Hispanic lawmakers are finally waking up to the political fallout over Rep Joe Wilson’s infamous “You Lie!” outburst in September. Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) are now speaking out that the Obama administration increasingly tough stance on undocumented immigrants stems from Rep. Wilson outburst during Obama’s Sept. 10 address on health care reform, according to Politico.

It also seems some members of the CHC are finally speaking out about Obama’s gatekeeper, Rahm Emanuel, White House chief of staff, for pulling the strings when it comes to immigration. Politico also reported that the CHC is also singling out Emanuel for his involvement to prohibit undocumented immigrants from buying health insurance plans.

“A forensic study would show it all leads back to Rahm Emanuel and the White House,” said Illinois Democratic Rep. Luis Gutierrez, a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus who worked with Emanuel when the president’s top aide was in the House.

Since being chosen as President Obama’s White House Chief of Staff after the 2008 election, Rahm Emanuel has emerged as the “most influential White House chief of staff in a generation,” according to a New York Times article. His hardball approach to politics earned him the nickname “Rahmbo” during the the Clinton administration.

Obama selected of Rahm Emanuel as his chief of staff to exert control over Obama’s team and legislative agenda. Emanuel has proved in the past that he bows to no-one when it comes to getting the job done. Democrats fear the consequences of crossing him; their fear is not unsubstantiated. He once sent a dead fish to a disloyal Democratic pollster during a US Congressional race when Bill Clinton ran for his first bid to the Presidency. Outraged at “disloyal Democrats” during Clinton’s first presidential campaign, he stunned dinner companions by rattling off names of the offenders, each time stabbing the restaurant table with a dinner knife and shouting, “Dead.”

It’s no secret that Emanuel has been an obstacle for immigration reform since he views immigration as “third rail of American politics.” Like the electrified rail used to power the trains, he believed that any Democrat who touched immigration would face likely (political) death.

Upon President Barack Obama 2008 electoral victory, immigrant advocates expressed hope that immigration reform would take place in the first term or even in the first year. In a press briefing, Frank Sharry, executive director of America’s Voice, mentioned that immigration reform would probably occur between “September of 2009 and maybe the end of March 2010.”

Some felt Rahm Emanuel must had a change on heart when he told Hispanic media “the arrow is pointing in a different direction in relation to immigration politics in this country.” However, it was only a matter of time Emanuel’s true colors would come out.

During the summer, the president did an about face to make immigration reform “a top priority in my first year.” In June, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said there are not enough votes for the Obama administration to achieve its desired immigration reform. At a Christian Science Monitor breakfast, Emanuel reiterated the same message.

The simple fact is that Rahm Emanuel never deviated from his view that immigration is a “third rail” despite what told the Hispanic media. Speaking on the condition of anonymity to Politico, a CHC member confirmed that “[he] still thinks immigration will defeat Democrats.”

Although the ideas epitomized in Emma Lazarus’ poem of the “poor, yearning to breathe free” have been much immortalized in American culture, immigrants in the US have always faced problems of discrimination, ethnocentrism, and racism. Yet, to see Republicans wield undocumented immigrants as a weapon to derail or postpone the passage of any health care bill goes beyond than being mean-spirited.

From the time I started blogging, I have watched with unease as restrictionist forces gain ground in communities, public policy, and political discourse. It was easy to see wheels were in motion hijack the health care debate after Rep Joe Wilson’s “You lie!” outburst. As a consequence, the White House is now willing to placate to the immigration restrictionists in Congress.

What is frustrating, instead of listening to me and all the other people who were sounding the alarms, CHC once again was slow to respond. True, Rahm Emanuel may be an obstacle towards immigration reform, but the CHC is also their own worst enemy.

Their main mistake has been not fighting back hard and soon enough. As a consequence, CHC have conceded vast political terrain they had won after the 2008 election. Instead of using their constituents for support, they are now forced to choose between political realism and social idealism. The former focuses all energy on political reform and partisan politics, while the focuses on creating a society which would be more democratic and more just.

As Rep. Luis Gutierrez jump start the immigration debate by introducing a comprehensive reform bill in the Democrat-controlled Congress in December, Gutierrez’s bill most likely won’t see the light of day as Democrats leaders consider ditching their controversial legislative agenda next year; making it likely immigration reform will be addressed in Obama’s second term if elected.

Once again, immigration restrictionists have succeeded in framing the immigration debate, forcing Democrats to view immigration reform as a “third rail.” Maybe now the members of CHC will take us seriously.

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Tags: Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Health Care, Hispanic, Immigration, Latinos/as, Luis Gutierrez, Rahm Emanuel |  Print This Post |
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