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- iHaveNet.com: Politics
by Trent Franks
Arizona immigration law controversy shows President Obama doesn't get security issues
Trent Franks is a Republican House member from Arizona and a member of the
Opposition to Arizona's new immigration law--including, most notably, the Obama administration's shameful decision to sue Arizona--is grounded, at best, in ignorance of the bill and, at worst, in intentional misrepresentations of the law. Unfortunately, I believe the latter describes the administration.
They have said the law promotes racial profiling, yet the law specifically prohibits racial profiling. The president has suggested the law requires noncitizens to carry "papers" that they otherwise wouldn't have to. But federal law has required noncitizens to carry identification for over 50 years.
Now, the administration claims the law pre-empts federal responsibility, but the Constitution is clear. Article I, Section 8, gives
The executive branch (i.e., the Obama administration) exists to enforce the law, not subvert it or apply only what it finds agreeable. But, as is so frequently the case, this administration's motivations have everything to do with political posturing and blind dedication to a dangerously misguided ideology and little to do with defending the U.S. Constitution and protecting Americans' rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
From the outset, this administration has publicly distorted the Arizona law. Shortly after the law was introduced, both Attorney General Eric Holder and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano railed against it. Napolitano called the bill "misguided" and "bad enforcement law"; Holder (ostensibly the top legal mind in our nation, given his title) called the bill "unfortunate" and said the
In other words, this administration was willing to sue Arizona, potentially harming the state's reputation and its economy to the tune of millions of dollars, based on a falsification of what the bill says. Even more bewildering is the president's willingness to deliberately incite a false racial division in America, in a desperate attempt to strengthen his popularity among his increasingly skeptical, ever-dwindling base.
His plan, of course, backfired dramatically. His approval rating in Arizona has fallen to a dismal 28 percent. Meanwhile, 61 percent of Americans support enactment in their state of a law like Arizona's, while only 28 percent oppose the idea.
Indeed, it seems the president has a lot of work on his hands if he wants to sue every state that tries to enforce immigration laws. Nine states have filed a legal brief defending Arizona's efforts and at least five states have already introduced similar laws. At the risk of understating the matter: President Obama is wildly out of touch with Americans' concerns.
Border security isn't just about immigration; it's about the far greater issue of national security. Mexican authorities recently arrested Jameel Nasr, a member of
Read why Arizona's Immigration law is bad policy, by Luis Gutierrez, a Democratic House member from Illinois and chair of the Hispanic Caucus's immigration task force.
Available at Amazon.com:
The Disappearing Center: Engaged Citizens, Polarization, and American Democracy
The Virtues of Mendacity: On Lying in Politics
Bush on the Home Front: Domestic Policy Triumphs and Setbacks
The Political Fix: Changing the Game of American Democracy, from the Grassroots to the White House
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Administration Lying About Arizona Immigration Law | Politics
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