Kliphnote: How low will Obama go? As low as it takes to get reelected.
"Obama's policy change sends a clear message to Hispanic voters. It also sends a clear message to non-hispanic voters. Namely, Obama has just added millions of workers to the legal labor force. Millions of illegal immigrants will now be able to legally compete with Americans for the very few jobs available. This message will not be lost on working-class voters. "
Obama Jobs Program: Help Illegals Compete with Americans for Scarce Jobs
Today, the Obama Administration, in an obvious attempt to boost the President's flailing reelection campaign, announced that it would bypass Congress and rewrite the nation's immigration laws.
The Obama administration will stop deporting and begin granting work permits to younger illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children and have since led law-abiding lives. The election-year initiative addresses a top priority of an influential Latino electorate that has been vocal in its opposition to administration deportation policies.The second sentence of the Associated Press story addresses the true impetus for the policy change; election-year politics. Obama, and today's Democrat party, see the electorate as a patchwork-quilt of interest groups. Sprinkle enough goodies on certain blocks of voters and they believe they can put together just enough support to win. It can work to a point. But, when the pandering to specific groups undercuts one's overarching narrative it can erode support in the overall electorate.
Obama interrupted by heckling reporter
In a surprising breach of normal etiquette, President Obama's Rose
Garden remarks on Friday were interrupted by heckling from reporter Neil
Munro from the website Daily Caller.
Obama, announcing a change of policy that would allow the children of illegal immigrants to avoid deportation if they meet certain criteria, was interrupted mid-speech by Munro.
“Excuse me, sir, but it’s not time for questions," Obama responded.
“Are you going to take questions?” Munro asked.
“Not while I’m speaking.” Obama said.
While it's not unusual for Obama to be interrupted by occasional hecklers at big public events, the fact that a reporter brought Obama's speech to complete halt startled members of the White House press corp.
Obama, announcing a change of policy that would allow the children of illegal immigrants to avoid deportation if they meet certain criteria, was interrupted mid-speech by Munro.
"Why’d you favor foreigners over Americans?” Munro shouted.
“Excuse me, sir, but it’s not time for questions," Obama responded.
“Are you going to take questions?” Munro asked.
“Not while I’m speaking.” Obama said.
While it's not unusual for Obama to be interrupted by occasional hecklers at big public events, the fact that a reporter brought Obama's speech to complete halt startled members of the White House press corp.
Obama, generally ignores shouted questions
from reporters at the end of press events, later addressed Munro's
question after finishing his remarks uninterrupted.
“In answer to your question, sir – and the next time I’d prefer you’d
let me finish my statement before you ask that question – is this is
the right thing to do for the American people," Obama told Munro.
Penteagon to mark gay pride month
Published June 15, 2012
Associated Press
Last summer, gays in the U.S. military dared not acknowledge
their sexual orientation. This summer, the Pentagon will salute them,
marking June as gay pride month just as it has marked other celebrations
honoring racial or ethnic groups.
In the latest remarkable sign of change since the military repealed
its "don't ask, don't tell" policy requiring gays and lesbians to remain
silent about their sexual orientation, the Defense Department will soon
hold its first event to recognize gay and lesbian troops.
It comes nine months after repeal of the policy that forced more than 13,500 service members out of the armed forces.
Obama administration to offer Immunity to younger immigrants
Published June 15, 2012
Associated Press
The policy change, described to The Associated Press by two senior
administration officials, will affect as many as 800,000 immigrants who
have lived in fear of deportation. It also bypasses Congress and
partially achieves the goals of the so-called DREAM Act, a long-sought
but never enacted plan to establish a path toward citizenship for young
people who came to the United States illegally but who have attended
college or served in the military.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano was to announce the new
policy Friday, one week before President Barack Obama plans to address
the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials’
annual conference in Orlando, Fla. Republican presidential challenger
Mitt Romney is scheduled to speak to the group on Thursday.
Under the administration plan, illegal immigrants will be immune from
deportation if they were brought to the United States before they
turned 16 and are younger than 30, have been in the country for at least
five continuous years, have no criminal history, graduated from a U.S.
high school or earned a GED, or served in the military. They also can
apply for a work permit that will be good for two years with no limits
on how many times it can be renewed. The officials who described the
plan spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss it in advance of the
official announcement.
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