Immigration reform off the table?
posted at 8:08 am on December 9, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Ted Kennedy has used his chairmanship of the Judiciary Immigration subcommittee for years to get a comprehensive immigration-reform bill passed into law. Now Kennedy has decided to focus on health care, and advocates for full legalization worry that the next administration will ignore immigration:
Sen. Edward Kennedy’s (D-Mass.) allies on immigration reform regard his departure from the Judiciary Committee as a withering blow to their cause and are searching for a new champion on the controversial issue.
Many are interpreting his decision to focus on healthcare as a setback to legislation that would put millions of illegal immigrants on a path to citizenship. …
While Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) in previous interviews has said the Senate will take up immigration reform in the 111th Congress, some proponents doubt President-elect Obama and Democrats will make the issue a top priority during the first years of his administration.
Rahm Emanuel, who will serve as White House chief of staff, predicted last year that immigration reform would not happen in the first term of a Democratic presidency.
Emanuel, who has seen immigration as a dangerous issue for Democrats, repeatedly battled members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to block consideration of an immigration package in the House while he was a member of the House Democratic leadership.
This is a classic good news/bad news scenario for immigration-enforcement advocates. Kennedy’s departure and Emanuel’s ascension combine to make an Amnesty Lite bill much less likely. The Obama administration will want to focus on the economy and its expansive jobs program, looking for ways to gain Republican support, and will avoid the divisive immigration debate like the plague. They have no desire to see something unify the grassroots conservatives the way immigration did in 2006 and 2007 ever so briefly.
Raising immigration reform before the midterms would be the equivalent of Hillary Clinton’s Health Care Task Force from Bill Clinton’s presidency. Obama will be smarter than that. He’ll have a tough enough time in 2010 as it is. Kennedy’s decision may be a consequence of the politics of the question rather than its origin. He can see the writing on the wall as well as anyone else, and he wants to position himself for leadership on an issue that has some chance of being a priority.
The bad news? That leaves immigration and border enforcement in the status quo for probably at least four years. If Barack Obama wants to treat the jobs issue seriously, he’ll have to address border and immigration enforcement immediately, but the chances of him alienating his own caucus in that effort approach zero. We’ll have to wait until 2013 before anyone bothers to address this issue, either in an Obama second term or with a new Republican president.
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They might still try for the “DREAM Act,” which gives amnesty of a sort to minors who were brought here as children and have trouble getting into college and getting jobs because they’re illegal and who can blame the parents. Of course, they’d never deport the parents, then…..
That would violate Teddy’s original scheme of family reunification that started this whole mess.
Wethal on December 9, 2008 at 8:17 AM
Hopefully God will intervene in the lives of McCain and Kennedy and illegals can finally go home and blow someone elses leaves around.
texaninfidel on December 9, 2008 at 8:20 AM
I think the dynamics are so different that it might be difficult to do amnesty for aliens.
The GOP will not be in the position of opposing the position of their president and their presumptive nominee.
The GOP Hispandering campaign that started with Martinez as RNC chair and was to include amnesty for aliens was a loser.
The economy has changed. There are jobs that Americans will do, maybe even in the meatpacking industry, given a basic wage, benefits and Social Security/Medicare contributions by the employer.
The stealth tactic they used last time, to spring a 400+ page bill on Congress to be voted on before reading, probably won’t work again. Too many people will have feelers out this time.
Absent Kennedy and Bush, and with McCain the loser in 2008, who would put their political capital on the line for this? Not Obama. He only spends capital advancing his own career.
Wethal on December 9, 2008 at 8:32 AM
Don’t bet on it. Mein Fuher lied to his side to get the nod; he’ll lie to the nation to get what he, and his cronies, want.
madmonkphotog on December 9, 2008 at 8:44 AM
I hope this is true. I don’t want the kind of “reform” Obama and McCain could agree on.
thecountofincognito on December 9, 2008 at 8:45 AM
The other bad news is that “Kennedy has decided to focus on health care”.
forest on December 9, 2008 at 8:45 AM
I believe that we’ll see one anyway. More voters for the Democrats and the Republicans will see them as potential voters to win despite the results of the last election.
TooTall on December 9, 2008 at 8:48 AM
Um…guess, who will get many of those jobs Obama is talking about…duhhhhh.
Once, they come in and get the jobs…then we will get immigration reform. Right from under your noses.
tomas on December 9, 2008 at 8:51 AM
Stealing the jobs that Americans used to do is probably a bad idea right now.
Adding to the list of presumed ‘free pies’ is an easier sell.
One step at a time for Obammuinsm. Not too fast, lest the frog bolts from the pan.
tarpon on December 9, 2008 at 9:00 AM
With the free health care, illegals can also get health care.
Two for one with Kennedy.
jencab on December 9, 2008 at 9:02 AM
We ought to put all the illegals we catch to work building “the fence.” Prison labor is cheap, and they seem to know how to work, perhaps even a little harder than our pampered youth.
DL13 on December 9, 2008 at 9:04 AM
We are quickly moving toward 10% unemployment. Why the hell should we be doing ANYTHING that would accommodate someone who is stealing the opportunity for a fellow American to pay his bills and stay in his home?!?!?! This is seditious.
BigAnge on December 9, 2008 at 9:07 AM
never fear MCCAIN WILL LEAD THE CHARGE for uncle keg!!
mccain will boldly go where no conservative would ever go!! with grahamnesty slouching behind like wormtongue after Saruman…
right4life on December 9, 2008 at 9:08 AM
I guess it’s the same reason they are looking to hammer small business with increased health care and tax burdens.
forest on December 9, 2008 at 9:14 AM
ed – this is nonsense.
teddy is off the judiciary because the committee and the senate is a rubber stamp for ultra lib apts obama will make.
so he wants to devote himself to socializing health care,
iow: obama doesn’t need help destroying the judicial branch, but obama does need help destroying the health care industry.
reliapundit on December 9, 2008 at 9:26 AM
The Hispanic lobby is complaining about what they should have already known? Democrats took immigration off the table. They will not take one teeny tiny step towards it without a significant number of Republican votes. No way Rahm Emmanuel is dumb enough to make Democrats the party of illegal aliens. That would alienate blacks big time and white middle class voters would be done with the party as well. Toos in a recession that would pit Americans against the newly minted illegals for scare jobs? Ouch. They are just another group Obama had no intention of rewarding. He just put that honey in their ear until election day.
Ed you need a post election day bus thread. The anti-war left and Hispanic have felt the wheels so far. Israel is next.
Theworldisnotenough on December 9, 2008 at 9:37 AM
Immigration? Uh…er…ah…yes, I have a…uh…plan…ah…Wait here. I’ll…uh…be right…uh… back…
/closes door
whitetop on December 9, 2008 at 10:11 AM
The ad hoc immigration enforcement drives latino voters to the left. Latinos blame the GOP for deportations. I expected Obama to reward latinos with a guest worker program, and at least get these people identified for national security purposes. But why not keep the pain and the blame right where it is? If you’re a transient illegal seeking to profit from crime, you can keep relocating and changing identities, it’s not likely you will be caught and deported. If you’re a long term illegal with steady work, US born kids and a stable home — you and your family are screwed. But at least you can have some revenge, all your friends and relatives who are legal can vote against the GOP for decades.
Mark30339 on December 9, 2008 at 10:16 AM
Not holding my breath.
batter on December 9, 2008 at 10:19 AM
Why is it that people think Obama and his Democrat/Lib buddies aren’t going to go after this type of stuff?
I agree, he will pprobably be more measured than early clinton, but HE IS A LIBERAL DEMOCRAT! Obama is no centrist, he is no moderate, he is what he is. Extrapolating a “centrist” philosophy from few weeks of cabinet choices and a few different statements on issues is playing into these people’s hands.
I would say that he may wait until after the 2010 midterms, but thinking this or any other liberal hot button issue will wait until 2013 or beyond is absurd…
catmman on December 9, 2008 at 10:20 AM
That leaves border enforcement at “State Level”..Look To Oklahoma as a bellwether state. The Republicans need to build the base back up bottom to top, here is an issue to get them kick started, get their constituents working at State Level on “illegal alien” issue in their respective states. This isn’t brain surgery just because the Democrats don’t want to address the HUGE impact of illegal invasion on American Citizen’s lives, doesn’t mean the rest of the folks who VOTED in November are done with the issue. The rallying cry “Two Border Agents” still in Prison for doing their jobs.
All the different areas of our lives are effected, Schools, Judicial, Health, wages being driven down ect…Our economy is in a down turn, it is time for the Border States to start passing their own legislation LIKE Oklahoma. The Message needs to go out: Want to Work in America, get a Visa and a Green Card…come legal or stay home.
Dr Evil on December 9, 2008 at 10:23 AM
Nuh-uh, head fake, Kennedy doesn’t have to be on any subcommittee to move anti America immigration reform, the Hispanic caucus will see to that business as usual continues to include all the lobbying, stealth law gutting and coercion it always has and besides how will Obama win his next campaign without his precious Hispanic vote.
Basically, if they build it, Barack will sigh it.
Speakup on December 9, 2008 at 10:25 AM
As usual, no leadership out of Washington. Obama won’t lead on this issue b/c it could hurt him? Please. He got more of the Hispanic vote even though McCain has been in bed w/that lobby for years. What a pansy he is.
It will be incremental. A death of a thousand cuts. Saul Alinsky’s apostle will get some form of amnesty passed before he leaves office, it just won’t be overt. Just as Reid has openly stated, they do not expect much of a fight. They will piggy-back the bill onto another major bill that HAS to be passed. Eventually, the erosion of immigration laws will allow for all these millions here illegally to just stay and be counted as Democrats in 2012.
JAM on December 9, 2008 at 10:34 AM
Lordy! Lordy! The pitfalls ,imagined or real, of having abandoned the honesty and courage to face issues just increase by the day. Wouldn’t it be refreshing if these pols just let the political fall out go and did what is good for the long term welfare of the country and the majority of its citizens. Never happen?
jeanie on December 9, 2008 at 10:36 AM
LOL….literally…hahahaha…PERFECT.
ex-Democrat on December 9, 2008 at 10:41 AM
Good news/bad news on national health care:
Bad news: well, it’s socialist health care. It will fail.
Good news: Kennedy would be dead by now if we had it.
Let’s roll.
ex-Democrat on December 9, 2008 at 10:45 AM
I agree. Enforce the laws and attrition through enforcement will send the illegals back to their home countries!
Thresher on December 9, 2008 at 10:47 AM
I smell a rat here….and this is what’s going to happen.
Dear leader has already sent Yosemite Sam on a fact finding mission to Afghanistan….
I wouldn’t put it past dear leader and his steak knife wielding sidekick to give this bag of crap known as comprehensive immigration reform to McCain to run with….and thus, sink the republican party for 2010.
Death by RINO.
Unfortunately, Yosemite Sam will gladly accept the bag of crap and scheme to get it passed to the detriment of the country.
Attrition thru Enforcement.
Give the U.S. Border Patrol and ICE the money and tools they need to do the job.
Jail and shame businesses that hire illegals.
Free Ramos and Compean.
HornetSting on December 9, 2008 at 11:31 AM
They already get “free” healthcare — to confirm, just visit the ER of your local hospital (if you’re lucky enough to have one nearby that hasn’t already been forced to close down because of all the losses caused by providing health services to illegals who don’t pay). It’s “free” for the illegals — but it’s not “free” for those of us whose tax dollars pay to subsidize this nonsense.
I agree Obama won’t push for amnesty, but it’s not because he’s worried about alienating conservatives. As unemployment soars even higher and states become even more strapped for cash to pay for basic services, the tens of billions of dollars that U.S. taxpayers spend every year paying for illegals (e.g., on schooling, health care, legal, etc.) is going to be of concern to more than just conservatives. Those xenophobic, gun-toting, Bible-thumping rube Democrats in places like Ohio and Pennsylvania are going to be pissed about it too — and that’s why Obama won’t touch an amnesty plan anytime soon.
AZCoyote on December 9, 2008 at 11:31 AM
When is that dried up no good for nothing. Murdering lying sack of doo doo going to finally err quit breathing? I don’t feel sorry one bit for him. I loved and admired JFK, and I thought Bobby was kind of sleazy. But Ted? Please go crawl in a hole! Stay there too! Illegals need to go home.
sheebe on December 9, 2008 at 11:34 AM
It is dead. Reid is stupid but coming from Nevada, he will be happy to let this die. The Black Caesar has already turned his back on his base, why on earth would he care about the Hispanics?
grdred944 on December 9, 2008 at 11:49 AM
I pray for Teddy K.
I pray he slips on a banana peel and breaks his neck.
shrugs Hey,I’m praying.
Jed1899 on December 9, 2008 at 11:51 AM
This is what the Democrats have been doing from the beginning, and it’s been working GREAT for them. All they have to do is sit back, do and say absolutely nothing, and let the Republican Party disintegrate over the issue of immigration.
I guess, technically, the Democrats can’t consider this a gift from God; but it’s the next best thing.
logis on December 9, 2008 at 11:54 AM
When Bush was President the Democrats could have ultimately blamed amnesty on Bush
With Obama, a Democratic President must sign the Bill into law and then the Democrats would take a beating from the unions in this time of 2+ million jobs lost as well as those moderates and independents who dislike amnesty
If Obama did not sign the bill he gets beaten up by the amnesty crowd, the Azatlan crowd, the religious redistributionist crowd, the Catholic ‘the world has not borders’ Bishops Conference, the entire left coast with their armies of maids, gardeners and pool keepers, and of course, Mayor Bloomberg who has a country club to maintain
Bloomberg alone would never stop weeping and that is an ugly sight in a good economy
entagor on December 9, 2008 at 12:10 PM
Well, with a declining economy, looks like we have built the ultimate wall…no jobs to come to, and laying off of massive amount of workers in the construction industry.
I suspect a lot less “Hispanics” will come home from this Christmas holiday.
right2bright on December 9, 2008 at 12:16 PM
Imagine as the time grows near for him…he knows he will be facing judgment, and probably Mary Jo Kopechne…imagine the pain he is facing daily…
Here’s some advice Ted…Don’t stand at the pearly gates and announce “But I am a Kennedy”…I don’t think that will help this time.
right2bright on December 9, 2008 at 12:19 PM
“But, but, I took TRILLIONS of dollars away from the people who legally earned it, kept two-thirds of it (to pay expenses) and gave most of the rest to fund illigitimacy and drug use! Don’t I get any kind of reward for a lifetime filled with that kind of public service?”
“…Wait, wait, hands off. Where are you taking me? DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM? Hey, what are all these Muslim terrorists doing in Catholic Heaven anyway?”
logis on December 9, 2008 at 12:48 PM
No, the “ultimate wall” is the one liberals build to keep people IN their worker’s paradises. We’re only halfway there.
logis on December 9, 2008 at 12:53 PM
I have prayed for the old wretch, and I’ve tried to do it sincerely, but obviously he needs a whole lot more. How ’bout some more of you get on board? I know it’s hard. But c’mon, it’s Christmas.
NellE on December 9, 2008 at 1:08 PM
Whoopee. Immigration has gone unchecked for how long?
So not only are we still at risk for more immigrants to come here & commit crimes, spread human & animal diseases, etc, now we will not see any relief on this matter from our Messiah any time soon bcs he’s evidently a chicken$hit about taking it on.
Well I don’t see Candadians coming to ND en masse.
I thank God I don’t ranch down on the southern border states.
You would not believe what landowners out in the stix have to put up with.
Looks like bovine TB will make a comeback, thanks in no small part to our lovely USDA.
Human TB has been here for a long time from south of the border bcs of our poor immigration policies.
Badger40 on December 9, 2008 at 1:39 PM
It is the fault of everyone – mainstream media, bloggers and candidates – for ignoring this issue through the campaign season.
It’s time to heat this topic up, particularly in terms of how it is affecting us ecnomically.
bryanmyrick on December 9, 2008 at 1:51 PM
Just a thought- what if BO ask McCain to work on a bipartisian bill. Let Big Mac and Repubs take the heat instead of Dims. Knowing McCain, he would probably jump at the chance.
la.rt.wngr on December 9, 2008 at 9:14 PM
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