How Rubio’s Immigration Blowup Could Help Pass A Bill

[SpartanDem]

Consider Rubio’s political position. As a likely 2016 presidential contender, Rubio is taking a huge risk backing immigration reform. The last time there was a debate on the issue, it sparked a backlash from grassroots conservatives so intimidating that even the biggest Republican champions of a bill had to masquerade as hardliners for several years. And that was when a Republican President was leading the charge.

Not wanting to be seen as a shill for a Democratic President’s signature achievement, Rubio’s strategy from the start has been to play up his differences with the White House as much as possible. This weekend’s outburst was only the latest incident: in interviews with the Wall Street Journal, Bill O’Reilly, Rush Limbaugh, and other conservative thought leaders, Rubio has positioned himself as the right-wing antidote to a far-left White House on immigration.

This touring indignation act isn’t just for Rubio’s own benefit. The Republicans he needs to win over to pass a bill will be a lot more comfortable if they think they’re somehow thumbing their nose at Obama by voting for it. We’ve seen this dynamic on other issues in recent weeks, most notably the debt ceiling, where conservative Republicans delivered a lot of macho partisan talk about a bill that was objectively a huge cave to the White House. If a compromise bill ends up passing, expect to see a lot of statements from Republicans supporters about how they stopped some non-existent White House “amnesty” bill.

Newt Gingrich acknowledged the political environment in an appearance on ABC’s This Week on Sunday, saying an Obama-led bill could never pass the House, not because of its substance, but because of “the level of hostility towards the president and the way he goads the hostility” on the right.

Meanwhile on the policy side, nobody’s even sure what Rubio and the White House are arguing over exactly.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/02/rubio-immigration-strategy.php?ref=fpa


It's stupid that we to play this game, this just confirms that poll last week that showed Republicans supported reform, except when they're aware Obama supports it.

[Cali_Democrat]

1. What is Newt talking about? How exactly does President Obama goad the hostility?

Being PWB?

[shawn703]

2. That's about the size of it. n/t

[Cosmocat]

3. This drives me to near DEFCON 1 anger

I have LONG accepted that the so called "liberal" media will brainlessly parrot whatever shit the republicans put forward.

But, this thing where it is casually stated as fact that it is this President's fault Republicans act like jackasses manages to tweak me significantly.