The GOP Immigration Lie
In his speech, President Obama noted that there is a bipartisan bill that passed in the Senate that Boehner has not allowed Congress to vote on. He reminded Congress that the bill had been in their hands for over five hundred days, and that they could undo his executive order. All they have to do is to pass a bill. We have heard many reasons from conservatives as to why they disagree with the executive order, and why a bill has not been passed. However, upon further review, these reasons are just poor excuses that are based on lies more than reality. This is a short breakdown of the myths being perpetuated by the GOP.
The Executive Order is Unconstitutional
The lie being told the most by conservatives is that what President Obama did was unconstitutional. They have made this claim throughout his presidency on various actions he has taken. The president is a constitutional scholar and a very smart man. He understands the limits of his power and would not put himself in a position where he was abusing his authority.
When it comes to the Constitution, I prefer the input of constitutional scholars and legal experts over certain Republican politicians or political pundits. Many of the top legal scholars in our country agree that this executive order is lawful. They compare this act to that of other presidents, saying similar actions had been “used many times by the executive branch under presidents of both parties, and Congress has explicitly and implicitly endorsed their use.”
Republicans Don’t Trust Obama on Immigration
Many Republicans claim the reason they will not pass immigration reform is because they do not trust the President to enforce the laws. According to John Boehner “There’s widespread doubt about whether this administration can be trusted to enforce our laws,” This claim is hard to believe for many reasons. I have no doubt conservatives do not trust Obama to enforce the law. After all, many of them still do not even believe him when he says he was born in America. The lie here is using their distrust to continue to stall immigration talks.
If Republicans will not pass a bill because of Obama, then what was their excuse when George W. Bush was president? In 2007, Republicans in the Senate shot down a bipartisan immigration bill, much to the dismay of the president. If they would not pass a bill with Bush in office, this proves it is not about trust, which is just a distraction from where they truly stand on the issue.
Another problem with this excuse is that trust should not be a factor. They have not trusted Obama from day one. They have fought him every step of the way. And that’s because President Obama was elected by the people. Twice. This means that America has some level of trust in our President. No matter how disappointed Republicans were with the election results, America decided, and the GOP should have worked with the results, instead of simply choosing not to govern.
The Order Goes Against the Will of the People
Republicans claim that Obama’s actions go against the will of the American people. Ted Cruz emphasized this feeling when he tweeted:
If POTUS ignores the people & proceeds w/ his illegal amnesty, we must use every tool available to #StopObamasAmnesty http://t.co/UgNPWUz6HB
— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) November 19, 2014
This is yet another fabrication being spun by conservatives.
Where Does This Leave Us?
Immigration reform is an issue that has divided our nation for generations. There have been many racist and xenophobic reasons why people have stood against it. The simple truth is, Obama said it best when he said we are a nation of immigrants. Our current system is badly broken. Real reform is needed, but that is impossible with a Congress that refuses to act. President Obama did what he could do, within his power, to get the discussion moving in the right direction.
By issuing this executive order, our president has put the onus on Congress to pass a bill. Instead, Republicans continue to lie and make excuses. These lies are proof that the Republicans are looking for every reason to not have to pass immigration reform. It is a telltale sign of where they really stand on the issue. They could never come out and say it; they know it will cost them votes, but for some reason they refuse to listen to the American people. They must put their contempt for our President aside and start governing. If not, they must be held accountable.
Click here for reuse options!Copyright 2014 Liberaland
By: James Cahill
I am a Communications major currently working on my Bachelors. My aim is to educate and inform. I will always speak the truth, and tell it like it is, whether people want to hear it or not. I would like to put a stop to the propaganda and misinformation that plagues mainstream media. I am a fan of facts, numbers , and logic.
26 responses to The GOP Immigration Lie
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tracey marie November 22nd, 2014 at 17:19
He gave no amnesty, no citizenship like reagan and bush did. The entire wailing reaction from the right is based on a lie
Suzanne McFly November 22nd, 2014 at 19:54
What hurts us most is the idiot constituency that believes the bile these bastards spew.
tracey marie November 22nd, 2014 at 18:19
He gave no amnesty, no citizenship like reagan and bush did. The entire wailing reaction from the right is based on a lie
Suzanne McFly November 22nd, 2014 at 20:54
What hurts us most is the idiot constituency that believes the bile these bastards spew.
mea_mark November 22nd, 2014 at 17:39
The republicans are going to fight Obama on everything he does as long as he is in office. This way in the coming years they can point back to his presidency and say how divisive and awful it was and how it was such a bad idea to not have a white republican as president. The republicans are truly trying to divide America into a white America and other America. The southern strategy of the republicans is coming to its conclusion. Let’s hope it is a dismal failure and America will be able to move on into a future where we are united as a country once again.
Obewon November 22nd, 2014 at 19:11
Crawling out of record low everything since (R) Hoover’s Great Depression in 2010 we had: “Miss me yet?”-GWB’s billboard ads paid for by ‘unknown donor’-Later proven to be the Greedy Oil Party, impaling itself.
Dwendt44 November 23rd, 2014 at 00:28
Not only that, it might slow down the rotation of the earth and make the day longer.
Kick Frenzy November 23rd, 2014 at 01:50
Not to mention how it would make flying harderer for birds and interrupt the global birds populations.
Matt Dillon November 23rd, 2014 at 13:27
Guam is going to capsize as well.
mea_mark November 22nd, 2014 at 18:39
The republicans are going to fight Obama on everything he does as long as he is in office. This way in the coming years they can point back to his presidency and say how divisive and awful it was and how it was such a bad idea to not have a white republican as president. The republicans are truly trying to divide America into a white America and other America. The southern strategy of the republicans is coming to its conclusion. Let’s hope it is a dismal failure and America will be able to move on into a future where we are united as a country once again.
Obewon November 22nd, 2014 at 20:11
Crawling out of record low everything since (R) Hoover’s Great Depression in 2010 we had: “Miss me yet?”-GWB’s billboard ads paid for by ‘unknown donor’-Later proven to be the Greedy Oil Party, impaling itself.
Dwendt44 November 23rd, 2014 at 01:28
Not only that, it might slow down the rotation of the earth and make the day longer.
Kick Frenzy November 23rd, 2014 at 02:50
Not to mention how it would make flying harderer for birds and interrupt the global birds populations.
Matt Dillon November 23rd, 2014 at 14:27
Guam is going to capsize as well.
tiredoftea November 22nd, 2014 at 19:58
Oh, wait, you mean that Congress can actually legislate? We didn’t know that! Republicans have full control of the House? They can bring bills up for a vote? They can reconcile bills coming over from the Senate? They can make legislation and send it to the Senate? We didn’t know that!
Sam November 22nd, 2014 at 21:58
“This boy’s are as mixed up than a feather in a whirlwind”
William November 23rd, 2014 at 02:31
“Oh, wait, you mean that Congress can actually legislate?”
No….
not really.
tiredoftea November 22nd, 2014 at 20:58
Oh, wait, you mean that Congress can actually legislate? We didn’t know that! Republicans have full control of the House? They can bring bills up for a vote? They can reconcile bills coming over from the Senate? They can make legislation and send it to the Senate? We didn’t know that!
Sam November 22nd, 2014 at 22:58
“This boy’s are as mixed up than a feather in a whirlwind”
William November 23rd, 2014 at 03:31
“Oh, wait, you mean that Congress can actually legislate?”
No….
not really.
KABoink_after_wingnut_hacker November 22nd, 2014 at 20:10
Todays republicans are bigots, liars and traitors and are clearly leading only with fear and propaganda.
KABoink_after_wingnut_hacker November 22nd, 2014 at 21:10
Todays republicans are bigots, liars and traitors and are clearly leading only with fear and propaganda.
fancypants November 22nd, 2014 at 20:32
If POTUS ignores the people & proceeds w/ his illegal amnesty, we must use every tool available
————————————————–
I think its advisable to stay away from the word “tool ” ted
it might give you away
fancypants November 22nd, 2014 at 21:32
If POTUS ignores the people & proceeds w/ his illegal amnesty, we must use every tool available
————————————————–
I think its advisable to stay away from the word “tool ” ted
it might give you away
JMax November 22nd, 2014 at 21:13
The underlying issue here is the Republican party is loath to allow President Obama any success whatsoever regardless of how it benefits the country. They are willing to accept policies they hate as long as doing so appears to defeat Obama. This is just the latest case.
http://www.vox.com/2014/11/20/7254849/congressional-underreach
JMax November 22nd, 2014 at 22:13
The underlying issue here is the Republican party is loath to allow President Obama any success whatsoever regardless of how it benefits the country. They are willing to accept policies they hate as long as doing so appears to defeat Obama. This is just the latest case.
http://www.vox.com/2014/11/20/7254849/congressional-underreach