Tuesday, January 29, 2013

President Obama lays out his immigration policy and gives a speech for the ages.

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Damn this man is holding nothing back these days! That was a great speech that I am pretty sure just made a number of immigrants life long Democrats.

Here is perhaps my favorite part:  

When we talk about that in the abstract, it is easy sometimes for the discussion to take on a feeling of us versus them. And when that happens, a lot of folks forget that most of us used to be them. 

We forget that. 

And it’s really important for us to remember history. Unless you’re one of the first Americans, a Native American, you came from some place else, somebody brought you. 

You know, Ken Salazar (ph) he’s—he’s of Mexican-American descent, but he points out that his family’s been living where he lives for 400 years, so he didn’t—he didn’t immigrate anywhere. 

The Irish who left behind a land of famine; the Germans who fled persecution; the Scandinavians who arrived eager to pioneer out west; the Polish, the Russians, the Italians, the Chinese, the Japanese, the West Indians—the huddled masses who came through Ellis Island on one coast and Angel Island on the other. 

All those folks before they were us, they were them. And when each new wave of immigrants arrived, they faced resistance from those who were already here. They faced hardship. They faced racism. They faced ridicule. But over time, they went about their daily lives. They earned a living as they raised a family, as they built a community, as their kids went to school here. 

They did their part to build the nation. They were the Einsteins and the Carnegies, but they were also the millions of women and men whose names history may not remember, but whose actions helped make us who we are, who built this country hand by hand, brick by brick. 

They all came here knowing that what makes somebody an American is not just blood or birth, but allegiance to our founding principles and the faith in the idea that anyone from anywhere can write the next great chapter of our story, and that’s still true today.

I thought that was exactly the right way to talk about this and the attitude that will hopefully finally see something  progress on this issue.

Apparently the Republican counter plan hinges on first securing the border, which of course we all know is a ridiculous concept that will NEVER be achieved to the GOP's satisfaction. And the reason for that stance is because the Republicans also realize that the faster immigrants are added as US citizens, the faster the Democrat's ranks swell with new voters.

And THAT is not something they are any hurry to help implement.

(P.S. You can read the entire transcript of this speech here.)

8 comments:

  1. Anonymous1:08 PM

    It was a great speech to remind "everybody" and I do include the teabaggers that they are here because "someone" in their family tree immigrated here. Gov. Jindal and Marco Rubio are here because their parents immigrated. I remember reading that Rubio's grandfather was here illegally.

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  2. Anonymous1:16 PM

    I love how our wonderful President turned it over to the bi partisan group take on this of a couple of days ago that included McCain (changing his view again!). Now, it will be up to the Senate and House. We all know where the President stands on this issue!!!! Now, let us watch what the Republicans do w/McCain supposedly in the lead. President Obama outwitted him AGAIN! The border issue will be a problem though...but, it's what McCain put out there.

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  3. As a granddaughter of immigrants, married to a grandson of immigrants, our President was talking about me, about just about all of us... G-d bless him!

    A wonderful speech!

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  4. Randall2:36 PM

    And the Hannitys and Limbaughs and Palins will shout outrage and piss an moan

    ...and in doing so, distance themselves further and further from the rest of us, those of us that believe in liberty and justice for all.

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  5. Anonymous3:49 PM

    I am a first-generation born American. My family came to the USA from Hungary via Ellis Island back in the early 1900's. They got their US citizenship and were very proud of it.

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  6. Anonymous5:02 PM

    Let me just say that John McCain is a giant cocksucking asshole who should have been silenced long ago...

    McCain: Same sex couple immigration rights a ‘red flag’ on Obama immigration bill

    http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/01/29/mccain-same-sex-couple-immigration-rights-a-red-flag-on-obama-immigration-bill/

    John McCain: Immigration Rights For Same-Sex Couples “Not Of Paramount Importance”

    http://www.buzzfeed.com/mckaycoppins/john-mccain-immigration-rights-for-same-sex-coupl

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  7. Anita Winecooler6:53 PM

    His entire speech was excellent! My parents immigrated from Italy, achieved the American Dream and became citizens. I'm the first person in my family to graduate High School and College. The first to work with my brain and not with my hands. They worked in sweatshops and my father started a successful business. I was raised to accept all people, to know that there's dignity in all work.

    This wouldn't have been possible where they came from, they were tied to the land. It could happen, but not in one life time.
    But the President framed this speech perfectly. Yeah, we're all proud of our heritage, but we're what makes America, America. We're all the same.

    Our President raised the bar with how he handled this issue! He told congress that if they don't come up with a bill, he'll put HIS plan up for a vote.

    Game, Set, Match

    Brilliant!

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  8. Anonymous7:13 PM

    Let us not FORGET that "we" took this land from Native Americans because we "could." I stand by everyone of race and creed in this country IF they show love and compassion for their fellow man. Lend a hand where help is needed.

    Take one good LONG look at who SPOUTS against it (GOP), and ESPECIALLY one who couldn't have given a tinker's DAMN for Native Alaskans when they were cold and starving under her watch as "Governor Under Todd."




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