Feeds: 
symbol identifies content for paid subscribers only.
OBAMA HITS HARD AT LATINO CONVENTION.
Obama was introduced today at the League of United Latin American Citizens convention by a former Hillary Clinton die-hard, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Earlier today, John McCain enjoyed a friendly reception here at the Washington Hilton, but the crowd went absolutely wild for Obama, who greeted them with an enthusiastic "Si se puede!" and shouted out his "homies" from LULAC's Illinois chapter. And unlike McCain, who gave a tired speech on conservative tax policy, Obama focused on civil rights, frequently leaning into the microphone and shouting with passion. This was one of the best deliveries I've seen from Obama since early in the primaries. Toward the end of the speech, he even did a bit of call and response with the audience of states where Latino votes can make a difference in November.
McCain avoided focusing on immigration today, but Obama quickly addressed the issue of the 12 million undocumented workers who are "in hiding in this country," arguing against immigration raids that separate parents from children. "We have to finally bring undocumented immigrants out of the shadows," he said, while acknowledging, "Yes, they broke the law...but we have to put them on a path to citizenship." A few more issues Obama addressed that McCain didn't touch: The gender pay gap between Latina women and their male counterparts, bad working conditions for low-wage immigrant workers, and the need for Latino children to benefit from expanded Head Start programs.
Obama quote of the day: "Part of what makes America so beautiful is that there is no such thing as someone who looks like an American."
--Dana Goldstein
COMMENTS (10)
"We have to finally bring undocumented immigrants out of the shadows," he said, while acknowledging, "Yes, they broke the law...but we have to put them on a path to citizenship."
Did his Obamaness explain why do we have make a "path for citizenship" available to person whom he admits are lawbreakers, i.e. criminals? I'm guessing no and no one there, including the reporters, would have the audacity to ask him to provide one.
Posted by: Chicounsel | July 8, 2008 5:32 PM
Chicounsel, the answer to that is the present situation is terrible and the alternative (sending everyone back) is not feasible. Its called pragmatism. With a little dose of humanity.
Posted by: cycl06 | July 8, 2008 5:52 PM
Where can I watch this on the Internet?
Posted by: Vidor | July 8, 2008 6:18 PM
Remind me, Chicounsel, when did crossing the border become a felony?
Oh, right. The bill criminalizing illegal immigration failed when it became obvious how much of a firestorm it was creating here in the U.S.
Posted by: Brandon | July 8, 2008 7:15 PM
Brandon, the short answer would be the second time they're caught.
Under Paragraph (a), Title 8, Section 1325 of the U.S. Code
"Repeat offenses can bring up to two years in prison."
Posted by: Bob | July 8, 2008 7:48 PM
Immigration is driven by push and pull factors. The push factor -- in most cases, lack of economic opportunity -- exists entirely in the home country and is not something we can influence. The pull factor, which brings them to the United States and is something we have control over, is jobs. These jobs would not exist if employers were not breaking the law by hiring illegal immigrants in order to skirt U.S. wage and benefit laws. Moreover, we incentivize illegal immigration by making legal immigration a gantlet of humiliation and red tape.
In other words, illegal immigrants are responding rationally to the incentives we place before them. These incentives will be substantially reduced if we (a) crack down on unscrupulous employers who are exploiting the volume of illegal immigration to increase their profits and (b) lower the barriers to legal immigration so that it becomes the path of least resistance.
Posted by: Catbus | July 8, 2008 7:54 PM
if every employee had to be a member of a union illegal immigration wouldn't exist
Posted by: bald eagle | July 8, 2008 8:43 PM
Hi Chicounsel:
You wrote: "Did his Obamaness explain why do we have make a "path for citizenship" available to person whom he admits are lawbreakers, i.e. criminals?"
Violating immigration law is an infraction (like a speeding ticket) and not a felony or misdemeanor. And for many of those who violate immigration law, they have an emergency they are "speeding" away from--they cannot support their families back home. Calling hard working people who have only committed an infraction "criminals" mistates the case an poisons the discussion.
your friend
Keith
Posted by: keith johnson | July 8, 2008 8:44 PM
I've stopped trusting him on a lot of issues--on immigration, he is pretty much rock solid, his advisors are great, & he knows what he's doing. Needless to say he is also head & shoulders above McCain on economic issues, health care, & education. I expect Latinos to be one of our biggest demographic gains since 2004.
Posted by: Anonymous | July 9, 2008 3:21 AM
1. There are alternatives to MassDeportations or a MassiveAmnesty.
2. Supporting MassiveImmigration is not humanitarian.
3. For a real discussion of BHO's speech, see this. That discusses yet another BHO lie, links to a different recent BHO lie, and links to background on the group he spoke to. And, everything at those links is something TAPPED doesn't want you to know.
Posted by: TLB | July 9, 2008 2:11 PM