From The Road
January 31, 2008 3:51 PM

Obama "Tired" of Immigration Being a "Political Football"

By
Maria Gavrilovic
Topics
Barack Obama
(CBS)
From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

LOS ANGELES -- Barack Obama told a predominantly African-American and Latino crowd at a Los Angeles technical college that the government is designed for all people and said there is an "anxiety" among voters that it is not.

"They feel like the education system isn't designed for people like us, and the job market isn't designed for people like us. And trying to get a mortgage isn't designed for people like us. And health care is not designed for people like us," Obama shouted.

"Well let me tell you something, this is our country. America should be designed for people like us. That's why I am running for president of the United States of America, for all people, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight all people," said Obama.

"Over the past few weeks, we've heard some cynical talk about how black folks and white folks and Latinos cannot come together. We've heard it before," Obama said. "We've heard talk about the so-called black-brown divide, and whenever I hear this I take it seriously because im reminded of Latino brothers and sisters that I worked alongside on the streets of Chicago more than two decades ago."

Obama campaigned in south central Los Angeles this morning, and directed his message towards the predominantly minority crowd. He spoke at length about the economy and immigration reform.

"We have to stop letting those in power turn us against each other. No place do I see this more than in our immigration debate. I am tired of people of people using this as a political football," Obama said. "We need to solve this problem."

He said that he worked on comprehensive immigration reform with both Ted Kennedy and John McCain.

Obama did his best to identify with the Latino voters in the crowd, telling them that he should learn Spanish and speaking to them about his father's emigration to the U.S.

"My father when he came here, he didn't look like you know - he didn't look like he stepped off the Mayflower. But we have to remember the history of immigration in this country. When the Irish first came, people were anti-Irish, when the Italians first came, people were anti-Italian and so we've got to remember our own past history," Obama said, "And let me remind everybody that not everybody who came in through Ellis Island had their papers in order."

Obama took several questions from the crowd, which he has not done since campaigning in South Carolina. The questions were typical of most of Obama's town hall meetings except for a question from a young boy in the audience who asked what Obama's daughters think about him being president.

"They are very excited although my nine-year-old and my six-year-old, I'm not sure they want to move, they like Chicago," Obama said, "But what we've promised them that we'll get them a dog."

Add a Comment
by andersenme February 2, 2008 4:40 AM EST
Robert F. Kennedy once remarked:

"All of us, from the wealthiest and most powerful of men to the weakest and hungriest of children, share one precious possession: the name %u2018American.%u2019 It is not easy to know what that means. But in part to be an American means to have been an outcast and a stranger, to have come to the exiles'' country, and to know that he who denies the outcast and stranger among us at that moment also denies America."

During the debate Thursday night, Barack Obama echoed RFK when he said, to applause, that arguments about how the inner-city unemployment of blacks is related to the influx of immigration is a case of "scapegoating" immigrants.

Hillary, fresh from her campaign of racial coding in South Carolina, countered by claiming--against all evidence--that voters needed to realize that immigrants do take the jobs of low-income Americans.

America is tired of the arrogance, misrepresentations, corruption and lack of that elusive thing called grace that characterized Bill Clinton''s "co-presidency" with Hillary.

Clean slate !!!
Barack Obama,
''08 !!!


MARTIN EDWIN ANDERSEN
Reply to this comment
by converze February 1, 2008 3:46 PM EST
Barack: Try Latinos and Latinas instead of "Latino brothers and sisters".
Reply to this comment
by DrColes February 1, 2008 3:00 PM EST
Illegal Aliens and Immigration is NOT the same thing. Immigrant is a legal status granted by a sovereign country. We have to many folks who do not know and are ignorant or outright deceivers, confusing illegal alien workers calling them illegal immigrants with immigrants. Criminals did NOT build America; Citizens and LEGAL immigrants built it. 80% of the American people want an end to anarchy! This is NOT a Democrat, Republican, Independent issue. It''s an American Issue.

Illegal aliens are criminals, those who hire them are criminals and those who aid-and-abet them are criminals.

Illegal aliens in America have NO rights. We are required by law to arrest and prosecute, deport them. (Title 8 U.S. Code) To report illegal aliens call the DHS National Hotline 1 866 DHS 2ICE. (1-866-347-2523)

No, matter your political party affiliation, and setting aside your thoughts on issues. We all need to remember what it is to be an American Citizen. We need to make sure our elected representatives obey their Oath of Office and keep their Oath of Allegiance. See http://***********/2znnvl Know whom you are voting for.
Reply to this comment
by mgoriganti-2009 February 1, 2008 1:52 PM EST
Nothing to worry as Bill Gates etc started the reverse immigration back to Asia.
Reply to this comment
by mgoriganti-2009 February 1, 2008 1:50 PM EST
Nothing to worry as Bill Gates etc started the reverse immigration back to Asia.
Reply to this comment
by lonewackodot February 1, 2008 2:29 AM EST
I comment on this story here:

http://lonewacko.com/blog/archives/007436.html

Maria Gavrilovic could have pointed out what I discuss, if only she were a real reporter and not just a hack.
Reply to this comment
by wandagb-2009 February 1, 2008 1:49 AM EST
Obama is a pie-eyed, all heart, no brain politican. Continued mass immigration is the death knell for the goal of a sustainable America. One billion people here by 2090 (what the Census Bureau projects) if Obama - or the Republican nutcase, McCain - prevail against the wishes of the American people. Obama is a Ponzi scheme salesman for the bloating of America.
Reply to this comment
by wandagb-2009 February 1, 2008 1:47 AM EST
Obama is a pie-eyed, all heart, no brain politican. Continued mass immigration is the death knell for the goal of a sustainable America. One billion people here by 2090 (what the Census Bureau projects) if Obama - or the Republican nutcase, McCain - prevail against the wishes of the American people. Obama is a Ponzi scheme salesman for the bloating of America.
Reply to this comment
by mcmorty January 31, 2008 9:10 PM EST
What kind of dog?
Reply to this comment
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