Obama: U.S. Can't "Demagogue" Immigration

By: Alex Sundby
Topics: Social Issues

(Credit: CBS)

President Obama described officials who "demagogue" immigration or take sudden "anti-immigrant" stances as people who want to make a name for themselves and not help solve what he called "a national problem."

Mr. Obama spoke with CBS "Early Show" Anchor Harry Smith in an interview scheduled to be broadcast in parts on Sunday and Monday.

The interview comes after the Obama administration scored a major victory in its fight to strike down an Arizona law that, among other things, makes it a state crime to be in the country illegally. Last week, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction preventing the most controversial parts of the law from going into effect.

As National Guard troops start heading to the U.S.-Mexico border this month under direction from the administration, Mr. Obama told Smith he wants to work with Arizona.

"I understand the frustration of people in Arizona," Mr. Obama said. "But what we can't do is demagogue the issue, and what we can't do is allow a patchwork of 50 different states, or cities or localities, where anybody who wants to make a name for themselves suddenly says, 'I'm going to be anti-immigrant, and I'm going try to see if I can solve the problem ourself.' This is a national problem."

The president also told Smith he was going to call Republicans "on their bluff" on ways to reduce the national debt.

"We've got a lot of debt," Mr. Obama said. "We've got a lot of deficit. Now the Republicans have said that this is their No. 1 concern. I'm going to call them on their bluff. I want to see their ideas for how we're going to deal with these issues. I'm going to have a bunch of ideas."

The president said he is "stunned" that the GOP hasn't embraced ideas he said Republicans have endorsed in the past.

"We've put together a small business package that is as bipartisan a set of ideas as you can imagine, and these are all what historically have been not just Democratic ideas but Republican ideas, and all we've been hearing is "no" from the other side in the Senate," Mr. Obama said. "I am stunned that you can't get any Republican support for ideas that have been traditionally championed by not just Democrats but Republicans, and it's a sign of how politics is getting in the way of good decisions that will put our country in a much stronger position."

The entire interview is expected to be broadcast on CBS' "Sunday Morning" Sunday and "The Early Show" Monday.

More from Interview

Obama: Rangel's Ethics Charges "Very Troubling"

More Immigration Coverage

Ariz. Gov. Considers Changing Immigration Law

Immigration Law Protesters Interrupt Mets Game

In All, 71 Cuffed in Ariz. Immigration Protests

US Agency May Skirt Congress on Immigration

Ariz. Sheriff Continues Sweeps After Ruling

Immigration Protesters Rally as Ariz. Appeals

Ariz. Illegal Immigration Law Judge Threatened

After Arizona Immigration Decision, What's Next?

Alex Sundby
Alex Sundby is an associate news editor for CBSNews.com

434 Comments Have Your Say
Email Story Send to a Friend
Share This Tell Your Friends
Tweet This Tweet This
More Share It

Add a Comment

See all 434 Comments


by Noval53 August 5, 2010 12:11 PM EDT: Arizona is not anti-immigrant. They are anti "illegal immigrant". Aparently this requires rocket science to be understood.; Reply to this comment


by ouchitatom August 5, 2010 12:11 PM EDT: Wether you like the president or not the writer of this article refered to him in a sentence as MR.obama instead of the president. This pisses me off to no end the Title of president is placed on that man by the voters of this country and it carries the full weight of this countries flag . I don't care if a kitty cat was elected it is PRESIDENT KITTY CAT YOU DISRESPECTFUL SOB.; Reply to this comment


by 1renegade August 5, 2010 12:11 PM EDT: Thats Ok Mr President, we won't be calling anyone's bluff in November or in 2012. I'm not blaming you for the illegal issue But, you can have a great influence on fixing it. Should you use executive order to allow amnesty you will make the biggest mistake of your political career. You need to enforce the laws already in effect just as the Constitution says you must.; Reply to this comment


by wmb1957 August 5, 2010 12:11 PM EDT: The judge had to reach in order to allow preemption for the portion of Arizona's law which required immigration status verification after an arrest, detainment, or stop when the law enforcement officer had a reasonable suspicion the individual was in the nation illegally.

USC 8 Sec. 1644

"Communication between State and local government
agencies and Immigration and Naturalization Service"

" Notwithstanding any other provision of Federal, State, or local
law, no State or local government entity may be prohibited, or in
any way restricted, from sending to or receiving from the
Immigration and Naturalization Service information regarding the
immigration status, lawful or unlawful, of an alien in the United
States."; Reply to this comment


by thy-only_king August 5, 2010 12:11 PM EDT: The cost of harboring illegal immigrants in the United States is a staggering $113 billion a year -- an average of $1,117 for every ?native-headed? household in America -- according to a study conducted by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR).

The American people can no longer afford this.
It must stop, NOW !!!; Reply to this comment


by Farahlies August 2, 2010 4:55 PM EDT: One of the only practical ways to avoid massive cuts to Medicare and social security would be through boosting immigration. I agree, it should be legal. Illegal immigration needs to be curbed.
But overall, we should all support much larger immigration populations than we have today.. This needs to be part of the overall immigration reform package: streamlining the process of working in the U.S legally. I hope that most Americans understand this: Legal immigration is good for us.; Reply to this comment


by berryp August 2, 2010 2:11 PM EDT: I don't see the problem - go to any other country and your papers are checked all the time, regardless "race". Obama calls it "anti-immigrant". It's not "anti-immigrant" it's "anti-ILLEGAL-immigrant". All the States are doing is actually enforcing existing laws for all immigrants to go through the proper immigration procedures to become a citizen. Now lets's talk impact to debt and the drain on debt illegals make -taking money and health services and not paying taxes. we have major unemployment problem, so take a look at the jobs "illegals" occupy that actual citizens could fill if companies are forced to not hire illegals. NOTICE SOMETHING I address three of the countries biggest problems with out pointing fingers to any Political party or Race. The only group I did address were "illegals" who are not conforming to the laws that "all person" have the constitutional right to fufill if they take the proper actions to obtain.

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/8601-503544_162-20012319.html?assetTypeId=41&blogId=503544&tag=contentMain;contentBody#ixzz0vTPQFOEc; Reply to this comment


by VivaLaMigra August 1, 2010 9:56 PM EDT: OK, we won't "demogogue" the issue. Fair enough. Now, can we have some plain talk from Barry Hussein to the Mexican government, and Mexican nationals? How 'bout making it plain that entering the US "without inspection" [IOW, JUMPING the Border!] is ILLEGAL and you will be prosecuted and DEPORTED. Do it a second time, and you're in for some hefty jail time. That's about all it would take to cut the illegal alien problem by 90%, right off the bat: making it clear that the LAW will be ENFORCED!; Reply to this comment

by craigerss August 1, 2010 9:23 PM EDT

Obviously Obama doesn't know what the word "damogogue" means because he is unquestionably one of the biggest demagogues in modern history.

Also, why does he purposely use the phrase "anti-immigration" when referring to his critics when he should be saying "anti-illegal immigration"? Maybe because he is a demagogue.

Reply to this comment


by pasmalltown August 3, 2010 9:05 AM EDT: "damogogue" or demogogue? Are you related to Mama Grizzly or just trying to be "cute"? One sure sign of demogogury is attempting to mix fact with fiction in an attempt to deceive that is "to - fool yourself: to convince yourself of something that is not true......


by 010sonny August 1, 2010 8:52 PM EDT: Cart Before The Horse ?
Immigration before energy security ? While we presently bicker amongst ourselves as to who is going to represent us in our agricultural labors we table for future debate on how to address the oil security issues. Precedent of energy surmounts labor disputes. No energy no labor problem as well as all other security agendas. Sidetracking and distracting us from our core concerns to survival and our abilities to compete in world affairs. An example of this ambiguity of logic can be observed in Florida.
Rep. William Snyder, R-Stuart, Mike Bennett, R-Braden, Rep- Gary Aubuchon and Rick Scott candidate for governor are using this to hype up populace to distract them from the oil issues of energy. Oil lapping up on their shores and these leaders want to focus on who will be eligible to pick tomatoes. Fragile state of affaires in the various sovereignties, that we now fatally depend upon. Their mythological agendas and political instability dictates our financial abilities and all that goes with it. The very blood of our existence is encapsulated in our energies. Debating on the legality of agriculture labor would be best served at latter date once we establish a higher degree of energy security.
Immigration issue is another red herring of republican strategies in avoiding energy issues. Florida with a high potential to take advantage of alternative energy systems and it reluctantly addresses the issues to promote alternative and has gone so far as to show their disapproval for alternative systems that suppress oil initiatives. Emulating republican commitments and their ideologies to their constituents?.
Coincidence that this republican hype is introduced just prior to energy polices that were due to come to the floor for debate? Think not. Suggestive of oil elitist strategies. That would be a more plausible explanation. Note how republicans said that they were ready to discuss the energy issue and then a republican state produces the red herring for the general populace to enjoy to their demise.
Now repubs are being called out to lower the debt....No, no,no.. stuck, nope time to serve up another redherring for the mediocrities delight....Lets see how about a race issue platter. Repubs....!!; Reply to this comment