Ever since President Obama took office in January of 2009, he's spoken out about the need for immigration reform. Much to his dismay, however, through a term and a half, Congress has been negligent on taking action regarding the matter. Democrats feared losing votes on election day and Republicans feared a Democratic President being credited with accomplishing immigration reform, and with that, losing millions of former illegal immigrants to the Democratic Party in coming elections. In other words, the two parties decided their own political futures were more important than proving they deserved political futures by actually working together and accomplishing something in Washington.
Upon seeing that there was less chance of Congress working together on the matter than of a dead man winning the lottery, President Obama decided to, like Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush before him, take executive action on immigration. This infuriated Congressional Republicans. Some called for a lawsuit against the president. Others called for impeachment. Many referred to him as a king or an emperor, even though conservative scholars said his actions were legal and these same Republicans didn't make a peep when former Presidents Bush and Reagan took similar executive actions.
The truth of the matter is that Congressional Republicans aren't necessarily angered that the president made an executive order or even with the concept of immigration reform. They're angry because they thought they had the president cornered on the issue, that he wouldn't give up trying to work with Congress, and this inevitable stalemate would result in the Democratic Party losing some minority votes (especially in the Hispanic community) in the 2016 election. They're angry because now President Obama has placed them in a difficult position, he'll now get credited for immigration reform, and this will result in the Democratic Party likely earning more minority votes come election day.
While the Republican Party thought they were one step ahead of the president and that he'd allow for things to stay that way, he decided to make an unexpected next move which placed he and his party one step ahead of them, and they're having trouble deciding what their next move should be. If the GOP decides to fight President Obama on his executive order and finds a way to win, they'll be seen by many immigrants as the anti-immigrant (especially Latino) party. This will likely motivate minorities to turn up in larger numbers come election day. If the GOP fights President Obama on the issue and loses, they'll still be seen by many minorities as the anti-immigrant party, and once again, this will likely rile such voters, enough to make a big splash on election day. If the GOP lets things go, then while President Obama will be credited for the big move and change in direction on immigration reform and it will likely help his party in the coming elections, it also leaves the door open for the GOP to slowly, but surely, attempt to appeal to minority voters. The best move the GOP could make, in my opinion, would be to applaud the president on his actions and to even announce that there's more he can do on the matter, specifically tell the media about these ideas, and adamantly state that they'd be happy to work with the president to accomplish such goals. While President Obama, a Democratic President, would still be largely credited with immigration reform, it would likely place the two parties on more even-footing within the Hispanic community come election day, and would, at least temporarily, place the GOP one step ahead of the president on the issue yet again. Of course, I don't expect this to happen. Judging by the early comments on the matter, the GOP is about as likely to applaud President Obama on his executive action and work with him to accomplish more on the matter of immigration reform as a mime has of being the winner on The Voice.
Upon seeing that there was less chance of Congress working together on the matter than of a dead man winning the lottery, President Obama decided to, like Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush before him, take executive action on immigration. This infuriated Congressional Republicans. Some called for a lawsuit against the president. Others called for impeachment. Many referred to him as a king or an emperor, even though conservative scholars said his actions were legal and these same Republicans didn't make a peep when former Presidents Bush and Reagan took similar executive actions.
The truth of the matter is that Congressional Republicans aren't necessarily angered that the president made an executive order or even with the concept of immigration reform. They're angry because they thought they had the president cornered on the issue, that he wouldn't give up trying to work with Congress, and this inevitable stalemate would result in the Democratic Party losing some minority votes (especially in the Hispanic community) in the 2016 election. They're angry because now President Obama has placed them in a difficult position, he'll now get credited for immigration reform, and this will result in the Democratic Party likely earning more minority votes come election day.
While the Republican Party thought they were one step ahead of the president and that he'd allow for things to stay that way, he decided to make an unexpected next move which placed he and his party one step ahead of them, and they're having trouble deciding what their next move should be. If the GOP decides to fight President Obama on his executive order and finds a way to win, they'll be seen by many immigrants as the anti-immigrant (especially Latino) party. This will likely motivate minorities to turn up in larger numbers come election day. If the GOP fights President Obama on the issue and loses, they'll still be seen by many minorities as the anti-immigrant party, and once again, this will likely rile such voters, enough to make a big splash on election day. If the GOP lets things go, then while President Obama will be credited for the big move and change in direction on immigration reform and it will likely help his party in the coming elections, it also leaves the door open for the GOP to slowly, but surely, attempt to appeal to minority voters. The best move the GOP could make, in my opinion, would be to applaud the president on his actions and to even announce that there's more he can do on the matter, specifically tell the media about these ideas, and adamantly state that they'd be happy to work with the president to accomplish such goals. While President Obama, a Democratic President, would still be largely credited with immigration reform, it would likely place the two parties on more even-footing within the Hispanic community come election day, and would, at least temporarily, place the GOP one step ahead of the president on the issue yet again. Of course, I don't expect this to happen. Judging by the early comments on the matter, the GOP is about as likely to applaud President Obama on his executive action and work with him to accomplish more on the matter of immigration reform as a mime has of being the winner on The Voice.
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