Kaleidoscope
By Perry Diaz
DREAMers rally outside the White House on June 15, 2012 in support of President Barack Obama.
Making a bold and big step forward, President Barack Obama signed an executive order last June 15, 2012 that would defer the deportation of the children of illegal immigrants. It was a dream come true to an estimated 800,000 young people – known as the DREAMers — who are in danger of deportation to their country of birth only because they don’t have documents to show that they are legal immigrants. But they would have preferred the DREAM Act had it passed into law; thus, providing them with a path to citizenship if they go to college or join the military. Obama’s executive order is only a temporary relief for two years. However, it allows the DREAMers to get a work permit and avail of government services.
The DREAM Act was first introduced in 2001 with Republican co-authors in the Senate and House of Representatives. But over the years, the DREAM Act failed to garner enough votes to become law. In 2010, a Democratic-controlled House of Representatives passed the DREAM Act. In the Senate, it passed it with 55 votes; however, it fell short of the supermajority vote of 60 to prevent a filibuster, which the Republicans did. It has been in limbo since then.
In a press conference in the Rose Garden following the issuance of what is now referred to as “DREAM Act Lite,” President Obama said, “These are young people who study in our schools, they play in our neighborhoods, they’re friends with our kids, they pledge allegiance to our flag. They are Americans in their heart, in their minds, in every single way but one: on paper.”
Young Hispanic students in Arizona cheer President Obama’s executive order.
In the midst of Obama’s speech, Neil Munro, a reporter from the right-wing Daily Caller website, interrupted him and shouted, “Mr. President, why do you favor foreign workers over Americans?” Obama responded, “We are a better nation than one that expels innocent young kids. And the answer to your question sir, the next time I’d prefer that you let me finish my statement before you ask that question, is this is the right thing for the American people.”
Apparently, the Republicans – particularly Mitt Romney, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee – were caught flat-footed. They were in total disarray and didn’t know how to react. Immigration was never a topic that they were comfortable talking about because of their hard-line stand on immigration issues, which they try to soft-pedal with terms like “self-deportation” and long-term solutions.
Golden Boy
During the primaries, Romney was asked what he would do if the DREAM Act was passed by Congress? Quickly, he responded, “I’d veto it!” But since then he tried very hard not to discuss immigration. However, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida – son of Cuban immigrants — became Romney’s top advisor and surrogate on immigration issues.
Because of the importance of the Latino vote, Rubio had positioned himself to become a viable vice presidential running mate of Romney. He became a shooting star in a party that had paid lip service to Hispanic Americans and shoved them around like second-class citizens. And he became the “golden boy” of the Republicans who would deliver the huge Latino vote in the battleground states. Thus, he started looking into the DREAM Act and to revise it in a way that would be palatable to right-wing Republicans. He promised that he’d fashion a better DREAM Act… pretty soon.
“We are Americans”
But as it turned out that his dream of a better DREAM Act was neither pretty nor soon enough. When Obama signed his “DREAM Act Lite” executive order, Rubio accused Obama of ignoring Congress and the Constitution. He said that Obama should have called him and worked with him. But why would Obama call someone who repeatedly voted against his jobs bill, infrastructure bill, and other bills in the Senate?
But paisan Marco, the DREAM Act had been debated since 2001. So how much more time do your Republican padrinos need to debate the DREAM Act? At the rate young people without papers are being deported; nobody is going to be around to celebrate when your version of the DREAM Act would become a reality. But Obama knows that if nothing were done now, then the DREAM Act would just be another piece of legislation that failed due to Republican inaction and obstruction.
Rubio had a chance to become the first Latino vice president in U.S. history and just a heartbeat away from the presidency. He had an opportunity to change the culture of politics in a nation that is still reeling from brutal partisan warfare. And he had an opportunity to convince the Hispanic-American community that their time was coming. But he blew it.
Golden opportunity
Earlier today, Romney spoke before the National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO) in Orlando, Florida. It would have been his chance to convince the nation’s Latino leaders that he can do better than Obama in addressing immigration issues. But instead, he told the audience that if elected he would replace Obama’s executive order. However, he would not say what he would replace it with. Instead, he criticized Obama in front of the mostly Democratic Latino elected officials, saying: “Some people have asked if I will let stand the President’s executive action. The answer is that I will put in place my own long-term solution that will replace and supersede the President’s temporary measure.”
But Romney knows that forging a long-term solution in a Republican-controlled Congress is next to impossible especially with the Tea Party members who do not make compromises. To them, it’s all or nothing. So, in two years, when Obama’s executive order expires, what would a President Romney do? More than likely, he would start deporting the 800,000 young DREAMers. That was the impression he conveyed to assembled power brokers.
Romney had a golden opportunity. But he blew it.
Three strikes
Romney seems like he is totally clueless about the three things that are important to Latinos – jobs, education, and immigration. On jobs, the Republicans in Congress are being blamed for obstructing Obama’s job creation initiatives. That’s strike one! On education, since Romney’s position on the DREAM Act is negative, it would prevent the 800,000 young DREAMers to integrate in the school system without risking deportation. That’s strike two! And on immigration, rejecting the DREAM Act is a double whammy for Romney. That’s strike three! And like they say, “Strike three you’re out!”
For Obama, it couldn’t have been better. A June 15-18 Bloomberg News poll shows that 64% of likely voters surveyed agreed with the policy, while only 30% said they disagreed. Americans are supporting Obama’s executive order compared to 30% against. Interestingly, a May survey among Latinos conducted by NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Telemundo shows 61% supporting Obama and only 27% supporting Romney.
The polls show that Obama’s “DREAM Act Lite” is not only good policy; it is also good politics.
At the end of the day, it can be said that Obama made it happen, the Republicans in Congress watched it happen, and Romney didn’t know what the hell happened!
I’m sorry, Mitt, but you missed a rare opportunity to outDREAM Obama. You blew it.
The obstacle to pass the “Dream Act” is always the conservative GOP Republicans.Obama is always ready to sign it into act but the selfish Republicans in the Congress do not like it because they want Obama to fail.The No.1 priority of the Republicans is always to oppose the good laws that will benefit the nation during Obama administration.
Speaking of percentages, this article just made me 70% Obama, 25% Romney, and 5% Pacquiao!
Hi Joe,
Pacquiao was a DREAMer. Look what happened to him — very successful! But he forgot something. He forgot to look back.
Perry
Perry:
You accurately mirrored my sentiments. Regardless of political gain or loss, immigration reforms have to be addressed. These 800,000 young Americans who have lived all their lives deserve to stay here. They do not know anything about life and living outside these United States. It is a great HUMANITARIAN act that any president would do. Thanks Perry for articulating what’s in every fair American’s sense of fairness and justice.
Martin Celemin
Hi Mart,
I watched Romney spoke at the NALEO convention yesterday and to Obama today, there is no doubt that the Latinos will go for Obama. It’s interesting when Obama quoted Romney saying, “I always keep my promise.” Then Obama reminded the audience that during the primaries, Romney promised to veto the DREAM Act and that he’ll take him for his word. Brilliant!
Perry
Martin, did you say young Americans? Let me get this straight, if these people are true Americans, then these reforms does’nt apply to them. True Americans to me means they are either born in this country or they’ve gone through the naturalization process. I think one of the requirement was that they must be at least sixteen years old when they were brought here by their illegal parents and no more than thirty years age by the time this reform is officially approved. Another requirement that would qualify them was if they’d served in the military. I spent eight years recruiting for the US Army and I can tell you that unless you are a US citizen, or a resident alien with a valid green card, there’s no way in hell you will be allowed to enlist in any branches of the Armed Forces. Now let me ask you another question, how is this fair to those that are doing it the proper way. Thousands are still waiting and most of the time they have to wait for what seems like an eternity. Unless the border is properly secure, illegal immigration will always be a problem for this country.
Katotong Noah,
You hit the nail right on its head. They are NOT Americans. They are illegals. Not fair either to many of our kababayans back “home” lining up at the US Embassy hoping to get an “interview,” then waiting “forever” to get a visa to come to America. And it’s like winning the lottery if you’ve been approved. Pagdating dito sa Tate, of course, TNT na ang labas when their visa expires. Their rationale: “Bakit pa ako babalik sa Pinas, eh nandito na ‘ko sa Amerika. Dream ko yata ‘to.” I wouldn’t go back either to a country such as that. Gutom ang labas mo.
Jesse
Hi RGL,
While I disagree with your opinion, you are entitled to express it provided you confine your response to the issue and not an attack on the author, which you tended to do in the past.
My response to you is contained in my op-ed, “Obama outDREAMs Romney,” that you’re responding to in this email. I don’t want to sound like a broken record but it’s all articulated in my article. Did I leave anything out? You can even read between the lines just so you know where I’m coming from in regard to the DREAM Act and Pres. Obama’s bold action to invoke executive privilege to prevent the deportation of the DREAMers.
Yesterday, Romney spoke before the National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO). He did not present any solution to this issue. All he could say was that he had a long-term solution that he’d be working on when elected President. He said that he always make good of his promises. Really?
Today, Obama spoke to the same group. He received several standing ovations compared to none for Romney. Obama then repeated what Romney said about making good on his promises. Obama then reminded the enthusiastic audience of what Romney told them — that he would make good of his promises. Obama then said that during the Republican primaries, Romney was asked what he’d do if the DREAM Act reached his desk. Romney’s response was: “I promise to veto it!” Well, if he always make good of his promises, then the DREAM Act had nary a chance of becoming a law under a President Romney.
With that, do you think the Latinos would vote for Romney? Before Obama issued his executive order, the polls showed that 61% of the Latinos are supporting Obama to Romney’s 27%. With the issuance of “DREAM Act Lite,” don’t you think that the future polls would show an 80% Latino vote for Obama and only 20% for Romney? It just proved that “Good policy makes good politics.”
Perry
Yes, I listened to both Gov. Romney and President Obama spoke to the NALEO and the difference is night and day. The former tried to circumvent his position as he often does on every issue while the President went straight to the point. His executive order on June 15 addressing the Dreamers’ issue was as brilliant as anyone could have possibly done. It may just spelled his second term.
Hi Ely,
It was a master stroke!
Perry
Hey Perry,
Good story. Got a question though: Who’s gonna pay for the educational expenses of these Dreamers? It’s not gonna come out from my pocket and yours, would it? If it would, then these Dreamers would join the the millions of PALAMUNINS of America, ha?
Just asking….
From what I understand 50 percent of the people here in America don’t pay taxes. So, we, the taxpayers would be left holding the bag na pabigat ng pabigat full of PALAMUNINS.
Jesse
Hi Jesse,
They’ll pay for their educational cost just like it was before Obama issued executive order. Look at it this way: when they finished college and got themselves a job, they would be paying taxes. Isn’t that neat?
As to the 50% of Americans who don’t pay taxes, they’re not earning enough income to pay taxes. That’s how many poor Americans there are. And Romney wants to tax them so he can give tax cuts and more loopholes for the rich. Something is wrong with the picture, don’t you think?
Perry
Hey Perry,
Those 50 percent who don’t pay taxes are mostly the PALAMUNINS of America that we, taxpayers and “grunts in the bush” have to feed and take care of…. And most of these PALAMUNINS are ethnic minorities from other countries: Somalians, mga Bombay, mga Pilipino, mga handicaps kuno, etc., who know how to work the system and fleece us, taxpayers. That’s the blatant truth, gayem. And the other blatant truth is that, they live more comfortably that you and I and drive newer and better cars than yours and mine.
Jesse
Hi Jesse,
Refugees from Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq, and pretty soon, Syria, have no other place to go to except good old USA. Yep, from the those who came on the Mayflower to those who escaped from religious persecution, ethnic cleansing, hunger, famine, civil wars, etc., America always welcome them to the land of milk and honey where streets are paved with gold. Indeed, even leftists who escaped from the martial law of Marcos fled to the U.S., not China, USSR or Cuba. Those who made it here are now living the American Dream including the children of illegal immigrants who have no place else to go if Pres. Obama did not issue the “DREAM Act Lite” executive order. What Obama did was a humanitarian act that shouldn’t be politicized by the Republicans. Have Romney, Rubio, and other GOPers become so callous in their hearts that they did not see the goodness of the DREAM Act which the Senate Republicans filibustered to death in 2010?
Perry
With the whole thinking world as a witness, Obama in his ow inimitable, but briliant way, achieved a political victory in a manner of speaking with his Dream Act. Mr. Preident you are definitely Obamanible!
Hi Tony,
I like your “Obamanible.” I could use it in my future articles.
Perry