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Home Page > Blogs > News blogs > People and Politics > Barack Obama owes victory to Hispanics, Clinton, women and blacks -- Immigration reform will likely be top priority of second term - VIDEO

People and Politics by Patrick Roberts

Barack Obama owes victory to Hispanics, Clinton, women and blacks -- Immigration reform will likely be top priority of second term - VIDEO

Posted on Wednesday, November 07, 2012 at 07:07 AM

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Barack Obama delivers his victory speech

Barack Obama owes blacks, women, Hispanics and Bill Clinton for his smashing victory.

His immediate priority should be to pass immigration reform.

Republicans just never got it with Hispanics or immigration, demonizing them with cowboys like Governor Brewer and Sherriff Joe Arpio in Arizona who legislated against them and jailed and demonized them at every opportunity.

Not surprisingly, Hispanics bolted the party en masse.

George W. Bush, a compassionate man on immigration, won over 40 per cent of the Hispanic vote in 2004.

Romney, who danced the Arizona two-step, demonizing immigrants, lost 71 per cent to 27 per cent among Hispanics. I’m sure he’s not too surprised.

The party of Brewer, Arpio, Michelle Bachman, and crazy right-winger Allen West will never win a presidential election as long as they and other Tea Party colleagues polarize and destroy any attempt at consensus politics.

The Republicans in Congress need to sit down with Obama and do immigration reform as a priority, if only to lift what has become an incredible weight on the whole party.

Simply put, immigration reform must be the health care reform of the Obama second term. Unless Republicans are completely intransigent they will move to work with him on it.

Exit polls showed Americans were two to one in favor of comprehensive reform, an amazing number.

Read more US Election 2012 news here

Blacks were demonized too. Congressman Elijah Cumming of Maryland said it best when he said blacks were convinced that efforts were made to prevent them voting in Republican controlled states, a fact that incensed them and inspired them to vote in record numbers.

Bill Clinton inspired and drove Democrats, especially with his convention speech that created the framework for the rest of the campaign.

More importantly, back in 1992 Clinton moved the Democratic Party to the center, pro business and pro growth, and marginalized the loony left of his party.

Republicans badly need such a figure to tame their loony right.

Women too were incensed by the statements about rape and God’s wishes that were deeply offensive. Little wonder the Republicans lost the women’s votes by a street.

The reality is that angry white men can never be the basis for a presidential victory in America anymore. That day is long gone.

The Republicans will wake up today with an enormous hangover and a harsh new world that states unless thy change their narrow and insular party they will become irrelevant.

Read more US Election 2012 news here

Obama's complete presidential victory speech:

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72 comments

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Renelda M. | Nov 07, 2012, 07:27 PM EST

"...There is no joy in Mudville. Casey has struck out..." Mudville is America. Casey is America. And in my opinion, America has struck out. Neither candidate was good for ALL Americans. Immigration issues, first on the new agenda? ILLEGAL ALIENS are not welcome. That is the whole point. By by entering America illegally, these folks overtly disrespect The Rule of Law. Obama wants to fool the people continually. But the great issue is ILLEGAL ALIENS. The electorate did speak: Obama lost big time in the popular vote. He won by the ELECTORAL COLLEGE. My mantra is: America desperately needs a new Constitution.

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eiriamach | Nov 07, 2012, 07:25 PM EST

How did my name get attached to BrianO's Nov 07, 2012, 10:0 post? IC gremlins strike again?

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hollabackgurl | Nov 07, 2012, 05:40 PM EST

Obama owes his victory to his political policies. Voters chose them over the GOP's.

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AlunPalmer | Nov 07, 2012, 05:16 PM EST

Mr Sales, America was founded by people who were against empires. Or have you forgotten? If the 'American empire' (not really an empire anyway) comes to an end, that can only be a good thing for all concerned, including those Americans who have to pay for it with their taxes.

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seanomelb | Nov 07, 2012, 05:02 PM EST

Briano the party of no will now have to compromise with the president to pass a budget and avoid a world wide recession. The time is up for moderate republicans to pander with the teabaggers.(Whom generally are ignorant of economics and only concerned with abortion and womens rights).

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TisEyerish | Nov 07, 2012, 05:01 PM EST

I'm not sure I agree with the demographics cited in the article. I believe many middle class people...those with their eyes and minds open...also voted for Mr. Obama. He was the logical choice. Mr. Romney scared me, to be frank. It was just a gut reaction to him and not something I can put my finger on...but I've learned to listen to that feeling over the years. Most people tend to forget that the bank crisis happened before Mr. Obama was elected, which is sad. I believe he did the best he could during his first four years and will continue to do what he feels is best to bring us back to what we once were.

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The Commentator | Nov 07, 2012, 04:13 PM EST

BrianO: The Canadian economy is in good shape because we don't have filthy rich crooks at the top of the food chain taking huge bonuses and operating without adequate government regulations. The Bush administration is responsible for the economic mess in the USA. Obama is cleaning the mess up, but would have been a lot further ahead if he had pushed legislation through in the first two years instead of trying to cooperate the Republicans. Now the Republicans need to kiss Obama's ass to save themselves. I'm sure it won't be for the good of the American citizens. If they don't cooperate with Obama they will be voted out. The Republicans need to broaden their base from rich white bigots to include all races, religions and sexes. If they would stick to financial matters, be socially responsible and keep religion out of politics, they would be very successful.

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Parents | Nov 07, 2012, 04:02 PM EST

All in all it is done...now let's work together. Thanks

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BrianO | Nov 07, 2012, 03:46 PM EST

@Proud Canadian 2, have you checked out the exchange rate lately, the Canadian dollar is going strong, if I were Canadian I'ld want obama also. After we fall and are the new Mexico, the next place to overtake will be to the North.

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Proud Canadian2 | Nov 07, 2012, 03:37 PM EST

Yes Virginia there is a God. Thank you people of the United States for electing Mr Obama. You have saved the world for at least another four years of capititalisim. I wonder what hole the Donald is crying in this morning. I wonder if he and O'Reilly were consolling each other, the poor babies. Congratulations to Mr Obama from one Proud Canadian,one of the 78% who love him in our great country, now if you could tell us how we can get rid of the idiot we have here as Prime Minister it would be much appreciated. Thanks

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anglo-norman | Nov 07, 2012, 03:06 PM EST

Governer Brewer clamped down "Illegals" Niall not hispanics. Demonized is one of your buzzwords it seems. Please write an unbiased article for once niall!!

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bobby | Nov 07, 2012, 03:06 PM EST

You are not alone, we have the same problem with immigration here in Europe. If not worse. Africans, Asians, Turkish, Middle Eastern, Afghans, Iraqis, Chinese, Bangladeshi's, millions of them coming to Europe.

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barneyjo | Nov 07, 2012, 02:58 PM EST

@mickey74007 - That all depends on if its a better class of Garbage than yours or not. And by the way, do you happen to own a Mannlicher Carcano 1891/38? :)

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barneyjo | Nov 07, 2012, 02:53 PM EST

@mickey74007 - That all depends on if its a better class of Garbage than yours or not :)!!

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Jimsales74 | Nov 07, 2012, 02:39 PM EST

Nicomax said: "the Hispanic community has come to this slowly and sporadically. Maybe the language difference held them back," Apparently, you ain't from around here! It's been the Law in America since the 1970's that all election materials be printed in Spanish and English. Since then, it's in so many languages that it's sometimes difficult to find the English. Here in New York, our Mayor repeats every televised word in Spanish. When my forebears came from Ireland, Norway, Germany and Italy, their dream was to become Americans. Today, the Mexicans, Muslims and Africans, here have no such dream. No, they demand that we accommodate them and assimilate into their culture, and Liberals think that's right. My advice is this: Stay where you are, because the sun is quickly setting on our American Empire. The dream is dead; Liberals murdered it zealously.

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