News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. Feb. 8, 2013: Dear Mr. President,
It seems House Republicans still have not yet come to terms with their reality – that if they delay passing comprehensive immigration reform, they could have another round of losses in the mid-terms and soon be without their last real vestige of power – the U.S. House.
Their comments during the House Judiciary Committee hearing on immigration reform on Feb. 5th, that they will not rush passing legislation on the issue without a thorough debate, shows how apart they are, not just from the will of the majority of Americans, but even from their own party members in the Senate.
While White House Domestic Policy Council Cecilia Muñoz insisted to many journalists, myself included on Tuesday, that comprehensive immigration reform for all, regardless of nationality, remains your focus and Senator Marco Rubio and John McCain among others in the Senate push a bill that also supports your call for a pathway to citizenship for the diverse, 11 plus million undocumented population in the United States, the Republicans in the House are seemingly still hiding under a rock of denial.
Their plan is simply no plan at all! Perhaps they would do best to listen to Senator McCain, one of their own, when he insists it’s about votes and elections.
House Speaker John Boehner comment about the measure is “not a race (but) it’s about trying to get it right” and House GOP members like California Republican Rep. Darrell Issa’s consistent complaint that your plan calls for a path to citizenship without first securing borders, must seem like silly season all over again to you!
Have they already forgotten the whipping they got in November? Here’s some new data you should send over to maybe wake them up to the new reality.
The Pew Hispanic Center noted this week that “Hispanics will account for 40% of the growth in the eligible electorate in the U.S. between now and 2030, at which time 40 million Hispanics will be eligible to vote, up from 23.7 million now.”
Further, as the Center noted: “If the turnout rate of this electorate over time converges with that of whites and blacks in recent elections (66% and 65%, respectively, in 2008), that would mean twice as many Latino voters could be casting ballots in 2032 as did in 2012.”
No piece meal approach, as suggested by Alabama Republican Rep. Spencer Bachus, is not going to cut it. Marco Rubio tried that and has now come full circle to supporting a comprehensive measure. His is an about face turn from “earned path to citizenship is basically code for amnesty” to now essentially embracing the pathway to citizenship he once frowned upon.
What a difference votes of color makes! Now hopefully Rubio can show his party members the light! Will you help him Mr. President? How about a beer summit? Just you two!
Respectfully,
Felicia Persaud
The writer is founder of NewsAmericasNow, CaribPR Wire and Hard Beat Communications.
