GOP Leaders Line Up Against Obama’s Immigration Move — While Romney Remains Mum

Sahil Kapur

Republicans are lining up against President Obama’s end-run around Congress to administratively grant immunity to some undocumented immigrants, effectively ensuring that he reaps the political dividends of the move among Hispanic voters — and deepening Mitt Romney’s predicament with Latinos and conservatives.

New polls suggest that Obama is gaining support among Hispanics, who have been unhappy with him for failing to pass immigration reform and for deporting illegal immigrants at a record pace.

Even as prominent conservatives like George Will and Bill Kristol give their party leaders an escape hatch by praising Obama’s move, elected Republicans have instead decided to take cover with their anti-immigration base and stand against it. Careful to wrap their critique in procedural concerns and avoid discussing the substance, GOP lawmakers are lining up in droves to decry Obama’s shift as executive overreach. Joining the pack Tuesday was House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), even as he expressed sympathy for the plight undocumented youth brought to the U.S. by their parents.

“The question remains whether he violated the Constitution,” Boehner said, adding that “the president’s actions make it much more difficult for us to work in a bipartisan way to get to a permanent solution.”

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) noted that Obama last year expressed doubts about the legitimacy of such a move. Asked Tuesday whether the new policy is “amnesty,” McConnell responded, “If it leads to citizenship as a reward for some kind of illegal entry, that could be argued.” But he added that members of his conference intend to “withhold judgment” until Romney takes a stance, “and I think many of them will have similar views.”

So far, Romney has offered few hints on where he stands.

- more -

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/06/gop-immigration-dream-boehner-mcconnell-romney-obama.php

Marco Rubio Postpones Constitution Center Speech

Sen. Marco Rubio is no longer appearing at an event celebrating his new book, “An American Son” at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. Rubio was scheduled to speak with Talk Radio 1210’s Dom Giordano at the launch event.

The event is “postponed until further notice” because Rubio will be in Washington for a Senate vote, according to his office.

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entries/marco-rubio-postpones-national-constitution-center-event

'Where's the president's plan?'

By Steve Benen

Complaining about President Obama's new immigration policy, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) said yesterday the move will make it more "difficult" to pass a comprehensive reform package. Since reform efforts are impossible in this Congress anyway, it wasn't much of a complaint.

But Boehner added something else that struck me as interesting.



It was an odd thing to say. If the House Speaker wants to know where President Obama's immigration plan is, he can type "President Obama's immigration plan" into the Google machine and, wouldn't you know it, one of the first results is President Obama's immigration plan. It's 29 pages long, written in easy-to-read language, and it's been online since May 2011.

Maybe Boehner isn't much of a reader? Well, Obama also delivered a detailed speech, outlining his immigration plan, last summer in Texas. The Speaker can watch the video.

When Boehner asks, "Where's the president's immigration plan? Where does the president stand on this issue?" it's disconcerting because it suggests the Speaker doesn't just disagree with Obama's approach; it suggests the Speaker doesn't understand that Obama's approach exists.

What's more, I feel like this sort of thing comes up all the time, with folks demanding Obama produce plans he's already unveiled.

- more -

http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/20/12317537-wheres-the-presidents-plan