I wonder how this rhetoric squares with his standard condescending line about Republican-leaning voters not thinking clearly because their minds are clouded by economic anxiety. Does economic anxiety also explain why Latino turnout isn’t quite where the Democrats need it to be (although, per this new Politico poll, it’s getting there)? Or is this the first, last, and only case this year of The One admitting that his own failures — specifically, the failure to pass amnesty — might be even partly responsible for the Democrats’ predicament? And what about those supposed “enemies” that Latinos should be turning out to punish? Are they actual enemies like those shadowy bastards donating to the Chamber of Commerce or, as Obama himself once famously suggested, are they merely bitterly clinging to xenophobia to soothe their own economic frustrations?

Democratic demagoguery can be so confusing.

In a radio interview that aired on Univision on Monday, Mr. Obama sought to assure Hispanics that he would push an immigration overhaul after the midterm elections, despite fierce Republican opposition.

“If Latinos sit out the election instead of saying, ‘We’re gonna punish our enemies and we’re gonna reward our friends who stand with us on issues that are important to us,’ if they don’t see that kind of upsurge in voting in this election, then I think it’s gonna be harder and that’s why I think it’s so important that people focus on voting on November 2.”

Referring specifically to Republicans such as Senator John McCain, who are stressing border security and supporting strict immigration laws like Arizona’s anti-illegal immigration measure, Mr. Obama said, “Those aren’t the kinds of folks who represent our core American values.”

I’m half-disappointed that he didn’t go the whole nine yards and call Republicans “un-American” just to put a bow on the last month of campaign rhetoric, but there’s still plenty of time until the polls open next Tuesday. Meanwhile, via Jim Geraghty, in the same interview a guy who once touted his election as the moment the rising of the oceans would slow took care to warn Latinos not to expect amnesty overnight since, after all, “I am not king.” Which is true: Having 60 seats in the Senate and a huge House majority evokes the power of some lesser nobility, like a duke. To be king, he’d need at least, say, 70 Senate seats. Is that what he’s asking for now in order to pass stuff?