This notion that somehow I can just change the laws unilaterally is just not true Obama told a questioner who claimed the presidents message ... is not a message of hope. President Obama lashed out at Republicans Wednesday telling a Hispanic audience that the GOP is the lone barrier to comprehensive immigration reform.
But for a president who campaigned on a promise to overhaul the nations immigration system that message is creating widespread disillusionment within a voting bloc crucial to Obamas re-election.
Such an exchange highlights Obamas challenge in shoring up Hispanic support amid a record number of deportations by immigration officials and as attempts to provide a path to citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants have fallen by the wayside.
Obama met with Hispanic journalists Wednesday just as the White House seeks to stem the tide of dissatisfaction among black and Hispanic voters. Aside from recent private meetings with leaders and media figures in the black and Hispanic communities Obama visited a heavily Hispanic high school in Denver Tuesday to push his $450 billion jobs plan.
However some analysts say Obamas symbolic measures and jabs at Republicans wont be enough to sway Hispanic voters who supported the president by a two-to-one margin in 2008.
Its not enough for him to simply blame Republicans said Matt Barreto a pollster with Latino Decisions. He needs to point to something concrete -- push some bills. There hasnt been anything since the Dream Act.
While repeatedly touting immigration reform Obama has yet to push any reforms through Congress even when his fellow Democrats controlled it.
In broad terms Obama has called for an immigration policy that would secure the borders punish businesses for employing undocumented workers and create a mechanism for those in the country illegally to gain citizenship a proposal critics dismiss as amnesty for lawbreakers.
Though Obama vowed to push hard for immigration reform he said it would not happen as long as Republicans continued to block efforts such as the Dream Act which would offer citizenship to certain illegal immigrants who attend college or join the military.
We used to have Republican co-sponsors for the Dream Act Obama said. Our key approach is trying to push Republicans back to where they were only a few years ago.
A recent Gallup poll shows that Obamas support among Hispanics over the past 18 months has plummeted from 73 percent to 48 percent.
Its a matter of enthusiasm and energy Barreto said. If that disappears he will still get the same percentage of the Latino vote -- there will just be fewer voters.
Obamas path to victory in swing states like Virginia Florida Colorado and Nevada certainly looks hazier without the overwhelming Hispanic support he received in 2008.
Obama credited both Presidents Reagan and George W. Bush for pushing immigration reform but added Right now you have not got that kind of leadership coming from the Republican Party.
This notion that somehow I can just change the laws unilaterally is just not true Obama told a questioner who claimed the presidents message ... is not a message of hope. President Obama lashed out at Republicans Wednesday telling a Hispanic audience that the GOP is the lone barrier to comprehensive immigration reform.
But for a president who campaigned on a promise to overhaul the nations immigration system that message is creating widespread disillusionment within a voting bloc crucial to Obamas re-election.
Such an exchange highlights Obamas challenge in shoring up Hispanic support amid a record number of deportations by immigration officials and as attempts to provide a path to citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants have fallen by the wayside.
Obama met with Hispanic journalists Wednesday just as the White House seeks to stem the tide of dissatisfaction among black and Hispanic voters. Aside from recent private meetings with leaders and media figures in the black and Hispanic communities Obama visited a heavily Hispanic high school in Denver Tuesday to push his $450 billion jobs plan.
However some analysts say Obamas symbolic measures and jabs at Republicans wont be enough to sway Hispanic voters who supported the president by a two-to-one margin in 2008.
Its not enough for him to simply blame Republicans said Matt Barreto a pollster with Latino Decisions. He needs to point to something concrete -- push some bills. There hasnt been anything since the Dream Act.
While repeatedly touting immigration reform Obama has yet to push any reforms through Congress even when his fellow Democrats controlled it.
In broad terms Obama has called for an immigration policy that would secure the borders punish businesses for employing undocumented workers and create a mechanism for those in the country illegally to gain citizenship a proposal critics dismiss as amnesty for lawbreakers.
Though Obama vowed to push hard for immigration reform he said it would not happen as long as Republicans continued to block efforts such as the Dream Act which would offer citizenship to certain illegal immigrants who attend college or join the military.
We used to have Republican co-sponsors for the Dream Act Obama said. Our key approach is trying to push Republicans back to where they were only a few years ago.
A recent Gallup poll shows that Obamas support among Hispanics over the past 18 months has plummeted from 73 percent to 48 percent.
Its a matter of enthusiasm and energy Barreto said. If that disappears he will still get the same percentage of the Latino vote -- there will just be fewer voters.
Obamas path to victory in swing states like Virginia Florida Colorado and Nevada certainly looks hazier without the overwhelming Hispanic support he received in 2008.
Obama credited both Presidents Reagan and George W. Bush for pushing immigration reform but added Right now you have not got that kind of leadership coming from the Republican Party.
