President Obama said Saturday he would seek to tackle immigration policy in the first year of a second term. He told Univision
This is something I care deeply about. It’s personal to me.
On the other hand, Candidate Obama promised to tackle immigration policy in his first year in office. In a September 2008 speech to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, he promised
This election is about the 12 million people living in the shadows, the communities taking immigration enforcement into their own hand. They are counting on us to stop the hateful rhetoric filling our airwaves, and rise above the fear, and rise above the demagoguery, and finally enact comprehensive immigration reform.
He then went on to spend the first year and a half of his term fighting exclusively for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Speaking of which, Obama secured passage of PPACA through his purchase of Congressman Luis Gutierrez’ (D, IL) vote and the votes of his Congressional Hispanic Caucus with a promise of immigration reform. Congressman Gutierrez:
I’ve spent the past week speaking at length with the President and his staff. … I believe we have a commitment to move forward on a comprehensive immigration reform package as soon as possible.
Having welched on these two commitments, why should we believe him a third time?
Or is this another case of “Once I’m reelected, I’m no longer accountable, and I can do anything I want?”