Political Eye
By

Lindsey Boerma /

CBS News/ January 30, 2013, 7:48 PM

Obama: "No doubt" Congress will pass immigration, gun bills in coming months

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Obama: "No doubt" gun, immigration bills will pass in coming months

There's more bipartisan support in Congress for comprehensive immigration reform than gun control legislation, President Obama said tonight during an interview with Univision, but qualified that even under his proposal, illegal immigrants shouldn't be harboring expectations that they'll be granted citizenship "manana."

"Even under our proposal, this is not a situation where overnight, suddenly people all find themselves as citizens," Mr. Obama told the Spanish-language television network. "They're going to have to go to the back of the line. We're going to have to clear out the existing line, backlogs we have in terms of illegal immigrants, because they did it the right way. We shouldn't punish them for breaking the law.

"...What we don't want to do is to create some vague prospect in the future that somehow comprehensive immigration reform that includes a pathway to citizenship will happen manana," he continued, chuckling softly at the somewhat awkward injection of the Spanish word for "tomorrow." "But we have to put that in place at the outset, and make sure people are clear that this pathway is real and not just a fantasy for the future."

Asked whether he was in a standoff with Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., the son of Cuban immigrants who has said he will not support a bill that does not put border control ahead of a path to citizenship, Mr. Obama said no, but pointed out that the number of people crossing the border illegally has dropped "about 80 percent since 2000."

On Tuesday, the president delivered a speech in Las Vegas outlining his immigration plan and applauding a bipartisan group of eight senators that has offered up proposals as well. In an interview today with another Spanish language network, Telemundo, he specified that he's hoping immigration reform that includes a pathway to citizenship can be passed in the next six months, but "certainly this year."

Meanwhile, despite facing more resistance from the right on tightening gun laws, he said he has "no doubt" that Congress will be able to put through legislation on gun control, as well as immigration.

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Obama: Legalization for illegal immigrants won't happen "ma?ana"

"On the gun issue, you're starting to see gun owners, people who traditionally have opposed gun control, saying, 'You know what, when 20 of our children are shot by somebody who is disturbed, and when it is that easy to get these high-clip magazines that can fire off hundreds of shots in a few minutes, then it's time for us to do better job on background checks, to get control of these magazine clips, to really crack down on gun trafficking," Mr. Obama said in the Univision interview.

The Senate Judiciary Committee today held the first congressional hearing on gun violence since last month's massacre at a Newtown, Conn., elementary school, that left 20 children and six adults dead. Star witnesses included former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., who survived a shot to the head two years ago during an assassination attempt that left six people dead, and her husband on one side, and NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre on the other.

Both gun control and immigration "will end up generating some opposition," the president said. "There will be passions on both sides. But I'm generally encouraged that the Senate seems to be having a serious conversation about these issues."

© 2013 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
214 Comments Add a Comment
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IllinoisMinuteman says:
Again, as in years past we will crush amnesty by shutting down the switchboard at the capital. As far as gun laws go, we will not comply. Any effort o restrict our second amendment rights will be met with an uprising that will make 1776 look like childsplay. We the People have 300 MILLION guns, more than any army on the planet. Obama, be very careful, you are poking a Hornet's nest!
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outback_jackson says:
Immigration bill splits GOP on national-local line

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The immigration debate is threatening to split the Republican Party, pitting those who focus mainly on presidential elections against those who care mostly about congressional races.

Strategists say that if Republicans are to win presidential elections, which they've been losing lately, partly because of dismal support from Hispanic voters, they must soften their rhetoric about illegal immigrants and embrace some version of "immigration reform."

But granting illegal residents a path to citizenship, which critics call "amnesty," is deeply unpopular in many House Republicans' districts.


Some GOP strategists fear they will lose either way.
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outback_jackson replies:
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At a recent House Republican retreat in Virginia, Boehner brought in independent political analyst Charlie Cook to explain to lawmakers why they face serious trouble with Hispanic voters.

Cook said House Republicans make a mistake if they view national issues such as immigration "through the prism of your district," said a participant at the private session. Republicans eventually can improve their standing with Latinos if they stop talking and acting as though they don't like immigrants, Cook told the House members.
lsjogren replies:
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Yes, the Republicans will lose either way.

What the Democrats fail to recognize is that they will also lose, bigtime, if they persist in standing with Wall Street rather than the ordinary citizen when it comes to immigration policy.
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outback_jackson says:
RICKY replies: linkiconreporticonemailicon"A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity" - Sigmund Freud




LOL! Years ago (pre-Internet years), I used to read American gun magazines and saw this quote frequently used to ridicule people who favored gun control.

This quote used by the NRA gun nuts, is misattributed to Freud, and is not a statement that appears in any translation of any of Freud's works. It is a paraphrase of a statement from the essay "Guns, Murders, and the Constitution" (February 1990) by Don B. Kates, Jr.


But go ahead ricky, and use misattributed quotes that only make you look ignorant and more of a far-right gun freak and anti-government zealot!
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TimeToEvolve says:
So we need to come to grips with what has CAUSED the immigration problem and the gun problem. And even Fox Wacko Alert people would agree that we have a problem.

Immigration from other countries and especially Mexico was directly caused by the giant corporations of Wall Street after they purchased the US government. They pulled the puppet strings and had their servants pass the free trade agreements that forced all the Mexicans to come here. And it enabled the corporations to drive wages of American workers down. They are just too smart for most Americans to follow.

Got to go I will tell you about why there is a gun problem later.
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jedbine646 says:
Outback_Jackson voted for Obama- kinda gave it away seeing as you sit on cbs message board all day everyday instead of working- not hard to figure outttt
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TimeToEvolve replies:
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Obama is a President who is finally giving the 99% an opportunity to rise up and take back America from The Corporation. But we have to do it, no one can do it for us. We better not miss this chance.
jedbine646 replies:
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See I would believe you if I didnt have a brain, eyes and ears. You do know Jeffery Immelt was appointed by Obama- ceo of GE, investing 4 billion in China and moving parts of GE over as well- afterrr he was appointed jobs czar. (GE is a pretty big business). How is implementing a national healthcare system, insurance based (private insurances had a hand in building this), giving it back to the 99%? If you are a smoker you have to pay double what a regular person will, premiums are going to only be subsidized by the govt- check going to the insurance company- there is no provision from the insurance company raising its premiums each year but you can bet that govt check will not increase as well. So now you are forced to have health insurance and pay (if you cannot pay bc you make under a certain wage, the govt will pay for you- ie the tax payer), and if you dont pay you will be fined, dont pay the fines you will be jailed. So now how is that giving it back to the 99%? Going to jail bc you do not want health insurance and feel you do not need to pay that tax? Thats free to you huh?
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TimeToEvolve says:
For example, when a right winger actually thinks they have an actual valid point when it comes to gun regulation we can all point and say "reactionary alert" or "Wall Street Mind Control Alert" or Fox Propaganda Alert" or something.
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TimeToEvolve replies:
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We really need to call it out and continue to marginalize their behavior as damaging to fair and civil society.
RickB2400 replies:
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Like I said earlier, you cannot address the issues at hand. You are stuck on political agruments. Nothing will ever get solved if your sole focus is on attcking, insulting, and critizing people. I'm glad I didn't hold my breath waiting on that non-isulting posts that I have been waiting on you to post for weeks.
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TimeToEvolve says:
I was discussing with a fellow worker today about how we need a term for the right wing mentality. It needs to be something catchy that we can roll out whenever we hear or read or smell the ideology. I am actually looking for suggestions.

I have been using "firm father figure worldview" but most people don't know what that is from George Lakoff. Maybe "reactionary alert" or "slow mind alert". The right wing ideology has become a real scourge on our society.
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Type_Z replies:
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^Beverage Alert.
RickB2400 replies:
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HA HA HA ... So now you want a catch phrase for anyone that doesn't agree with your politics or your opinions ? Wow .. !!
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RickB2400 says:
Too Funny ... I googled how to defend your property against and intruder and http://www.wikihow.com/Defend-Your-Property-Against-an-Intruder popped up.

# 1) Consider acquiring a gun. A handgun, like a 9mm or a .38 special will do.

# 2 )Learn to use a gun. The first rule of gunfighting is owning a gun.

# 3 )Store the gun
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AuntieM77 says:
Yet another case of government thinking we are stupid.
Nothing is more demonizing or dividing than conversations regarding gun control, race, or sex. How convenient we are having these bills being brought up at the EXACT MOMENT our congress is figuring out how to avoid fiscal accountability, which is actually our biggest problem.
Anyone else want to hear some more accountability and closure on overspending and budgets, before we get down to new issues?
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Type_Z replies:
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Distraction is part of liberal procedure. It is normal for them.

When ObamaCare was being written, it was done behind closed doors. When the heat was on they took turns with acts of public "distractions".

I pictured Reid, Biden, Pelosi drawing draws each morning. Draw the short straw, you get to be village idiot of the day. Fox News fell for it every time.
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Bojax39 says:
"Even under our proposal, this is not a situation where overnight, suddenly people all find themselves as citizens," Mr. Obama told the Spanish-language television network. "They're going to have to go to the back of the line."

So long as they are required to return to their country of origin while they're waiting in line, there's no problem.
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RickB2400 replies:
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ha ha ha ... I like that idea.
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