litany of high expectations and broken promises will be mended by the end of the year," he said.
Obama's delay is a "betrayal," Arturo Carmona, director of Presente.org, an online Latino organizing group, told The Hill. Further, he complained that it is "one of the single biggest attack on Latino families by the Democratic Party in recent memory."
Meanwhile, the PICO National Network's Campaign for Citizenship said Obama and his fellow Democrats are treating undocumented immigrants and the Latino community as "political pawns."
One Democrat, Rep. Luis Gutierrez of Illinois, had urged Obama to move ahead with immigration reform, telling his colleagues to stand back and let Obama act, despite their worries over the midterm election.
"We cannot be a pro-immigrant party only when it is convenient," he wrote in an op-ed piece for The Guardian this week. "The Democrats cannot say that we stand with immigrants if that secretly means we only stand with immigrants in odd-numbered years or when southern Democrats complain. We should be transparent and act before Election Day, so voters do not feel duped or tricked. If we wait until after the election — especially if we are going to lose seats, as predicted — it will seem like sour grapes."
But now, he appears to be joining the camp of Latino critics on Obama's decision, saying he'll hold a press conference in the president's hometown of Chicago Monday along with immigrant families "affected by the administration's actions on immigration and deportations."
Democrat, Rep. Luis Gutierrez of Illinois has been a staunch advocate of Immigration reform and a presser on Obama to follow through with his promise. I can tell, knowing, or tending to believe I know how my fellow Hispanics feels about being betrayed. It does not look good for Democrats in the near future. Mr. Gutierrez seems to be a leader among immigration proponents and we will wait to hear what he has to say after his meeting with immigrant families.