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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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Lokelani | Nov 14, 2012, 02:18 PM EST

The Bush administration had 8 years to screw up the United of States of America; give President Barack Obama 8 years to undo the damage!

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Lokelani | Nov 14, 2012, 02:08 PM EST

P.Roberts, where do you get your information? George W. Bush was never a compassionate man on immigration; he was never a compassionate man on any race of color. Does Hurricane Katrina ring a bell? George W. wouldn't even visit the area; he looked at it from afar in his plane; he didn't think those people were worth saving. The closest George W. Bush ever got to Latio's was the word "adios"! And to show the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, George Sr. even calls his part hispanic grandchildren "the Brown ones". Enough said.

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seanomelb | Nov 13, 2012, 05:48 PM EST

please define the financial burden with facts and figures peterson. Legalizing immigrants means more taxes from 11,000,000 unregistered people.The GOP rich do not want them legal for they may have to pay proper wages to their "illegal" staff. Another bonus for spending power and higher taxes..

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peterson | Nov 13, 2012, 01:29 PM EST

Obama's immigration reform will place a huge financial burden on the U.S. because of all the entitlements they come to the U.S. to receive. Maybe they could be detoured to Ireland !!

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seanomelb | Nov 11, 2012, 06:09 PM EST

I care not that the GOP control the house Briano. It's there misuse of that power to aid a few rich people is the problem. 60% of the people want a tax on the rich. BTW about half of those earning over $250,000 voted for Obama. You seem to be "hanging on by a chard" to coin a phrase.

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BrianO | Nov 11, 2012, 02:50 PM EST

Seano, will your side take no responsibility, be a man, you have had the power for four years, you will have the power for four more, the party of no excuse is just that an excuse. I don't believe in a thing from the presidency or the senate, nor half the house of representatives, but it matters little, you are in charge, stop crying about not having all the power.

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seanomelb | Nov 10, 2012, 05:43 PM EST

Your wrong Briano! if the party of no stymie the president over monetary policy it has global implications.

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BrianO | Nov 09, 2012, 03:06 PM EST

Don't worry about me Seano, the suicide of the US economy is now in the hands of a moron, I have put all new expansion on hold, I have taken moves to protect myself and family. You from Oz have little to worry about as this administration has little to do with yours. Ephraim you may need to take cover when the deficit grows and the voters for obama wait for their fair share from the government, while those of us who wished to face the problems adjust our incomes to avoid being targets. Those that have extreme wealth will get waivers from the Dems, or will simply re locate to better situations, as they have the funds to do so. the 5% that pays taxes will be gone.

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simplesandy | Nov 09, 2012, 12:30 PM EST

@ Brian'O you are spot on man.

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feeneycj | Nov 09, 2012, 11:42 AM EST

Romney didn't say anything offensive about rape or God's wishes. Romney is pro-women, pro-opportunity for women. Romney spoke about concern for immigrants. Blacks (obviously) were not prevented from voting and no attempt was done to do so. Stop believing election hype, it's really just that, hype. We know why blacks didn't vote for Romney, although most really don't want their taxes increased and several are in favor of more responsible spending, and they are badly affected by the worst unemployment figures ever by an incumbent; we know performance is not what blacks voted for.

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EphraimKibbey | Nov 09, 2012, 02:11 AM EST

allentown - Over the Cliff!!! In January the rates all go back to the Clinton era ones when the rich were still getting richer. If I have to pay the rate I paid then I will man-up and pay it without any tears. I am proud to be an American taxpayer. If the GOP bargains temporary reduced taxes for those below $250,000 for raising the debt ceiling in Feb. I will give them credit for a smart move that will make Mr. Norquist happy. By the way, don't tell anyone but the "Cliff" is more like the bunny slope at a local ski area in Ohio than the double black diamonds at Park City or Vail.

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seanomelb | Nov 08, 2012, 07:36 PM EST

The people have spoken Briano no need to slit your wrist.Obama has automatically created 5000 in the Kleenex factory due to increased production of tissues. I saw a semi load pull up outside Fox central half a truck load fore Liar Rove and the rest for the morning show three stooges,O'Reilly,dumbfounded Hannity and the termagants,Ingraham,Coulter,Malkin and Ingraham.The people have spoken.

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allentown | Nov 08, 2012, 04:31 PM EST

Boehner will now take the Latino vote out of future election results. The House will include E-Verify (Electronic Verification of Employee Status) in his negotiations of Sequestration. To prevent taking the Fiscal Crises over the cliff, the President and the Democratic controlled Senate will agree. Then, both parties will be blamed for E-Verify. If the President and the Senate majority leader do not agree, they will be blamed for taking the country over the cliff over illegal aliens.

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Searlit | Nov 08, 2012, 01:50 PM EST

@BrianO, must you turn into a survivalist, now? Have a little faith, in your fellow man. Don't close yourself off. That doesn't make sense.

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BrianO | Nov 08, 2012, 12:40 PM EST

Eiriamach, IC seems to mess up my name regularly, I log in and am prompted by name to comment, but matters little, answer what you wish. @plib04, line should have read "on a woman", but I know progressives use any tactic to attack non progressives, and yes Anne Romney is a woman and you attack her even after your side has won. I will sit back and watch how well the next two years will be. Who will the scape goat be then, 6years after george bush would be a stretch even for your ilk.

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